What Will You Pay For Gear? Why?

[Hooligan]

I have zero issue spending the money asked for on the highest price rods, be they custom, production, or otherwise. The same goes for reels. Why? In general they're lighter, more sensitive, and allow me to better fish a particular technique. Part of that is the confidence in my gear, and the ability to tune into it, part of it is that the fatigue of fishing at the end of 14 hours isn't the same as if I were fishing a 10 ounce reel and a 9 ounce rod. One wouldn't think it makes any difference, but it does.

There will be those that argue an Ugly Stick is completely sufficient for all techniques in bass fishing, and that may be, but it is not as sensitive as graphite rods, it's simply not. I don't want to get into the science of it, but glass is simply not as sensitive as graphite, plain and simple. You cannot tell the difference in bottom content on low end rods, you can't tell the difference on many things, a leaf, a twig, a fish lightly mouthing a jig.

When I fish for fun, I want to maximize my learning on the water, the higher end rods allow that; before the advent of side imaging and down imaging, how did we figure out what was down there? That's right, a 2D sonar, a big jig, and a sensitive rod. When I fish for fun, I'm usually fishing a future tournament lake or fishing a technique that I enjoy and want to get the most out of. When I am fishing tournaments, I'm willing to put it all on the line and that's all there is to it. I want the best of the best to put every tool o the highest caliber to work for me.

I guess that's the way I look at it, they're tools. I don't buy cheap tools. They break, and often don't do the job as well their slightly more expensive more well built counterparts. That comes true in fishing too, and not just rods and reels, but line and tackle as well.

I guess, it makes me wonder why people would go about it half way. In some ways it falls to the mentality of "If you're going to do it, do it right. If you're not going to do it right, don't do it at all." Its not simply about having the best just to have it, but to maximize my enjoyment and experience on the water. In the end, it's about catching fish, and if I have the gear that allows me to catch one more fish than the other guy, well, then it's worth all the money I could possibly pay. I can't, for half a second, believe I'm alone on this.

[ww2farmer]

This has the potential to get ugly. I buy the best I can afford, non of it full price, some of it used. Like my most expensive rods, St. Croix Legend Tournaments. Never paid full price for one, the most I spent was $180 when the 7'10" Magnum Cranker was on sale last year when the came out with the new LT's.

Alot of people catch fish on lower cost stuff. It's great you love your expensive things, it's not for everyone.

[Crestliner2008]

Well, all I can say is that I go fishing for one reason and one reason only - to catch fish. There is no one that can convince me that you can buy success. I know several fishermen who only use top end equipment. They are decent fishermen, true. But in many cases, I outfish them consistently, with my run-of-the-mill, medium cost rods & reels. Besides, I just cannot afford to toss money around; and anyway, fishing is suppose to be one of the few sports that most people can actually afford to partake in.

[K_Mac]

Because of ongoing medical expenses my disposable income is limited. For this reason I have to carefully weigh the benefits of quality verses price. Most of my gear is in the lower to mid-range on the price continuum. It is, I believe, a reasonable compromise that is "good enough".

With that said, I have used enough high-end gear to know there is a difference. If I could afford to invest in better equipment, or made a living fishing I would have the best available. There are those who will argue that all that matters is talent and skill, and cheap gear is as good as any. It is not. There are others who will argue that high-end gear is necessary to be a good fisherman. It is not. At the extremes one camp says, "My Ugly stick is as good as your NRX, and spending that much on a rod is silly". The other camp says, "Fishing with an Ugly Stick is foolish and no serious bass fisherman uses anything but the best". Both of these views are egocentric. For most of us fishing is about having a good time. We come to this site to learn what's the latest and greatest in the world of bass fishing; what we do with that information is a personal choice...

[shady oaks]

I generally buy the best that I can afford. With that, I allow the dutch in my wife to come out of me and generally buy closeouts and sale items only. It's usually a discontinued model, but it's new to me. I agree with the comparison to buying cheap tools, and although they do work, you usually won't see those tools used by people who do it for a living and use them hard and daily.

Does this mean I'm automatically a better fisherman, absolutely not! I still struggle to learn how to piece together the puzzle, but when I figure it out, I can feel confident my "tools" will be ready for the grind when I do.

One last thing. Several years ago I went to Race Tech, a high end motorcycle suspension company, and the owner Paul Thede said "the best you've ridden is the best you know". This applies to everything in life. The best you've fished is the best you know.

[loodkop]

I really love fishing. I guess this means that I would rather be fishing with a cheap rod and reel than not fish at all. That doesn't mean that higher end gear doesn't improve the experience in many ways. At this stage I own a range of tackle collected over 20 something years covering most of the techniques I like to fish. This allows me to be selective in the new tackle I buy. I would rather wait a while longer to buy the rod or reel I really want than be satisfied with the lower end alternative as I'm already covered in whatever I want it for. To people who raise their eyebrows at what I'm willing to pay for equipment I can only point out that there are worse things to spend money on than a healthy outdoors sport I can enjoy with my sons (wife to if they are biting).

