From the first time I fished until now, fishing is the same, but what we use to fish with has changed. I never had or used a cane pole or bamboo fishing pole, although I do remember when I was 8 or 9 years old, I was holding an old one piece 5-foot fiberglass fish pole with a cork handle and metal guides while watching a big red and white bobber. When I got a few years older, at times, would still watch a smaller red and white bobber, but I used a 3-piece fiberglass rod with a metal reel seat and metal guides.

As I got older, I started to cast while sitting on a throwable cushion/life preserver from a 14-foot aluminum rowboat with wooden oars and for some reason, it was my job to row to the nearest fishing spot. A few years later (thank goodness) we had a six-horse mercury outboard. How long ago was that? The mercury outboard we had was green mercury two stroke (loved the smell of that old exhaust and still do) and the gas tank for that mercury was metal.

After MOTORING to a fishing spot, I would pick up and drop over the side of the 14-foot resort boat a 20-pound bell anchor trying not to bang the side of the aluminum boat. Then to judge how deep the water was, I was taught to let out line from my reel a rods length at a time until the line pooled on top of the water. I would then take up the slack, so, using a 6-foot pole, 2 rods would be 12 ft deep. At this time, we would wonder if this location held any fish. So much for old school.

Advance technology?  Now I fish out of a 20 ft pontoon boat with a four stoke (BLACK) Mercury, the gas tanks are plastic, my fishing poles are fiberglass and graphite with plastic reel seat, and the guides are porcelain.  To find a fishing spot, I use my GPS on my electronics from past outings. Then, when we arrive at that fishing spot, I push a button that releases my electric anchor, as I sit on one of the four comfortable high back adjustable swivel seats.

This is when, looking at my 3D down/side imaging locator to check the depth I’m fishing and don’t have to hope I’m in the right spot to catch fish, because I can see them on the screen.

See, fishing is the same, but thanks to the advanced technology, it’s much more comfortable. BUT IS OUR EQUIPMENT GETTING TOO ADVANCED?  That could/should be another topic I might write about.