Selecting rods. $$ vs need.

[Double__Digits]

As fun as it is to shop for new equipment, is a three or four hundred dollar rod going to be that much better than a $139.00 rod?

I mean, that's what the most dominant tournament bass fisherman uses, $139.00 rods.

You'd think with $100k on the line if a $400 rod led to that 'one more bite' he'd be using one.

 

Not to ruffle any feathers. Just throwing that out there.

 

 

[Dens228]

Fishing is the only activity I'm aware of where those with higher end gear appear to be the ones that need to defend themselves.......lol

Looking at overall cost possibilities I'm about in the middle on what I spend for a rod.

I can tell you this..........my $300 rods are better than my $200 rods, which were better than my $130 rods.  Better sensitivity, better quality build, more consistent actions....

 

I'll hang up and listen for the "You can catch just as many fish on a $50 rod" and the "It's not the equipment it's the person using it" posts......haha

[Choporoz]

What is the question?   Do I spend money on stuff that you don't feel is worth it?  Probably.   

 

Do I spend money on stuff that I don't think is worth it?  No

[MN Fisher]

Budgetary restrictions play a heavy role. I get what I can at the best price I can. My best rods are a pair of Furys that I got on sale for under $100 each. Rest of my rods are what's considered 'budget' rods. I'm happy - at least I get out fishing when I can.

[Double__Digits]

1 minute ago, Choporoz said:

What is the question?   Do I spend money on stuff that you don't feel is worth it?  Probably.   

 

Do I spend money on stuff that I don't think is worth it?  No

Lord knows I have my share of expensive, mid and low end rods.

Funny thing is my wife doesn't think I should've spent money on any of them and she thinks they're all el cheapos?

[Double__Digits]

41 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Budgetary restrictions play a heavy role. I get what I can at the best price I can. My best rods are a pair of Furys that I got on sale for under $100 each. Rest of my rods are what's considered 'budget' rods. I'm happy - at least I get out fishing when I can.

I picked up my first Fury about a month ago, a 734C. Nice rod. No complaints from me.

Paired it with a Lews Tournament Pro LFS.

[waymont]

I think the pros fish with what their sponsors sell. They don't have to worry about warranty, breaking rods or longevity.

[Mobasser]

I say get the best rod you can afford and fish as much as possible. That simplifies these things...

[Bankc]

I used to be a semi-pro musician.  I have several friends in the industry who are signed to big labels and tour the world and all of that stuff.  I imagine that their relationship to gear is pretty much the same a pro anglers'.  

 

Basically, if you get good enough, and well known enough, you get sponsors.  Once you get sponsors, you tend to quite buying gear yourself, and you use whatever gear your contract says you should promote.  Usually this gear isn't the high end stuff that you may have used earlier in your career, but it's still high quality, and certainly good enough for you to still get the job done.  Besides, what got you to this level wasn't the quality of gear you used, but the skills you acquired along the way.  After all, there are a lot more people out there using top level gear than there are people who do this stuff for a living, and make a decent income at it.  So while you might could squeeze out an extra 1-2% or so from using even better gear, you make a lot more money using the stuff you're paid to use, so you use that instead. And since you're a professional, you don't have a problem making it work for you. 

 

The high end gear is sold to aspiring amateurs.  They're the ones who will believe that the difference between them and the pros lies in the gear.  The pros know that it's all a business, and they'll do what it takes to put food on the table.  And if that means they have to work a little harder to make that good, but not great gear work, then that's what they'll do.  

[roadwarrior]

I don't think better gear necessarily equates to more or bigger bass,

but for some it is just more enjoyable.

 

3 minutes ago, Bankc said:

"The high end gear is sold to aspiring amateurs."  

My observation is totally different. Guys are often referred to as "enthusiasts".

They enjoy collecting and playing with their toys as much as catching fish. Every

hobby is like this.

 

 

[Smalls]

4 hours ago, Dens228 said:

Fishing is the only activity I'm aware of where those with higher end gear appear to be the ones that need to defend themselves.......lol

Not a gun guy, are you? ?

[Dens228]

1 hour ago, Smalls said:

Not a gun guy, are you? ?

Retired law enforcement, so yes I am............

[Bird]

4 hours ago, Mobasser said:

I say get the best rod you can afford and fish as much as possible. That simplifies these things...

Pretty much sums it up. 

[Double__Digits]

I get a kick out of watching Jacob Wheeler videos. Watching him set the hook on those $139.00 blue and white rods and holding up a trophy on the final day makes me ? a bit.

 

 

[Double__Digits]

5 hours ago, waymont said:

I think the pros fish with what their sponsors sell. They don't have to worry about warranty, breaking rods or longevity.

Watching fishing vids on YouTube I'm reminded this fact every time I see them drop a rod from 4ft  bouncing the blank off the gel coat!!

