Just Doesn't Matter

[*Hootie]

So, you can have high end $500 and $600 dollar reels and the bass really don't care. Catch a nearly 21 pound bass on a Zebco 33? Is that even legal? June 23, 1973.

Hootie

[Bluebasser86]

What would have been the Arkansas record was caught on a Zebco a few years ago had the guy had a fishing license like he was supposed to. 

[Goose52]

As many on the board might know, I have long supported the efficacy of "value-priced" equipment for bass fishing........but this is a bit more "value" than I have ever promoted...

BTW - the Florida state record flathead catfish (63.8 lbs) was just reeled in with a................wait for it...............Zebco 33 !!

 

[Bluebasser86]

17 minutes ago, Goose52 said:

 

BTW - the Florida state record flathead catfish (63.8 lbs) was just reeled in with a................wait for it...............Zebco 33 !!

 

As was the world record from Elk City Reservoir in Kansas. A monstrous 123 pounder by Ken Paulie.

http://www.in-fisherman.com/catfish/flathead-catfish/record-catfish-giant-flatheads/

 

[new2BC4bass]

No wonder my son-in-law and his father only use spincast reels.  They are lucky. 

[Darren.]

Kinda like a Yugo will get you from 
point A to point B just like a BMW
only with less flair... 

[Todd2]

Reminds me of the time my non-fishing brother in-law was burning a worm across the pond with a 33 from my dad's shed. I think I was in mid sentence on why he was retrieving it wrong when the biggest bass I'd ever seen in the pond attacked his worm. I stayed quiet the rest of the day...lol

[buzzed bait]

my old man gets a kick out of my "fancy stuff" while he still crushes it on his daiwa goldcast and no name pistol grip rod!

[rippin-lips]

1 hour ago, Darren. said:

Kinda like a Yugo will get you from 
point A to point B just like a BMW
only with less flair... 

I use the same reference for my argument on nice gear. 

You can drive to work in a cavalier or a corvette. 

[Red Bear]

yet some people will see this and still think no one can catch fish without the most expensive of everything available...

[flyfisher]

2 hours ago, Red Bear said:

yet some people will see this and still think no one can catch fish without the most expensive of everything available...

I don't think anyone thinks that at all.  Some people just like to spend their money on higher end gear.  If they have the money to do so and it gives them as much enjoyment as anyone else then who really cares.

On a related note, i bought my son his first real fishing rod and it is a zebco 33 and it is surprisingly nice.  Hopefully he can feel the tug of a fish on it for the first time this weekend when i take him out on the kayak  

[Red Bear]

12 hours ago, flyfisher said:

I don't think anyone thinks that at all. 

 

you would be surprised...

[Master Bait'r]

So?  Broken clocks are still right twice a day and lightning is always striking somewhere in the world.  What reel a guy caught a fish on means about as much as the last guy's winning lottery numbers the next time the numbers are pulled.  

 

We can draw whatever conclusion we feel we must for the discussion at hand, but in the end you can go buy 200 zebcos and none of them are more likely to pull a 20#+ fish than any other reel out there.  The fact that there are so many out there is the only reason you keep seeing them.  

 

 

1 hour ago, Red Bear said:

you would be surprised...

 

If that's what you honestly think goes through people's' heads when they buy something really nice, I can only assume you never have and don't personally know anyone who has either haha

[lmbfisherman]

That's great, but I still love fishing with my combos.  

[Red Bear]

17 minutes ago, Master Bait'r said:

If that's what you honestly think goes through people's' heads when they buy something really nice, I can only assume you never have and don't personally know anyone who has either haha

see, you guys are twisting what i said here. or just completely misunderstanding. apart of the problem is you are assuming. i've personally had a person several years ago point at my gear and say "that wont catch no fish, neither will that one, and that one might" and they were dead serious about it. wasnt a case of them yanking my leg. one of them was actually a zebco 33, one was a shakespeare tiger spincast, and one was a tiger spinning combo. yes, none of them cost more than $20, but i had pulled in a bunch of fish on all of them. the only one i still have is the tiger spincast combo, and that is one lucky reel/rod combo, i've since spent more money and have bought nicer gear myself. what im getting at is, i have nothing against someone spending what they want on their gear, its their money after all, but you do have snobs out there who think you cant catch fish on cheap gear. ive personally met one of those people. a couple days later we ran into him out on the water one morning, i had 2 nice stripers i held up for him to see, he was sitting there skunked...

