94 replies to this topic

[Hooligan]

I have zero issue spending the money asked for on the highest price rods, be they custom, production, or otherwise. The same goes for reels. Why? In general they're lighter, more sensitive, and allow me to better fish a particular technique. Part of that is the confidence in my gear, and the ability to tune into it, part of it is that the fatigue of fishing at the end of 14 hours isn't the same as if I were fishing a 10 ounce reel and a 9 ounce rod. One wouldn't think it makes any difference, but it does.
There will be those that argue an Ugly Stick is completely sufficient for all techniques in bass fishing, and that may be, but it is not as sensitive as graphite rods, it's simply not. I don't want to get into the science of it, but glass is simply not as sensitive as graphite, plain and simple. You cannot tell the difference in bottom content on low end rods, you can't tell the difference on many things, a leaf, a twig, a fish lightly mouthing a jig.
When I fish for fun, I want to maximize my learning on the water, the higher end rods allow that; before the advent of side imaging and down imaging, how did we figure out what was down there? That's right, a 2D sonar, a big jig, and a sensitive rod. When I fish for fun, I'm usually fishing a future tournament lake or fishing a technique that I enjoy and want to get the most out of. When I am fishing tournaments, I'm willing to put it all on the line and that's all there is to it. I want the best of the best to put every tool o the highest caliber to work for me.
I guess that's the way I look at it, they're tools. I don't buy cheap tools. They break, and often don't do the job as well their slightly more expensive more well built counterparts. That comes true in fishing too, and not just rods and reels, but line and tackle as well.

I guess, it makes me wonder why people would go about it half way. In some ways it falls to the mentality of "If you're going to do it, do it right. If you're not going to do it right, don't do it at all." Its not simply about having the best just to have it, but to maximize my enjoyment and experience on the water. In the end, it's about catching fish, and if I have the gear that allows me to catch one more fish than the other guy, well, then it's worth all the money I could possibly pay. I can't, for half a second, believe I'm alone on this.

[ww2farmer]

This has the potential to get ugly. I buy the best I can afford, non of it full price, some of it used. Like my most expensive rods, St. Croix Legend Tournaments. Never paid full price for one, the most I spent was $180 when the 7'10" Magnum Cranker was on sale last year when the came out with the new LT's.

Alot of people catch fish on lower cost stuff. It's great you love your expensive things, it's not for everyone.

[Crestliner2008]

Well, all I can say is that I go fishing for one reason and one reason only - to catch fish. There is no one that can convince me that you can buy success. I know several fishermen who only use top end equipment. They are decent fishermen, true. But in many cases, I outfish them consistently, with my run-of-the-mill, medium cost rods & reels. Besides, I just cannot afford to toss money around; and anyway, fishing is suppose to be one of the few sports that most people can actually afford to partake in.

[K_Mac]

Because of ongoing medical expenses my disposable income is limited. For this reason I have to carefully weigh the benefits of quality verses price. Most of my gear is in the lower to mid-range on the price continuum. It is, I believe, a reasonable compromise that is "good enough".

With that said, I have used enough high-end gear to know there is a difference. If I could afford to invest in better equipment, or made a living fishing I would have the best available. There are those who will argue that all that matters is talent and skill, and cheap gear is as good as any. It is not. There are others who will argue that high-end gear is necessary to be a good fisherman. It is not. At the extremes one camp says, "My Ugly stick is as good as your NRX, and spending that much on a rod is silly". The other camp says, "Fishing with an Ugly Stick is foolish and no serious bass fisherman uses anything but the best". Both of these views are egocentric. For most of us fishing is about having a good time. We come to this site to learn what's the latest and greatest in the world of bass fishing; what we do with that information is a personal choice...

