Couldn’t tell difference between my cheaper and more expensive rod….

[Catt]

3 minutes ago, fishwizzard said:

You either being deliberately obstinant or suffering from a serious case of sour grapes.  

 

Pretty sure that's you!

 

 

 

[NoShoes]

I’m not 100% positive, but I’m pretty sure prize money is worth more than their rod endorsements. 
 

Pros are going to fish with whatever they feel gives them the best chance at a check. If they can pick up another check while not hurting their chances at the bigger checks, then that’s when you see these signature lines. 

[MN Fisher]

The gist of what I'm seeing the last day or so is this.

 

"Those of us who can't afford high-end gear are doomed to not catching decent fish."

 

I'm outta here....

[evo2s197]

High end equipment is often just more enjoyable to fish with than cheaper gear, be it lightness, balance or just that "IT" factor, that's basically the difference.

[fishwizzard]

28 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

Pretty sure that's you!

 

 

 

So you could try to actually counter any argument I’ve made but clearly that’s beyond you so I guess we will just leave it here at “I know you are but what am I?”  

[PhishLI]

43 minutes ago, fishwizzard said:

No one is saying still has nothing to do with it but a “better tool in skilled hands will often produce a better result than a cheaper tool in the same hands

It's hard to argue with that, in theory anyway, but in the real world Wheeler wins big, and often mops the floor using gear that many who post on fishing forums would consider Harbor Freight grade. I can guarantee that if a newbie came on here and asked about buying one of his specific setups, many here would do handstands trying to convince him not to do it. So there's that. Confusing, eh?

[bulldog1935]

how long does each piece from two crates of tackle have to last a pro?  

It's different if you're buying your primary tackle and you want it to last 20 years.  

[T-Billy]

12 minutes ago, NoShoes said:

I’m not 100% positive, but I’m pretty sure prize money is worth more than their rod endorsements. 
 

Pros are going to fish with whatever they feel gives them the best chance at a check. If they can pick up another check while not hurting their chances at the bigger checks, then that’s when you see these signature lines. 

I agree. I haven't seen any signature series ugly sticks lately.

 

Then there's the question, how sensitive does a rod really need to be? I personally feel no need to buy high end. Lots of choices out there in the $100 - $200 price range that will do anything I need a rod to do, built with with quality hardware, and plenty sensitive for bottom contact. I've been VERY impressed with the Ark Tharp series at $129.

[The Maestro]

55 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

The gist of what I'm seeing the last day or so is this.

 

"Those of us who can't afford high-end gear are doomed to not catching decent fish."

 

I'm outta here....

Literally nobody has said anything resembling this. Also in before thread shut down because reasons. 

[T-Billy]

46 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

The gist of what I'm seeing the last day or so is this.

 

"Those of us who can't afford high-end gear are doomed to not catching decent fish."

 

I'm outta here....

I caught my PB LM 6lb10oz on a Berkley lightning rod, and my PB SM 6lb4oz on a BPS Pro Qualifier. That ol 7' MH Lightning Rod probably put a literal ton of fish in the boat. It was my jig rod for several years, until I wrecked the stainless guides with flouro. They put aluminum oxide guides on them now. Outstanding rods for their price point. If I were to start with a clean slate today, I'd buy the full line of Ark Tharps + a ned rod and call it a day.

[Functional]

28 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

I agree. I haven't seen any signature series ugly sticks lately.

 

Then there's the question, how sensitive does a rod really need to be? I personally feel no need to buy high end. Lots of choices out there in the $100 - $200 price range that will do anything I need a rod to do, built with with quality hardware, and plenty sensitive for bottom contact. I've been VERY impressed with the Ark Tharp series at $129.

 

Not that its big money but I have rods in the 180-250 range and my Tharp hammer is still the one I have in my hands the most. Very under rated in my opinion for the price, especially when you can snag them for under $100 on sale.

[dodgeguy]

1 hour ago, fishwizzard said:

You’re making a ridiculous argument, like if what you’re saying is true why does anyone bother to buy anything other than the cheapest product available? Why do musicians spend considerable amounts of money on higher quality instruments? Why isn’t every mechanic out there using nothing but Harbor freight tools?

 

No one is saying still has nothing to do with it but a “better tool in skilled hands will often produce a better result than a cheaper tool in the same hands” isn’t some shockingly controversial statement like you’re making it out to be.  You either being deliberately obstinant or suffering from a serious case of sour grapes.  

Better rods may be nicer. But considering the classic has been won with BPS Carbonlite rods and reels I would say the skill of the angler has the most to do with success.

