Rods/reels?

[d.hark]

Do I really need to spend $200 each or more on a G Loomis/ St Croix and Shimano/Daiwa to catch more fish? I have cought plenty of Bass on my $30 Shakespeare Ul combo from Walmart up to 5lbs. I am just getting back into bass fishing. I am a serious softball player and have NO problem buying a $300 softball bat, cause I know the technology is there, that ACTUALLY makes a ball go farther and harder. But is this the case for rods?? Isnt it more in your knowledge of fishing techniques, presentation and overall skills that will catch you fish? I understand that some rods, reels, lines. lures etc.. are more suited for certain situations. But cant you buy 1 rod/reel and do everyting with it without breaking the bank??. I understand it wont be "THE" perfect combo for everythiing but wont it get the job done??

[David P]

I say go in the mid range. You don't need a $200 reel and a $200 rod to catch bass, or even to catch big bass. There are many great deals at BPS or Cabelas and such that sell great combos for $100-$150.  I just got a shimano Stradic and a BPS extreme rod both sell regular for $100 or so, for $120 and absolutely love it.

No you don't need to spend tons of money on rods and reels. Just make sure you use the rod / reel how it's meant to be used. Follow the specs and you're fine.

[burleytog]

With rods, you're paying for sensitivity.  I asked the same question a year ago.

Spend a little money ($100-200) on a rod and then fish it a while.

[jdw174]

If you want a good, sensitive rod that won't break the bank, check out the Team Daiwa Light and Tough series.  About $120 for most of them through catalogs/internet.  

[wbassrogue]

i think there are diminished returns after a certain point.

right now, im fishing a bps woo daves extreme rod, it is the most expensive rod ive owned.

im used to fishing rods in the $30 range(lightning rods for the most part) and i can definitely tell a difference in terms of rod action and comfort and build quality, and it seems that i am landing a much higher percent of fish on it...now that could all be in my head :-X perhaps it, like anything else is a confidence thing.

as for a reel, i havent owned a ton of quality reels, my primary reel is a quantum catalyst pti, i have been very happy with $30 abu's and $40 daiwas.

i have also been very unhappy with some of the other budget reels. i strongly reccomend going to a store and playing with some before you buy.

as for whether itll make you a better fisherman? i dont know, ive been outfished by friends using $35 combos, conversely ive caught some of my biggest bass on some real junk. all that aside, it depends on how much you are going to use it, if you fish everyday, or a few times a week.i think the case can very easily be made for higher end stuff.

[roadwarrior]

Your softball bat reference is prime. Although there are SIGNIFICANT differences in higher end equipment, they do not fundamentally affect you fishing success. High end gear will make a good fisherman better, but it will not make a poor fisherman good.

I think the "high end" starts at about $150 for a combination (rod & reel). The "best value" is generally a combo from a major retailer on sale (they are always on sale). This would be an example:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_59174_100003002_100000000_100003000_100-3-2

[flechero]

Isnt it more in your knowledge of fishing techniques, presentation and overall skills that will catch you fish?

Isn't it just hand-eye coordination and strength that makes the ball fly further? Sarcastic, yes, but just trying draw the analogy. The difference? I can work out for a while and still get the fences with the old bat but your hands aren't going to get more sensitive with age.

You can get safe base hits everytime with an old dead bat, just as you can catch fish on a $30 combo. But as you know there is a difference in bats, there is a difference in rods, when fishing "feel" baits like worms, jigs, etc.. The better rods will telegraph the subtle bites (which are usually bigger fish) and if you have any sensitivity in your hands- result in more big fish and probably a few more fish overall. Yes there are exceptions to that rule, but I find them to be few.

When I bought my first Loomis IMX (about 15 years ago) I instantly started catching more big fish on the same plasics, in the same spots I had always fished... the difference was that I now felt the subtle bites that I had been missing. These light bights were in addition to what I had been feeling so I actually did start catching more fish.

If you fish moving baits all the time like spinnerbaits and crankbaits, there isn't much need for the nicer rod.

**** A good rod won't make a bad fisherman good or a good fisherman great... but it will give you opportunities to catch fish that you never felt before. The decision lies in whether or not you can justify the expense, NOT if there is a difference in rods.

[d.hark]

Isnt it more in your knowledge of fishing techniques, presentation and overall skills that will catch you fish?

Isn't it just hand-eye coordination and strength that makes the ball fly further? Sarcastic, yes, but just trying draw the analogy. The difference? I can work out for a while and still get the fences with the old bat but your hands aren't going to get more sensitive with age.

You can get safe base hits everytime with an old dead bat, just as you can catch fish on a $30 combo. But as you know there is a difference in bats, there is a difference in rods, when fishing "feel" baits like worms, jigs, etc.. The better rods will telegraph the subtle bites (which are usually bigger fish) and if you have any sensitivity in your hands- result in more big fish and probably a few more fish overall. Yes there are exceptions to that rule, but I find them to be few.

I understand what you are trying to say. Yes you needs the skills to do both. I am saying give professional fisherman a $30 combo and a good ballplayer a $30 bat and have them do their thing for an hour or so then switch it up and give them each a top dollar setup and bat and the ballplayer will improve dramatically and the fisherman probally just marginally, if at all.

I will probally end up with a couple nice $200 setups myself (1 spinning and one casting). But I dont see the need for some of the ridiculous prices on some rods and reels was my point I guess if they dont really help you catch fish.

