Do you really need to spend $100+ for a good rod?

[Johnbt]

"There's high level pros fishing their sponsors' $100 rods and winning the biggest tournaments so you could say those rods and reels are "good enough" them even if they are getting paid to use the stuff."

 

I wonder. How many more big tournaments would they win if they had better equipment? 

I also wonder. Why don't they use cheap boats. And an old flasher. 

 

More seriously, I'd be more likely to use free or lower-cost rods too if I'd designed them to my liking.

[Alex Ball]

   Funny story. 

Background

   I grew up in the nastiest part of Little Rock Arkansas. Up until I was 30, low end jobs. Went to culinary school. Met a famous chef. Got a job with him. Moved to Bull Shoals to work for an icon locally. Learned to fish. Spend all my hobby money on it.

Story

     A girl I like is a doctor and as such, has fancy friends. Went to a real dinner party. Butlers, service, knew the chef. Got to the table and there was an obvious problem: what the h*** are all these forks and spoons for? Server asks for my drink order and and I ask for Shiner Bock. We only have Stella? What the h*** is that? I'm outclassed everywhere I go and it's obvious.                 Everywhere except the water. I get oohs and ahhs because of my rods and reels. Levels the playing field. I'll never be high class, but that's part of what my charm is according to my fancy friends.

 

[CrashVector]

I'll say this:

 

Using a chatterbait, there's not much difference.

 

Typically more expensive = lighter/more sensitive.  You don't exactly need more sensitivity throwing something like a chatterbait that is buzzing along anyhow.

 

As much as I hate to admit it, for bottom contact finesse fishing, yes.  It matters.  A lot.

 

I used to fish with the cheapest combos I could find.  I'm 500% convinced I missed a LOT of fish simply because I couldn't detect the light bites on them.

 

I recently (5 months) got an Abu Fantasista X rod for Texas rigged plastics.  You can feel a minnow fart from 10 feet away.  If a bass sniffs my lure, I feel it.

 

So yeah...it makes a huge difference depending on what and how you're fishing.

[Bird]

My old pal and fishing partner for many years is still using Lightning rods and Cherrywood.

He's retired and very comfortable financially.

 

He gives me a hard time for spending $200 for a combo. I laugh and say " that ain't nothing, you should join Bass Resources ". Lol

 

The one area I do see where he stuggles is trying to cast light baits on very inexpensive baitcasters.

So, stubbornness is another factor.

[Alex Ball]

2 minutes ago, CrashVector said:

I'll say this:

 

Using a chatterbait, there's not much difference.

 

Typically more expensive = lighter/more sensitive.  You don't exactly need more sensitivity throwing something like a chatterbait that is buzzing along anyhow.

 

As much as I hate to admit it, for bottom contact finesse fishing, yes.  It matters.  A lot.

 

I used to fish with the cheapest combos I could find.  I'm 500% convinced I missed a LOT of fish simply because I couldn't detect the light bites on them.

 

I recently (5 months) got an Abu Fantasista X rod for Texas rigged plastics.  You can feel a minnow fart from 10 feet away.  If a bass sniffs my lure, I feel it.

 

So yeah...it makes a huge difference depending on what and how you're fishing.

I want one bad!

1 minute ago, Bird said:

My old pal and fishing partner for many years is still using Lightning rods and Cherrywood.

He's retired and very comfortable financially.

 

He gives me a hard time for spending $200 for a combo. I laugh and say " that ain't nothing, you should join Bass Resources ". Lol

 

The one area I do see where he stuggles is trying to cast light baits on very inexpensive baitcasters.

So, stubbornness is another factor.

He needs to get that ML Cherrywood. I got it. It'll launch an 1/8 beetle spin.

[CrashVector]

Just now, Alex Ball said:

I want one bad!

 

I paired mine up with a Revo MGX.  Best finesse baitcast combo I've ever owned as far as sensitivity.

 

It feels freakishly light.

2 minutes ago, Bird said:

My old pal and fishing partner for many years is still using Lightning rods and Cherrywood.

He's retired and very comfortable financially.

