A few decades back, it was possible to go out on tour and experience success with a “Tennessee Tacklebox,” a brown paper grocery sack with a handful of flipping jigs, a few spinnerbaits and a small selection of crankbaits. None of those presentations required anything other than heavy baitcasting gear. There were a few outliers who regularly used spinning tackle, of course, like 1988 Bassmaster Classic champion Guido Hibdon, but for the most part spinning gear was referred to pejoratively as “sissy tackle,” or the “fairy wand.” Then the light-line butt kicking began.
