05-09-2004, 10:53 AM
[cool][blue][size 1]Hi Jed. Good to hear from you. Are you going to have some time this summer to work on your "addiction"?[/size][/blue]
[#0000ff][size 1]Just a word of encouragement. As you are, I once was. That is, I was a young student, married, on a tight budget. For quite a few years of my fishing existence I had one or two spinning rods and one fly rod. I "made do" because I had to, but I lusted after more tackle and the opportunities to use it.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Once I was out of school and employed in positions that afforded more than just rent and food, I began to add to my arsenal. Some of my jobs allowed me to travel around the country and to sample the fishing in different states, for different species. Of course every new situation REQUIRED different rods, reels and lures. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]You can rationalize this stuff better if you have the finances to back it up. Still, it requires an understanding spouse. NEVER try to present the argument that you can justify new tackle by catching enough fish to offset the family food budget. You will "catch it" every time you come home with only a
on your face and no fillets for the table.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]As I have stated many times, I started making flies before age 10...but did not get good at it until I was out of high school. I did not start making jigs and spinners until I was several years out of college. I did start experimenting with making rods in my mid twenties, and one of my jobs (deckhand on a fishing boat) required that I wrap and repair rods when we were not out fishing.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I did not set out to accumulate a room full of fishing toys, and the components to make a lot more of them. It just kinda evolved over the years. I can sit down at my bench today and turn out literally thousands of dollars worth of tackle, without having to buy more stuff. But, why do I still keep ordering from Cabelas, BassPro, Janns, Barlows and others? Just because. That's why.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]The truth is, it is cheaper to make your own gear, but only after you have all the tools and components to do so. If I lost everything in a fire tomorrow, I could not afford to restock my playroom unless I won the lottery. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]So, my young friend, you have set a worthy goal for yourself. It will take many years to get there, and the journey is its own reward. You will have many pleasurable hours crafting your own custom tackle, and even more enjoyment in catching fish on what you have made.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]But, can you guess what ultimately constitutes some of the greatest rewards? I don't know about you, but I take great pleasure in "downloading" the knowledge I have dug out and struggled to learn over the years. I am elated when someone else "catches fire" and takes the first step towards learning some of the crafts available in tackle making. Hopefully, someday you will have the opportunity to pass on what you have learned too.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]WHEW! Sorry bout that.[/size][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][size 1]Just a word of encouragement. As you are, I once was. That is, I was a young student, married, on a tight budget. For quite a few years of my fishing existence I had one or two spinning rods and one fly rod. I "made do" because I had to, but I lusted after more tackle and the opportunities to use it.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Once I was out of school and employed in positions that afforded more than just rent and food, I began to add to my arsenal. Some of my jobs allowed me to travel around the country and to sample the fishing in different states, for different species. Of course every new situation REQUIRED different rods, reels and lures. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]You can rationalize this stuff better if you have the finances to back it up. Still, it requires an understanding spouse. NEVER try to present the argument that you can justify new tackle by catching enough fish to offset the family food budget. You will "catch it" every time you come home with only a
on your face and no fillets for the table.[/size][/#0000ff] [#0000ff][size 1]As I have stated many times, I started making flies before age 10...but did not get good at it until I was out of high school. I did not start making jigs and spinners until I was several years out of college. I did start experimenting with making rods in my mid twenties, and one of my jobs (deckhand on a fishing boat) required that I wrap and repair rods when we were not out fishing.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I did not set out to accumulate a room full of fishing toys, and the components to make a lot more of them. It just kinda evolved over the years. I can sit down at my bench today and turn out literally thousands of dollars worth of tackle, without having to buy more stuff. But, why do I still keep ordering from Cabelas, BassPro, Janns, Barlows and others? Just because. That's why.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]The truth is, it is cheaper to make your own gear, but only after you have all the tools and components to do so. If I lost everything in a fire tomorrow, I could not afford to restock my playroom unless I won the lottery. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]So, my young friend, you have set a worthy goal for yourself. It will take many years to get there, and the journey is its own reward. You will have many pleasurable hours crafting your own custom tackle, and even more enjoyment in catching fish on what you have made.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]But, can you guess what ultimately constitutes some of the greatest rewards? I don't know about you, but I take great pleasure in "downloading" the knowledge I have dug out and struggled to learn over the years. I am elated when someone else "catches fire" and takes the first step towards learning some of the crafts available in tackle making. Hopefully, someday you will have the opportunity to pass on what you have learned too.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]WHEW! Sorry bout that.[/size][/#0000ff]
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