Why on earth would anyone spend $400 on a bass rod?

[Further North]

1 hour ago, RichF said:

I don't understand why this is such a highly debated topic.  If you like high end stuff and can afford it...get it, use it, and be happy.  If not, just don't buy it.  What's the point of telling others "they're wasting money" or "it's not worth it" or "I can catch more with my $20 rod than you can with your $400 one."  

 

To answer the OP;  the Legend Xtreme is an incredible line of rods.  There are few others out there that are on par with the build, strength, and sensitivity.  They're also backed by a pretty incredible warranty.  So are they worth the price tag?  I'd say yes. 

Your 1^st paragraph, IMO, nails it.

 

There's a subset of fishermen who want to be able to deride folks who can afford high end gear and choose to buy it.

There's another subset of fishermen who want to be able to deride folks who settle for lower priced gear.

 

Both groups are, IMO, worthless.  Sorry if that offends, but if you look in a mirror and you see yourself in either of those groups..ask yourself why you're there...

 

The whole concept of fishing...for fun, or for $$$, is a cost/benefit proposition.  Do what works for you, what you can afford and makes sense for where you are, right now...and blow off any Gomers who tell you you're wrong.  They've got no idea where you are in your life and have no business telling you what's right or wrong.

[NHBull]

Wow, this thread is still going on!  Almost makes my eyes bleed.

 

Regardless of cost, it is cheaper than therapy!

[Further North]

1 minute ago, NHBull said:

Regardless of cost, it is cheaper than therapy!

Doood...made me laugh out loud...

[BrackishBassin]

8 hours ago, NHBull said:

Wow, this thread is still going on!  Almost makes my eyes bleed.

 

Regardless of cost, it is cheaper than therapy!

 

If only we could get insurance to cover it...

[Catt]

8 hours ago, Further North said:

The whole concept of fishing...for fun, or for $$$, is a cost/benefit proposition.  Do what works for you, what you can afford and makes sense for where you are, right now...and blow off any Gomers who tell you you're wrong.  They've got no idea where you are in your life and have no business telling you what's right or wrong.

 

 The #1 key to consistently catching bass is between your ears not between the folds of your wallet!

 

I personally know a dozen elite level anglers & a couple dozen guides, not a single one throws $400+ dollar rods, most are in the $250-300 range.

 

A huge portion of sensitivity has to do with who is holding the rod & how the brain interpretation of what it's sensing.

[Johnbt]

"Regardless of cost, it is cheaper than therapy!"

 

Works better too. But if the day ever comes it doesn't work better for me, my girlfriend is a licensed counselor. 

[Further North]

13 hours ago, Catt said:

 

 The #1 key to consistently catching bass is between your ears not between the folds of your wallet!

 

I personally know a dozen elite level anglers & a couple dozen guides, not a single one throws $400+ dollar rods, most are in the $250-300 range.

 

A huge portion of sensitivity has to do with who is holding the rod & how the brain interpretation of what it's sensing.

Well, sure...but I still don't believe it's best blow off any Gomers who tell you you're wrong.  They've got no idea where you are in your life and have no business telling you what's right or wrong.

[long island basser]

I  believe this thread only continues because of one nasty little word.

Jealous.

[Russ E]

I know a lot of fishermen who would never pay $400.00 for a rod, but they own 15 to 20 $200.00 rods.

which is worse? 

I would say I am closer to the 15-20 $200.00 rods. I would have no problem paying $400.00 for a rod if I felt it was worth it. If I consider what I pay in Gas and tackle every year to fish,$400.00 is not that much.

[Further North]

47 minutes ago, Weedwhacker said:

If I consider what I pay in Gas and tackle every year to fish,$400.00 is not that much.

...nailed that...

1 hour ago, long island basser said:

I  believe this thread only continues because of one nasty little word.

Jealous.

People who are unhappy about what other people have will never, ever find happiness of their own.

 

...it'd truly suck to be one of those people.

[fishindad]

17 minutes ago, Further North said:

...nailed that...

People who are unhappy about what other people have will never, ever find happiness of their own.

 

...it'd truly suck to be one of those people.

Respectfully disagree with you and long island. The one word I'd use to describe the people who are unhappy in this life is "insecurity." To use Catt's post as an example, of his friend who won't be caught dead using less than the best, is a cycle that marketers and advertisers aim for and suck these people in with. Similar strategy as those women's magazines at the checkout that prey upon their insecurities of not being beautiful enough. The unhappy ones are those who feel that what they own, wear, drive, fish with, etc. defines them. I would guess that Catt could outfish (for bass) his friend with the Basscat any day of the week.

 

I also would bet there are more guys than not who are up to their eyeballs in loan payments driving boats and tow rigs they actually cannot afford. Why is that? Do they actually think they won't be taken seriously as a bass angler unless they fish out of a 521? Do you think these same guys look down on anyone fishing out of an old jonboat/kayak/deep V?

 

I make plenty of money at a job I love and own some high end rods, including the aforementioned St Croix Legend Elite/Extreme. Is it better than a $120 rod? Sure. Does it catch more fish than a $120 rod? Only if the St Croix was in Aaron Martens' hands vs mine, lol.

 

We are all free to spend our hard-earned cash they way we please. But...If it ever comes down to me not wanting to be seen fishing with less than a Conquest/Aldebaran combo or fishing out of a Basscat, I'll quit fishing. In my opinion, what sucks is to be the person who "needs" to be seen wearing a Rolex, using an NRX, driving a BMW, etc. and is always looking to buy their way to happiness with the latest and greatest.

