Every fall thousands of trophy Striped Bass venture South from New England
seeking warmer water. These fish only stop when they find enormous quantities of forage. Up North clams and menhaden are on the menu, but when they pour into the Chesapeake Bay, its eels. We concentrate on the giant females that are smashing through schools of bait, inhaling anything that will fit down their throat. During this very small window, these cows let down their guard and strap on the feed-bag. Sure you can catch stripers all year, but the Chesapeake cows are only catchable for a short time. One month a year at best, but it’s usually more like one week, or even one weekend. So there you are, two weeks until Christmas, you got off of work, and you talked a few buddies into coming along. You talked your wife into letting you go. You spend thousands to buy your boat. You spend thousand on your electronics. You spend thousands every year on fuel, maintenance, tackle, bait, licenses, boat insurance, boat tax, highway tolls, hotel bills, and Gortex winter gear. What did that leaning post cost?
A grand? What did that T-top cost? Four grand? How about that diesel pick-up to haul that beauty, 50 grand? Let’s not forget those aluminum mag wheels on the trailer that you had to have. (Another grand)? So there you are, smack dab in the middle of Trophy Striper Heaven and at the right time for once. So grab that $100 rod and reel combo that you got at Wal-Mart and go to work! It doesn’t take you long to realize that you brought a knife to a gunfight. SNAP! There goes another one (maybe I tied the wrong knot). SNAP! (It must be the wrong fish finder). SNAP! (It must be the wrong T-top). SNAP! (It must be the wrong mag wheels). Nope, it’s the wrong reels!

Sure, my crew works hard to catch trophy Bass. We have caught our share of 50 pounders, but

we have never boated a trophy fish because of our MAG WHEELS!

My teammate and I caught 46 fish on one day this December. Every fish was over 25 pounds. Thanks to our Boss Magnum 870’s, we had 46 hook ups and 46 boated fish. These reels are the smallest of the Accurate reels. I can easily fit three of them in a 50 pounders mouth at one time. When you get your hands on one of these reels, it quickly become apparent that you’re holding a different animal. I can definitely see my Grandkids using these scratched up, banged up, reels 20 years down the line. With 30 pound mono, we never even came close to getting spooled. Notice I said “We caught all of those fish, thanks to our 870’s, not our mag wheels”.







Thanks again,
Mike Smedley
Captain/ Team Old School

8 year old Jonathan Smedley of Team Old School wins freshwater Tournament

David, Ben,

Thought you might enjoy this;

We fished an open tournament this past weekend. The lake has mostly small fish, but the minimum size limit is 26". I brought my youngest Son (8 years old). We won first place in the Big Fish event, and took second in the overall. 80% of the field zeroed. These are pics of my Son bringing his fish up to the weigh-in with ALOT of embarrassed old-time locals that pitched a zero watching on. We only used giant 1 pound live Shad, and he caught this one on the 870-2 speed. With 30lb mono, he had to go "full throw" to stop this fish in the shallow brush-filled water. Although he is only 8, he is very smart, and knows more than just about everyone at the weigh-in about lever drag reels. He was on that rod, hit low gear, and went full throw before I could even open my mouth. NO BS!
I spend alot of time training both of my boys to hopefully take over the fishing world some day.


This was a full open event, not a youth event.

Thanks for everything.

Mike Smedley
Team Old school

December 2009

We are having a GREAT Trophy season. I have been very busy in promoting these incredible Accurate products. Ben has been helping me quite a bit in providing me with what I need to do so in the way that I feel is most effective. I have taken a page out of your "long-range" book. I have always felt, since day one, that to hold and use an Accurate reel is the only way to appreciate these animals. I have loaned out rods and reels to anyone and everyone I could find, (and trust), during this trophy season. I deal and mentor the East Coast's best Striped Bass fisherman. These men are the best of the best and incredibly set in their ways.

HOWEVER!- They cannot argue that to boat a Cow Striper on an Accurate set-up is like going fishing again for the first time. I can honestly say without ANY exaggeration that every guy that caught a fish on an Accurate rig will be re-rigging over the next few months. The reels speak for themselves.

Thank you so much for your continued support,
I will continue to carry on, showing this side of the world what they are missing!

December 2009