Lets talk cheap gear

[greentrout]

have excellent credit with a good credit line or cash ...could swing a 200 dollar reel and 200 dollar rod ... never saw any reason to do so ... my best reels and rods are at 100 dollars each price point and perform well... have other priorities like honey do's ...

 

good fishing ...

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Glaucus said:

Yes and no. I don't want to scratch or ding my cheap Berkley and Abu stuff anymore than my modest Fenwick or expensive Daiwa stuff. I'm OCD about all of my gear. I'll fish them and travel with them, but I take care of them like I would my body. I run with my body, but I don't want to trip and get scrapped up. Same principle for all of my gear.

Same here, my Avocet rod/reel combo may have cost under $50, but as it's my prime finesse setup I treat it like it's a Revo MGX on a St Croix Legend.

[Joshua van Wyk]

I've never paid full retail for any of my gear. Ive gotten all of my stuff at least 40-50% off. Since I am 14 and dont pay taxes or support a family all the money i earn that doesnt go in the bank is spent on fishing. 

[Glaucus]

I support a family of 6 on my income alone. I make a modest income with some but not a lot of wiggle room. The only way I'm able to afford nice gear is that I sacrifice things for myself. The wife and kids get their fancy phones (well only my oldest kid has a phone, my kids are young yet), nice clothes, gaming systems, this and that around the house for my wife or whatever the hell she thinks she needs. Etc etc etc for all things, just standard "got a wife and kids" stuff. For myself, I get a cheap prepaid smartphone with a cheap prepaid plan. I get my clothes from thrift stores and wear them out. I don't smoke. I don't buy a coffee or a pop or fast food or lunch or whatever. I literally cut out all of my personal luxury expenses or minimize them as much as I can, and that leaves me room to spend money where I really want to: fishing. 

[BassinBrit]

My 13 year old son wanted one of those Lews Mach Crush bait casting Combo for his birthday, $200. He got it a few weeks early and really enjoyed throwing it last summer, I tried it and it felt reasonable, maybe would have liked the rod to have a little more backbone for a MH, still he’s happy, that’s all that matters.

 

I on the other hand really like my $40 Hank Parker Lews rods both M and MH from Walmart, a real steal in my opinion, I pair them with a couple of Piscifun Perseus bait casting reels at $40 a pop off of Amazon. My setups may not have that cool looking orange color but they feel and fish much better to me.

 

I have fancier more sensitive setups that cost many times what I paid for the 3 combos above, are they worth it? I’d say yes for certain applications where sensitivity is important, but if I’m just cranking or throwing a reaction bait cheap wins every time.

[jbsoonerfan]

Sorry to interrupt your "cheap" thread again. But I just bought a Curado 70 brand new for $120. Which to me is cheap. The main thing I have taken from this thread is that people who can't or don't want to spend money on fishing gear come up with a reason to justify why they are okay with using "cheap" gear.

 

I am a deer hunter and when you drop $2,000 + on a bow and accessories when you get to hunt 20 days a year and maybe get one or two shots at a deer, a few hundred bucks on a fishing set up is nothing. Of course I am not on a fixed income or arguing with my wife about what I can or can't spend on my hobbies. 

 

I also have a $1,200 shotgun that has only killed a few doves and ducks, but it is still worth about $1,200 5 years later, my $500 gun is worth about $150.

[Glaucus]

9 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Sorry to interrupt your "cheap" thread again. But I just bought a Curado 70 brand new for $120. Which to me is cheap. The main thing I have taken from this thread is that people who can't or don't want to spend money on fishing gear come up with a reason to justify why they are okay with using "cheap" gear.

 

I am a deer hunter and when you drop $2,000 + on a bow and accessories when you get to hunt 20 days a year and maybe get one or two shots at a deer, a few hundred bucks on a fishing set up is nothing. Of course I am not on a fixed income or arguing with my wife about what I can or can't spend on my hobbies. 

 

I also have a $1,200 shotgun that has only killed a few doves and ducks, but it is still worth about $1,200 5 years later, my $500 gun is worth about $150.

You're missing one of my points though. My cheap squarebill setup isn't due to its price or ant justification not to go higher. I have it because I haven't felt anything better. All of the characteristics I want in that setup was ideally met to the T in the cheap setup. I could without a doubt spend 4x as much to find something even better, but why when my ideal setup was met for 4x less? Sometimes it isn't about the name or the price tag or what one can afford. Sometimes exactly what you're looking for doesn't cost much at all. But that's just one of my points. Of course I'm not giving up my Elite Techs, Tatulas, HMGs, E6Xs, or newly acquired Okumas any time to go back to Ugly Stick or Shock or Shakespeare or cheap Abu rods of various sorts or anything like that, but I did catch a bunch of fish using that stuff when I started out and didn't want to fork over the money because I either couldn't afford it or didn't think it was necessary. It's become necessary for me, but like I said, not a d**n person can tell me my Lightning Rod and Silver Max isn't perfect to me for what I use it for. 

