curious question about high priced reels

[gravyfor3]

well, i am just a kid, and most of my rods and reels are hand me downs and from walmart. i have just been crazy bout fishin lately so i ordered a cabelas catalog. there are reels like the daiwa steez that are 400 bucks! i thought i was payin alot when i got a abu garcia cardinal from walmart for 30 lol. is there that much of a performance difference between different costs?

[roadwarrior]

Yes

8-)

[Evan Pease]

Yes. When I got my first real reel was blown away by how much better it was. In most cases the more expensive reels last longer so you save money in the long run, not to mention the performance benefits.

[The_Natural]

It's pretty amazing...there is nothing like that first high-end rod or reel.

[Jake.]

For sure.

[hawgchaser]

There is a trend in fishing that actually bothers me a little. Many people act like you have to spend a lot of dough to be a successful fisherman. That's just not the case.....

KVD is the best and he uses gear that many on this board have deemed as junk! It's really humorous to me. I just hate to see fishing going in this direction.

But to answer your question, you are the only one that fishes with this reel so if you like it, then it's good!

[Jeff H]

There is a trend in fishing that actually bothers me a little. Many people act like you have to spend a lot of dough to be a successful fisherman. Thats just not the case.....

KVD is the best and he uses gear that many on this board have deemed as junk! Its really humerous to me. I just hate to see fishing going in this direction.

But to answer your question, you are the only one that fishes with this reel so if you like it, then its good!

I agree with you to a point, but it's like this in anything.  You oughta see what some guys think they have to spend on a shotgun to qualify themselves as a bona-fide grouse and woodcock uplander.  You ever seen a $50,000 shotgun? ;D  Seriously, some guys figure you have not arrived until you spend at least $5000 on a SxS shotgun.  Weird.  Trust me.....even in the upper levels, fishing equipment can seem cheap compared to other pursuits.

[hawgchaser]

There is a trend in fishing that actually bothers me a little. Many people act like you have to spend a lot of dough to be a successful fisherman. Thats just not the case.....

KVD is the best and he uses gear that many on this board have deemed as junk! Its really humerous to me. I just hate to see fishing going in this direction.

But to answer your question, you are the only one that fishes with this reel so if you like it, then its good!

I agree with you to a point, but it's like this in anything. You oughta see what some guys think they have to spend on a shotgun to qualify themselves as a bona-fide grouse and woodcock uplander. You ever seen a $50,000 shotgun? ;D Seriously, some guys figure you have not arrived until you spend at least $5000 on a SxS shotgun. Weird. Trust me.....even in the upper levels, fishing equipment can seem cheap compared to other pursuits.

That's certainly true....being from Arkansas, duckhunting is my true passion with fishing a close second. Though there aren't many $50000 guns in the marsh, the same trend is there.

Tts no longer about killing ducks or catching fish for some. For the love of pete some people are actually worried that their reel doesn't look good on their rod....very strange but hey its none of my business. I'll just keep pulling in fish after fish on my "cheap""junk"

[Micro]

I also agree that higher cost usually gets you higher quality and better performance. If you graphed it, it certainly wouldn't be linear - there is a point of diminishing return. But for the most part, a $200 reel is going to outperform a $50 reel.

My problem isn't that nice stuff is beyond my means. But rather that I have a quirk that prevents me from enjoying super high end stuff. I baby it. Someone mentioned guns. I experienced that. I had a custom Mannlicher-Schönauer .30-06 with a custom Paul Jaeger quick detachable scope mount and a Zeiss scope. I could barely bring myself to hunt with it, and I was always protecting it when I did, to the point I didn't enjoy it. It got to the point that all I did was take it out of the safe occassionally and rub it with a silicone cloth. I ended up selling it and bought several rifles that I did hunt with and enjoyed. I'd probably do the same with a $600 Megabass rod, or a $450 Steez reel.

My upper limit for a reel is about $200-$250. About the same for a rod. (Most of mine are much lower.)  IMO, those prices will get you premium equipment, but not so expensive I have to worry breaking it and not being able to replace it.

[hjerk24]

Here -Here HawgChaser!    Bass don't know if it's a quantum or a barbie rod.....so just go out there and WHACK-EM"!