[Mat_ski]

I have rods in every price range from aird-x to steez and if I was to do it all over again I would get nothing but tatulas or zodias.

[zpelletier]

1 hour ago, fishwizzard said:

You’re making a ridiculous argument, like if what you’re saying is true why does anyone bother to buy anything other than the cheapest product available? Why do musicians spend considerable amounts of money on higher quality instruments? Why isn’t every mechanic out there using nothing but Harbor freight tools?  

Mechanics buy Snap On because it doesn’t break, and, on the off chance it does, they will give you a new one free. But it doesn’t make them a better mechanic. Anyone who works with tools will tell you that it’s all about who is holding the tool, not who makes the tool. 
 

Musicians buy higher quality guitars because it will last longer and/or it will give them a different sound. A better guitar will sound better, but that doesn’t make them a better musician. 
 

There’s plenty of reasons to buy better equipment, but better equipment doesn’t increase your skill level. I would argue that the higher the skill level, the lower the impact of nicer equipment. 

[GReb]

[Cgolf]

2 hours ago, fishwizzard said:

You’re making a ridiculous argument, like if what you’re saying is true why does anyone bother to buy anything other than the cheapest product available? Why do musicians spend considerable amounts of money on higher quality instruments? Why isn’t every mechanic out there using nothing but Harbor freight tools?

 

No one is saying still has nothing to do with it but a “better tool in skilled hands will often produce a better result than a cheaper tool in the same hands” isn’t some shockingly controversial statement like you’re making it out to be.  You either being deliberately obstinant or suffering from a serious case of sour grapes.  

 

So, I actually found a cheaper 10-15 year old Cabela's Prodigy MH moderate (70 bucks) far outperfromed for me casting than my Avid X MH fast rod that some were recomending for spinnerbaits. Weight of the rods, coudn't really tell, but what I can tell you is that my accuracy with full casts, and roll casts was substantially better with the prodigy. Short backhand pitches were about even to maybe a nod to the Avid X. Sensitivity was very close and I had braid on both. I think the prodigy gained sensitivity because the blank is exposed under the reel seat where I hold the rod.

 

To me, it isn't about cost it is about finding the rod with the right action and specs to meet ones individual casting style. You give me a 500-600 high end MH Extra fast rod I will likely tell you its a worthless piece of junk because it wouldn't suit my casting style. Give me a MH moderate in that price range I would likely be very happy:)

[ironbjorn]

3 hours ago, Junk Fisherman said:

Last fall I bought a Steez spinning rod which blows away every Dobyns rod I own.  Pair that Steez rod with braided line (YGK) and my sensitivity is significantly greater than the other rods I use.  I catch fish, mostly using a Ned rig, that I know I would not have caught in the past with my Avids or Champions.  While it probably is a combination of my improved abilities over the years AND the improved sensitivity of the rod I now use, I am not going to discount the value of the uber-sensitive rod I am using.  The rod helps me catch more fish.  I'll never go back to anything less than the Steez I am now using for subtle finesse applications.  

To be fair I've taken completely dead feeling $10-$20 rods and caught a ton of fish with the Ned. It wasn't those rods outperforming more expensive rods, but the Ned being that good and not requiring one to feel the bite. I'm not sure catching a ton of fish on an expensive rod using the Ned Rig is indicative of a rod being that good.

[WRB]

As I recall I caught my 1st bass over 15 lbs at Lower Otay in 1969 using a pistol grip Fenwick Lunker Stick 6’ tubular glass rod with Abu 5000C and 17 lb Trilene XT line, Eagle Claw worm hook, DeLong Otay Spl 9” worm.

You all wouldn’t use that rod to stake up tomatoes today.

In 1981 I caught my 18.6 lb bass using a 6’10 Lamiglas graphite rod with 4500C reel, 12 lb Trilene XT on my hair jig.

The Lamiglas was a custom to get 6’10” length 5 power. I had 3 rods made for a total of $300 or $100 each in ‘80 dollars.

Used these rods for the next 33 years catching all my giant bass listed. Changed to Daiwa TD HiA103 & 105 reels in ‘91 with 10 & 12 Big Game Mono. Caught the other 4 giant bass listed on this combo using my jigs.

Same rods for 33 years, today everyone changes rods every other year. My current rods are custom ALX with Lamiglas blanks, rods weigh 3.8 oz, that cost $260 each in 2012, 9 years old now. Reels are Tatula R100’s 8:1 also 9 years old.

it’s the nut turning the handle and holding the rod matters more then state of the art tackle.