[punch]

1 hour ago, BassinBrit said:

My 13 year old son wanted one of those Lews Mach Crush bait casting Combo for his birthday, $200. He got it a few weeks early and really enjoyed throwing it last summer, I tried it and it felt reasonable, maybe would have liked the rod to have a little more backbone for a MH, still he’s happy, that’s all that matters.

 

I on the other hand really like my $40 Hank Parker Lews rods both M and MH from Walmart, a real steal in my opinion, I pair them with a couple of Piscifun Perseus bait casting reels at $40 a pop off of Amazon. My setups may not have that cool looking orange color but they feel and fish much better to me.

 

I have fancier more sensitive setups that cost many times what I paid for the 3 combos above, are they worth it? I’d say yes for certain applications where sensitivity is important, but if I’m just cranking or throwing a reaction bait cheap wins every time.

Don't worry, that orange isn't that cool looking. 

 

Everyone says those Hank Parker rods are really good for $40. 

[Deleted account]

11 hours ago, Glaucus said:

Yes and no. I don't want to scratch or ding my cheap Berkley and Abu stuff anymore than my modest Fenwick or expensive Daiwa stuff. I'm OCD about all of my gear. I'll fish them and travel with them, but I take care of them like I would my body. I run with my body, but I don't want to trip and get scrapped up. Same principle for all of my gear.

Yeah, but you only get one body, you get as much tackle as you want and can afford. I don't purposely abuse gear, but neither Am I going to worry about wear and tear or baby it. In my mind and the way I fish, if a reel lasts 3 to 5 seasons and a rod gets damaged or breaks every so often, that's just par for the course, but to each his own.

[Glaucus]

2 minutes ago, reason said:

Yeah, but you only get one body, you get as much tackle as you want and can afford. I don't purposely abuse gear, but neither Am I going to worry about wear and tear or baby it. In my mind and the way I fish, if a reel lasts 3 to 5 seasons and a rod gets damaged or breaks every so often, that's just par for the course, but to each his own.

All gear will eventually fail, but that's no reason not to take care of it. 

[Deleted account]

1 minute ago, Glaucus said:

All gear will eventually fail, but that's no reason not to take care of it. 

Agreed, I just think we have different definitions of taking care of it. 

[geo g]

Expensive gear does not buy you bites or landed fish.  The important thing is the line, hook, and the angler.  For years I used a 5’6 «  rod, and a zebco 20/20 for light top water.  The combo would cast a light lure a mile, no back lash or over runs, easy jerk bait jerking all day.  Caught thousands of bass on a small Zara spook, or rapala #9.  Cheap and out cast most on the market!

[Deleted account]

17 hours ago, J.Vincent said:

the cost of the sporting equipment doesn’t always equate to success unless you are cycling in the Tour de France on a $500 bike against a cyclist on a $30,000 bike....

Shhhhh. We've put 3 kids trough college and have one more to go (Not to mention the house in Costa Rica)

Don't listen to this guy, a more expensive bike WILL make you faster (and the envy of your lycra laden friends)  

 

ps: I ride an aluminum cyclocross with Tiagra (no discs), and I don't feel like the bike is a disadvantage against top end road bikes on group rides. Of course I don't tell people that on the sales floor.

[fin]

I can understand spending a lot of money on certain things, but I’m a little puzzled by the high-end rods. I think maybe a lot of us might not know what we’re missing, like a person who has only fished with slow rods might not realize that they’re not feeling a lot of bites.

 

For me, a rod has to be sensitive enough to feel a tap and strong enough that it won’t break when I catch a fish. The reel needs to stay attached in the seat and not wobble around, and the guides need to not chew up the line or fall off. I don’t know what else I need. It’s not like I’m yearning for something that I’m unwilling to spend money on.

 

I also don’t understand people needing a different type of rod for each type of bait. If a rod is good for worms, I can use it for anything. A slower rod would feel better with spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, etc., but it’s not necessary as far as I can tell.

 

How much money someone spends on their hobby is none of my business. I wouldn’t accuse them of wasting their money. I’m saying I don’t understand why some people spend so much. It doesn’t bother me they’re spending so much, it bothers me that I might be missing learning something that might help me catch more/bigger fish. What do those high-end rods do that the cheap rods don’t do?

[Glaucus]

15 minutes ago, Hank. said:

I can understand spending a lot of money on certain things, but I’m a little puzzled by the high-end rods. I think maybe a lot of us might not know what we’re missing, like a person who has only fished with slow rods might not realize that they’re not feeling a lot of bites.

