More Setups Vs. Better Setups

[Brendan Duffy]

Would you rather have less more expensive rods and reels, or more less expensive rods and reels?

[bilgerat]

Expensive does not aways = quality

Quality does not have to be expensive.

[0119]

Recently Ive concluded I would be better off with a rack full of 4600C3's on decent mid range rods than the expensive reels Ive gathered on an array of technique specific rods.  I think theres something to be said of standardizing your equipment.

[Brendan Duffy]

Expensive does not aways = quality

Quality does not have to be expensive.

For instance, I have some curados mounted on some cumaras. They are great combinations, but I don't necessarily see the sense in spending so much money on this type of equipment. I can see myself fishing citicas on bps rods just as easily.

[Brendan Duffy]

Recently Ive concluded I would be better off with a rack full of 4600C3's on decent mid range rods than the expensive reels Ive gathered on an array of technique specific rods. I think theres something to be said of standardizing your equipment.

That seems very practical to me. Just makes sense.

[bilgerat]

Well there you go. If you're happy with it, that's all that matters.

There are lots of deals to be had on quality gear these days. Buying (or not buying) gear based on the name alone is ridiculous.

I think the whole "technique specific" is a bit silly myself. Even though I own a boat, I rarely carry more then 3 setups.

[Big Bait Fishing]

i like my equipment to be good quality , meaning that i want my reels to perform the way i want them and standup to the way i fish ( i use revo reels ( SX , Inshore , and the Toro 51 ) and they serve me well ) as for rods , i choose to only go custom and be able to get a rod that will be perfect for the baits i fish with it . so by saying this , i would rather have fewer good quality reels then a bunch more cheaper reels that i would not be satified with over the long haul . as far as rods go , going custom is the only thing that makes sense to ME , so definitely would go with fewer custom rods than factory rods that cost less but will not fish the way i want them to ..... 

[LAO162]

I have to many setups, and I spent too much on all of them.    ;)

I fish from the shore, usually at a small quarry, so I can't use all of the possible techniques and can't carry and use all of my rods in a 2 hour trips.  However, nice equipment make for a more enjoyable outing.

This year I upgraded all of my rods, but most of my reels are either house brands or nice reels that closed out at huge discounts.  Next year I may upgrade a couple years.

I found that having a light, super sensitive rod makes my experience much more enjoyable.  At this point, I'm getting such good performance out of my Pro Qualifer that I've lost the urge for another Chronarch 51MG.

[steezy]

i would rather have good quality equipment vs more equipment any day.

Buy the best you can afford even if it means less setups, you won't be sorry.

[OkobojiEagle]

Quality over quantity... this philosophy started when I married my wife (33 years ago).

[northern basser]

Definitely quality over quantity for me.  It wasn't always that way however.  Years ago,  I used to think anything over $100 (whether it was rod or reel) was ridiculus.  Then I broke down and bought my first G Loomis.  Then 3 years ago my Dad gave me a curado because he had got a deal on 2 online.  The rest is history.

  current line-up (casting):

   

  -chronarch 50mg on a 7' kistler lta medium

  -core 50mg7 on a 6'6"    "    " ltx mh

  -curado 200e7 on a 6'6" glx loomis 784c

* note,  I'm lucky my wife has no idea what is what with fishing equipment and what this stuff cost or I might be single soon ;D

[dmat]

About a year ago I had way to many rods and reels...I usually fish from the back seat so I would only take 5-6 combos per trip.  Much of my gear wasn't getting used.

At that point I decided to replace all of my rods and reels...I sold a bunch of gear (fishing and photo) and bought a few custom rods and a few factory rods...along with a few Core51's and Steez's.

I now have a total of 6 combos + 1 ultralight that are much higher quality then I had before.  I am much happier now that I don't have to pick and choose which rods go and which rods stay.

Don

[bilgerat]

[* note, I'm lucky my wife has no idea what is what with fishing equipment and what this stuff cost or I might be single soon /quote]

She says the same thing to her friends about her purses, shoes, outfits, etc.

[northern basser]

Good point bilgerat

[ejtaylor822]

i would rather have good quality equipment vs more equipment any day.

Buy the best you can afford even if it means less setups, you won't be sorry.

2x

Quality over quantity any and every day.

