How our tackle has improved

[Mobasser]

Most all of us have heard the old saying" money doesn't grow on trees". My grandson Aiden has been working as a grocery sacker for a few months now. Originally, he worked two evenings per week, and all day on Saturday. Since school is out for the year due to the virus, he's picked up more hours now, and is working 35hrs per week. He wanted to buy a new spinning rod/reel. At first he told me he wanted to buy only the best. His job pays minimum wage. We buy most of our stuff at Academy Sports. Looking at various models, he quickly realized that the "best" was out of his price range. Higher end Shimanos, Diawas, or Lews would have taken one week of his pay, just for the reel alone. He settled on a Lews G Spin size 3000, and an All Star med/hvy rod. I'm impressed by the quality of this outfit, with line, for less than 100.00. Aidens casting outfit is an H20 Mettle reel, with a Berkeley 6'6 Lightning rod, again, under 100.00. His casting rod is spooled with 12lb Big Game, his spin rod with 8lb original Stren mono. These rigs may not feature some things that the most expensive reels and rods have, but I have no doubt they will catch him plenty of bass. In my own opinion, it's completely possible to buy a good bass outfit for 100.00 these days. When I started fishing years ago, it wasn't this way. Many times, cheaper meant junk, and the cost to quality ratio was not there. Aiden can fish these rigs, untill he decides to pick up something better. With routine maintenance, I see them lasting for several years. I call these the 100.00 combos. Aidens proud of his new outfit, and, I know the reason why. Because he worked, and earned the money for it himself. Anyone else fishing with a rod/reel line setup that cost less than 100.00?  In some ways, at least as far as fishing tackle goes, we're lucky these days. Even less expensive outfits are way better than they were years ago. What are some of your 100.00 rods/reels that work good for you?

[Guitarfish]

Almost all of my freshwater outfits are less than $100.  I'm still using Shimano Bantam Mags, Spidercast 3000's, Quantum Energy 400's, all on older Fenwick, Berkley, and Ugly sticks.  I service my own reels so I see no reason to replace them if they still work good.  I did buy a tiny Daiwa aird100 a long while ago, but haven't used it.

 

I use a lot of 6lb test mono. (I forget the brand but it's been the same for 20+ years). I just bought another big spool.

 

Now if you talk spinning gear I have almost all the old Stradics, FE's I think.  And baitrunners. 150's and 250's, 3500's.

 

I spend all my money on hard lures, and or saltwater reels/upgrades. (I pour my own plastics).  Fish don't care what I use.

 

Hell, I'm proud of Alden for being willing to work for it!  I started cruising the drugstores when I was a kid.  It took a long time to save enough for a spinning outfit.

[new2BC4bass]

6' Berkley Lightning spinning rod with Penn 430SS.  Purchased over 45 years at not remembered prices.  Has caught more fish than any rod/reel since I got back into fishing in '09.  6' MH Berkley casting rod with Daiwa Procaster 100HN.  $17 plus tax for rod (so $18.02) and $30 for reel on closeout.  Was purchased for my oldest grandson, but he has no desire to try a baitcast reel.  It is now my dedicated short range spinnerbait rod.  Plenty of 'feel'.  Too much with 1/2 oz. Colorado blade spinnerbait.

[garroyo130]

Med/Mod Berkley Lightning Rod paired with a 5.4:1 gear-swapped Fuego that came in at $60 after the gears. 

 

Just under $100 and an incredible crankbait combo.