Part 2

There’s more than one way to do darn near almost anything.  It applies to fishing every bit as much as it does other forms of recreation.

Why then, as some often do, limit yourself to just one approach?  Why continue to do exactly the same thing hour after hour if you aren’t getting results?  Why stick with just one lure, one method of lure presentation, with just one rod, with just one reel---for that matter with just “one” of anything?

Ever tried using a small Smile Blade ahead of your favorite crappie fly or on a steelhead rig?  You might be surprised at the results.

I talked about this in my previous column.  I’ve been around for awhile and I have ample reason and experience for feeling as I do.

One of the most interesting things I’ve had opportunity to do over the years was to participate in the Bass Masters Classic, an event of called the World Series of Bass Fishing.  I was involved in more than 30 of the Classics, including the very first one way back in 1971.

I was a press observer in many of these Classic tournaments.  It provided a wondrous opportunity to observe some of the country's best-known fishermen up close and careful.

In the early days of the Classic it wasn't uncommon to find contestants who went out armed with only one type of tackle.   I remember one pro, well known at the time, who fished with only two spinning outfits.  Others used only revolving spool reels.

You won't see that in current Classic competition. The anglers in each boat now pack both types of gear. They may use revolving spool reels most of the time for things like pitching or flipping, but when they get into a situation where light lines and lures are required they switch to spinning gear.

You simply can't compete in an event as demanding as the Classic has become unless you are a master of all of the equipment available to you.  Remember that early day pro I mentioned who used only spinning gear?  He lasted about three years after the Classic started.   As the competition grew more intense he no longer had a prayer of winning handicapping himself as he was with only those two spinning rigs.

As I mentioned in my last column, those new small diameter/super strong braided lines have changed things a bit where spinning is concerned.  There was a time when monofilament was the only line suitable for use with a spinning reel.  I recall times when I wouldn’t have considered using anything stronger than 10-pound test to fill a spinning reel spool.

Those days are long gone.  Now some of the new braids work beautifully on a spinning reel.  Not only do they spool and cast well, they are so darn small in diameter you can get by using stronger tests if you choose to do so.

My favorite of the braided lines is Power Pro.  For some years now I’ve been using it for my casting demonstrations around the country as well as for more and more of my own fishing.  I have three spools loaded with these lines.  They are in 10, 12 and 15-pound test.

Some of the new strong but small diameter braided lines work great on a spinning reel.  They also make it possible to throw lighter lures into fairly heavy cover.

If my bass fishing takes me where the cover is heavy, it doesn’t present the problem that it once did.  Now I can still hang a 1/8th-ounce Mack’s Lure Promise Keeper on my line and get what casting distance that’s needed while using my spinning outfit loaded with 15-pound test braid.

If I do manage to hang a good one that 15-pound test is going to give me a heck of a lot better shot at bringing it to the boat than the 8-pound mono I often used to fish on my spinning reel would have.

Every now and then someone tells me how they just fish for fun. I do too.  But it's a heck of a lot more fun when I'm catching fish.  And I do a better job of catching fish---and have more fun in the process--- using the tackle most suited to the demands I'm going to make of it.

As good as this lure is, and it's a record setter, don't hesitate to change to a different size blade or blade color if you're not getting results.

And that applies whether we’re talking about Smile Blades, Wedding Ring spinners, Promise Keeper lures or rods, reels and line.  Matching your gear to the problems you’re up against---and being able to use the tackle that best lets you solve those problems--- is one of the most dependable aspects of successful fishing.

As I said in the beginning, there’s more than one way to do darn near anything.  Have you always used only a spinning outfit?  How in the heck are you going to know if you might wind up favoring a level wind reel if you’ve never learned how to really use one?

Fishing is such a wondrous sport with such wide appeal.  Don’t narrow it down by restricting yourself to doing things just one way.  You’ll never get maximum enjoyment and satisfaction out of it if you do.

And you won’t catch as many fish, either!

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