 

Everytime I see that I'm like "Oh, you obviously didn't pay for that rod"! 

[Smalls]

1 hour ago, Dens228 said:

Retired law enforcement, so yes I am............

Same concept. The guys who own diamondbacks try to say my FN or STI were a waste of money. Same guys have never ran theirs through a course or class. 

[Dens228]

8 minutes ago, Smalls said:

Same concept. The guys who own diamondbacks try to say my FN or STI were a waste of money. Same guys have never ran theirs through a course or class. 

I've liked almost every rod I've owned, until I bought a better one.......lol

[NOC 1]

6 hours ago, Bankc said:

The high end gear is sold to aspiring amateurs.  They're the ones who will believe that the difference between them and the pros lies in the gear.  The pros know that it's all a business, and they'll do what it takes to put food on the table.  And if that means they have to work a little harder to make that good, but not great gear work, then that's what they'll do.  

Nope...calling BS here.

How insulting for you to say that because I like higher end gear, I am an aspiring amateur who, you imply, wants to be a pro and is so stupid that I think that the difference between the pro's and myself is the cost of the gear like I was a 10 year old kid or something.

 

I aspire to nothing of the sort. I wouldn't be a tour pro if you offered it to me on a platter. I have no interest in fishing tournaments even locally. Just not interested in working that hard at fishing and I never was. I could care less what the pro's are using as far as rods and reels go, though I do sometimes take an interest in what baits they use and how.

 

Seems to me that it is the budget gear guys who seem fixated on what gear the pros use because every time the subject comes up, you guys go straight to what the pros use. For the pros it IS a business, for me it's not. How about you? is it a business for you?  You do understand that the pros' sponsors want them to push the affordable gear to the people who think that using what the pros use matters right?

 

As for me, I buy the gear that makes me happy. Sometimes I don't even end up using it much. I don't need to justify buying higher end gear by counting the fish I catch vs some guy using cheaper gear, or even in comparison to myself using cheaper gear. If you can't justify top drawer gear for yourself I certainly have no problem with that. Why do you care what I use?

 

You use what you care to buy. But don't try to make me out as a fool because I choose something different.

 

 

[Kdizzle]

I think this is what the kids call "getting triggered"

[KP Duty]

I don't miss bites on my $60 academy rod, they are just more pronounced on my higher end sticks.  I dont think most on here purchase their high-end rod thinking they will catch more fish.  I buy high end boots also, but not thinking I'll walk better.

[A-Jay]

Ah yes ~ The Cost of our gear debate.

This one may be as old as the Bass Resource Forum itself.

Responses routinely include much of the passion we all share as bass fisherman. 

My addition here is, I like quality gear that is durable, works well and when maintained properly lasts.

Who else does or doesn't use what I do plays no role in my purchase decision. 

Similarly, my truck choice is Always very new and loaded.

Clearly doesn't make be a better driver, but it sure feels good and is a blast to drive.

YMMV

A-Jay

[NHBull]

I am in the Ajay camp, and as time has not been kind to my body,,,,, weight, geometry, size, and comfort has to be factored.  Rods and reels that fit my NEEDS tend to be more expensive.  

 

Threads like this remind me that Winter is on the way ?

[Hook2Jaw]

I buy the best sticks I can afford and direct more of my money towards contact baits, and I'm not going to judge anyone who spends below or above their means.  You do you.  I ain't got time to critique how you want to spend your money, I'm trying to spend that time with my fish and family.

[Dens228]

18 hours ago, Bankc said:

 

The high end gear is sold to aspiring amateurs.  They're the ones who will believe that the difference between them and the pros lies in the gear.  The pros know that it's all a business, and they'll do what it takes to put food on the table.  And if that means they have to work a little harder to make that good, but not great gear work, then that's what they'll do.  

If you really think fishing a bottom contact jig with a $50 rod feels the same as a $300 rod you either have never tried it with a $300 rod or you are an amateur that hasn't yet developed the ability to tell the difference. 

[Catt]

I believe in keeping my tools simple, functional, durable & dependable.

 

One can go to Wal/Mart, Harbor Freight, Sears or some other outlet store to buy mechanic, carpenter, electrician, machinist tools ECT and these tools will work but they are not designed for commercial use. Yes these tools wills last the weekend guy a lifetime of light to medium use and serve him quite well.

 

Now look at it through my eyes I am a journeyman carpenter/mechanic my tools are what I make my livelihood with so I must depend on my tools to perform every single time I use them under every conceivable conditions with limited failure.

 

Now relate this to bass fishing; when I hit the lake it will be from sunup to sunset, under extremely adverse conditions, and with full expectations of bass in excess of 6 pounds so any failure on the part of my tools is not accepted.