 

He gives me a hard time for spending $200 for a combo. I laugh and say " that ain't nothing, you should join Bass Resources ". Lol

 

The one area I do see where he stuggles is trying to cast light baits on very inexpensive baitcasters.

So, stubbornness is another factor.

 

I can understand him.

 

I go back and forth on high end equipment.  I have my $700 combos, then next trip, I'll bring a few $30 spincast combos just to have fun.

 

Sometimes it's about putting fish in the boat, sometimes it's about relaxing regardless of whether or not I put fish in the boat lol

[Johnbt]

"what are all these forks and spoons for?"

 

Start on the outside and work your way in. They bring the first course, use the outside fork or spoon as appropriate. They'll take it away with the dirty dish. Same for the next course. When in doubt which side to use for any given course, take a sip of water and look around the table.

 

It's not difficult. I learned most of it and I grew up in a rowhouse in downtown Baltimore back before it got quite so murderous.

 

Fwiw, Einstein used to read Emily Post's big etiquette book because he found it amusing.

[Junk Fisherman]

17 minutes ago, CrashVector said:

I'll say this:

 

Using a chatterbait, there's not much difference.

 

Typically more expensive = lighter/more sensitive.  You don't exactly need more sensitivity throwing something like a chatterbait that is buzzing along anyhow.

 

As much as I hate to admit it, for bottom contact finesse fishing, yes.  It matters.  A lot.

 

I used to fish with the cheapest combos I could find.  I'm 500% convinced I missed a LOT of fish simply because I couldn't detect the light bites on them.

 

I recently (5 months) got an Abu Fantasista X rod for Texas rigged plastics.  You can feel a minnow fart from 10 feet away.  If a bass sniffs my lure, I feel it.

 

So yeah...it makes a huge difference depending on what and how you're fishing.

 

Perfectly stated.  You don't NEED to spend $100+ on a rod to catch fish but it will definitely help and for some presentations it will help A LOT.  I throw a Ned Rig a lot and I can definitely feel the bottom better and detect subtle bites better with my high-end rods.  I noticed a major difference going from the $350 Champion Rod to a $550 Steez rod.  Sure, you can catch them on a $75 rod.  Many hits are very obvious and we could catch them on a broom stick but it is the soft, subtle pickup or the times when the fish inhales your lure and moves off where you only have a second or two to set the hook, those are the times when the high-end rods shine.  Is it worth the money?  No.   But I am a tackle junkie and fishing is my passion so I splurge on things I love.   

[Alex Ball]

1 hour ago, Johnbt said:

"what are all these forks and spoons for?"

 

Start on the outside and work your way in. They bring the first course, use the outside fork or spoon as appropriate. They'll take it away with the dirty dish. Same for the next course. When in doubt which side to use for any given course, take a sip of water and look around the table.

 

It's not difficult. I learned most of it and I grew up in a rowhouse in downtown Baltimore back before it got quite so murderous.

 

Fwiw, Einstein used to read Emily Post's big etiquette book because he found it amusing.

My friend explained it all. Really quite efficient. It was a funny night. I owned my lack of knowledge. We ended up singing karaoke to the worst of the 90s. It was hysterical.

    I'm not anything more than blue collar but I work around people who aren't. It's interesting to see the difference in upbringing.

[king fisher]

It is not the gear it’s the fisherman. I know a kid that can out fish me any day on his Lake and all he has is an old soda bottle for a rod and reel with a homemade lure carved out of a toothbrush.

[king fisher]

36 minutes ago, king fisher said:

It is not the gear it’s the fisherman. I know a kid that can out fish me any day on his Lake and all he has is an old soda bottle for a rod and reel with a homemade lure carved out of a toothbrush.

I’m such a gearhead that if I ever did go the soda bottle rod real route. I would have to have five different sizes of soda bottles giving me five different gear ratios and six or seven different brands of toothbrushes for Lures

[QED]

Interesting [somewhat] tangential discussion regarding background. Here in Silicon Valley, the shooting and fishing sports are considered somewhat déclassé.  I grew up in an impoverished, crime-ridden city in the central valley of CA, but all of my work colleagues assume I was born into privilege.  Wierd...

