Good or Garbage
Lady and gentleman (I’m hoping there’s at least one of you),
I present to you Good or Garbage, the segment where we argue fruitlessly over the triumphs and failures of the fishing industry.
Gulp Recharge Fluid, Good or Garbage?
Declan: Let’s start off with an easy one. There’s nothing more refreshing than an ice cold glass of Gulp recharge fluid on a hot day. The second that glowing neon liquid touches your lips, I swear I can hear Barry White playing somewhere in the background. You don’t even need fishing line - just hold your rod to the sea like Moses and the fish will come to you. In all seriousness, this stuff really works. I have no idea how they make it, but damn does it attract fish. I bet the recipe for Gulp recharge fluid is more heavily guarded than that for the infamous Krabby Patty. Pro tip - buy one of the large recharge jugs and then when you inevitably run out of plastics, just buy the size and color plastic you want by itself and toss ‘em in to soak. GOOD
Grady: I think the effectiveness of Gulp is one of the few things that most fishermen will agree on. I have had more than one trip saved by the good ol stinky stuff. But here is my little secret: Just buy the large tub of recharge fluid, and stop using Gulp plastics. They are made intentionally poorly, so that you have to buy new packs after every fluke trip. Use heartier plastics but let them soak in the fluid and imbibe that sweet Gulpy goodness. GOOD
Max: I don’t think anyone can deny that gulp recharge fluid is a silly concept. You would think that this kind of gimmick would work better in freshwater ponds or back bays without much turbidity, but it’s been proven time and time again that it’s actually fairly effective in the salt, too. That being said, it definitely isn’t a hard requirement to use if you’re targeting doormat fluke. I keep some of the stuff on hand on the boat, but I usually leave it at home for a surfcasting trip. They should sell it in a vial that fits in a surf bag tube, like a Voss water bottle. GOODISH
Ugly Stick Rods, Good or Garbage?
Declan: Like many fishermen, the Ugly Stick rod got me started. These things are seriously durable, and while you’re not getting the best quality rod, you can really beat the heck out of these without worrying too much about their overall well-being. Need a travel rod that you can stuff in your suitcase without any protective padding? Get an Ugly Stick. Need a fishing rod for catching thousands of mackerel that will inevitably be covered top to bottom in rotting fish scales and blood? Get an Ugly Stick. Role playing? Get an Ugly Stick (and a therapist). GOOD
Grady: There used to be this awesome commercial on the outdoor network where a guy says he’s going bass fishing, and while he’s loading his truck or taking a shit or whatever, his wife tries to destroy his rod so he has to stay home and spend time with her. She steps on it, throws it against the wall, and puts it in the trash compactor. But what she doesn't know is that it's an UglyStik, and therefore it cannot be broken. There are times when I need a really hearty setup that I can depend on no matter how hard I fish it. My bait catching setups are all UglyStiks, and they probably always will be. GOOD
Max: Hate the Ugly Stik. The rods are fine enough, but as a man of aesthetic I just can’t get behind the intentionally edgy branding. Black and red? Are we serious? Declan can’t even remember that they intentionally spell the name without the C, which means they clearly don’t belong anywhere near the C-shore. I’ll probably never buy another spinning rod that isn’t a St. Croix or a Lamiglas, by the way. GARBAGE
Mystery Tackle Box, Good or Garbage?
Declan: For those of you who are not aware, the Mystery Tackle Box is a subscription based service that sends you a box every month with a moderate selection of tackle geared towards the species of your choosing. While I commend the business model and the execution of this idea, I can’t help but see this as a colossal waste of money. While I do likely run through enough fishing tackle to keep up with a monthly subscription, I want to buy the gear that I think will work, not play the lottery and end up with a jitterbug when I want more senkos. Fun gag gift for a friend? Sure, why not. Reliable source of gear for a hard fisherman? No thanks. GARBAGE
Grady: I agree with Declan for the most part. You can definitely get more for your money if you just buy the gear you want and take the guesswork out of it. But I do want to say something in defense of MTB. My buddy who barely fishes got a 6 month subscription one year, and he ended up trading me all the tackle he got for a bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey. I ended up with a bunch of gear that I really didn't need. But upon closer inspection, I found some gems sprinkled in with the garlic flavored soft plastics, and I still use some of that gear today. I can tell you with certainty that I wouldn't use lipless crankbaits without getting introduced by MTB. GOODISH
Max: I like the mystery tackle box in concept, but like my peers I think the execution leaves a lot to be desired. The folks that pack the boxes definitely add some filler, to the point where I wonder if they’re making more money off of brand deals with new tackle manufacturers than from people actually buying the boxes. I already have pretty much all of the tackle I’ll ever need, and I’m at the point where I pretty much only need to go to the tackle store to replace gear that I’ve lost. I would never buy a subscription for myself, but I wouldn’t be opposed to getting one as a gift for an aspiring angler so they get to learn for themselves what works and what doesn’t. GOOD
Tautog Jigs, Good or Garbage?
Declan: While I do still use tautog jigs from time to time, I much prefer using a high-low rig instead. My biggest issue when shore fishing for tautog is losing hundreds of dollars worth of gear and littering the rocks with fishing refuse. Tautog jigs, it seems, are destined to become snagged and lost as the hook is almost always in contact with the bottom. When fishing a high-low rig, not only can you use two hooks and fish different depths above the bottom, but your weight is the only part of the rig touching the rocks, theoretically decreasing the chances of losing your gear. GARBAGE
Grady: Tog jigs are not for everyone. They require a great deal of finesse and touch in order to fish them properly from shore. Unfortunately, my younger brother has the angling polish and guile of a nine year old T-ball player. Who was over-served at Chilis before the game. Where he was drinking. Alcohol. When I Tautog fish from shore, I use the lightest jig necessary to cast the distance and stay on bottom. The orientation of the hook is such that it should never snag a rock. When you are ready to move the jig, simply give a quick jerk and reel, and you won't snag up and lose gear like my poor brother Declan. Here’s a pro tip: use a tog jig and tie a dropper loop above it so you have a classy and respectable version of the unofficial rig of New Jersey, the “high-low rig”. Every time you tie on a high-low rig, a polar bear has a heart attack. GOOD
Max: I almost exclusively fish for Tog with a jig. I don’t really buy Declan’s angle of it being better to fish at two different depths with a hi-low rig. Tog are always on the hunt for crabs, and crabs are not free-floating either 1 foot or 2 feet above the ocean floor. Crabs are in the weeds, right where my Tog jig is. Sure, you might lose one or two per trip. That’s why they sell them in two or three packs. The added visibility granted from the neon paint job is just a bonus, as far as I’m concerned. GOOD
Tippet Rings, Good or Garbage?
Declan: If you asked me three years ago what I thought, I’d say fantastic. Today, I’m gonna have to go with garbage. Learning a knot that takes approximately 3 seconds to tie renders this metallic obstruction useless. Plus, I could never seem to find them in stores. I get the thought process behind them, but they are just not necessary. GARBAGE.
Grady: Tippet rings are great. I don't really use them much, but thats only because I forget to buy them every time I’m at a tackle shop. The blood knot is a fly fisherman’s best friend, and you should never use a tippet ring because you cant tie a knot. The main attraction of tippet rings is that you can keep tying new tippet without shortening the length of the leader. This allows you to buy a premium leader and know that it will last for potentially the whole season. Not to mention that they are so light that you don't break the surface film of the water, and can fish dry flies with ease. GOOD
Max: Never used ‘em. No real opinion on ‘em. IT DON’T MATTER, BIG FISH RIGHT AT YOUR FEET.
