The end all thread

[bilgerat]

After reading the 4,628th "what's the best" thread, it's time. The following applies to rods, reels, line and baits.

- There is no best. Period. End of story. If you fish with brand X and you like it, fine. If you don't, don't bash (or praise) the other brands UNLESS you have actually fished with them for a considerable period of time. Basing your opinion on what "some guy said" is useless and lame. A lot of records were caught decades ago on gear that would be considered pathetic by today's standards. To borrow a line from SirSnookalot, "It aint the bow, it's the archer"

There is NO substitute for time on the water.

Somewhere out there is a guy throwing a dollar store bait with an Ugly Stik and a Zebco that can embarrass you pretty bad.

[firefightn15]

There is NO substitute for time on the water.

Somewhere out there is a guy throwing a dollar store bait with an Ugly Stik and a Zebco that can embarrass you pretty bad.

Well said.  There is a local kid here (25yr old?) that fishes a $20 combo with a 1/8th oz jig and 2" Mister Twister, when he says he's going bass fishing he catches bass, when he says he's going walleye fishing he catches walleye, when he says he's going panfishing he catches panfish.  His only change up is when he's musky fishing.

It's not his arsenal, it's his understanding of the fish, presentation, and the water he's fishing.  It impresses the hell out of me every time. 8-)

[MattinOK]

^^^

This thread deserves to be stickied.

[Scorcher214]

^^^

This thread deserves to be stickied.

X2. When it comes to reels at least, any title that says "X vs Y vs T vs O" should be locked.

[Sam]

I gave this thread some thought as I was looking at my Curados and Revos along with setting my rods in a line on a table and I thought that maybe it has some merit.

Then I thought about the suggestion; looked at my tackle; saw my Cabala's and BPS catalogs; and decided against it.

It is just too much fun to get everyone's input and to stir it up.  ;D   ;D   ;D

[bilgerat]

The thread was primarily aimed at some of the younger members who seem to be slanted toward a "better gear = better success" mindset. It does them more harm in the long run.

If we could set up a scenario where we gave one of the young guys the exact same gear as you and put him in the same boat with you for a day, my money is on experience winning hands down. You didn't hand junior his rear end because of your Loomis rods and Shimano reels, you handed him his rear end because you have MORE TIME ON THE WATER.

Nice gear enhances the experience, no doubt. But without the time earned, the gear itself is useless.

The gear is .000001% of the total equation. You can't buy the rest. Gotta put your time in and school never ends for any of us.

[BASSclary]

I agree that great gear doesn't equate to success, I've caught hundreds of good sized bass on an Ugly Stick combo from Walmart, but I would much rather have the best gear I can get.

[RussBert]

I agree that great gear doesn't equate to success, I've caught hundreds of good sized bass on an Ugly Stick combo from Walmart, but I would much rather have the best gear I can get.

I am always amazed at the depth of your fishing experiences. With all the time you spend here on the 'net, when do you ever get to fish?   ;D

[BASSclary]

I agree that great gear doesn't equate to success, I've caught hundreds of good sized bass on an Ugly Stick combo from Walmart, but I would much rather have the best gear I can get.

I am always amazed at the depth of your fishing experiences. With all the time you spend here on the 'net, when do you ever get to fish? ;D

I fish every day during summer when schools out (weather pending), I get up early to go to Curtis Lake every day just before sunrise and fish until about noon or so with my dad. Starting tommorow it will be a different story though, darn school :-/

[David P]

Expensive and better gear gives an added thrill to fishing, not to mention it gives you a boost in confidence. Confidence is very important in fishing.

There may be no BEST, it's all about the users preference, but I personally am glad to see the disputes over what's better as it helps people make decisions.

[Daddyodo]

Im glad to hear about that guy with the ugly stik because that is what I currently have. As a newbie I gotta tell ya it is very daunting to read about all these different types of rods and reels and line and lures.Good gracious I think I am getting lost in the forest because of the trees :-/ I actually thought I would just go out throw a line in the water and go fishing Now I find out that I need " this rod and reel combo for this fish and that rod and reel combo for that fish :'( Its enough to make a grown man crawl up in a small ball and sit in a corner and cry I was a golf teaching professional for 20 years and my number one piece of advice to a beginner was " if you've only got a $10 swing a $500 club is only going to do so much" :-[

[bilgerat]

Expensive and better gear gives an added thrill to fishing, not to mention it gives you a boost in confidence. Confidence is very important in fishing.

There may be no BEST, it's all about the users preference, but I personally am glad to see the disputes over what's better as it helps people make decisions.

