Are big pros really using budget gear?

[Bandersnatch]

All of you guys are really passionate about this subject. I've been hesitant to say what I really was questioning. Thank is, are the pros using high end blanks wrapped in budget rod colors. It clear that nobody thinks so but what is also clear is how divided people are on the entire subject of what people spend. 

[Choporoz]

1 minute ago, Bandersnatch said:

It clear that nobody thinks so but what is also clear is how divided people are on the entire subject of what people spend. 

Pick any hobby.  Find a forum or FB group.   It will remain quite clear.

[PhishLI]

25 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

I've been hesitant to say what I really was questioning. Thank is, are the pros using high end blanks wrapped in budget rod colors.

So the essence of your question is based on your suspicion that it seems unlikely that a pro could fish with what you regard as budget rods? If so, I thought that's what you were getting at from the beginning.

 

P.S. I don't think you're nuts for wondering, and I stand by my replies.

[Bandersnatch]

21 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

So the essence of your question is based on your suspicion that it seems unlikely that a pro could fish with what you regard as budget rods? If so, I thought that's what you were getting at from the beginning.

 

P.S. I don't think you're nuts for wondering, and I stand by my replies.

Not so much that they couldn't fish with budget rods but I don't think they would want to if they could avoid it. I have nothing against budget gear but when you use higher end gear it's hard to want to go back. For people that are so deep into the sport I'd think it would weigh on them to use say at $75 rod. Probably wrong of me, but I have wondered if that's a high end graphite stick with a paint job. 

[PhishLI]

Uh oh. I think I hear Irene coming. That was fun.

[Deephaven]

51 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

Not so much that they couldn't fish with budget rods but I don't think they would want to if they could avoid it. 

Would you be as passionate about fishing if it was your job our would your objectivety increase?  For me, I spend on gear stupidly because it makes me want to fish more.  Not about more fish in the boat.

The Pro's I have met change their public tune really fast when the sponsorship is over.  No surprise there, it is a business.  They treat it that way.  Want any proof watch any Ish video and watch him stomp all over the rods on his deck.  He definitely sets the hook frog fishing, but my budget sure the hell won't allow his footwork afterwards.

[jbsoonerfan]

Not sure why they would try to hide the fact that they are using a $300+ rod since they are fishing out of an $80,000+ boat. 

[Team9nine]

Glenn and Ike cover it on the second question of the day: 

 

 

 

Some pros use the highest end gear, but a lot don't. If they're being paid to promote and move product, they'll move a lot more gear that is priced so the average angler can afford it then they will top of the line high dollar stuff, which has limited sales potential. As such, that's what they tend to use and throw in tourneys; stuff in the $100-$300 range.

 

But I have to ask - did Glenn use to live in Alabama? 

[PhishLI]

10 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

But I have to ask - did Glenn use to live in Alabama?

I re-posted that vid today in General, partly because it addressed the theme of this thread, and was wondering the same exact thing when he made that crack.

[GReb]

The majority of pros I see are using rods in the $120-250 range. I don’t consider that “budget”. Those are workhorses

[The Maestro]

The gap between mid-range gear and top of the line gear in terms of performance isn't that big. Certainly not enough to be the difference maker in a tournament.

 

Waiting for a bunch of replies about that one big bite you could miss because your rod's 9% less sensitive and your getting 13% less casting distance.  

[Bandersnatch]

24 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Not sure why they would try to hide the fact that they are using a $300+ rod since they are fishing out of an $80,000+ boat. 

It doesn't seem obvious ? Again, don't take it as I'm saying they are doing this but if someone were to be hiding the fact that they are using a $300+ rod it would be for one reason, money. Let's use Wheeler for example because it's easy. Wheeler is using his branded rod from Duckett. It's a $139 rod, hardly budget, but could be considered budget when compared to some other rods. Say he was actually using a high end blank with titanium guides painted to match his typical duckett rod. Jacob would have a vested interest in people thinking he was using the $139 rod because he's paid to help sell rods. The average joe wants to know that they are fishing the same rod as Jacob Wheeler, not some Jacob Wheeler branded second rate rod. Again, I'm not saying this is happening or suggesting it in any way. I just found the thought, interesting when so much was at stake.  

[jbsoonerfan]

3 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

It doesn't seem obvious ? Again, don't take it as I'm saying they are doing this but if someone were to be hiding the fact that they are using a $300+ rod it would be for one reason, money. Let's use Wheeler for example because it's easy. Wheeler is using his branded rod from Duckett. It's a $139 rod, hardly budget, but could be considered budget when compared to some other rods. Say he was actually using a high end blank with titanium guides painted to match his typical duckett rod. Jacob would have a vested interest in people thinking he was using the $139 rod because he's paid to help sell rods. The average joe wants to know that they are fishing the same rod as Jacob Wheeler, not some Jacob Wheeler branded second rate rod. Again, I'm not saying this is happening or suggesting it in any way. I just found the thought, interesting when so much was at stake.  

 

The average joe doesn't care what most guys are using. Just look at how many threads there are every year asking us what "we" think is the best rod and reel. If the average joe were influenced by what the pros were using they wouldn't come here and ask us.

 

But you are suggesting it. 

[Bandersnatch]

27 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

 

The average joe doesn't care what most guys are using. Just look at how many threads there are every year asking us what "we" think is the best rod and reel. If the average joe were influenced by what the pros were using they wouldn't come here and ask us.

 

But you are suggesting it. 

I suppose you're right

[RoLo]

 

HEY...Ain't no reason to look down your nose at us Low-end pros using High-end gear 

 

 

 

Roger

 

[Bandersnatch]

10 minutes ago, RoLo said:

 

HEY...Ain't no reason to look down your nose at us Low-end pros using High-end gear 

 

 

 

Roger

 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

4 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

Not so much that they couldn't fish with budget rods but I don't think they would want to if they could avoid it. I have nothing against budget gear but when you use higher end gear it's hard to want to go back. For people that are so deep into the sport I'd think it would weigh on them to use say at $75 rod. Probably wrong of me, but I have wondered if that's a high end graphite stick with a paint job. 

Paying for or using higher-end gear doesnt mean a person will like it any more than gear that costs less. I have NRX, GLX, Croix Elite, LTB, Fenwick World Class, Helium3 all $300+ rods. Not one of those is a favorite of mine. My Quantum Smoke gen 1 is my favorite rod it cost me $100 I use it more than any other rod I have. Ive tried and tried to find a rod I like better but havent found one. All those $300+ rods came after I purchased the Smoke but its the one I come back to. If I were to enter a tx it would be in my hand over the others.

[Lead Head]

5 hours ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

Paying for or using higher-end gear doesnt mean a person will like it any more than gear that costs less. I have NRX, GLX, Croix Elite, LTB, Fenwick World Class, Helium3 all $300+ rods. Not one of those is a favorite of mine. My Quantum Smoke gen 1 is my favorite rod it cost me $100 I use it more than any other rod I have. Ive tried and tried to find a rod I like better but havent found one. All those $300+ rods came after I purchased the Smoke but its the one I come back to. If I were to enter a tx it would be in my hand over the others.

 

I have a similar situation. I own rods built on Rainshadow, NFC X-ray, Rodgeeks, and MHX blanks. My favorite rod... an old BPS Extreme that I stripped and rebuilt. 

[Plottman1974]

Probably 15 years ago, I saw Jason Quinn at the Bass Pro Shops in Concord NC.  He was buying a few rods/reels and they were the bass pro brand.  I asked him about it and he said that he buys the reels/rods and they reimburse him.  He said he fishes with the same stuff everyone else does and buys it in the store like everyone else.  that was then...things may have changed.