[Jeff H]

Hawgchaser.....I am most certain in saying that I believe I would really enjoy sharing a boat with you.  Screw image, haul bass and enjoy it all the way.

[weknowhowtolive]

I also agree that higher cost usually gets you higher quality and better performance.  If you graphed it, it certainly wouldn't be linear - there is a point of diminishing return.  But for the most part, a $200 reel is going to outperform a $50 reel.

My problem isn't that nice stuff is beyond my means.  But rather that I have a quirk that prevents me from enjoying super high end stuff.  I baby it.  Someone mentioned guns.  I experienced that.  I had a custom Mannlicher-Schönauer .30-06 with a custom Paul Jaeger quick detachable scope mount and a Zeiss scope.   I could barely bring myself to hunt with it, and I was always protecting it when I did, to the point I didn't enjoy it.  It got to the point that all I did was take it out of the safe occassionally and rub it with a silicone cloth.  I ended up selling it and bought several rifles that I did hunt with and enjoyed.   I'd probably do the same with a $600 Megabass rod, or a $450 Steez reel.  

My upper limit for a reel is about $200-$250.  About the same for a rod.  (Most of mine are much lower.)  IMO, those prices will get you premium equipment, but not so expensive I have to worry breaking it and not being able to replace it.  

Yup. I get the same way.  Even with lures. Ill get a really expensive lure and rarely use it because I'm afraid i'll lose it.

[gravyfor3]

I also agree that higher cost usually gets you higher quality and better performance.  If you graphed it, it certainly wouldn't be linear - there is a point of diminishing return.  But for the most part, a $200 reel is going to outperform a $50 reel.

My problem isn't that nice stuff is beyond my means.  But rather that I have a quirk that prevents me from enjoying super high end stuff.  I baby it.  Someone mentioned guns.  I experienced that.  I had a custom Mannlicher-Schönauer .30-06 with a custom Paul Jaeger quick detachable scope mount and a Zeiss scope.   I could barely bring myself to hunt with it, and I was always protecting it when I did, to the point I didn't enjoy it.  It got to the point that all I did was take it out of the safe occassionally and rub it with a silicone cloth.  I ended up selling it and bought several rifles that I did hunt with and enjoyed.   I'd probably do the same with a $600 Megabass rod, or a $450 Steez reel.  

My upper limit for a reel is about $200-$250.  About the same for a rod.  (Most of mine are much lower.)  IMO, those prices will get you premium equipment, but not so expensive I have to worry breaking it and not being able to replace it.  

thanks this helped a lot. because yes i am just a kid so a 50 dollar reel is like a mini steez to me lol but i was just curious because i see the guys on the outdoor channel who look like walking billboards for companies have really nice rods and they pretty much just yank the little 2 pound bass out of the water with there medium heavy action rod and whoop and hollar over the fish.....but ya sorry i am not one who likes tourney fishing like that....thanks all i love this forum lots of guys who know what there talkin bout

[hawgchaser]

Hawgchaser.....I am most certain in saying that I believe I would really enjoy sharing a boat with you. Screw image, haul bass and enjoy it all the way.

Well hurry down..I got the bass pegged and the hybrids just started busting shad on the surface, which means lots of topwater hawgs!!

[Red]

i started off last year with lower end stuff and i caught fish and had fun doing it.  then i upgraded a little bit.  i have never spent over $100 on a reel and not more than $125 on a rod.  since last year i have either sold or given away my lower end stuff.  now i have only two combos, both are custom rods and both have revo S-L's.  i love these two setups!!  

now, since i have upgraded, have i caught more fish? absolutely not, in fact, so far this year i think my numbers are much less than last year, but my size is up from last year.  but that has more to do with my knowledge increase than my gear.

i enjoy my more expensive rods and reels, but it dosent make a difference to the fish.  i think it was Catt who said..."the key to consistently catching bass is between your ears not between the folds of your wallet", or something to that effect.

my old abu cardinal walmart special for $33 is still being used and catching bass (alot of the time more than me) by my buddy i gave it to.  and he has it mounted on the $20 berkley cherrywood rod i also gave him.

Cliff

[Redlinerobert]

Doesnt matter if you can spend $50 or $500 on a reel.  The bottom line is enjoying the sport.  Buy within your means and have fun!

