I took my son and his friend down to the Ringold area (Tri-Cities, Columbia River)to watch and talk to the bankies.
I was really surprised to see all of the Plunkers line up alongside the shoreline. There were some bait casters but the majority of em were Plunkers.
I suppose there are a number of ways to fish but my observation lead to this-
Bait casters/ Fly fisherman are working alot harder for their catch and are purist in the fact that they are out there making something hopefully happen....in other words REAL FISHERMAN!
The Plunkers on the other hand tend to be lazy, beer drinking party boys with a ton of time to kill- one guy was sleeping in his chair just waiting for the bell to wake him up!
It takes all kinds and honestly the plunkers were catching more fish than the bait caster/fly fisherman- I guess to each his own but I prefer to give the bait caster/fly fisherman a BIG THUMBS UP for their efforts
.

Let's see......partying,napping,generally being lazy with too much time on my hands AND catching fish.......sounds good to me!

Hmmm let me see, the majority are unemployed and have the brains of a grapefruit is all you'll need to fish their method. I'll let you decide which people fall under this category.

Now you are stereo typing, I have seen those acts going on in just about any type fishing you can describe. Seen plenty of flyfishermen smoking dope on the river because they are one with nature. Boaters drinking all the time(which done in moderation is fine) I fish just about every way possible including plunking on ocassion, it is a good way to catch fish and so far this spring if you are on the bank it has been the way to go. My favorite is drift fishing bait, but if everyone else is doing something different in the location you want to fish then that is the way you need to go. Dont let the rif raf discourage a good time.Who ever said anyway that you cant sit back and have a beer or two and relax while fishing, plunking is pretty boring sometimes, so you gotta kill the time

[ 04-23-2001: Message edited by: spinnerbuilder ]

I am a one dimensional fisherman. I like to catch fish. If a flyrod is the hot ticket, I'm in. If it's running jigs, I'm game. If it's chuckin and duckin, sign me up. Drift fishin bait, count on me to be there. Tossing hardware, can't wait to do it.Never tried plunkin, but would do it in a heart beat if I could catch more fish.

Maybe we are all missing the boat (pardon the pun) here. Isn't fishing about catching a few slimers, and relaxing. I wish that I was wired to the point that I could enjoy sitting in a lawn chair. and waiting for a bite. Sounds like a pretty choice way to kill some time.

It isn't how you fish, it's all about having a blast. I bet you could get a dozen members from the board together, find a nice gravel bar, load up the plunkin rods, bring a few ale treats, chow, and a deck of cards, and have one of the best times of your life. Enough of the preachin, I gotta go figure out how to make a Midwest plunkin rig.

A little rough on us plunkers aren't you? The only access I have to Springers are from the beach, so I have to plunk if I want one for the BBQ. If I had a boat I would change my tactics, but till then I'm hangin out with the beer swillin trailer park people

Just want to go on record saying that I would not NEVER rule out being a bank "plunkman"-
I may be stupid but I'm not dumb....I think

Just want to go on record saying that I would not NEVER rule out being a bank "plunkman"-
I may be stupid but I'm not dumb....I think

Now y'all are assuming I was referring to plunkers

So what category to the folks who smoke out and drink beer fall under because I know a few people who aren't plunkers who do both

I like to be on the river catching fish. If that means plunking the evening bite down low after floating higher up all morning, so be it. I'll enjoy a beer and something off the fire with the rod stuck in a holder for a couple hours.

Whats so wrong about taking some methamphetamine and throwing out a chunk a bait on a plunking rig from your trailer home. Since I don't partake in that, guess I'll have to stick with booze.

I never thought of fishing as an aerobic sport. I think a lawn chair and brew would treat me just fine. Think I'll be doing that at Bonny this weekend in fact.

Well, I'll throw in my .02 in here. First off, I don't believe in any type of "purist" type of fishing. Is flyfishing, or any other the all mighty method of fishing. HELL NO!!!!! There are no elitist methods nor is one man's version of fishing better then another, just different in my opinion. Except, I do believe that being a snagger isn't fishing. I see it as just reefing fish in.

Ok, onto plunking. Plunking isn't a "dead beat" version of fishing. It can be, but as stated above all fishing can be. I was raised a plunker. First rod I used was a fenwick 89c with an 5000c fishing for steelhead on the Puyallup in the early 70's. It's as much an artform as drifting/flyfishing, etc. Anyone can throw out a piece of lead and sit in a chair. But it won't always get you fish. But, if you know how to read a slot, use the right gear/tackle, and hit the run right and it's extremely productive. Also, as said above, if you're stuck fishing the bank on a big river you can't go wrong. A flyrodder would have a hell of a time casting that much line and controlling it (except maybe spey) and a driftfisherman would be out of their league on an extremely wide slot. Also, plunking is one of the most productive methods when the rivers out of shape. Your bait gets down and stays in place.

Didn't mean to sound snotty, but plunking isn't all brain dead. It is as sophisticated as one makes it. You can't judge it by a few guys you may have seen on a bank. Of course, I also knew alot of guys who would sit and sleep (usely from a drunken stuper) while they plunked. Yet I also knew alot of guys who I learned from who used it as a very successful form of fishing. It produced when other methods failed. So, I will not demean plunking by no means.

What some of you aren't aware of is our buddy Hey_Yall is a former hard core plunker - so he could fish and play with his sheep at the same time. He is undergoing a 12 step program to help him withdraw from his combo of plunking/sheeping; a rare didsorder. His first step was to admit he had a problem; and that took 3 years! Now his third step is to put down other plunkers (even though that's a fine way to fish - it's just a bank version of boat anchor fishing above a slot) publicly to convince his mind it's a bad thing. I haven't found out what the second step to his program is. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with sheep though. Hey Os, has 'Yall been gettin on you about the white cotton fuzz on the rim of your knee high boots? If so, there ya go - step 2. Good luck with the program 'Yall; we are all pullin for ya dude!

RT

Hey RT, since we are talking about drunken stupors, I got something you can pull for me. That would be step #2.

Macsteely,
In your description of plunkers you forgot to mention the retired older folks on fixed incomes, parents and grandparents giving young kids an outing, teaching them to fish and camp, and the physically challenged. All good people that enjoy fishing as much or more than any so-called purist. You should try plunking. The commoradery on the river can be extremely uplifting and educational.

Hey Rt how come you keep bringin up "Sheep" I mean aren't you the one that was born and "Reared" in Montana and I'll use the term "Reared" Loosley......Os

[ 04-24-2001: Message edited by: The Reel Osprey ]

As long as you can catch fish and are having fun who cares what techniques you are using!!!

Is there a "more pure" way to fish? You bet. It's fishing in the way that is least harmful to the fish. We're never doing them any favors so we have to minimize our impact. Think about it that way.

Hey O's:

RT was just helpin his date over the fence. Honest

He's a BAAAAD Boy

Hey_yall, Osprey, and Hawk, I must say you guys are sounding a bit sheepish to me.