Bionic musky/pike 80 lb braid

[Travis C.]

It could just be me but I actually have noticed a difference fishing flukes at the barrier. There have been times that I was lazy and didn't tie back on just went straight.

When jig/fluke fishing I use spiderwire 20lb braid to big game 20 mono leader and hardly ever just break off on a fish. I do break off on snags which is a little harder to get enough pull out of a kayak but on a fish it is small % of the time.

[tkwalker]

Here it is my take on all of the new fishing line and ...well, lets get into the modern lures that is being hawked for $10 a pop ....

It seems to me that the tackle manufacture (like our medical health Insurers) are in control instead of the fishermen and Doctors ... They are in control of what we buy !! ...

First Braid ... I tried in in the early 80's ... Very abrasive and wore most rod eyes out unless you spent the extra $$ for expensive rods ... Secondly no stretch ... Which is important if you have been in this game as long as I have .... And Like Travis stated ... Rod makeup (Softness of tip and basic Backbone and lastly Drag setting ... And the skill of the operator)..

In All of my guiding career I have used two brands of line ... And promise have never had a break off encounter fighting a fish ... That is 50 pound Berkley Big Game Trilene on my Planner board rods ... And P line (30/40 pound) on my casting rods ... And as you know I have documented a lot of fish in the 40 to 60 pound range ...

As far as lures ... The manufactures has you mesmerized ... They won't you to think the baits that was used 20, 30 40, and even 50 years ago won't catch fish ... Folks I still use 300 and 400, and 500 series Bombers that My dad Bought in the 50's ... and believe me they will still catch fish ...

I think Tacklemake (Woody) said it best they are after the bait and don't see the line ... I tried the 2 pound line on my stocked pond for Shell crackers, copper nose, crappie etc ... Problem my old eyes even with my new Store bought testicles ( I mean Spectacles) I can't see to tie the knots ... 6 to 8 pound line catch as many fish ... I also fly fish ... Now the purist has to get down to such a minute tippet (and I know, a lot of this is for casting) but I can take my 6 pound P Line on a spinning reel and catch 3 to 1 more trout than he can ... So I question visibility as a factor ... Also I have Participated and won a few and placed in numerous Semi pro Bass Tournaments.. in the 70's and 80's ... And to todays standards of lures and line they were crude ... But we caught more fish than today and the catch and release was not near as strict ?

Bottom line ... I have been fishing for over 6 decades ... Still catching fish with some of the same vintage tackle ... I don't think the fish are getting smarter, we are just getting dumber in our thinking of what the Tackle manufactures are trying to sell us ... Remember ... "A wheel is a wheel, some are just fancier than others, but they all go ROUND and ROUND" ... My 2 cents worth ... <'TK><

[agelesssone]

Very good observations young man!
I think I am going back to "old school" fishing.
Definitely a lot cheaper.