I have dedicated this weblog to my next oldest brother, who I had hoped would contribute greatly to this blog. He was a big influence on me. May I here interject a tribute post to my own dad's wisdom and practicality as it applies to spin-cast reels. Dad was a man's man. There was no question regarding his macho. He was tough as nails. I doubt that it never entered his mind to be put off by such nonsense as how it might appear that he used spin-cast reels to do most of his fishing after Johnson changed the fishing world with their designs.
Dad grew up fishing with whatever tackle was available--including his hands. Dad could hog or noodle with the best of them. He knew how to make his own fishing nets as was passed to him. He ran trot-lines regularly on the Arkansas River. He hunted, and fished, and gigged frogs. He trapped in his younger days. Dad was typically pretty quiet, owing to a condition of his vocal chords that he developed about the time I was born that made it an effort for him to speak. His voice was raspy when he did speak. It required some throat clearing before he could spoke, which served as an early-warning system for everyone to hush and listen. So when he did speak, Dad usually had something worth listening to.
The way my father taught me to fish was very seldom by actively teaching, although I know that he consciously provided examples for the purpose of observing, and thereby learning. he taught by example. Sometimes I think his impatience to get on with things out-stripped his desire to teach by example. I find that I am inclined to be this way at times in my older years. But the mere proximity to such a passion for all things outdoors that was exhibited by my Dad and my older siblings counted for a lot. The availability of good fishing equipment and opportunities afforded by the exotic places we lived when I was growing up was also Dad's indirect hand in my education regarding the recreational outdoors.
Fish and game were vital parts of my father's family's diet when he was growing up during the Great Depression. It was consequently a good part of our family's chosen diet when I was growing up. Although Dad was a consummate outdoorsman and adventurer who loved the recreational aspects of hunting and fishing--to him fishing was mostly about catching fish.
Dad could handle a fly-rod or spinning rod or bait-cast rig with proficiency. That he had fairly-well settled on early vintage Johnson and Abu Garcia spin-cast reels for virtually all of his fishing pursuits for the last half of his life--which incidentally was filled with crazy-wonderful fishing all over the Arctic and the Bush of Alaska as well as the lower forty-eight--say much for the true utility of those quality spin-cast reels. I was the baby of the family which had both its drawbacks and its perks. This family position is also largely to blame for my exuberance regarding these old spin-cast reels.
Me? I love fishing for the sport. I enjoy eating. I love spin-cast reels for their ingenuity, utility, and historicity. But I realize that my Dad's preferences and conclusions by his middle-age when I came along shaped a lot of my preferences. Still, they were reasoned conclusions and preferences--based on the practicalities of catching fish. I have owned and used all the major brands and styles of modern fishing equipment in my lifetime. I have scratched all the covetous itches that I developed as a kid long ago regarding fishing equipment, and for that matter, fishing experiences. I am experienced in my own right by this late date and past my prime, but I will forever regard my Dad as my original mentor and my superior in most ways including fishing knowledge and skills.
Please stop your degrading posts. You hurt no one but yourself. I will surely delete them and report them. If necessary I will close comments for all posts that you participate in until you stop. But it serves neither you nor I for you to continue this.
Posted by: PapaD | 05/09/2013 at 10:40 AM
Tim. Thanks for this comment too. I am sorry that you had such an unpleasant experience with your. Although I am old now myself, I still appreciate that my dad was not violent. When I was kid, I didn't realize how fortunate I was, although it was common for my friends to have problems with their parents. I guess it was not considered good for fathers to be too soft with their boys then. I think my DAD, having experienced the things that he did as a kid, did not want to make it too easy on us. Based on his frame of reference, life was not easy, and boys needed to be hardened a bit in their raising. Even so, he was not abusive. Having raised kids myself and now having grand-kids and observing my wife's experiences as a school teacher over the years--I have a greater appreciation for dad's methods. I think it may be hard to strike a correct balance between being to soft and too harsh on kids. It is evident my wife's teaching experiences--that things have gone way off the track in some ways.
I am happy that your step-father was better and that he introduce you to these great old Johnson reels. He did a good thing there. LOL. I know a lot of grandfather aged guys who devote a lot of their time teaching kids these things. Using fishing and these old simple-to-use reels as teaching tools can mean a lot to kids who are not getting such attention elsewhere.
Posted by: PapaD | 04/01/2013 at 11:33 AM
great story, i have no idea what my fathers preferences were regarding fishing reels, he was a very harsh violent man who never allowed me to get to know him very well. my stepfather however had a great love of spin cast reels. specifically Johnson reels and it was from him that i learned to love the spin cast reel. after he introduced me to the johnson reel and got me away from them horrible zebco's. I like you am the baby of the family.
Posted by: tim | 03/31/2013 at 06:36 AM