Just my point of view

[Blue Streak]

If you look at the topic on the general forum about going back in time and giving up your modern equipment, You will see that a big choice is the knowledge each has gained. I caught as many fish on the old Fenwick graphite rods and round reels with mono line as I do now with more expensive, modern gear.

[Eddie Munster]

"People in life who are the happiest don't have the best of everything; they make the best of everything they have".

The older I get, the more this statement resounds with me. I'm a basically content person. I don't *** what's on someone else's plate, or parked in their driveway or how big their house is. I also don't care who makes what money or who is married to who. I'm happy with my lot in life and know I'm living a blessed life even if it started out bad.

I'm more willing these days to shell out a few more bucks for quality and resisting the urge to go cheap. Chances are if I spend a little more, I'll take care of it better than I would if I went the cheap route. Growing up poor may make you frugal but it also makes you appreciate what you've spent your money on.

[MitchIsFishin]

Catt, I agree completely. To me, there is a difference between really cheap gear, i.e. gear not worth buying and inexpensive, but quality rods and reels. I have lower end stuff, but it all works well & catches fish. I need no more. Often we have a problem defining need & want. I'd love a Zillion or a Calcutta 100 GTE, but I'm too cheap and I don't need it.

[done]

Agree completely with ya here. I started out buying the lower end rod/reel combos (think my first one was from walmart). I have a Eagle Cuda 168 on what was originally an OOB 1446 jon.

I have been steadily moving up here and there. Pickinging up a reel and replacing that on the Walmart combo. Grabbing a decent rod, modified the jon w casting deck and electronics.

I have really been building my gear as a build experience. The cheap fish finder is fine though. I can see enough of the bottom to gauge depth and structure, then I just need to pay attention above water to find Bass.

I actually get entertained when I come in with my <$4k modified jon, and my cheaper gear with a full livewell and a daily catch total much higher than the guys with the high end boats and gear.

Don't get me wrong, I still have more left to learn than I have learned to date but experience, reading some books/articles, and sharing on this board have taken me farther than better gear ever did.

[Muddy]

Thanks Catt; "between my ears" has become my mantra!

I found that I love a certain rod and reel combo, and that is all I own now. 2 in MH and 2 in Med, I stopped the constant upgrade fever, it was getting me no where. I learned how to use jigs last 2 seasons, and have read every post about structure and cover you and Matt have put up, among the most useful here'

 Me and Bruce just purchased a Garmin 160 and my next few seasons will be spent using this in correlation to Perry's book. Just because it is older info,does not mean it is useless.I have made arrangements for a couple of members here that I fish with, to spend boat time getting some hands on experience with this unit.

[Busy]

I'm a young guy. I got a lot more things to save up for than fishing equipment. That being said, I'd really feel like a moron if it cost more than $200 in one season to catch fish. I let myself spend ~$500 a year for all my outdoor sporting hobbies. This includes shotgun shells, lures, bait, rods, tents, camping supplies, etc. It can be done. I don't have tons and tons of tackle, but I've learned what works where. You can fish the same lure with a different technique instead of changing it out and trying to buy out Cabela's. Next year may be rough tho, my hunting dog is getting old at almost 10

Gear can't replace knowledge or experience. People have been catching fish since before graphite was discovered.

[Sfritr]

You mean to tell me that I DIDN'T have to BUY all that stuff??????  Oh christ,  my wife is gonna kill me......... I told her it was essential gear.....  LOL  

Great topic

[D4u2s0t]

let me say this... friday i was out on the dock, fishing off the shore.  3 guys came down with their expensive rods, and fancy reels, and tackle boxes that looked like they could stock a store.  I outfished all 3 of them combined on my broken $18 dollar rod/reel combo.  I dropped my other pole in the lake a few days before, so I had to take out the "good one" lol.  So that says something, and like it's been said before, the equipment does not make the person.  Someone with a $200 dollar set of dunlop golf clubs can outdrive someone with their $1,000 custom made driver.  Just like someone with their crappy little boat and mediocre fishing gear can outfish someone with the best there is.  Moral of the story is having more money than someone else absolutely does not mean you're more skilled.  just means you have more money.

[hjerk24]

Here's one for ya:

Buy 5 Barbie Rods at Walmart, put the line of your choice on each.

Fish a tourney, and see how you do....

If bet you could have a fun day, and get a lot of looks in the process.

[InLikeFinz]

Saweet topic! This is why I visit every night.....and day. HeHe.

[Paul Roberts]

OK this isn't bass but it's the same story...

Talk about the "magazine look"...when I fished for steelhead, a lot of guys would dress the part -so important to look like something they saw in a magazine: high tech waders, wading jacket, pocketed vest, fingerless gloves (cold or not), overly expensive graphite rod and the latest 'cool' looking reel. If the stuff was brand new you could bet they could read magazines better than water. (What was really something were the guys decked out the same way, but were snaggers -the guys that couldn't catch 'em so they snagged 'em!)

Anyway, I just had to get goofy sometimes amidst all that self indulgent SERIOUSNESS

During good conditions I used to like to take Snoopy for a float:

One day a guy came over after he saw ol Snoop go down for the 10th time and said in all seriousness: "I gotta try one of those. Where'd you get it?"

[Maxximus Redneckus]

let me say this... friday i was out on the dock, fishing off the shore. 3 guys came down with their expensive rods, and fancy reels, and tackle boxes that looked like they could stock a store. I outfished all 3 of them combined on my broken $18 dollar rod/reel combo. I dropped my other pole in the lake a few days before, so I had to take out the "good one" lol. So that says something, and like it's been said before, the equipment does not make the person. Someone with a $200 dollar set of dunlop golf clubs can outdrive someone with their $1,000 custom made driver. Just like someone with their crappy little boat and mediocre fishing gear can outfish someone with the best there is. Moral of the story is having more money than someone else absolutely does not mean you're more skilled. just means you have more money.

More money then brains i always say .its still fun after all these yrs to outfish dudes with 100 thousand dollar setups ...Boat 50,000 ,truck 50,000 ASKING ME what im using::: PRICELESS

[D4u2s0t]

I agree.  I'm fairly new to bass fishing, but have already done a ton of research, and am learning lots about their behavior, what makes them strike, what works, etc.  I think that approach make much more sense than the angler who goes to the store, buys expensive equipment, and then catches nothing or a few small fish.