When is Enough, Enough?

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

I've got a system that seems to be working. I've been back to fishing after a long, long break and am fighting in vain the urge to buy all the new toys that have been developed. I found my wife is quite amenable to my new tackle purchases if I've done something productive around the house first. For example, today I am power washing my privacy fence (Heaven knows it needs it!) and I know when I'm done she's gonna say, "Honey, it looks great! You worked hard - don't you want to take some time to go fishing?" The door is now open and I tell her I need to pick up a few things first. I see the tackle monkey grinning from ear to ear as I head for Dick's or make up an online order.  I figure that "enough" will only be attained when her Honey-Do List is complete. Like THAT will ever happen! And everybody is happy.

[roadwarrior]

Once you have "everything you need", focus your spending on something new that is winning tournaments or

is being widely used by tournament professionals. For example, I have at least one of everything that has 

supposedly "won" the Classic for the last 20 years or so. On the other hand, 99% of the time I'm fishing a 

soft plastic, jig or square bill this time of year.

 

[thomas15]

When you buy something and then discover that you already have it but forgot, then you are close, but not quite to the threshold. At that point you need to create a system for tracking your tackle.

 

When you consult your tracking system and then still purchase a duplicate, threshold crossed, monkey in control.

[Ratherbfishing]

If you are asking this question, you are probably pretty close to begrudgingly answering it yourself.  The conflict may lie in that if you admit you've got enough gear, it might feel like you are capitulating to your wife.  MANY couples struggle over money and power issues.  Your wife may, in part, buy shoes and stuff in "retaliation" for some of your purchases (like you've admitted to doing after some of hers).  I'm not a marriage or couples counselor (though I do play one on TV) so I'll stay away from that BUT it might be something worth thinking about.  Anyway, if you feel like you need to slow down, at least, you can always do so.  

[Fishin' Fool]

Is your wife going to quit shopping for shoes?  Of course not, you keep on buying

[Munkin]

On ‎6‎/‎21‎/‎2017 at 3:43 PM, Jar11591 said:

For me, collecting tackle, rods, reels and other fishing equipment is all part of the sport that I'm so passionate about and obsessed with. So I guess enough is never enough. 

 

I really like this answer! The problem I have now is you cannot walk around either the basement or garage without tripping over tackle.

 

Allen

[RoLo]

Wouldn't be so bad if I collected one or two of every lure.

But Oh No, I've got to have a dozen of every spoon, plug and spinner that I use,

and several pounds of each soft-plastic I use (as if they're going to become extinct).     

I have enough retired fishing rods to erect a picket-fence around my property 

 

My wife is my saving grace. Believe it or not, her bait monkey addiction

is even worse than mine, which keeps my guilt complex at bay   

 

Roger

[bh91]

Too long to read , so never enough

[spokey9]

If Bill dance guest hosts an episode of hoarders and knocks on my door...that's when I'll begin to ponder if I got too much gear

[MassYak85]

6 hours ago, John Loughlin said:

 I think as long as you are not putting a financial strain on yourself and you have the room to keep your equipment  you'll be fine.  

Well said. If you are spending so much it's affecting budgeting for necessities between you and your wife then obviously it's a problem. But everyone I think should have at least one hobby they are passionate about, I think that's healthy. If she has hers and you have yours, I don't think it should be a big deal. But at the same time if she thinks you have too much, it wouldn't hurt to analyze whether you actually do. If the quantity is the thing, you could always just replace and sell old stuff and get nicer stuff over time instead of expanding how much you have. 

[whitwolf]

I'm of this opinion; I am at a point in my life where If I want/need it I get it. I rarely buy something because It's the latest and greatest but I do like to collect vintage Rebels for display and buy what I want. As for baits I fish with I will buy what I need and sometimes buy what I don't need. It's not a problem unless you make it a problem.  I, like others on this thread, enjoy collecting baits and consider It a part of fishing.