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What do you think has been the greatest innovation in bass fishing equipment over the past 30 years? High perfomance boats? Depth finders? Free spool bait cast reels? Improved spinning reels. Quality of mono? Superlines? Graphite, composite or Boron rods? GPS units? Topo maps? Bow mounted trolling motors? Lure improvements? Other? I'll post after reading a few.

Johnnie, I always say that the most important piece of equipment is the direct link between you and your quarry. That said, both hooks and line have come such a long way since the early days. The other things mentioned have greatly enhanced our fishing but I could get by without some of them. Anything that helps prevent me from losing hooked fish has got to rank high on the list.

Hey Jonnie, I have to say that fishing lures themselves have come along way. You can get any style, pattern, color, size, weight, swimming depth, or anything else that you can think of now. I personally think that a fisherman without a lure, is a fisherman without fish, therefore being a little more important than a longer casting reel, or something to that effect. Great topic Jonnie. Blazer Bass Baits coming soon!!

Johnnie,


I do not know what to say to your question. There are so many good answers to it. My answer is the angler's mind and his/her capability to fish. With all of the new innovations in fishing, an angler has to know where to find and then catch the fish. I have used a simple in-line spinner to bag me a limit , then used a 6 inch worm to catch quality fish. Without the angler's knowledge of bass fishing, his ability is worthless. All anglers have the ability to use their imagination to catch fish (that is how all of the techniques and gadgets are invented). The angler's mind is the best innovation in the sport of fishing--without it, we would be doing something else in life (then again, what else is there in life to do but bass fish)

I would have to say with out a doubt the internet. The wide world web opens so many doors for all anglers no matter there skill level. With little work you can find info on any water.

Well guys, once again you've given me things to think about when I should be sleeping. Craig, you are right, those new hooks are so much sharper, better design for hooking power and stronger. Without a good fishing line, what good are hooks? Good thoughts.
Dennis, So true, we have lures at our disposal that 30 years ago anglers coudn't even conceive. Luckily someone did and made our lives much better.
Mark, 'our minds" why didn't I think of that? It's so true, if we're not thinking straight, all the new technology and products are just lifeless gadgets in the boat. Good thinkin'.
Eric, man, I overlooked that one-the internet! And after I've so much from it too, especially this terrific web site. If I had had the internet twenty years ago, "I could have been a contender", wait, I thnk someone already said that.
Good posts guys. I'm not commiting just yet, but I just can't imagine life without a good depth finder and trolling motor. Let's hear from some more members. Thanks, Johnnie

Johnnie- I liked all the answers. My answer is the weedless bow-mounted trolling motor.
The bow-mount freed up both hands and allowed me to stand up all the time which I continue to do today.

However, the plastic baskets that supposedly were weedproof many times caught almost as much weed as the prop. When Doug Hannon came out with the original weedless prop, that was the link that freed us from constantly stopping to lift the motor and manually untangle all the weed.

Of course, todays props are engineered even better. That is what I consider freedom.

Thanks all of you for contributing. You have made this a great website. Much obliged.
Joe

Well Eric took my answer from me. :rolleyes:
But agree the internet has been the most helpful, besides time on the water, in learning new tricks of the trade. This web site has help me lots and lots, that you can't imagin.

On a personal note the best innovation that I have had is making my own baits. Pooring worms and carving crankbaits to play with while on the water has really help reduce the stress inbetween the times that I can't be on the water. Each one that I do I can see the improvements and the little suttle changes that are made. Maybe one day one of my baits will change the history of bass fishing!!!!! Wow let me wake up here a minute!! Sorry slipped off to somewere else there.

Take care guys and gals

Conley

Johnnie - Great post!! I've got to believe it has been the trolling motor. With today's high powered TM, along with a 19-21 ft. glass boat, we can fish in places and conditions that were unfishable in the past. Just look at what Yelas did at the Classic. He was basically fishing in a river with all that current, and because of his TM he won the biggest title in fishing.

Today's TM is approaching the level of totally controlling the angler's boat for him/her, allowing him/her to concentrate more on the fish. Look at what Pinpoint has done in this area along with some of the autopilots on the market.

Now the company's have come out with built in transducers. No more running cable's down the TM shaft and most depthfinders will work with this system with the correct adapters.

It's like everything else. Everything has to work together. My TM is worthless without a good hook, line, and reel. And the best bait in the world won't catch fish if there are no fish around. But my vote goes to today's high output trolling motors.

Hey guys, thanks for the great answers. I guess the one innovation that I just can't live without is the bow mounted, foot controlled trolling motor. I all to well remember the days of fishing out of the back of the boat trying to steer a hand controlled, very low power trolling motor and still be able to fish. I want to fight fish, not the current or wind. All the other products mentioned have made life easier, no doubt, but I'd give up my outboard, depth finder, modern rods and reels and line, before I'd go back to hand controlled motors, including new models, I'm like JoeMo, I want both my hands free. Thanks guys, Johnnie Crain, Iowa