Most Expensive Set Up

[Shimano_1]

lews custom pro on a carbonlite 2.0 rod. 300 retail is my most expensive.  I could afford higher end fairly easily but I'm satisfied with what I have. Got a buddy that loves his metaniums and loomis rods. I've fished them and yes they are legit.  Everyone has their reasons for fishing what they fish. Be it budget, attraction of the latest and greatest etc. The main thing is using them. The beauty of it is there are so many options available these days. I've actually tried to stay away from higher end simply because I don't want to have to replace a bunch of gear because the one is so much better lol 

[SJex]

Daiwa JDM Exist on a Megabass Destroyer Addermine.

[Westcoast]

If you really want to spend some money on a rod and reel get into fly fishing and tying. A sage or Loomis rod and Abel reel can set you back $1700-$2000 and the line is another $100 or so on that. 

 

[Throwafrog]

Dobyns fury $120 abu garcia pro max $80. 

 

Still my favorite rod and reel to use is my lightning rod $30 and my Shimano Sienna fg $25..

[kayaking_kev]

It was this, until I sold it this week.

Dobyns Xtasy 755c ($550)

JDM Daiwa Catalina ($350)

 

Now it's...

Dobyns Xtasy 723c ($550)

Daiwa Tatula SV TW103 ($200)

 

Since October, I've bought $6,635 retail worth of rods and reels, but have spent $4,218. A savings of over $2400.

 

I'm now in the process of thinning out my collection though to get a new kayak. I'm only keeping 6 of my 14 Dobyns rods, and have been getting what I have paid for them, so I basically got to experience them and many other brands for free.

[Ogandrews]

St croix legend tournament musky “big nasty” 9ft heavy-$410

shimano tranx 500pg- 500

$910, and worth every penny

[gilkeybr]

On 4/29/2020 at 11:16 PM, kayaking_kev said:

I'm only keeping 6 of my 14 Dobyns rods, and have been getting what I have paid for them, so I basically got to experience them and many other brands for free.

This!  High end gear holds its value much better. If you're smart about when you buy your stuff, you can often sell it down the road for at least what you paid for it (or even make a few bucks).  Low end gear is more disposable, so you have little chance to recoup your initial investment.  

[kayaking_kev]

46 minutes ago, gilkeybr said:

This!  High end gear holds its value much better. If you're smart about when you buy your stuff, you can often sell it down the road for at least what you paid for it (or even make a few bucks).  Low end gear is more disposable, so you have little chance to recoup your initial investment.  

That's what people who laugh at us who buy high end gear don't understand. I always get a few people who laugh when I post high end gear for sale, especially locally where everyone seems to use Ugly Stik's. Don't get me wrong, I love my Ugly Stik GX2, but it's not the same. This is only my 3rd season fishing and I just started buying high end gear in October and already have got to experience more rods and reels than most people have in their lifetime. I have a meme that I always reply to those that want to laugh at high end gear, it says, " Just because you don't understand it, doesn't mean it's stupid, it means you are".

 

[MN Fisher]

42 minutes ago, kayaking_kev said:

I have a meme that I always reply to those that want to laugh at high end gear

I don't laugh at people with high-end gear...I just have different priorities like mortgage, food - little things like that.

 

Now if someone was to gift me with some high-end gear, I'd be ecstatic.

[kayaking_kev]

39 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I don't laugh at people with high-end gear...I just have different priorities like mortgage, food - little things like that.

 

Now if someone was to gift me with some high-end gear, I'd be ecstatic.

I would hope nobody is choosing to buy high end gear over shelter, food and other essentials. I could care less what other people are using. I used an Ugly Stik GX2 paired with a Abu Garcia Black Max for most of my 515+ fish last year and still plan to use it in some this year right along side my Xtasy. The year before that I used a Zebco 202 combo that I got for $10 from Walmart and I still have that also. 

 

I know what gear you have and it's pretty good and nobody honestly needs anything better than that. I believe you have AirXD's and a Fury and that's some of the best gear you can get based on price vs performance. 

[evo2s197]

Any comment that alludes to purchasing or owning high end equipment as stupid, not wise, ridiculous etc. comes off as bitterness or jealousy, and honestly is not a good look.

 

When people say they would take said high end equipment in a heartbeat if given to them, would also purchase it themselves if they had disposable income, if they say otherwise they are kidding themselves.

 

You cant take it with you so if you have more than enough for retirement, Bill's, food, emergencies and so on, what's wrong with splurging on yourself or those around you?

 

I didn't grow up with a lot money, but I like nice things and dont want to take what's given to me, I would rather earn it so I decided when I grew up I was gonna choose a career path that allowed me to buy what I wanted.

