Most Expensive Set Up

[Kdizzle]

Revo X($99) on an Fenwick HMG 6'6"($80 on Amazon).  Im not a pro so I really don't need pro crap.

[FishinBuck07]

1 hour ago, evo2s197 said:

I agree, obviously I have Ultra high end stuff, but I have what most beginner would call beginner setups that I enjoy using also, for instance I have the New Ugly Stick Carbons that I believe are 70 bucks per rod. As long as you catch fish I dont judge even if your using a cane pole.

I always said I wouldn't spend the kind of money I have the last couple of years, but I did.  I always say buy what you can afford and like, it doesn't matter to me, just get out there and fish!  

[HenryPF]

Typing this answer tells me I spend way too much money on rods and reels. Just answering my most expensive.

 

Shimano Antares DC on a Kistler Helium - $850

 

It sounds expensive, but the guy who fly fishes my pond does so with a $3000 fly rod for bluegill.

 

 

[jbsoonerfan]

Just now, HenryPF said:

Typing this answer tells me I spend way too much money on rods and reels. Just answering my most expensive.

 

Shimano Antares DC on a Kistler Helium - $850

 

It sounds expensive, but the guy who fly fishes my pond does so with a $3000 fly rod for bluegill.

 

 

I know guys with $3,000 rifles that just punch paper and shoot a deer or 2 a year. I say, spend it how you want to.

[roadwarrior]

17 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

I know guys with $3,000 rifles that just punch paper and shoot a deer or 2 a year. I say, spend it how you want to.

I was a BIG hunter and the expense was WAY higher than fishing gear.

 

 

 

 

[jbsoonerfan]

You can spend more on a set of glass than a couple Stellas and Conquests will run you.

[roadwarrior]

 

 

 

 

 

31 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

I know guys with $3,000 rifles that just punch paper and shoot a deer or 2 a year. I say, spend it how you want to.

I was a BIG hunter and the expense was WAY higher than fishing gear.

 

 

My https://www.leupold.com/  Cost a ton!

[Vilas15]

Musky:

$250 - Daiwa Lexa 400

$380 - St Croix Legend Tournament "Big Nasty"

 

Bass:

$140 - Lews Tournament MB

$120 - St Croix Mojo Bass

[FishTank]

I have a 2019 Shimano Antares and an NRX 853C.  Each time I have used it, I'm like.....  What was I thinking?  Followed by... Ya, it really is amazing.  Then I don't feel so bad. 

[Basswhippa]

[MassYak85]

I've settled on a Daiwa Fuegos as my workhorse reels for now and don't splurge on rods (a few Tatulas, a couple Furys) so none of my setups are "high end".

 

But I recently scooped up a few Dobyns Champions (that 40% off sale was a force lol) including an 867 and splurged on a Tranx 300. Together the setup retails for $570, but I took advantage of a couple sales so I was able to put it together for just under 400 bucks. 

 

 

[TBAG]

21 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Seems like you are the only one trying to do so. Everyone else is just participating as the title says.

 

In my short stay here, even though he's caught some good bass and most of Tom's advice is pretty good........

 

He's still the "get off my lawn" resident poster. 

 

 

Anyways, I slowly upgraded over the years and bought when there was too good of sales to pass up. 

 

Most expensive rods I own are NRX's. (853c, 854c) 

 

Reels paired with them are Curado K's and while they're nice, those rods deserve lighter. 

 

It's a slippery slope...........

 

Oh, and they haven't significantly increased my numbers on the water, but they've increased my enjoyment. When people say you can feel a fish breathe on that jig or worm, they're right. I work hard for my stuff and life is short. 

[NathanDLTH]

Xtasy 755 and Steez SV

[king fisher]

When I was young and single I spent every dime I had on fishing and hunting gear.  My car cost $500 and I owned fly rod and reel combos over $600.  My home was a cabin with no plumbing, built for $8000 including the land.  I had twice that much invested in my duck hunting gear.  I fished or hunted almost every day of the year.  The bait monkey not only had my phone number on speed dial, he lived with me for weeks at a time.