[Master Bait'r]

31 minutes ago, Red Bear said:

see, you guys are twisting what i said here. or just completely misunderstanding. apart of the problem is you are assuming. i've personally had a person several years ago point at my gear and say "that wont catch no fish, neither will that one, and that one might" and they were dead serious about it. wasnt a case of them yanking my leg. one of them was actually a zebco 33, one was a shakespeare tiger spincast, and one was a tiger spinning combo. yes, none of them cost more than $20, but i had pulled in a bunch of fish on all of them. the only one i still have is the tiger spincast combo, and that is one lucky reel/rod combo, i've since spent more money and have bought nicer gear myself. what im getting at is, i have nothing against someone spending what they want on their gear, its their money after all, but you do have snobs out there who think you cant catch fish on cheap gear. ive personally met one of those people. a couple days later we ran into him out on the water one morning, i had 2 nice stripers i held up for him to see, he was sitting there skunked...

 

I think the person in question was simply an idiot to be fair.  Any sane person would have been annoyed! 

 

Its definitely the Indian and not the arrow...  That said, I can't find a single reason to not enjoy having nice arrows too! 

 

 

[*Hootie]

Sheesh guys, I didn't mean to start an argument...lol.

Hootie

[soflabasser]

Great subject with a lot of people bringing up good points! I have been bass fishing longer than some members have been alive and I have realized that expensive gear is not truly needed to catch bass, even the big ones.I have caught the vast majority of my bass on gear many would frown upon on since its ''cheap'' in their eyes. The fact is a big bass is a big bass whether caught on a $100 combo or +$600 combo and nothing can change that!

[Ratherbfishing]

I don't care much about impressing others and I do believe in the law of diminishing returns but I upgraded a long time ago for a reason.  Several reasons, actually.

[OCdockskipper]

On 6/23/2016 at 7:05 AM, rippin-lips said:

You can drive to work in a cavalier or a corvette. 

Lebron James will drive you to work?  When does the man find the time??

[FrankN209]

I only keep mine for nostalgia sake. I never use it. Just neat to look at. 

[trick worms]

5 hours ago, OCdockskipper said:

Lebron James will drive you to work?  When does the man find the time??

Your right he's too busy finishing paying off the refs

[EllisJuan]

I don't buy expensive gear because I think it will catch me more fish.  I buy it because it helps me tolerate days that I don't.

[*Hootie]

6 hours ago, EllisJuan said:

I don't buy expensive gear because I think it will catch me more fish.  I buy it because it helps me tolerate days that I don't.

That's me, it's just part of the fun of bass fishing. I have been fishing everything from lightning rods to GLX's and my NRX so far this season. For the past couple of weeks, I have been really enjoying using my new Mojo Bass rods. I'm just a hopeless collector. .....lol. 

As far as catching more fish, I believe that if you really like what you're using, you will be more focused and fish with more confidence. Therefore, more fish. Just a thought. 

 

Hootie

[rippin-lips]

I buy nice gear because I I have no other hobbies and I also enjoy having nice things. I can afford it at this point in my life so why not. Can't take it with you. Also as mentioned it's just enjoyable to use. When I float the river for smallmouth I take a $50 combo. I have no problems catching 25-50 fish on it each time we go out. I still have a good time also.  As they say - get in where you fit in.  There's guys out there fishing Megabass arms rods and limited edition monoblocks. Easily a $2,200 combo. I don't fit in there and never will.