The Tackle Debate

[Mobasser]

A friend recently bought his son a new casting rod and reel. They had a deal. If the kid kept his grades good- with no bad reports this would be an incentive to keep it up. He stopped by last night to show it to me. Fenwick HMG casting rod and ABU BLACK MAX reel. The first thing he said was "well it's not really that good, I hope it will work". WHAT!!? I made a few cast in the yard with this outfit. I could fish it all day long. To prove a point, I showed him the rig I started on ABU red 5000 reel and a fiberglass Heddon casting rod. Heavy, slow, and not very sensitive either. I see this in the threads I read here. Lots of beginners are way to worried about brand name in tackle, or how much it cost. As many of us know, you can have the very best, but it won't catch any fish in the wrong location. I'm in no way knocking the high end tackle, it is better in many ways.Heres my take on it: take your tackle, regardless of brand, cost etc and fish as much as you can. Put in some time to learn about fish location, seasonal patterns and related info first. Your tackle will work just fine. Like old timers used to say here in Missouri," you can't catch em where there ain't none". That's a fact. 

 

[LCG]

The fenwick hmg is a nice rod. Plenty sensitive and strong. The reel is entry level but should work just fine. 

 

Is your friend buying his kid a BMW for his first car? Probably not, same goes with fishing equipment. 

 

My boy is younger, I got him an ugly stick youth model because he is not gentle with his stuff. If he likes the sport I will get him better stuff down the road but it works just fine for him now. I let him use my st croix rods but I do have that look of fear everytime

 

I will say that's nice to see an encouragement token other than phones, tablets, Xbox, etc. 

[Derek1]

I was checking out the ugly stick spin cast  combos for my grandson next year. I almost can’t get over how sloppy the real is. He has a Jurassic world dock demen type now. He’s six and I feel they outgrow their set up every year right now anyway so no point  in spending money on one yet. I think if they stay interested after a few seasons then get them something better. Just my two sence

[new2BC4bass]

1 hour ago, Derek1 said:

I was checking out the ugly stick spin cast  combos for my grandson next year. I almost can’t get over how sloppy the real is. He has a Jurassic world dock demen type now. He’s six and I feel they outgrow their set up every year right now anyway so no point  in spending money on one yet. I think if they stay interested after a few seasons then get them something better. Just my two sence

I started at 5 with a cane pole.  Next year my father got me a Mitchell 300 spinning reel.  Had it for a good many years.  No problem learning to use it.  I'd like to say that any 6 year old should be able to step right into a spinning reel, but I know that wouldn't be the truth in all cases.  Depends on the child.

 

 

OP, I like my HMGs.  It is not only a good rod for beginners but for anyone AFAIC.  No experience with the Black Max, but I tend to think that the Daiwa Fuego CT would be a much better reel.  I have seen them for less than $60 on ebay. Think lowest was $55 plus change.

[ratherbfishin1]

Nothing wrong with the black max. I have a friend who fished a black max for a long time and probably still would be if he hadn't tried my lews tournament pro one day.  As long as you don't know how good things can get you will be 100% satisfied.  I'm sure if I were to fish with a Antares I would not be satisfied with what I've got... but I haven't yet.

[LionHeart]

Were you quoting your friend? Or his son? If his son said this, make the little punk buy his own next time.  If your friend said this,  why did he buy it?

 

In truth, that's a very serviceable setup, especially for free.

[GReb]

I’ve caught a number of 7+ pounders on much worse equipment. That Abu reel would’ve been a Cadillac 20 years ago

[Mobasser]

25 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

I started at 5 with a cane pole.  Next year my father got me a Mitchell 300 spinning reel.  Had it for a good many years.  No problem learning to use it.  I'd like to say that any 6 year old should be able to step right into a spinning reel, but I know that wouldn't be the truth in all cases.  Depends on the child.

 

 

OP, I like my HMGs.  It is not only a good rod for beginners but for anyone AFAIC.  No experience with the Black Max, but I tend to think that the Daiwa Fuego CT would be a much better reel.  I have seen them for less than $60 on ebay. Think lowest was $55 plus change.

Agree! I have an HMG spinning rod. One of my favorites

[greentrout]

kid sounds like a typical spoiled brat snowflake...academy here sells a ton of the black max combos and these ol boys know how to bass fish and stay with abu garcia for life...

 

good fishing...

[r83srock]

I started on two bps extreme combos and a hand me down lightning rod/shimano 10xg, it was way more than I needed as a 14 year old, but I was so excited to fish with them! The next year I bought my first Curado, and have owned many nice Shimano/st. Croix set ups.  Just last week I was at FFO, picked up two blackmax baitcasters for $30 total, and 3 vendetta rods, they feel nice in my hands, so to me that’s all that matters. I also own 2 HMGs, it’s as nice of a rod as anyone needs. That boy ought to be thankful and just enjoy, that setup is more than enough to create a memory or win the next tour event. I make way more money now than I did when I was 14, but my desire to buy more expensive gear hasn’t increased, I think it’s just priorities. 

[Backroad Angler]

Starting out with a blackmax? That's one of the best reels you can start and learn on, honestly one of the best bang for your buck reels out there. Silvermax included. And I don't know much about the rod, but I know people praise them! That kid is lucky! I didn't own a single pole/reel growing up, not till I hit 18...

[Mobasser]

55 minutes ago, greentrout said:

kid sounds like a typical spoiled brat snowflake...academy here sells a ton of the black max combos and these ol boys know how to bass fish and stay with abu garcia for life...