[Daniel My Brother]

i thought i was payin alot when i got a abu garcia cardinal from walmart for 30

The Cardinal is a fine $30 reel.

Some day, when you have a little more disposable income, and can afford the latest and greatest, I'm betting you will still remember that Cardinal and the good times you had with it.

[The_Natural]

Doesnt matter if you can spend $50 or $500 on a reel.  The bottom line is enjoying the sport.  Buy within your means and have fun!

+1

A lot of times that is forgotten.  I LOVE tackle...and that will never change.  However, I know that the angler is 90% of the game.  Yep...90%.  Fishing is my passion...I'm not looking to do it as cheaply as possible; I'm looking to enjoy it as much as possible.   I love every aspect of bass fishing and the tackle related to it.  

[daviscw]

A nicer reel won't catch fish for you, but it will make it easier and smoother.

I look at it this way...

You could drive a BMW to work every day, or you could drive a 1980 Pinto. Either way you are more than likely going to get to work. (As long as you know how to drive... {a.k.a fish}) But how you get there will be different. (Faster, smoother, nicer luxaries, etc....)

[islandbass]

well, i am just a kid, and most of my rods and reels are hand me downs and from walmart. i have just been crazy bout fishin lately so i ordered a cabelas catalog. there are reels like the daiwa steez that are 400 bucks! i thought i was payin alot when i got a abu garcia cardinal from walmart for 30 lol. is there that much of a performance difference between different costs?

The short answer is yes. However, high end gear is not necessary to enjoy a day of fishing.

There is a great thread here about el cheapo rods that we who have "upper" end equipment have and still love to use.  Hopefully you'll find it to help out you at ease about "needing" to "have to" spend big money for fishing.

Be happy with what you have right now. I have an el cheapo Lightning Rod that has seen more action than my Loomis this season.  ;D

[KvD]

There is a trend in fishing that actually bothers me a little. Many people act like you have to spend a lot of dough to be a successful fisherman. Thats just not the case.....

KVD is the best and he uses gear that many on this board have deemed as junk! Its really humerous to me. I just hate to see fishing going in this direction.

But to answer your question, you are the only one that fishes with this reel so if you like it, then its good!

I agree with you to a point, but it's like this in anything. You oughta see what some guys think they have to spend on a shotgun to qualify themselves as a bona-fide grouse and woodcock uplander. You ever seen a $50,000 shotgun? ;D Seriously, some guys figure you have not arrived until you spend at least $5000 on a SxS shotgun. Weird. Trust me.....even in the upper levels, fishing equipment can seem cheap compared to other pursuits.

Have you ever seen a 100% custom made Kregoff k-80? hand carved wood hand carved metal. everythign hand made.... Costs well over $150K   a doctor here shoots it at my local club.... man i wish i had it beautiful gun.... ive actually shot that one one time then gave it back to him afraid i was gonna drop it...

but to answer the OP question.... i think to a certain amount they are better... like was is the difference between $400 and $200 reels? not much

Alex

[roadwarrior]

Well, as has already been mentioned, as you move up in price there is "diminishing return". A $400 or $500 reel is significantly different than a $200 reel, but it is definitely not twice the reel.

8-)

[senile1]

Well, as has already been mentioned, as you move up in price there is "diminishing return". A $400 or $500 reel is significantly different than a $200 reel, but it is definitely not twice the reel.

8-)

In your estimation, how much more of a reel is it?   8-)  

[roadwarrior]

Well, some of the answer is features, components, weight and balance,

but the bottomline is "subjective feel". My general estimation is a 25%

improvement for twice the price, but keep this in perspective: The

$200 reel is probably a fine piece of equipment, the bar is set pretty

high to begin with.

8-)

[senile1]

Well, some of the answer is features, components, weight and balance,

but the bottomline is "subjective feel". My general estimation is a 25%

improvement for twice the price, but keep this in perspective: The

$200 reel is probably a fine piece of equipment, the bar is set pretty

high to begin with.

8-)

Thanks RW.  I tend to be like Micro in that I can afford the expensive stuff but I purchase mid-range equipment due to diminishing benefits and eliminating the worry of damaging nice stuff.  Because of this I have never purchased a $400 reel, so I am curious as to how much of an improvement they are perceived to be.