 

Note to Catt: I hope you know I mean no disrespect to you or your friend. I was just using that as an example : )

[Catt]

@fishindad totally understand & agree!

 

The friend I mentioned Allen along others he fishes club tournaments with buy the highest end equipment because it fits their persona. They know all the latest buzz words, they know all the most popular techniques, they dress a particular way, drive a certain tow vehicle, pulling the newest boats. They're constantly trying to gain that little edge & believe tackle/equipment is the edge.

 

 

[Angry John]

The edge is market hype.  Another 50 hp in that motor means nothing to me.  If your a pro then you have a budget and you are in it for money.  I am in it for fun and friends so the cost is not my primary concern.  I fish out of a yak because it leaves more fore tackle.  Some people enjoy nice gear, I know I do, not because it's expensive.  The best rods I have are hand made and are worth way more than the money they cost.  Money is always a factor in life but let's be real 400 dollars for a rod is not near top end these days.  

[hawgenvy]

A relatively wealthy fishing buddy of mine uses cheap rods and reels, and does very well with them. He enjoys fishing and catching fish, as I do. He enjoys, like me, being outdoors.  We both love going out and thinking about fishing and nothing else. The problems of work, home, politics, bills and money disappear as we concern ourselves with what bait to throw next and where to throw it. But I have an additional pleasure in fishing that he doesn't have. I'm talking about machine pleasure, the appreciation of refined mechanical function, the beauty of fine fit and finish, the smoothness of a reel, the liveliness of the rod working the bait, its lightness and sensitivity, the sublime way a fine rod bends to a big fish while maintaining confident power and control. My friend doesn't get that at all, just like many people cannot appreciate a superb automobile. To them it's just transportation. Sure, an important aspect of having great equipment has to do with what you can afford.  But in most cases it's a matter of priorities.  If you can appreciate the beauty and feel of a fine machine, if using a finely crafted $300-400 rod or reel sends shivers of pleasure down your spine, go for it. But if it doesn't matter to you, use cheap but functional stuff.  It works nearly as well and you won't even know what you're missing.

[NYWayfarer]

My biggest problem with a $400 rod is durability.

 

If my $50 rod snaps on a submerged branch hook-set or getting caught in a door I am going to cuss up a storm and then go out and buy a new one.

 

If my $400 rod snaps the same way I am going to snap mentally and get real depressed at the waste of money. then I have to save up enough disposable income to buy another. Chances are once I save up about $60 towards the $400 I am going to buy a Fenwick Eagle.

 

 

[Further North]

6 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

If my $400 rod snaps the same way I am going to snap mentally and get real depressed at the waste of money. then I have to save up enough disposable income to buy another. Chances are once I save up about $60 towards the $400 I am going to buy a Fenwick Eagle.

If most $400 rods snap, you're going to call up the company, send in the broken rod, pay for shipping and handling and have a new rod on the way in a couple days.

[Catt]

28 minutes ago, Further North said:

If most $400 rods snap, you're going to call up the company, send in the broken rod, pay for shipping and handling and have a new rod on the way in a couple days.

I can do that with my $200 rod ?

[fishballer06]

41 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

If my $400 rod snaps the same way I am going to snap mentally and get real depressed at the waste of money. then I have to save up enough disposable income to buy another.

 

35 minutes ago, Further North said:

If most $400 rods snap, you're going to call up the company, send in the broken rod, pay for shipping and handling and have a new rod on the way in a couple days.

 

This.

[NYWayfarer]

41 minutes ago, Further North said:

If most $400 rods snap, you're going to call up the company, send in the broken rod, pay for shipping and handling and have a new rod on the way in a couple days.

I am not talking about a manufacturers defect I am speaking of breaking the rod by doing something dumb, I am accident prone.

 

I will not return the rod for replacement if it was my fault. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jaderose]

Why do people pay a million dollars for a Ferrari?  Because they can and that represents value to them.  To me, the biggest question is, "Why on earth would anyone care what someone else pays for a bass rod?"

[RichF]

18 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

I am not talking about a manufacturers defect I am speaking of breaking the rod by doing something dumb, I am accident prone.

 

I will not return the rod for replacement if it was my fault. 

 

 

 

 

 

See St Croix's replacement program...You break your Legend Xtreme by doing something dumb, pay $15 for a Fedex shipping label from the website and pay $85 for the replacement cost.  $100 total to replace your broken Xtreme.  Pretty darn good deal IMO. 

[Ratherbfishing]

Like most things, there is a law of diminishing returns on fishing gear.  And I've got other things I'd like to spend my extra money on, too.  HOWEVER, if a person wants to spend a bunch of money on something (rod, car, shotgun, wife)-more power to them.  My ONLY concern is when this becomes a trend among consumers, I believe it can drive up the price on everything.  I've no research to back this up but I suspect it is true.

[johnmyers]

42 minutes ago, Jaderose said:

Why do people pay a million dollars for a Ferrari?  Because they can and that represents value to them.  To me, the biggest question is, "Why on earth would anyone care what someone else pays for a bass rod?"

Exactly

[Montanaro]

Lets get something straight...

 

The difference in an imported exotic v10 super car among other cars is substantially greater than a $400 fishing stick among cheaper sticks.

 

 

[Deeare]

I love high end gear but you don't have to pay full price If you wait for a good deal online. 

 

I won't buy a rod over $200 unless it's on sale (at least $100 off).   I ended up getting a glx last year during an online sale for $250.  G loomis has the wildcard program (you got to register the rod though).  When the rod breaks in 4 or 5 years they will replace it for free no questions asked!!!   

 

Make sure your the high end rod has a great warranty and it's a no brainer!!!