Super User Cgolf Posted June 17, 2021 Author Super User Posted June 17, 2021 7 minutes ago, Dirtyeggroll said: My favorite rod is an old super cheap Berkeley and I have several very high end rods (Daiwa Steez, Loomis NRX). I have an ancient medium lightning rod, that landed a 45" musky and never snapped despite the musky trying. It was a very nice stick, just couldn't get used to the short butt on the rod.
hokiehunter373 Posted June 17, 2021 Posted June 17, 2021 4 minutes ago, cgolf said: I could really scare you and post my baits list too, heck I will;) I even have a sheet that documents what boxes go where in the boat that goes down to where the boat key is. I really look forward to this trip lol. You and I would get along very well lol 3
Super User Cgolf Posted June 17, 2021 Author Super User Posted June 17, 2021 2 hours ago, desmobob said: Most all of the budget options work well and you don't know what you're missing until you try a higher-end product. Then, it can sometimes be hard to go back... Last year I got a Dobyns Champ XP when Gary had the 40% sale, and that and the Avid are really nice but not that much nicer for the price. For me it comes down to the right action. The only rods I have seen a higher end rod make a difference is spinning rods, the Sierra's are better for detecting bites which really helps some days. Not sure if more expensive would be enough better to justify the extra money. Most of my baitcasters are for cranks and stuff so the extra sensitivity isn't as important as the right action. As far as reels go the fit and finish on the Viento are top notch and they are really nice reels. Right now though may favorites are the Quantum Icons and the Lews Crush. The Icon is an amazing reel and wish I had bought more when they were 40$.
Super User Deleted account Posted June 17, 2021 Super User Posted June 17, 2021 13 minutes ago, cgolf said: I just couldn't get used to the short butt on the rod. Adding length to the butt isn't very difficult. I do it pretty much for all my cranking rods, JBs ones on the other hand usually get the hacksaw
ironbjorn Posted June 17, 2021 Posted June 17, 2021 If I lost all my rods and reels today, I would buy 5 Aird-X casting rods, 2 Aird-X spinning rods, 5 Black Max casting reels, and 2 Trion spinning reels and call it good.
RichF Posted June 17, 2021 Posted June 17, 2021 I think my sweet spot for both rods and reels is the $180 - $200 mark (the exception being my Legend Glass). It's really hard to beat the Curado, Stradic, Tatula SV, and Tatula LT. I definitely notice a difference in lower end stuff but not so much with high end. To be fair, I haven't used ultra high end gear (my highest end rods are pre-2020 Legend Xtremes and Kistler Heliums, highest end reels are Zillion tws, Chronarch CI4s, SS Svs, and a Luvias).
throttleplate Posted June 17, 2021 Posted June 17, 2021 $100.00 reels pflueger and $80.00 rods ugly stick carbon are working well for me. I use a $15.00 walmart shakesspear combo for my panfish setup and using a hose clamp to hold the reel on.
Super User Cgolf Posted June 17, 2021 Author Super User Posted June 17, 2021 7 minutes ago, throttleplate said: $100.00 reels pflueger and $80.00 rods ugly stick carbon are working well for me. I use a $15.00 walmart shakesspear combo for my panfish setup and using a hose clamp to hold the reel on. The ugly Carbons are interesting, I saw an elite pro is using them now and he did pretty well at the classic. I just haven't pulled the trigger on one. I do like the more parabolic action of ugly sticks.
Skunkmaster-k Posted June 17, 2021 Posted June 17, 2021 Most of my rods are the Lew’s Hank Parker and I like them a lot . The reels are Abu pro max and they’re not terrible either. 1
wis bang Posted June 17, 2021 Posted June 17, 2021 Getting back into fishing around 15 years ago and quickly parked my Pappy's old glass rods for some graphite #19.99 Shakespeare from WalMart that I still use alongside the lighter and 'better?' rods purchased since. Just saw the picture pop up from 10 years ago, PB SMB around 5 # that fought like it was 10#...on that $19.99 wonder...Standing on the back of the boat and could barely hold the tip above water. Took 8 or 9 attempts to get it in the net. Will my 'better?' rods do any better...
evo2s197 Posted June 17, 2021 Posted June 17, 2021 I could never go back to low end gear, years ago as a kid I mowed what seemed like a million lawns to buy a GLX casting rod and the green curado back in 1996, from that point forward i was ruined, it's just not the same fishing with budget gear, I would rather have one "do most things" combo than a bunch of budget gear.
Super User MN Fisher Posted June 17, 2021 Super User Posted June 17, 2021 1 hour ago, hokiehunter373 said: You and I would get along very well lol Join the club - this is my tab list. Rigs-current is what I posted above, Reels-Rods is stats on those, History is past years, and the rest should be self-explanatory. I got other tabs to keep track of giftings I've received or sent, stats on lures (weight, hook size, etc) and my 'wish list'. 1
Super User Deleted account Posted June 17, 2021 Super User Posted June 17, 2021 27 minutes ago, wis bang said: Getting back into fishing around 15 years ago and quickly parked my Pappy's old glass rods for some graphite #19.99 Shakespeare from WalMart that I still use alongside the lighter and 'better?' rods purchased since. Got a 6' one from Wally's in maybe '06-'08 in California. I often bought rods and left them with someone where the Navy sent me (Port Hueneme in this case), I liked it so much, I got a rod tube from a local tackle shop and brought it back on the plane. Airline lost it, and was just about to file a claim, when about 3 weeks latter it shows up at my door. It is one of my favorite popper rods.
