Selecting rods. $$ vs need.

[Bankc]

18 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

...

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.

 

 

Yeah.  I think we're talking about the same guys, just giving them different names.  To me, "aspiring amateurs" are the guys who aren't pros (and probably not looking to become pros), but aren't casual anglers either.  They take it as a serious hobby, see buying new gear as "investing" into the hobby. They are looking for ways to get an edge over the "competition".  This "competition" might be bragging rights with friends, local tournaments, or even chasing a personal best or lake record.  Either way, they're not the casual angler that's just there to relax, unwind from their daily lives, enjoy nature, and pass the time not thinking about the things that stress them out.  They're there on the water with a clear goal in mind.  

 

It's just like in the music business.  Most full-time pros play what they get payed to play.  Most aspiring pros play cheap gear because they want to funnel all of their money into the promotion side.  Things like recordings, touring, advertising, and giving them more time to work on their craft.  They're less interested in high end gear, and more interested in ways to push the band forward.  That's how they'll become full-time pros.  Aspiring amateurs are the ones who spend big money on gear.  They're the ones who have disposable income from regular jobs, thoroughly enjoy the hobby, yet aren't investing their full lives into it.  It's important to them, but it's not their identity.  And then there's the casual player who just owns one or two guitars that mostly sit in the corner, that they really don't give much thought to, and just enjoy playing songs from time to time.  To them, it's the act of playing that they enjoy most.  

[S Hovanec]

Why do people drive a BMW when a Chevy will do the same thing?

 

What can $400+ rods do that a $139 rod can't? ......make me happy!

 

I like nice rods.  I have 3 that are under 3oz.  You'll never find anything close to that for $139.  

[Jermination]

1 minute ago, S Hovanec said:

Why do people drive a BMW when a Chevy will do the same thing?

 

What can $400+ rods do that a $139 rod can't? ......make me happy!

 

I like nice rods.  I have 3 that are under 3oz.  You'll never find anything close to that for $139.  

irod genesis II 6'9 is 3.2 ounces and the 7'11 punching rod is 5.8 ounces. not quite $139 but they're $150

[S Hovanec]

3 minutes ago, Jermination said:

irod genesis II 6'9 is 3.2 ounces

 

My 6'10" Eternity is still .41 oz. lighter and my 6'10" NFC is .35 lighter.

[Jermination]

Just now, S Hovanec said:

 

My 6'10" Eternity is still .41 oz. lighter and my 6'10" NFC is .35 lighter.

Congrats. i wouldnt even notice the 10 gram difference. was just trying to throw some other out some additional options of light outfits at a decent price

[Hewhospeaksmuchbull]

Pre Champ 735, no jig fish. Now nearly every trip a jig fish or three.

 

Not a four hundred dollar rod, but the increased sensitivity of this 260.00 dollar rod over my Fury's has made a difference that I have found to be worth every penny.

 

Wish I had started with better rods, at least for bottom contact baits. I started with an 80.00 Abu, moved up to a Fury and finally the Champ. Quick math says I could have spent the 200.00 saved on baits. Hindsight sucks.

[The Maestro]

20 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.

I'd bet even the pros have a collection of rods they only use for fun fishing. If I was a hardcore tournament guy I wouldn't risk my collection of no longer produced rods to that kind of abuse. Sure I could still break them fun fishing but it's less likely than with all the transporting and boat flipping fish you'd be doing in tournaments.

[Boomstick]

You're going to get a lot of different responses here. I'll just keep it simple and say that you get what you pay for, but there is a point where the return per dollar spent drops off significantly as well. Is spending $300+ worth it to you? That's for you to decide based on how much you can afford to spend, what you will fish on it and how often you use that type of presentation.

[G-Prime]

Eh, seen some guys with a boat full of lightning rods and abu rods win tourneys in my local fishery.

 

Having said that, I have a value-defect based on FOMO so I'll buy d**n near anything cool if its on sale. I've accumulated a pretty good collection of 100-150$ rods that were sale/clearance for the 50-80$ range and I'll say they "feel" better than my cheaper rods but I can't say I catch more or less fish with either - could all be in my head. 

 

As was mentioned before, the price vs performance definitely tapers off at some point.  The price vs performance point will be different person to person depending on skill and type of fishing.  

 

 

[Paul Roberts]

On 9/29/2020 at 10:39 AM, Double__Digits said:

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.

 

I've got a fair number of rods I've collected over the decades. They varied in cost, up to $300. Some of the ones I still use regularly are 40yrs old. Once graphite hit the world -my first good one I bought in 1981- rods took a major leap in capability. From there I see something of a plateau. Yes, they are getting better and better, but it appears incremental to me.

 

So... there are very good rods out there at the middle, even lower, ends of the market. This is esp so the shorter the rod, in that longer rods require better materials to perform -not become more club-like.

[Randy Price]

I've had the good fortune (literally) the last couple of years to be able to buy a lot of St. Croix's top end rods.  They're nice BUT if I were honest with myself IDK if they were really worth twice the price of an AVID.

[NOC 1]

5 hours ago, G-Prime said:

Eh, seen some guys with a boat full of lightning rods and abu rods win tourneys in my local fishery.

 

Having said that, I have a value-defect based on FOMO so I'll buy d**n near anything cool if its on sale. I've accumulated a pretty good collection of 100-150$ rods that were sale/clearance for the 50-80$ range and I'll say they "feel" better than my cheaper rods but I can't say I catch more or less fish with either - could all be in my head. 

 

As was mentioned before, the price vs performance definitely tapers off at some point.  The price vs performance point will be different person to person depending on skill and type of fishing.  

 

 

As if catching more fish is the end all and be all to justify buying pricey gear.

 

This is assuming that the price vs performance formula is what everyone uses to decide whether gear is worth it or not. Not everyone buys that way. Clearly, many people use that model. I for one do not, but I totally understand why so many do and accept it as a legit way to make tackle choices..

 

What I don't understand is why so many of those people (I don't know that you are one of them) seem to not be able to wrap their heads around the idea that their way of looking at it isn't the only legitimate way to see it. It's almost as if they take it as a personal insult that other people might actually buy pricey gear and don't really care if it catches more fish and don't feel that they must be master class fishermen to buy top drawer stuff.

 

I rarely (if ever) see my fellow enthusiast tackle fans calling out anyone else for using the cheaper gear they choose. Why does it seem OK to insult we enthusiasts? Can't all you budgety and practical types just accept the fact that we others can do as we please just the same as you can? I don't need a practical reason to justify my choice of gear, nor do I need to make apologies or need an excuse to explain buying it.

 

I buy it because I like it better and I can.