     Now I am older and married.  I own Tatula CT for reels, and rods that retail around $100.  I live in a house with indoor plumbing and the bait monkey only calls on Christmas or my birthday.  I still have most of what I collected over the years, but rarely get to use most of it.  I let a friend live in the cabin, and another one has adopted my duck hunting boat and gear.  I wish I would have taken more pictures, but cherish all the great memories.  I have never regretted buying an expensive rod or reel, but have always enjoyed fishing with what ever gear I have.  I would never choose nice gear over my families needs, but do sometimes miss the days, when the bait monkey and I would get a six pack and look through the new Cabelas Catalog.  No one needs expensive gear to catch fish, but fishing is rarely about what a person needs.  I say buy what you want and can afford, and use it as often as you can.

[TBAG]

1 minute ago, king fisher said:

When I was young and single I spent every dime I had on fishing and hunting gear.  My car cost $500 and I owned fly rod and reel combos over $600.  My home was a cabin with no plumbing, built for $8000 including the land.  I had twice that much invested in my duck hunting gear.  I fished or hunted almost every day of the year.  The bait monkey not only had my phone number on speed dial, he lived with me for weeks at a time.

     Now I am older and married.  I own Tatula CT for reels, and rods that retail around $100.  I live in a house with indoor plumbing and the bait monkey only calls on Christmas or my birthday.  I still have most of what I collected over the y

ears, but rarely get to use most of it.  I let a friend live in the cabin, and another one has adopted my duck hunting boat and gear.  I wish I would have taken more pictures, but cherish all the great memories.  I have never regretted buying an expensive rod or reel, but have always enjoyed fishing with what ever gear I have.  I would never choose nice gear over my families needs, but do sometimes miss the days, when the bait monkey and I would get a six pack and look through the new Cabelas Catalog.  No one needs expensive gear to catch fish, but fishing is rarely about what a person needs.  I say buy what you want and can afford, and use it as often as you can.

 

Man, you can't get any better than this. 

 

What a reply! Cheers friend. 

[Teal]

11 minutes ago, king fisher said:

When I was young and single I spent every dime I had on fishing and hunting gear.  My car cost $500 and I owned fly rod and reel combos over $600.  My home was a cabin with no plumbing, built for $8000 including the land.  I had twice that much invested in my duck hunting gear.  I fished or hunted almost every day of the year.  The bait monkey not only had my phone number on speed dial, he lived with me for weeks at a time.

     Now I am older and married.  I own Tatula CT for reels, and rods that retail around $100.  I live in a house with indoor plumbing and the bait monkey only calls on Christmas or my birthday.  I still have most of what I collected over the years, but rarely get to use most of it.  I let a friend live in the cabin, and another one has adopted my duck hunting boat and gear.  I wish I would have taken more pictures, but cherish all the great memories.  I have never regretted buying an expensive rod or reel, but have always enjoyed fishing with what ever gear I have.  I would never choose nice gear over my families needs, but do sometimes miss the days, when the bait monkey and I would get a six pack and look through the new Cabelas Catalog.  No one needs expensive gear to catch fish, but fishing is rarely about what a person needs.  I say buy what you want and can afford, and use it as often as you can.

 

Thanks man, that's awesome.  I'm right there with you. 

[soflabasser]

Fish with the gear that makes you happy. For some that means expensive gear, for others they do very well with gear that cost less.

[Gazz]

2 hours ago, king fisher said:

When I was young and single I spent every dime I had on fishing and hunting gear.  My car cost $500 and I owned fly rod and reel combos over $600.  My home was a cabin with no plumbing, built for $8000 including the land.  I had twice that much invested in my duck hunting gear.  I fished or hunted almost every day of the year.  The bait monkey not only had my phone number on speed dial, he lived with me for weeks at a time.

     Now I am older and married.  I own Tatula CT for reels, and rods that retail around $100.  I live in a house with indoor plumbing and the bait monkey only calls on Christmas or my birthday.  I still have most of what I collected over the years, but rarely get to use most of it.  I let a friend live in the cabin, and another one has adopted my duck hunting boat and gear.  I wish I would have taken more pictures, but cherish all the great memories.  I have never regretted buying an expensive rod or reel, but have always enjoyed fishing with what ever gear I have.  I would never choose nice gear over my families needs, but do sometimes miss the days, when the bait monkey and I would get a six pack and look through the new Cabelas Catalog.  No one needs expensive gear to catch fish, but fishing is rarely about what a person needs.  I say buy what you want and can afford, and use it as often as you can.