[shady oaks]

I generally buy the best that I can afford. With that, I allow the dutch in my wife to come out of me and generally buy closeouts and sale items only. It's usually a discontinued model, but it's new to me. I agree with the comparison to buying cheap tools, and although they do work, you usually won't see those tools used by people who do it for a living and use them hard and daily.
Does this mean I'm automatically a better fisherman, absolutely not! I still struggle to learn how to piece together the puzzle, but when I figure it out, I can feel confident my "tools" will be ready for the grind when I do.
One last thing. Several years ago I went to Race Tech, a high end motorcycle suspension company, and the owner Paul Thede said "the best you've ridden is the best you know". This applies to everything in life. The best you've fished is the best you know.

[loodkop]

I really love fishing. I guess this means that I would rather be fishing with a cheap rod and reel than not fish at all. That doesn't mean that higher end gear doesn't improve the experience in many ways. At this stage I own a range of tackle collected over 20 something years covering most of the techniques I like to fish. This allows me to be selective in the new tackle I buy. I would rather wait a while longer to buy the rod or reel I really want than be satisfied with the lower end alternative as I'm already covered in whatever I want it for. To people who raise their eyebrows at what I'm willing to pay for equipment I can only point out that there are worse things to spend money on than a healthy outdoors sport I can enjoy with my sons (wife to if they are biting).

[Lund Explorer]

My question to Hooligan would be what the return on his investment yielded?

I can fully understand the tournament fishing aspect of the sport. Has prize money won using high end gear, exceeded the money spent?

[Dwight Hottle]

Hooligan's point is well taken. Ever since I was a teenager I saved to buy cash what I could afford. I'm a big believer that quality tackle is worth the price & holds up long term. Buy the best you can afford & enjoy it. There is proven quality at many different price points.

[tomustang]

My question to Hooligan would be what the return on his investment yielded?

I can fully understand the tournament fishing aspect of the sport. Has prize money won using high end gear, exceeded the money spent?

Well since he fishes for fun too, the point of buying high end gear returning an investment, doesn't matter since he's enjoying them outside the 'job' aspect

[Hooked_On_Bass]

Hooligan, you`re not alone. I’m one for quality gear as well. I just can`t convince myself to do it any other way.

To answer your question: if I like something enough and it suits my intended application, I will buy it, regardless of cost (within reason, of course).

[Catt]

How beneficial is "high end" equipment depends solely on the individual

I know guys with $70,000 bass boats, dozens of $1,000 rod & reels, 1,000s of dollars worth of lures and yet they can not catch an 8 bass daily limit on Toledo Bend!

Do you think KVD would be any less of an angler using Lighting rods or fishing out of an aluminum boat?

[grimlin]

Buying the best with what you can afford same applies for me.


I usually spend $100-$150 on a rod,$150 for baitcasters and anywhere from $75-$150 on spinning reels...so my limit is usually $150. Could I spend more? Probably,but there's so many great options in that price range that I rarely find anything junk(lucky I haven't).

Somebody mentioned Investment,I don't tournament fish.....but I'm pretty sure I'd be spending money on a therapist because I probably would have gone insane from boredom. Sanity is my investment....lol

[deep]

Buy the best you can afford & enjoy it.

X2

I spend what I can, and it's usually less than most. Living on a grad student's stipend sometimes sucks. The only two $150+ rods I have are my Powells. Why? Because I feel I need what sensitivity I can get when bottom bumping. If I could afford a GLoomis, would I get one? Probably.

I like to hunt big bass, and when fishing for them, I don't skimp on bait selection. Seriously, I have thrown $200 baits (one single bait cost me that) on my $100 rod and $75 reel I have also swam, more than a few times, to save $15 lucky crafts.

In the end, I guess it's what makes you happy. If you are a recreational fisherman, as am I, and happy fishing with Ugly Sticks, I'm stoked for ya.

[Jim_M]

It is entirely, completely and utterly subjective.

[Lund Explorer]

Well since he fishes for fun too, the point of buying high end gear returning an investment, doesn't matter since he's enjoying them outside the 'job' aspect

Hooligan's quote: "When I fish for fun, I'm usually fishing a future tournament lake or fishing a technique that I enjoy and want to get the most out of." leads me to believe that the act of FUN fishing is only an extension of tournament angling. Hence, it is part of the job.