I definitely got my money worth out of my rods and reels.

Tom

[Junk Fisherman]

2 hours ago, ironbjorn said:

To be fair I've taken completely dead feeling $10-$20 rods and caught a ton of fish with the Ned. It wasn't those rods outperforming more expensive rods, but the Ned being that good and not requiring one to feel the bite. I'm not sure catching a ton of fish on an expensive rod using the Ned Rig is indicative of a rod being that good.

I'm sure I could catch bass with a Ned rig using a broom stick but I wouldn't catch as many as if I was using my high-end gear.  The Steezs, NRXs, and Destroyers of the world shine with subtle pickups when your boat is bouncing around and the wind is blowing your line when waiting an extra second is the difference between catching the fish or not.  I've used a bunch of rods and I have no doubts that sensitive rods help me detect the subtle bite better which results in more caught fish.  But if you're happy using more reasonably-price gear then that is fantastic.  

 

[Big Hands]

I would say that better equipment (in this case, a $400 to $600 rod) probably does make us a better version of the fisherman we are, but it really doesn't make us much more capable than the fisherman we are with a $150 rod.

[Catt]

6 hours ago, fishwizzard said:

So you could try to actually counter any argument I’ve made but clearly that’s beyond you so I guess we will just leave it here at “I know you are but what am I?”  

 

I get it the instrument makes the musician.

 

[huZZah]

5 hours ago, cgolf said:

Why do musicians spend considerable amounts of money on higher quality instruments?

I’ve seen/heard the Russian “red army” band live and those people were playing on horns that I wouldn’t give 6th graders. Absolute junk. 
 

And they were phenomenal.

 

Gonna be honest…just like I doubt most of y’all could tell me the difference between instruments, I couldn’t tell you the difference between expensive rods and not. 

[Cgolf]

19 minutes ago, huZZah said:

I’ve seen/heard the Russian “red army” band live and those people were playing on horns that I wouldn’t give 6th graders. Absolute junk. 
 

And they were phenomenal.

 

Gonna be honest…just like I doubt most of y’all could tell me the difference between instruments, I couldn’t tell you the difference between expensive rods and not. 

I think you meant to quote fish wizard. 

[new2BC4bass]

7 hours ago, T-Billy said:

I agree. I haven't seen any signature series ugly sticks lately.

 

Then there's the question, how sensitive does a rod really need to be? I personally feel no need to buy high end. Lots of choices out there in the $100 - $200 price range that will do anything I need a rod to do, built with with quality hardware, and plenty sensitive for bottom contact. I've been VERY impressed with the Ark Tharp series at $129.

What?    $200 rods aren't high end? 

[Big Hands]

Ugly Stik rods get a lot of bad raps, many of them deservedly so, because they have long been made so their best feature was that they could stand up to a lot of abuse. But they have apparently stepped up their game with a 'carbon' rod the goes for $80. I guess they are good enough that Matt Robertson (Bassmaster Elite angler) qualified for the Classic fishing Ugly Stiks this year. Finished 38th in AOY standings, which is better than a whole lot of other Elites fishing with much more expensive gear. Still doesn't make me want to fish with a Ugly Stik  ;~P, but I could if I had to.

 

Good, bad, right, wrong, or whatever, he is obviously a much better angler than I am. But as a young man from humble beginnings that's chasing his dream, he does what he has to do. 

 

None of this means that anyone should be looked down on for having the means and desire to acquire and use nice gear. It's not like you have to get approval or qualify to use fancy fishing gear, and I will be the first to say that nice gear is fun to use and can make fishing better in at least some circumstances. I also know there are folks that can kick my butt with 10 year old monofilament wrapped around a coke can. This is just a hobby we can all enjoy in our own way.

 

For the OP: If you don't really have much in the way of financial constraints, then knock yourself out, grab a knowledgeable friend and head to what you believe to be a reputable tackle shop and let them kit you up. Your shot in the dark might hit a bullseye, or not, but you'll figure it out as you go.

 

For those with financial constraints, this pursuit is much like any other. The entry level gear will get you into the game, but generally has some shortcomings if you find yourself in it for the long haul. Entry level has a place for those not sure if they're into it, or just want to dabble occasionally without without spending much.

 

Mid priced gear is generally going to give the best bang for the buck. Relatively modest increases in price can be much nicer to use compared to entry level gear and more durable.

 

High end gear can be nice to use, superior even when optimized by using it to it's potential, but sometimes it can also be fragile. Boutique gear can just be fancy or sometimes fancy and performs well.