So you’re saying that I should NOT get my truck repoed to get my next setup? 

[gilkeybr]

As I tell my wife, its not about how much your gear costs.  Its about how much you saved from retail price when you got it!

 

Xtasy 754 during 40% off sale:  -$220

JDM Antares 70 instead of USDM:  -$180

 

Total:  -$400!

 

I never tell her how much I spent.  Just how much I saved from what I could have spent.

PS, yes she sees right through my rationale.  But she realized I was delusional a long time ago.  And fishing gear is a lot cheaper than motorcycle racing...

[new2BC4bass]

6' MH Berkley Lightning $18.02

Daiwa Procaster 100HN $30

 

 

OR

 

 

 

 

if combined Bantam MGL and a custom rod.  Reel purchased new about $90 off regular price.  Rod purchased used for probably around $150 less than the original owner paid...as a guess.  Actually my PXL Type R cost more than the MGL, but any rod I have to put it on would bring the total less than the MGL/custom.

[Big-Bass]

My most expensive combo changes because I change stuff in and out quite often.  For a rod, my Dobyns Xtasy 754C is my most expensive by retail but I didn't pay retail.  As far as reels, probably one of my Megabass reels or my Steez Limited 105.  But I have ALOT of reels (like 80+).  Not because I need them but because I like them and that is a hobby of mine.  In fact, I don't fish most of them but have a cool collection (to me) of fishing tackle both old and new that have a lot of sentimental value to me.  Most of the reels are NIB because they were either very limited production or because they were discontinued and I bought them because I really like them.  Some might say it's silly that I rotate 15-20 rods/reels yet own so many more reels not in use but that's just me and I am fine with that.  Sometimes I get on a sales kick and sell a few.  Just like the post about flipping through old catalogs...I loved doing that with my dad and in a few weeks it will be 5 years since he passed.  He was my fishing partner and as a little boy I watched his every move on the water and he had me using an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur Lite bait casting reel on my own at age 7.  He is really missed and those days I would spend with him looking through the newest Bass Pro Shops catalog or watching TNN Outdoors on TV (Orlando Wilson, Shaw Grigsby, Hank Parker, In-Fisherman, Roland Martin, Jimmy Houston, etc.) on a evening together in the mid 1990s won't be forgotten.  So no, you don't need to have the most expensive equipment to catch bass but you do need what you like.  I like expensive tackle because I enjoy using it and collecting it.  But I was fishing with some cheaper stuff the other day and caught just as many bass.  It doesn't matter to me the cost, it matters to me the enjoyment and the thrill you get from what you use and what you catch.  A lot of people have expensive stuff but don't know how to use it.  Others could smoke you on cheap tackle.  Confidence and training make better fishermen...not just better gear.  But better gear if it can be afforded can help build confidence and make the training process less stressful on the angler so they continue to enjoy the sport.  Isn't that what it's about?  Best wishes on the water!

[CrankFate]

All I’m going to say is I almost always get laughed at for fishing a $500-650+ setup. Basically almost anywhere I go. I even get laughed at when I use more modest $300 setups. I don’t buy $500 rods. And I’ll never buy a steez, but I have a Tatula CT 100 that, with mods, cost at least as much as a steez. Yes, I have a problem. And yes, this site isn’t helping. Most expensive has to be a surf setup I use maybe 2-3x a year that has a $1000+ vintage Daiwa JDM bait runner style reel on it that was given to me by a friend as a gift. I still can’t believe there are really people out there that’ll buy expensive reels 10 at a time. They should ban the Internet. 

[FishinBuck07]

19 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

I was a BIG hunter and the expense was WAY higher than fishing gear.

 

 

 

 

Can be but doesn't have to be, just like fishing.  It is what each person is willing to put into it to do that sport!

[PhishLI]

6 hours ago, gilkeybr said:

I never tell her how much I spent.  Just how much I saved from what I could have spent.

I use this precise tactic myself! Even though she knows I'm an idiot when it comes to gear, and this ploy is pure donkey dung, she plays along. "That's great honey" she says with a smile. There's no doubt that she's shaking her head and rolling her eyes as I blissfully dance out of the room.

[redmeansdistortion]

Daiwa Alphas Air Stream Custom with a Major Craft Troutino 4'10".  $450-ish