Using the Rail--Discussion Thread:

[ksong]

As you see my post about jigging/popping rods, I like to experiment a lot with different things. Railing is one of them. In fact, I developed porta-rail to jig more than to fight tuna. Tuna jigging requires long hours, oftenly over 10 hours non-stop. It is not easy to jig non-stop over 10 hours even for a strong guy. Nowadays I don't use the rail to fight any tuna under 200 lbs as I am experimenting to fight a big tuna without harness or any other help by using my body and moving forward and backward. The technique is so effective anyone can land a big tuna with the technique without much problem.

[Gunsmoke]

The last time I fished with my father before he passed away, he was in his low 70's. He was a stubborn old guy fixed in his ways. He liked the long trolling rods with a shoulder harness. I kept telling him it was bad for his back. It's hard to teach an old mule new methods.

For nostalgia purposes, I took out one of his fishing cronies a couple of years ago. He was 84 and I had one the funnest trips in my life listening to his stories about him and my dad. Turns out the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

He bragged about this and that while sipping a cold beer. When the outrigger popped, I handed him the rod. After ten minutes, he turned to me and said,
"I was bullshitting you a little bit about my catches and health". He give me the rod and said "I'll just go sit down and drink a cold one and give you some tips".

I'm not one who likes to receive orders. This day I did without reservations. It was a pleasure to release "His" marlin that day. I saw him last week, and he was telling some woman about half his age how he battled a huge marlin last year. I just smiled and confirmed that he was a man among men. He reached in his pocket and showed me a bottle of Viagra. I guess he put his rod to use that night. If he didn't, he will confirm to me that he went multiple times.

[Uncle Russ]

I guess you all heard about the old guy in his 90 s whose doctor prescribed four Viagra pills each time he wanted to get it going. Next time he talked to the Doc, he revealed that he had only been taking one each time. The doctor lectured him that one wouldn't be nearly enough. "Hell," the old codger replied, "I just want to get that sucker high enough so that when I get up at night, I don't piss on my feet."

[gman]

from using the "rail" to Viagra ... boy Russ this thread started with so much promise ha ha ha ha ha ha

[peterk814]

I like the rail to whip fish in fast to I can take advantage of a hot bite that as wel all know can dissapate fast. Using the rail is no different than the guys who are using a harness and butt belt to aid themselves, it is not any less sporting that that. Same with two speed reels, the rail, harnesses, two speeds are all things to take advantage of fish.

[d-a]

Originally Posted by MrBill

I'm not sure if I should talk about the rail, the time I stole a little blue pill, or the comment about the apple not falling far from the tree.

Why not talk about all three? I am sure some one will get some good info out of it.

Younger guys about the rail, olderguys about the blue wonder pill and GS about eating the apples under the tree.

d-a

[crazyjigr]

If you need it use it if you dont dont there's no wrong or right.

[DeepBlueGulf]

On drifting party boats, where you have another 30 anglers wanting to catch fish, it's always a good idea to get your fish in quicker. And the longer your fish is in the water, the more likely you will have someone come by with another fish to tangle yours, and maybe burn you off before you get untangled. Unless it's a 100lb + fish, there is no need to use the rail at all unless you are already tired from fishing all night.

I do use the rail, but I don't use the rod as a lever or put much pressure on the rod, I pretty much just put the reel in low gear and winch the fish in. I do use the rhythm of the boat rising and falling to help as well.

Tom - DBG

[hatidua]

I only fish on private boats where rails are generally nonexistent so I've never had occasion to use one. Additionally, I have enough of a tackle addiction problem as it is so I won't be buying any porta-rails in the near future.

HOWEVER....I don't care if a person uses the rail, uses an electric reel, wants to wear a harness, catches their swordfish with buoy's and handlines, or feels the need to have a three-speed reel. If a person enjoys their method of fishing, great, I'm thrilled for them.

Far be it from me to criticize someone else's method of recreation. Wanna use the rail? GO FOR IT!

[Uncle Russ]

Yeah, I'm not an intolerant person until it comes to folks who try to make up rules for other folks--Gunsmoke's rules are acceptable because they strike me as the same sort of rules John Wayne or Charlton Heston would approve of. But dudes who sip lattes and tell me that I am the scum of the earth and don't deserve to live, unless I cast a barbless, size 28 dry fly upstream to a native, wild trout that you have spotted in a sipping rise to a known hatch, it makes me want to use rotenone on their local waters.

Russ