 

For me, a rod has to be sensitive enough to feel a tap and strong enough that it won’t break when I catch a fish. The reel needs to stay attached in the seat and not wobble around, and the guides need to not chew up the line or fall off. I don’t know what else I need. It’s not like I’m yearning for something that I’m unwilling to spend money on.

 

I also don’t understand people needing a different type of rod for each type of bait. If a rod is good for worms, I can use it for anything. A slower rod would feel better with spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, etc., but it’s not necessary as far as I can tell.

 

How much money someone spends on their hobby is none of my business. I wouldn’t accuse them of wasting their money. I’m saying I don’t understand why some people spend so much. It doesn’t bother me they’re spending so much, it bothers me that I might be missing learning something that might help me catch more/bigger fish. What do those high-end rods do that the cheap rods don’t do?

High end usually means lighter and more sensitive. Compare it to wine. Most people won't the the difference between a 10 dollar bottle and a 50-100 dollar bottle. It's subtle, but makes a difference to some people. 

37 minutes ago, reason said:

Agreed, I just think we have different definitions of taking care of it. 

In some ways, probably, in other ways, not so much. But I'm OCD and admit to it lol

[Spankey]

On 1/22/2019 at 8:51 PM, slonezp said:

A hundred dollar rod feels better, more balanced, more refined, than a $50 rod, depending on the brand. I'm partial to Fenwick. My opinion is it's the best bang for the buck. A $100 dollar St Croix feels like a $40 Ugly Stick. A $100 Fenwick feels like a $300 St Croix.

Not quite sure about that. I’d put a St. Criox Premiere Series rod up against any $100 or less Fenwick or Ugly stick out there. Eagle, HMX or HMG. Comparing rod to rod. Rod feel is different from person. 

[redmeansdistortion]

3 hours ago, Hank. said:

I also don’t understand people needing a different type of rod for each type of bait. If a rod is good for worms, I can use it for anything.

I do understand, but for the way I fish, I never take more than two rods with me.  One rod is always a backup and stays in the trunk, not technique specific.  If I had a boat or kayak, I probably would use a different rod for each type of bait, but I usually bank fish or wade and carrying more than one rod would be cumbersome.  I like to pack as lightly as possible in order to have mobility.  That means wearing a vest instead of carrying a tackle box and one rod only.  There's nothing worse than having to lug a tackle box, or worse yet constantly having to retrieve it when you want to change spots. 

[slonezp]

2 hours ago, Spankey said:

Not quite sure about that. I’d put a St. Criox Premiere Series rod up against any $100 or less Fenwick or Ugly stick out there. Eagle, HMX or HMG. Comparing rod to rod. Rod feel is different from person. 

Is it really that much different? There is a huge difference between a $50 rod and a $150 rod. Not so much between a $150 rod and a $350 rod

[The Bassman]

16 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

 Of course I am not on a fixed income or arguing with my wife about what I can or can't spend on my hobbies. 

 

 

I don't argue with mine either.  I just don't tell her.

[Mobasser]

On 1/23/2019 at 9:01 AM, Catt said:

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

This right here makes the most sense of all. 

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, The Bassman said:

I don't argue with mine either.  I just don't tell her.

I have a great poker face, but the Admiral is a Wicklander-Zulawski certified trained interrogator with 20 years of experience. I just cross my arms, look down and say in my best James Cagney "you'll get nothing out of me copper"

The FedEx and UPS guys don't help any.

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, reason said:

I have a great poker face, but the Admiral is a Wicklander-Zulawski certified trained interrogator with 20 years of experience. I just cross my arms, look down and say in my best James Cagney "you'll get nothing out of me copper"

The FedEx and UPS guys don't help any.

I don't even have that excuse...she handles all the family financials. So any purchases and she gives me 'The Look' - there's no escape.

[Tizi]

When I do my shopping, I am typically looking at rods/reels in the $150 each range.  To me, that is the sweet spot (performance to price).  Once I have identified which rod and reel I want, I look and wait for sales.  I have never paid full price.  This year I purchased a Dobyns Sierra and Lews Tournament MB, I paid around $200 total for the combo, about 30% off the original pricing.  That's how I do it.

[Spankey]

3 hours ago, slonezp said:

Is it really that much different? There is a huge difference between a $50 rod and a $150 rod. Not so much between a $150 rod and a $350 rod

You may be right.

[The Bassman]

40 minutes ago, reason said:

I have a great poker face, but the Admiral is a Wicklander-Zulawski certified trained interrogator with 20 years of experience. I just cross my arms, look down and say in my best James Cagney "you'll get nothing out of me copper"

The FedEx and UPS guys don't help any.

I get home from work before she does.  In all honesty she gives me plenty of license for feeding my vice.