The Tug is the Drug

I just got thumped. I just got crushed. That fish absolutely smoked it. Wow, did you see that blow up? That one hit like a freight train. I could go on but you get the point. Exclamations such as these are used to describe the feeling we get when we make contact with a fish. We all have our own description or phrase that we use to drive home the point when a strike happens or when a fish makes a move to rid itself of a jig or plug. I enjoy being in the company of other fishermen and listening to the descriptions that are used and watching how animated most of those conversations become; it’s one of the very cool things about our sport. I heard a phrase recently from one of my buddies, Nic Dragomire, who resides and fishes in Mexico, that absolutely sums all of this up for me, “The Tug is the Drug.” I couldn’t have said it any better or agree any more, it all boils down to that feeling and it’s exactly what keeps us coming back for more.

In recent years we have become so incredibly efficient at catching fish that it almost seems like part of the whole process has been left behind. Incredibly sensitive fishing rods adorned with highly advanced reels spooled to the gills with space-age fishing lines in some way take the drama out of the catch. As long as you hook your fish your odds of landing it are pretty dang good, unless you have some operator error or other misfortune. Seldom now do we ever take to the bay and show up undergunned. By that I mean using the lightest gear possible in order to maximize the fight. There are few things cooler than catching a big fish on tackle designed for smaller fish, the level of skill required to properly fight and land that fish are vanishing skills that few anglers see as important anymore. It’s a shame that more folks don’t attempt using lighter gear because it amplifies every fish you catch to the point of feeling like an accomplishment, especially if it turns out to be a really big fish.

For years I stood on the boat with my friend and mentor Dickie Colburn while we combed the shorelines of Sabine Lake for flounder. Dickie was a huge proponent of the spinning rod for such a program because he liked the light line presentation that it offered as well as the sensitivity needed to detect the subtle strikes. On numerous occasions that subtle bite turned into an oversized redfish and our fishing trip turned into a rodeo as line left his reel at an alarming pace. We would laugh at the situation and chase the fish until we could get the upper hand on it and bring it into the net. Each one of those big fish would produce a huge smile and a sense of accomplishment for taming it with such light gear.

Over the years I have developed an affinity for chasing fish with tackle properly suited for the species in order to maximize the experience and that has lead to some epic battles. For instance, during the summer months we get all sorts of fish showing up farther inland than most would realize and they make for great fun. Croaker, small black drum, and sand trout are tops on the list and are usually very prevalent for those who know where to look. A micro-sized spinning rod of 4.5 to 5 feet paired with a reel spooled with 4-6 pound test, a split shot and small piece of shrimp, squid, or tiny plastic jig and you have yourself a recipe for fun. At some point during each one these trips someone will encounter a slot-sized redfish or solid trout and you would think a 1000 pound blue marlin had taken the bait. This program is so much fun and a welcome change of pace; it gives you a new appreciation for some things and adds another dimension to your time on the water. Once you try this style you’ll be surprised how many more times you go back to it…just because.

Now don’t get me wrong, I understand that folks are pressed for time and feel the need to make their time on the water as productive as they can. Guides, party boats, offshore charters will all usually have their clients using larger than necessary tackle to help out with the hook up to catch ratio and I have no problem with that, everyone wants to be successful and numbers drive the market. But for a moment lets just say we don’t have to use the big gear and can just fish for sport, can you imagine how much fun that can be?

I have taken this approach, using the lighter gear, on many trips to places in Mexico and it’s an absolute riot! Once you assure the guides that you are happy they will usually let their guard down and enjoy watching you get your tail kicked. Recently we were swarmed with skipjack tuna and they put up a great fight for their size in deep water, that’s for sure. I opted for a heavy action travel rod from Fishing Tackle Unlimited and a wide frame Okuma Citrix just to see what would happen and it was like trying to grab a truck going by at 60 mph! I had an absolute ball trying to whip those fish with basically heavy largemouth bass tackle. It doesn’t take many of those to drive the point home as to how much fun those fish are when the odds are not so stacked so heavily in your favor.

I know that some will read this column and never give in to using smaller gear or lures and that’s fine, to each their own. I have witnessed on several occasions how offshore fish as big as tuna will eat tiny jigs or how oversized redfish will inhale miniscule topwater plugs. Smaller baits don’t necessarily mean smaller fish and smaller tackle can be as much fun as you could ever hope for. Downsize your tackle and upsize your experience because like Nic says. “The Tug is the Drug.