 

good fishing...

greentrout, no snowflake here. Kid plays tackle on his high school team, and works with his dad all summer in the concrete business. He's 17 and saved most of the money for his first car too. I think he reads too many reviews, and bases all this on what he sees pro fisherman using. I live in a farm area. No place for snowflakes around here. Hell, half the population - men and women wear camo on a daily basis. I think he felt better about his rod/ reel when he left my house. I assured him it's gonna work

[r83srock]

12 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

greentrout, no snowflake here. Kid plays tackle on his high school team, and works with his dad all summer in the concrete business. He's 17 and saved most of the money for his first car too. I think he reads too many reviews, and bases all this on what he sees pro fisherman using. I live in a farm area. No place for snowflakes around here. Hell, half the population - men and women wear camo on a daily basis. I think he felt better about his rod/ reel when he left my house. I assured him it's gonna work

I’m sure he’s a decent kid, not all of em are bad. Some words of wisdom and an example were all he needed sounds like.

[TOXIC]

My advise to Jr. would have been that before you refine your gear, refine your technique.  Stay functional in all aspects of fishing Rods/Reels/Lures until you find out where your strength and preferences lie, then match your gear to that.  Most of us have been fishing many years and we can actually benefit from the gear more tailored to our style of fishing.  Don't let marketing get you out over your skis!! 

[GReb]

5 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

My advise to Jr. would have been that before you refine your gear, refine your technique.  Stay functional in all aspects of fishing Rods/Reels/Lures until you find out where your strength and preferences lie, then match your gear to that.  Most of us have been fishing many years and we can actually benefit from the gear more tailored to our style of fishing.  Don't let marketing get you out over your skis!! 

See that a lot in golf. Average strikers running to buy blades and hitting pro v1s when they’d shave 7 shots by playing the cast irons and hitting balls half that price 

[ratherbfishin1]

6 minutes ago, GReb said:

See that a lot in golf. Average strikers running to buy blades and hitting pro v1s when they’d shave 7 shots by playing the cast irons and hitting balls half that price 

Is fishing talk as hard for someone who doesn't fish to understand as golf talk is to someone who doesn't golf????

[Chance_Taker4]

1 hour ago, GReb said:

See that a lot in golf. Average strikers running to buy blades and hitting pro v1s when they’d shave 7 shots by playing the cast irons and hitting balls half that price 

I see that all too often. Some guy shooting Pro V1s with his Taylormade blades and latest and greatest driver. Then looks down on people like me shooting cavity back Cobras and Nike balls yet when we come back in they are always the worst player.

 

 

 

I used to be the same way. When I was younger I would always upgrade to the latest and greatest and catch more fish. I finally thought deep about it and realized that the reason the new stuff always produced more was not the gear but the confidence I gained by buying new. I refocused my confidence in my technique and less in the gear and it has saved me tons of money over the last few years.

[MrPeanut]

Golf was a great analogy.

 

I can't think of many other sports / hobbies where there is a pro circuit with tons of marketing etc geared towards the idea "this equipment will make all the difference for you".  When in reality, it will but only to a certain degree.  Technique and location matter so much more than having top end gear. 

 

That being said it's important to remember, especially for those just starting out, there's a lot of guys/gals who get the higher end gear and swear by it - but it's also because at their stage of life it's in their budget and it's worth it to them. It doesn't necessarily mean that level of gear is needed in order to catch fish. 

[bigfruits]

8 hours ago, greentrout said:

kid sounds like a typical spoiled brat snowflake...academy here sells a ton of the black max combos and these ol boys know how to bass fish and stay with abu garcia for life...

 

good fishing...

those poor kids. cant you show them a brighter future?

 

HMGs are great rods. Kid can save his pennies if he decides to upgrade the reel.

[GeekOutdoors]

14 minutes ago, bigfruits said:

those poor kids. cant you show them a brighter future?

 

HMGs are great rods. Kid can save his pennies if he decides to upgrade the reel.

I plan on buying one more HMG to put in the arsenal ! Kid is spoiled

[Boomstick]

I learned to fish a casting rod on the Ugly Stik and Black Max I bought for my oldest son, who was brave enough to try a baitcaster. It's definitely not as good of a setup as what he has now (I got him a Dobyns 704C and Shimano Curado K for his birthday (as he's taken to soft plastics) but we both caught plenty of fish on the Ugly Stik and Black Max combo he still uses it today for crankbaits!

 

The HMG is a huge step up from the Ugly Stik anyway. No reason he can't go out and land some nice fish with it.

[Eric86]

I wouldn't say he is necessarily spoiled because I would put money on it that this kid read a lot of reviews on it before he made a statement.  I have a hard time with this myself.  I like to research almost everything before I buy it and as far as equipment goes, you normally get what you pay for.  A lot of times people dont really know what they will be happy with when starting something new.  I know nothing about hunting bows but I know I wouldn't want a bottom price point one or a top shelf one either.

[Catt]

Aiden (Bayou Boy) Savant purchased his first combo all on his own!

 

Lew's® Laser TXS & 6'6" MH Fast $80 at Academy

 

@Mobasser I started tournament fishing with a ABU red 5000 reel and a fiberglass Heddon casting rod. 

 

 

[Mobasser]

8 minutes ago, Catt said:

Aiden (Bayou Boy) Savant purchased his first combo all on his own!

 

Lew's® Laser TXS & 6'6" MH Fast $80 at Academy

 

@Mobasser I started tournament fishing with a ABU red 5000 reel and a fiberglass Heddon casting rod. 

 

 

Thank you Catt. I know you see my point with this thread. Aidens combo will catch a lot of bass! Many youngsters are influenced by pro fisherman, media, and reviews. They base everything on this.Oh yea, I like his name. I have a grandson named Aiden too.

[lo n slo]

incentive is the key here, plus, fishing is involved. could be a win-win for everybody....except the bass ?