[Lund Explorer]

My question to Hooligan would be what the return on his investment yielded?

I can fully understand the tournament fishing aspect of the sport. Has prize money won using high end gear, exceeded the money spent?

[Dwight Hottle]

Hooligan's point is well taken. Ever since I was a teenager I saved to buy cash what I could afford. I'm a big believer that quality tackle is worth the price & holds up long term. Buy the best you can afford & enjoy it. There is proven quality at many different price points.

[tomustang]

My question to Hooligan would be what the return on his investment yielded?

I can fully understand the tournament fishing aspect of the sport. Has prize money won using high end gear, exceeded the money spent?

Well since he fishes for fun too, the point of buying high end gear returning an investment, doesn't matter since he's enjoying them outside the 'job' aspect

[Hooked_On_Bass]

Hooligan, you`re not alone. I’m one for quality gear as well. I just can`t convince myself to do it any other way.

To answer your question: if I like something enough and it suits my intended application, I will buy it, regardless of cost (within reason, of course).

[Catt]

How beneficial is "high end" equipment depends solely on the individual

I know guys with $70,000 bass boats, dozens of $1,000 rod & reels, 1,000s of dollars worth of lures and yet they can not catch an 8 bass daily limit on Toledo Bend!

Do you think KVD would be any less of an angler using Lighting rods or fishing out of an aluminum boat?

[grimlin]

Buying the best with what you can afford same applies for me.

I usually spend $100-$150 on a rod,$150 for baitcasters and anywhere from $75-$150 on spinning reels...so my limit is usually $150. Could I spend more? Probably,but there's so many great options in that price range that I rarely find anything junk(lucky I haven't).

Somebody mentioned Investment,I don't tournament fish.....but I'm pretty sure I'd be spending money on a therapist because I probably would have gone insane from boredom. Sanity is my investment....lol

[deep]

Buy the best you can afford & enjoy it.

X2

I spend what I can, and it's usually less than most. Living on a grad student's stipend sometimes sucks. The only two $150+ rods I have are my Powells. Why? Because I feel I need what sensitivity I can get when bottom bumping. If I could afford a GLoomis, would I get one? Probably.

I like to hunt big bass, and when fishing for them, I don't skimp on bait selection. Seriously, I have thrown $200 baits (one single bait cost me that) on my $100 rod and $75 reel I have also swam, more than a few times, to save $15 lucky crafts.

In the end, I guess it's what makes you happy. If you are a recreational fisherman, as am I, and happy fishing with Ugly Sticks, I'm stoked for ya.

[Jim_M]

It is entirely, completely and utterly subjective.

[Lund Explorer]

Well since he fishes for fun too, the point of buying high end gear returning an investment, doesn't matter since he's enjoying them outside the 'job' aspect

Hooligan's quote: "When I fish for fun, I'm usually fishing a future tournament lake or fishing a technique that I enjoy and want to get the most out of." leads me to believe that the act of FUN fishing is only an extension of tournament angling. Hence, it is part of the job.

[Michael DiNardo]

Someone must be buying those cheap $150 Curados, they sure have been making them for a long time.

Mike

[Raul]

Well, I´ve owned $350+ rods and reels, shure $350+ are very nice .... don´t have any of those left, $350+ rods ? man I can´t tell the difference between a 350 dollars rod and a 250 dollars rod, so after a while I ended up selling both and with the money I got more not that expensive, yeah I still have my TDZs and Pixies, Alphas, Scorpions & Chrnarchs but I didn´t pay full price for any of them, $250 or less, now I´m in a point where around $250 rod and/or reel seems a good price for an upper mid range item, won´t pay more because I´ve had them and there´s very little difference in performance between a $350+ rod/reel and an around $250 one.

Funny, but I haven´t purchased rods or reels in a good couple of years even on sale, I don´t see any "need" to get more.

[new2BC4bass]

I have to agree with K_Mac, shadyoaks and quite a few others. I buy the best I can afford. That isn't an NRX (or Evergreen, Megabass, etc.) rod or $600 JDM reel....no matter how much I would love to have both. Luckily my wife has no idea how much I've spent the past 3 years since getting back into fishing.

Although I got some of my loss back in 2010, I still make 13% less than I did 5 years ago. I'm paying about $500 a month in gas whereas I was paying about $160 a month back then. I'm sure everyone is aware of how much more it costs today for any item we purchase or activity we partake of compared to a few years ago.

I like Mr. Hooligan, but take exception to his remark "I guess, it makes me wonder why people would go about it half way. In some ways it falls to the mentality of "If you're going to do it, do it right. If you're not going to do it right, don't do it at all."" If I'm going to do a job, then I do the very best I can. Fishing isn't a JOB to me. I fish to relax and enjoy myself. I love catching fish, but If I spend all day on the water without a single bite, I can honestly say I still enjoyed myself. Just not as much as when I catch a lot.