[Alex Ball]

47 minutes ago, QED said:

Interesting [somewhat] tangential discussion regarding background. Here in Silicon Valley, the shooting and fishing sports are considered somewhat déclassé.  I grew up in an impoverished, crime-ridden city in the central valley of CA, but all of my work colleagues assume I was born into privilege.  Wierd...

I do not assimilate. I am what I am. It works for me. Here, fishing is definitely high class. Your boat determines your status etc...

[soflabasser]

A skilled fisherman can do very well with a rod under $100 so you do not need a $100 rod to well in bass fishing. It does make it more enjoyable to have lighter, stronger rods but it is not absolutely needed to have expensive rods to do well in bass fishing. What matters most is knowing how to locate fish and knowing how to catch them.

[NYWayfarer]

No. There are “good” rods at $100 and under. 
 

Some of my favorites are

 

St Croix Triumph

Lew’s TP1X

Fenwick Eagle

Fenwick HMX

Abu Garcia Vendetta

Abu Garcia Vengeance

[RB 77]

Nah, but quite a few of my rods are. Have some a little less expensive too. 

[Derek1]

To be honest, up until 4 years ago I thought $100 rods were top of the line. Then I found the latest tackle purchase thread on bass resource. I believe there are great rods at every price point. Jump in where you can and have fun. 

[QED]

8 hours ago, Alex Ball said:

I do not assimilate. I am what I am. [stuff deleted]

Interesting perspective.  I'm a[n] [lawful] immigrant and English is my third language, so if I took your view, then I wouldn't be able to be here posting in English.  The part of your post that I agree with is the latter sentence, and I don't have any language or etiquette affectations, so if people misread my background, that's on them.

[Alex Ball]

8 hours ago, QED said:

Interesting perspective.  I'm a[n] [lawful] immigrant and English is my third language, so if I took your view, then I wouldn't be able to be here posting in English.  The part of your post that I agree with is the latter sentence, and I don't have any language or etiquette affectations, so if people misread my background, that's on them.

I have a very heavy "ghetto drawl". Can't shake it. Lived there too long. By saying I don't assimilate, I simply mean I won't change who I am to fit in. 3 languages? I barely speak English, LoL. That's awesome you took the time to learn multiple languages. I'm also autistic, so change is not easy. 

[BrianMDTX]

12 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

No. There are “good” rods at $100 and under. 
 

Some of my favorites are

 

St Croix Triumph

Lew’s TP1X

Fenwick Eagle

Fenwick HMX

Abu Garcia Vendetta

Abu Garcia Vengeance

I have two Fenwick HMX rods- a 6’6” MF spinning and a 7’6” HF baitcasting. To be frank, in my opinion, they are darned nice rods! In fit, finish and how they fish. 

[Alex Ball]

12 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

No. There are “good” rods at $100 and under. 
 

Some of my favorites are

 

St Croix Triumph

Lew’s TP1X

Fenwick Eagle

Fenwick HMX

Abu Garcia Vendetta

Abu Garcia Vengeance

Love the Vendetta. The Eagle is excellent. Didn't know about the St Croix. Thanks.

[BrianMDTX]

20 hours ago, Johnbt said:

"what are all these forks and spoons for?"

 

Start on the outside and work your way in. They bring the first course, use the outside fork or spoon as appropriate. They'll take it away with the dirty dish. Same for the next course. When in doubt which side to use for any given course, take a sip of water and look around the table.

 

It's not difficult. I learned most of it and I grew up in a rowhouse in downtown Baltimore back before it got quite so murderous.

 

Fwiw, Einstein used to read Emily Post's big etiquette book because he found it amusing.

B-more native as well. Did most of my fishing growing up at Loch Raven/Liberty/Prettyboy/Conowingo reservoirs, as well as catching carp and channel cats at Carroll Island and where Herring Run dumps into Back River. Used to love to go to Wye Mills when they rented rowboats. Nice place to fish for bass and below the dam when the perch were running.