 

I would never look at someone else and say "They have nice stuff, but I have different priorities" because then you aren't honest with yourself, you just dont have the drive to accomplish both.

 

 

On the other hand some people like to live a simple life and there is nothing wrong with that, in that case those people wouldn't comment or care about what other people have, because it doesn't affect them, which brings us back to the beginning of my post.

[thunderblack]

This thread is for listing your highest end gear not if its worth it or not.

 

-Conquest 842 /  Stradic Ci4 3000

-Megabass Valkyrie / Stradic Ci4

-Steez AGS / Tatula LT

-Orvis Helios / Lamson (fly)

[J Francho]

11 minutes ago, thunderblack said:

This thread is for listing your highest end gear not if its worth it or not.

Exactly.  I'll be removing any off topic posts from here on.

[Big-Bass]

Baitcasting:  Dobyns Xtasy 754C/Daiwa Steez Limited 105XH and/or Millionaire M-Ito (based on price I paid for the reels)

 

Spinning:  Daiwa Steez AGS 76MML/Daiwa Exist 3012H

 

Fly:  Orvis Helios 2 905-4/Lamson Litespeed and/or Scott G2 844-4/Ross Evolution

 

[tholmes]

A hot-rodded ABU Record 40 on a ABU vendetta rod. About $200.

 

Tom

[roadwarrior]

Custom rod around $350

Shimano Stella  $400

Tatsu  $40

 

Keep in mind, my stable has been collected one at a time for over thirty years. 

I have a substantial amount of money invested in rods & reels and twice that in

tackle.

 

Way cheaper than collecting cars, guns... or women!

 

[new2BC4bass]

5 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Custom rod around $350

Shimano Stella  $400

Tatsu  $40

 

Keep in mind, my stable has been collected one at a time for over thirty years. 

I have a substantial amount of money invested in rods & reels and twice that in

tackle.

 

Way cheaper than collecting cars, guns... or women!

 

It is a good thing I quit fishing for 23 years.  Just in the last 11 years that I have been back into it I have managed to accrue a few thousand in rod/reels/lures.  But these days it only amounts to enough for a decent down payment on a nice car. 

 

Forget collecting any of those three.  Well...scratch women as none would have me.  Still........

 

[evilcatfish]

I didn’t pay near full retail, but probably have the most $ in these combos:

 

Megabass Destroyer TS Blackjack w/ Daiwa Z2020H

 

Megabass Destroyer X7 Super Eiger w/ Daiwa PX Type R

 

Megabass Destroyer FMJ w/ Daiwa SV103XS (ok, paid full price on the FMJ)

 

[Luke Barnes]

I'm a low end angler. Most expensive is my Lews American Hero baitcast combo. Paid $70 for it. But I love it and it does what I need. 

 

If I had the spare money, I would get an Abu Garcia Revo Ike reel in 8.0-1 on an Ike power series 7'3 H F rod. 

[NorcalBassin]

I just upgraded to my new top dog. Stella FJ 1000 for the 822 NRX.

 

When I got into bass fishing 15 years ago I didn't feel right spending more than $50 on a combo and I only had 2-3 rods for each trip. Funny how things change! 

[new2BC4bass]

6 hours ago, NorcalBassin said:

I just upgraded to my new top dog. Stella FJ 1000 for the 822 NRX.

 

When I got into bass fishing 15 years ago I didn't feel right spending more than $50 on a combo and I only had 2-3 rods for each trip. Funny how things change! 

Nice combo! 

 

Yeah.  My 6' Berkley Lightning and Penn 430SS were expensive...to me...back in the old days.  Still have it.  Still like it.  Will never spend as much per rod or reel as what yours cost, but I now have reels that cost me over $250.  My most expensive rod (my cost) was $185 used.  Never ever would have considered spending that much a few years ago on any rod or reel.

 

Two rods were the most I had 40 some years ago.  Today I couldn't possibly take all my combos with me.  Life is good.  But....it would be so much better if I lived in an area were catching fish most days was a given. 

[redmeansdistortion]

On 5/1/2020 at 9:00 AM, kayaking_kev said:

I always get a few people who laugh when I post high end gear for sale, especially locally where everyone seems to use Ugly Stik's.

I get many inquiries about repairing lower end stuff.  A lot of those customers want to penny pinch which I understand, but if you can go buy a new one for another $10 or $20, that's the route I'd go.  My usual suggestion is to go buy a new one, but I do get a few that still want theirs repaired and serviced.

[newyorktoiowa57]

Shimano Chronarch MGL XG/Shimano Poison Adrena 72 Heavy, $640