Another softball analogy which is what I liken it to fishing equip, would be a top dollar glove. There are $300 gloves out there. There is no way in hell I would buy something like that cause in that case a glove is NOT in NO way gonna help you become a better fielder. You either know how to field/catch or not.

[flechero]

give them each a top dollar setup and bat and the ballplayer will improve dramatically and the fisherman probally just marginally, if at all.

Spoken like the ballplayer. I don't agree at all with that and I did play A-League softball for over 10 years.. Unless you are using spinerbaits and crankbaits only, then yes, stick to the cheap rods and go to better reels.

The better rods will telegraph the subtle bites (which are usually bigger fish) and if you have any sensitivity in your hands- result in more big fish

I consider catching big fish over little fish- dramatic. Give me a big fish and a camera over a bunch of dinks any day of the week, it just so happened that when I and others I know switched to better rods, we began catching bigger fish on a regular basis.... If it were just me I would say maybe it's not a big deal but when every one I know, who upgraded in rods started catching more and bigger fish on worm and jigs- it's hard to deny the results.

Buy an IMX and go worm fish... if you can honestly say, with a straight face, you didn't catch more or bigger fish on it than the $30 combo, I will buy it back from you.

[roadwarrior]

...give them each a top dollar setup and bat and the ballplayer will improve dramatically and the fisherman probally just marginally, if at all.

I suppose when you make an assinine statement like that your're just trying to get a reaction, but if you were serious, you are just plain WRONG.

[BassPonder72]

Ballplayer/Bassfisherman to Ballplayer/Bassfisherman-

Just like you need the proper mechanics in your swing to really benefit from the technology that goes into a high end bat you will need the same feel for fishing to take advantage of high end equipment.  I would never go up to the plate with an Easton Hammer, give me my Demarini EVO AX (oh yeah, the red one!) and I will benefit from the composite barrel and flex tuned carbon fiber handle.  Same is true when I go fishing; I would never go bass fishing with my old ugly stik combo, give me my Falcon/Cardinal combo and I will land more fish more consistently.  Just like a Walmart special bat vs any of my Demarinis; there is a world of difference in the high end equipment vs the cheaper stuff.

[d.hark]

...give them each a top dollar setup and bat and the ballplayer will improve dramatically and the fisherman probally just marginally, if at all.

I suppose when you make an assinine statement like that your're just trying to get a reaction, but if you were serious, you are just plain WRONG.

Maybe I am RW?? I am certainly not advocating $30 combos. But at what point is it overkill? You guys say I will catch more and bigger fish with a nice combo, I guess I will have to take your words for it. RW you have suggested to me and others the Shimano Stradic and Citica combos and those are the ones I intend to buy, unless I find a sweet deal on a St Croix or Gloomis rods. I was just trying to compare it something I know something about in softball. Sorry, Didnt mean to rile eveyone up :-[

RW why dont you do an experiment and go to your favorite spot with a cheap combo and see how you do vs. your high end stuff and see how it goes

[roadwarrior]

Most of "fishing" is cast and retrieve, not catching. As flechero has pointed out, the opportunity to "catch" is infrequent and the chances of hooking-up with the "fish of a lifetime" only happens once. To CONSISTANTLY catch bigger bass requires the ability to hook up and land THAT BASS when the opportunity arises. EVERYTIME I have that opportunity, I want to have ALL of the variables in my favor. To use your softball analogy as reference, if the perfect pitch is delivered I want to take full advantage of that situation and knock it out of the park!

[Alpster]

Not trying to be a smart azz, but anyone who would spend $300 on a baseball bat and has trouble with $30 for a fishing rod should stick with baseball. JMHO

Ronnie

[KYbass1276]

The best response I could give is you have experiance the ride.   Buy a high end set up and if you don't like the ride the get off at the next stop and sell it you will get your money back.  

[ejtaylor822]

Recently picked up a BPS Extreme and absolutely love it.  The next rod I buy will be a BPS Extreme.

[Siebert Outdoors]

The bat and the rod can be compared very easily

A high dollar bat is lighter which gives you a faster swing. Also will deliver a better hit when the ball hits it solid. Dont know what thats called but sure its got a name.

A high dollar rod is just the same. its lighter for less fatique. The blank bends close to the same every time to give better accuracy, and the tapers are better for handling fish.

If I swing a wood bat I can still hit a ball. But if I'm swinging at a 90+ pitch heck yeah I would prefer a lighter bat for faster reaction time.

Fish a mid to low end rod for 8-12hrs straight. then after your wrists heal back up take a high end rod and fish it the same. I bet your wrist will not be as fatigued. After you fish this rod for this long then switch back to the other rod. I bet you will notice a world of difference between the two and not want to go back.

I've posted it before and will again. Like RW said he wants every advantage he can get. I agree. With the little bit of time I have anymore to fish I want it to be a pleasureful experience. I dont want to be screwing with tackle problems all day.

Someone mentioned law of deminishing returns.  I also agree with that one.  There are good rods out there for good prices.  You gotta pay to play with the most technologically advanced equipment.  Thats any sport!

I just scratched the surface. I think the picture is painted.

[scbassin]

I use a sensitive rod for crank bait fishing also. A big bass can inhale & exhale a bait & you not know it if you can't feel the wiggle of your bait.  Watch bigmouth, Uncle Homer tells you he never felt that fish. As has been said already the high end sensitive rods do make a difference. You will feel more fish but it's up to you to set the hook.