Agreed, but there's a fine line between a discussion of tackle and a thread deteriorating into nothing but the same ol same ol. I never intended to jab at anyone and their gear choices. Just trying to steer newbies away from a path that leads nowhere.

If you suck at fishing with an Ugly Stik, you're likely gonna suck at fishing with a Steez.

[Dave P]

Im glad to hear about that guy with the ugly stik because that is what I currently have. As a newbie I gotta tell ya it is very daunting to read about all these different types of rods and reels and line and lures.Good gracious I think I am getting lost in the forest because of the trees :-/ I actually thought I would just go out throw a line in the water and go fishing Now I find out that I need " this rod and reel combo for this fish and that rod and reel combo for that fish :'( Its enough to make a grown man crawl up in a small ball and sit in a corner and cry I was a golf teaching professional for 20 years and my number one piece of advice to a beginner was " if you've only got a $10 swing a $500 club is only going to do so much" :-[

First of all, you don't need X, Y or Z for this fish or that fish. Someday you will WANT X, Y or Z, but you don't NEED X, Y or Z. Use what you've got. Buy what you can afford and ENJOY yourself. For me, that equates to my most expensive reel being $60 and my most expensive rod being $80 (not acquired at once). Am I missing out on something? Maybe...but it isn't worth eating your liver over...

[K_Mac]

Im glad to hear about that guy with the ugly stik because that is what I currently have. As a newbie I gotta tell ya it is very daunting to read about all these different types of rods and reels and line and lures.Good gracious I think I am getting lost in the forest because of the trees :-/ I actually thought I would just go out throw a line in the water and go fishing Now I find out that I need " this rod and reel combo for this fish and that rod and reel combo for that fish :'( Its enough to make a grown man crawl up in a small ball and sit in a corner and cry I was a golf teaching professional for 20 years and my number one piece of advice to a beginner was " if you've only got a $10 swing a $500 club is only going to do so much" :-[

I am one that has limited resources, so I have mostly moderately priced gear. It is good enough not to limit me too much without breaking the bank. If I could afford to I would have high-end tackle. That is much more about want than need IMHO.

Your comment that a $500 club can only do so much with a $10 swing is very true. It is also true that a $500 swing would be hampered by a $10 club. In golf and fishing, having the right tool for the job is a good thing. There is huge difference from high-end to low end. Most of us end up somewhere in the middle.

[trevor]

I agree that great gear doesn't equate to success, I've caught hundreds of good sized bass on an Ugly Stick combo from Walmart, but I would much rather have the best gear I can get.

I am always amazed at the depth of your fishing experiences. With all the time you spend here on the 'net, when do you ever get to fish? ;D

I fish every day during summer when schools out (weather pending), I get up early to go to Curtis Lake every day just before sunrise and fish until about noon or so with my dad. Starting tommorow it will be a different story though, darn school :-/

I know, man. School SUCKS, but homework sucks more.

[Shane Procell]

Advances in design and engineering in both rods and reels keep me wanting the latest and greatest that I can afford. Every time I think I have bought the latest and greatest.....they come out with a later and greater I think the tackel companies are conspireing against me ;D

[NateFollmer]

Also you don't need to have 10 different rods to be successful either. I use 2 about 99% of the time. I have a baitcaster I use most of the time, then an ultra light for when it gets real tough. Both of these rods plus the reels were under 60 per setup.

[airborne_angler]

A couple of the rods I use are made by Shakespeare. Some might laugh but they work as well as anything else I have ever used.Im not a Brands type of guy either. I mix and match based on what I can afford:

Berkley Cherrywood Rod with a Shimano Bantam Mag Reel(Baitcasting combo-Rod New $30;Reel inherited from my Uncle)

Shimano Sojourn Rod with a Pinnacle Slyder Reel(Baitcaster combo-Rod new $15;Reel New $20)

Daiwa D Shock Rod with a Daiwa D Shock 2000 B reel(Spinning Combo-$20)

Shakespeare Excursion Rod with a Shimano Sonora 1500FA Reel(Spinning combo-Rod New $15;Reel New $18)

Shakespeare Cirrus UL combo(Given to me by my wifes friend)

Now I may not catch Whoppers like Big-O on these,simply because there may not be big fish in the lake I fish,but when I tie into them im sure these "Cheap" combos will handle the situation just fine.

Its just like Drag Racing. You can have the best of the best,best engine,best tires,fastest car in the world.All of that isnt  squat if you cant cut a light(reaction time) Basically if you cant drive,the best of the best isnt worth a dime.

You can have the best rod,reel,line,bait,but if you dont know the basics your just not gonna catch anything.