Especially when you consider that one rod can cover many of the same presentations.  Three to five rods can cover almost everything for most folks on the water.

Tournament fishing is a different story - you need multiple rods with three different lure setups on each one: ie., three medium-hvy power extra-fast action with black, pumkin and chartruese spinner baits until the pattern is found.  As they say, if you ain't fishing, you ain't making money and tying on lures ain't fishing   

[BassThumb]

I'd say quality over quantity, because the quality stuff lasts if you take care of it, and you can keep accumulating it and eventually have the quantity as well.

I think you're right on track with the Cumara/Curado level combos, but not every combo needs to be of this quality, and rarely does it need to be any better IMO. There are certain techniques where you can skimp on equipment. If you want to stick with Shimano, for example, with a topwater/jerkbait or a buzzbait combo you can use a Citica instead of the Curado, and a used Crucial or Compre instead of the Cumara.

I do this for certain technique where I feel sensitivity or reel quality isn't as important. It allows me to save a few bucks that will likely be put toward more tackle anyway, but I try to spend it where it counts, where it will benefit me the most because I don't always have a lot to spend on fishing.

[SirSnookalot]

I have way too much equipment, most of it for saltwater.  As far as freshwater bass are concerned I basically use 2 setups and they aren't too much different, fairly light spinning.  I have $35 reels performing like new for years and can say the same for $200 ones as well, getting equal enjoyment from both.  IMO spending $600 or more to catch 2-3lb LMB for a recreational fisherman is act of lunacy.  I love catching bass as much as the next guy, but they really don't tax my equipment, couple jumps and they are done.  If one can justify it go for it, I can't.

[maineman]

up till this year all my rods and reels where cheap ones from wal-mart. So this winter i bought two avids and a premier and plan on not giving any reviews till the end of summer for a fair out look on if it is worth the extra money. I will say with  the avid mxf6,8 i can feel the bass inhale the plastics before i feel the weigh on the line. With the cheaper rods i could not feel this happening! Also my hook ups with the x- fast tip is greatly improved.Now for my shimano  symetre reels i got this winter, the drags are the best i have ever used and i swear the the reels get smother ever time i use them! So far yes better is worth it!!

[Slip Gun]

Quality!

Nothing puts a smile on my face like the Gloomis GLX worm and jig rod.

Even if I did not catch anything all day the feeling of that rod just makes the trip.

Personally I don't understand wanting lots of fishing rods when I could have 6 very high quality rods - one for each technique. Get one you love for each technique and enjoy the water. Who wants to carry that many anyways?

[Mike Z]

I think the discussion is relative to how much your equipment costs.

I see some in here seem to be saying quantity would be only $150 rods and reels vs their $300 rods and reels.

To me, quality is a $100 reel and a $100+ rod. In that case, quality is far better IMHO because quantity would just get me the same crap over and over, where my quality rod that I just bought might help me learn more, catch more, and make my fishing experience more enjoyable. At least that is what I am hoping for with my recent purchase. 

[0119]

Thats the point I was trying to express.  I think I'd been better equipped with a deck full of my old 4600's on Avids than just a few curados on cumaras.  Theres also something to be said for all your reels being the same in operation when you drop you topwater rig for a worm outfit for a quick second chance shot at a strike.

[Grey Wolf]

I perfer quality but I don't buy quality rods and reels unless I can get at least forty percent off but you can find sales if you have the patience.

[burleytog]

Quality over quantity.

[Jason Penn]

I go with quality over quantity but that doesn't mean that everything has to be high dollar.

I have a Steez 100HA on a BPS 6'6" MH Crankin Stick that I use for spinnerbaits.  I plan to get a new 7'MH Crankin Stick to use with another Steez for cranks.  These aren't high dollars rods but they perform well and feel good to me.

A few years ago I was talking with a guy out on the lake and he made the comment about how nice my stuff was. I told him that I only carry 6 rods/reels at the most with me (whereas he had probably 15 rigs in his boat) so I could afford to buy nice gear cause I don't have to buy a lot of it!

[Fishohio]

I perfer quality but I don't buy quality rods and reels unless I can get at least forty percent off but you can find sales if you have the patience.

X2

Ya got to LOVE E-Bay got most of my rigs for 1/2 price. Definetaly quality over quantity!