Part of that enjoyment is using good gear. I take pride in my equipment and take care to maintain it in 'like new' condition as much as possible. Much of my gear was purchased on closeout or used. I am not going to stop fishing simply because I can't afford the quality of gear some can. Now if I had to fish an Ugly Stick and discount store reels, I might consider it......but then I'd grab them and go anyway!

I can remember the time when I thought Ugly Sticks were top-of-the-line.

[Bassn Blvd]

Well, all I can say is that I go fishing for one reason and one reason only - to catch fish. There is no one that can convince me that you can buy success. I know several fishermen who only use top end equipment. They are decent fishermen, true. But in many cases, I outfish them consistently, with my run-of-the-mill, medium cost rods & reels. Besides, I just cannot afford to toss money around; and anyway, fishing is suppose to be one of the few sports that most people can actually afford to partake in.

New York Yankees come to mind.

[SirSnookalot]

Matter of personal priorities and one's own budget. Lund remarks about ROI, I agree and would be surprised if many amateur fisherman came close to breaking even. I'm retired and I fish every day, luckily I do not have to watch my expenditures too closely, I can buy pretty much whatever I want. My boats are doing just fine back in Michigan with new owners, I choose to do my freshwater fishing from shore now, and my offshore fishing is done being a member of Freedom Boat club, a 27' twin engine Sailfish for $100 mo dues, and they even clean it, gas & go, I love it. Would I spend 50k for a bass boat, in a heartbeat if I enjoyed it, but I enjoy other types of fishing more. I'm not interested in trailering a boat or having a truck to pull it, been there with 4 tractors and a 6 axle trailer for each, lol.

I'm perfectly content using middle of the road equipment.

I don't really care if some one else catches more or bigger, if I'm happy that's all that matters.

[Stasher1]

I'm not a tournament fisherman, and really have no interest in it. For me, fishing is kinda like meditation. While I enjoy catching fish, it's not the main reason I'm out there.

I've never owned any rods or reels that cost over $200, and the majority of my more expensive gear has been sold/traded in favor of $100 rods and $100 reels. For me, that's where I find the best balance of cost vs performance. I don't own any of the latest or greatest gear, but what I have is pretty solid and doesn't seem to be hampering my fishing experience.

[preach4bass]

Well, if you have to spend a lot of money to catch fish, or to make fishing enjoyable, that's your problem. My grandaddy taught me to fish using a cane pole, fishing "string", homemade corks, and old rusted hooks. We'd dig worms behind the chicken coop, then catch bream and bass in the pond out in the cow pasture. I'd pay as much money as your have invested in fishing gear to go sit on the bank and catch a bucket full of bream with him again. (He died 5 years ago).

I own some high dollar rods and reels, and they're fun to use. But, I had an even bigger blast when I took my 2 year old daughter fishing with her $20 Barbie fishing pole the other day.

I don't need high end fishing equipment to catch fish or to make it pleasurable. I get my enjoyment from the company I keep and the memories we make. Can't put a price on those!

[JoePhish]

Back in the Fifties while my father was courting my mother, he went on a fishing trip with my maternal grandfather who was an old salt Navy vet from WWI.

My father, having not fished much and thus having no gear, rushed out to the store and purchased the latest and greatest; whatever that was back then. He really wanted to impress his future father-in-law. When they met at the boat my grandfather was armed with no more than a hand line. Sure enough he outfished my father silly.

As a result of this family story I grew up with the attitude that it's not the gear that makes a good fisherman good.

....but over the years I have realized that high quality gear can make a good fisherman better.

While I don't own any top of the line combos, as time passes I find myself upgrading the quality of my gear with every next purchase.

I've noticed a big difference between what I had and what I fish now in all aspects. I'm pretty much a bang for your buck kind of guy, so I don't really see myself ever spending top dollar for gear. However, I won't fish crappy rods and reels anymore.

[Catt]

What will you pay for gear?

I agree with Raul, I've owned G. Loomis rods until I tried Crucial which in my hands are just as sensitive.

I fish Calcuttas because I like the way a round reels feel in my hands and they are extremely dependable. My wife bought me a Chronarch which I used once before returning for another Calcutta.

I seldom pay $6-8 for 3 tungsten weights when I can buy 100 lead weights for $15 including shipping and handling. Plus very few people I know who use tungsten can out fish me.

I refuse to pay $2 a piece for hooks when ratio of bites landed is in the upper 90%.

I love Down Imaging but I don't need to spend $2,000 when my 570DI works fine at $300.

[billsarima]

When I was younger I would buy cheaper gear but found as I got older to purchase quality gear as it would last longer. Now I'm not saying go buy hundreds of dollars in equipment but buy some gear with good reviews!!