Super User GetFishorDieTryin Posted June 17, 2021 Super User Posted June 17, 2021 2 hours ago, BassWhole! said: ps; You guys with the spreadsheets are scaring me. "proposed vacation combos" is particularly troubling... I cant lie, I shuddered when I saw them lol.
gunsinger Posted June 17, 2021 Posted June 17, 2021 1 hour ago, TriStateBassin106 said: Absolutely. Almost every rod and reel I own is less than or right at the 120 dollar range, my most expensive rod being a dobyns fury for jerkbaits and cranks. All my reels are below 100 dollars with the most being in the 79 to 99 dollar range with my SLX being the most expensive. I actually have a enigma fishing reel that's listed at 115 dollars but I got it on sale for 90. They all work great and will last for a long time as long as they're maintained correctly and cleaned. You gotta maintain them? What is this sacrilege? ?
Super User new2BC4bass Posted June 17, 2021 Super User Posted June 17, 2021 I have to be happy with my non-high end rods and reels because I can't afford 'high end'. I do have a couple older Steez that I purchased used for more than I'd normally spend on a new reel. My 'better' rods and reels don't catch me more fish. For that I would need a stick of dynamite. I enjoy fishing with one of my $77 (new) Smallmouth rods as much as I do with a $170 (used) Helium 3. Or my $30 Procaster (new) vs (whatever it was used) Steez.
Eric 26 Posted June 17, 2021 Posted June 17, 2021 Three of my favorite rods are the Wright & McGill Brent Chapman signature series rods. Paid $70.00 for my spinning rod $50.00 for my first baitcast rod and $40.00 for my second baitcast rod. Came across the 7’-0” casting rod and still kicking myself for not grabbing it as a backup ?
QED Posted June 17, 2021 Posted June 17, 2021 Like racing bicycles and other gear heavy sports/hobbies, the tier of fishing gear just below the high end tends to yield the best bang-for-buck. Diminishing marginal utility and all... That said, high end cycling and fishing gear are undoubtedly exquisite when you can afford them. 1
throttleplate Posted June 17, 2021 Posted June 17, 2021 1 hour ago, BassWhole! said: (Port Hueneme in this case), "port who needs me" and hueneme rd back in the 80s, fun place to hangout.
Bubba 460 Posted June 17, 2021 Posted June 17, 2021 I can catch a bass on a cane pole but have upgraded a little. I'll spend around a $100 on a rod and up to $200 on a reel. if I can't get it done with that, I don't know what to tell you. Plenty of good equipment in that range. No way I'm spending $750 for a rod and reel to catch a fish unless I'm laying on a shrinks couch talking about my Lamborghini and other short comings... 4
huZZah Posted June 17, 2021 Posted June 17, 2021 The fish don’t care. I don’t have a single rod over $60. Most are in the $30-40 range or they came with a $60 combo. Catch fish all the same. I did learn to avoid some brands. But several are good quality for good price.
Bubba 460 Posted June 17, 2021 Posted June 17, 2021 1 hour ago, QED said: Like racing bicycles and other gear heavy sports/hobbies, the tier of fishing gear just below the high end tends to yield the best bang-for-buck. Diminishing marginal utility and all... That said, high end cycling and fishing gear are undoubtedly exquisite when you can afford them. Very well might be exquisite but I'll never find out. I do know however that I don't need a rod so sensitive that I can feel a gnat fart on the rod tip to catch a fish.
Super User DitchPanda Posted June 17, 2021 Super User Posted June 17, 2021 3 hours ago, ironbjorn said: If I lost all my rods and reels today, I would buy 5 Aird-X casting rods, 2 Aird-X spinning rods, 5 Black Max casting reels, and 2 Trion spinning reels and call it good. I actually said the exact same thing but I'd swap daiwa revros in for the trions
Super User Deleted account Posted June 17, 2021 Super User Posted June 17, 2021 1 hour ago, QED said: Like racing bicycles and other gear heavy sports/hobbies, the tier of fishing gear just below the high end tends to yield the best bang-for-buck. Diminishing marginal utility and all... That said, high end cycling and fishing gear are undoubtedly exquisite when you can afford them. I've been doing bikes for longer than I can remember, and I ride 3rd tier last years closeouts. I could easily call a Rep, and have him/her send the latest and greatest in my size and it would show up in the next shipment, we make them a lot of $.
Super User Cgolf Posted June 17, 2021 Author Super User Posted June 17, 2021 1 hour ago, QED said: Like racing bicycles and other gear heavy sports/hobbies, the tier of fishing gear just below the high end tends to yield the best bang-for-buck. Diminishing marginal utility and all... That said, high end cycling and fishing gear are undoubtedly exquisite when you can afford them. This is why I have hated Shimano for years. When I replaced the rear derailleur on my bike the price difference between STX, XT, and XTR was eye popping back in the early 90s. I think the XTR would have set me back 1/2 the price I paid for the bike, Trek. They seem to over price their products IMO.
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