There are some items you MUST have when fishing certain situations. Deep Cranking you must have the correct rod and the correct gear ratio reel or your gonna wear yourself out(Learning this now)

Sure you CAN throw deep cranks with any old setup,but its not gonna be as enjoyable as if you threw the same bait with the proper setup.

Throw a deep crank with an UL and then throw it with the proper gear and youll understand what I mean.

[NorcalBassin]

There's definitely some truth to all of this. The only bass fishing I did up until a few years ago was with an Ugly Stick and spinnerbaits in June in the middle of the day when it was too hot to trout fish... then it was back to trout fishing when it cooled off. Now, with a lot of more expensive gear, I hardly catch any fish with spinnerbaits. Heck, maybe I should quit looking at St Croix and G. Loomis rods in favor of an Ugly Stik from Wal Mart to get back my spinnerbait mojo.

[Hammer 4]

The number of rod's & reels, depends on the techniques you use. You could get by with 2, but if you added flipping and swimbaits, I'm talking the heavier baits, you would be very limited with just 2 setups.

I have a mix of sorta real good stuff, and some middle of the road stuff, and some that's below a 100.00 for a few of my rods.

In the end, buy the best you can afford, above all..have FUN! and don't worry about what the Jones have..

[choupique]

Im glad to hear about that guy with the ugly stik because that is what I currently have. As a newbie I gotta tell ya it is very daunting to read about all these different types of rods and reels and line and lures.Good gracious I think I am getting lost in the forest because of the trees :-/ I actually thought I would just go out throw a line in the water and go fishing Now I find out that I need " this rod and reel combo for this fish and that rod and reel combo for that fish :'( Its enough to make a grown man crawl up in a small ball and sit in a corner and cry I was a golf teaching professional for 20 years and my number one piece of advice to a beginner was " if you've only got a $10 swing a $500 club is only going to do so much" :-[

I have fished with Ugly Sticks for years and have caught plenty of fish on them.  I have just recently began to upgrade my rods.  My dad still uses Ugly Sticks and won't give them up, he can't see spending the money.  For a newbie they are fine, you can always upgrade later if you want.  I still use Abu Garci reels that I have had for years, one of them was my dad's it is about 30 years old if I remember right and still catches fish.  Only one of my reels was over $100 and that is my Revo STX.

[RobbyZ5001]

Also you don't need to have 10 different rods to be successful either. I use 2 about 99% of the time. I have a baitcaster I use most of the time, then an ultra light for when it gets real tough. Both of these rods plus the reels were under 60 per setup.

Sure if you enjoy tying and retying all day.

I will say for most places I have fished I could get away with 5 rods.

Let me guess... you fish with a senko 99% of the time?

[slonezp]

Im glad to hear about that guy with the ugly stik because that is what I currently have. As a newbie I gotta tell ya it is very daunting to read about all these different types of rods and reels and line and lures.Good gracious I think I am getting lost in the forest because of the trees :-/ I actually thought I would just go out throw a line in the water and go fishing Now I find out that I need " this rod and reel combo for this fish and that rod and reel combo for that fish :'( Its enough to make a grown man crawl up in a small ball and sit in a corner and cry I was a golf teaching professional for 20 years and my number one piece of advice to a beginner was " if you've only got a $10 swing a $500 club is only going to do so much" :-[

Everyone on this site has at one time or another owned an Ugly Stick. If they tell you they haven't they are lying Shakespere has been making a quality product for a long time.

I've been fishing for close to 40 years and have just started upgrading in the past 3-4 years. The main reason for that is at this point in my life I can afford to. Wife is gone, kids are grown and I have a decent job. Been tourney fishing for 4 years and this is the first year I cashed some checks. Not because of the equiptment but because of time on the water and time researching my hobby.

And take your own advice. Learn how to catch fish. Learn how to catch them consistantly. Then buy the nice combo to reward yourself.

Do you think the fish knows you have a Revo on a St. Croix?

[Nine Miler]

Also you don't need to have 10 different rods to be successful either. I use 2 about 99% of the time. I have a baitcaster I use most of the time, then an ultra light for when it gets real tough. Both of these rods plus the reels were under 60 per setup.

Sure if you enjoy tying and retying all day.

I will say for most places I have fished I could get away with 5 rods.

Let me guess... you fish with a senko 99% of the time?

C'mon, whats it take, 20-30 seconds to tie a new rig?  And if the Senko works, why not?  Though I would wager his arsenal is deeper than that, just based on his contribution to these forums.

[Catt]

#1 key to consistently catching bass is between your ears not between the folds of your wallet.