not a buy exactly, but i bought two daiwa reels (lexa and exceler) here in the flea market (with upgraded bearings) for a solid price.  they were nice reels, but then a trade came along that allowed me to trade them both for 2 nearly new curado 51e's.  HAPPY CAMPER for sure!

BPS Extreme baitcasters and spinning rods at the January sale for $80 each.

Great rods for fun fishing.

Bought a GLoomis Topwater Rod brand new at my local store for $105 out the door (clearance and coupons).

well I got a couple of tournament pro's brand new for $150, team lews lite for $180. As for rods, I only have five, but I just bought 2 St Croix Avid X's (7'4 casting and 7'0 M spinning) on *** during their black Friday sale that I got for $165. Can't wait to get them in the mail

Shimano Sedona 1000 for $40 turned out to be a great little reel. Powell max for $100 was an excellent deal as well. Ended up being one of my favorite rods! I even got an abu vengeance for $15 and a vendetta for $60 at Walmart. Just couldn't pass em up at those prices!

7' MHF St. Croix Avid. DSG Right after Thanksgiving 2-3 years ago. 75$ brand new.

Curado 51e's 99$ a piece

 

All purchase new

rods

2 SC premier rods $24@

SC LTB $115

SC Elite $125

Cumara $100

Clarus $30

*** $30

Okuma Helios $110

 

reels

Curado 50E $99

Chronarch CI4+ $110

SupremeXT $75

Tatula $38

 

 

I can add a Shimano Crucial to the list  $45 @ DSG

Well two of my most recent scores are a 1000fj stradic nib for $100 and 2 rx7 blanks for $23 each. I figure it will cost me another 35-40 in components to build them so they should come out to about $60 each. Cha Ching

 

That was a steal! Would love to find a 

deal like that for a 1000FJ.

I guess I would have to say the Supreme MG I just snagged for $40 at DSG .

I bought a bunch of G series Curado's, nevermind wrong thread....

All new

 

Rods

 

2 St. Croix Avids $40 each

Shimano Crucial $55

 

Reels 

 

Shimano Calais $250

Shimano Callcutta 251  $35

Shimano Curado G $65

Shimano Citica G $40

Shimano Sustain FE $150

Shimano Core $210

 

 

 

These are best bargains I have found so far but unfortunately I no longer have the Calais or the Sustain.

7' MHF St. Croix Avid. DSG Right after Thanksgiving 2-3 years ago. 75$ brand new.

Curado 51e's 99$ a piece

 

I never find those kind of deals at my local DSG.  I did pick up a Curado 51E for $98 when ohya closed them out.  Sure wish I could have gotten 3 or 4 more.

Last year was my first year jumping into baitcasting and the timing couldnt have been better I was deploying right around the holidays so I had money to spare and I scored two dobyns champ rods at 30% off from the hook up tackle, sale had ended the day before on thanksgiving and I was calling in to see what there (prices so low you have to call) black firday sale, asked the guy about the rods and he said sale ended yesterday but Ill give it to you anyway, great costomer service at the hook up. Around a month latter I scored 2 Lew's TP's for $150 a piece, all in all I thought I did pretty good and have super pleased with my choices for gear.

My wife broke the last 6 inches off my Shimano Clarus....which I really liked.

 

I didn't want to spend too much on what at the time was my backup spinning rig, so I bought a used Gen 1 Shimano Compre......now it's hands-down my favorite spinning rod. I put a Stradic FJ on it and I'll often pick that one up before any of my other higher-end rigs. The balance and comfort is perfect.

Not necessarily a buy.. But my buddy couldn't get the hang of using a casting reel, so he gave me a Lew's Speed Spool and a Veritas Rod. The Lew's now have me hooked, and I didn't like the foam grips on the rod, so I sold it for $50. Turned out pretty well I'd say. Also, my used Lew's have been good buys too.

My most recent "best buys" have been  NIB Daiwa Excelers off fleabay from $55-$68 with free shipping and no tax. They retail for $100, so I think it's a decent deal LOL.

Used:

$50 avids

$75 elite

$100-125 LTBs

New:

$128 chronarch 151hg

$260 metinum 100hg

$100-125 LTBs

$100 curados

$50 premier & mojos

Those are most of the huge deals I've found.

2 St Croix Legend Elites $126

St Croix LTB $125

St Croix LTB $80

2 St Croix Legend Extremes $210

St Croix LTB swim bait rod w/Curado 201D $125

Steez reel $200

Powell Max for $120, and my Powell Endurance that i just bought tonight from TWH for $110

Got a pretty much brand new zillion on ebay for 160.  

Stocked up on Shimano Sahara's a couple years ago when they came out with the new model. I bought 5 of them from cabelas and gander mountain at $45 a piece, gave one to my dad along with a rod for xmas present. Some of the deals on the flea market have been amazing for me. Got a Lews Tournament MG and Speed Spool almost brand new for $150.

Got a pretty much brand new zillion on ebay for 160.  

 

Great find.  Congratulations.  Best $160 you ever spent. 

2 years ago i found a couple Falcon Bucoo Microguide rods for $30 at Academy. i bought both of them, kept one and sold the other one for full retail here in Mexico where i live ($130 at that time). unfortunately they didnt have more, i would have bought 2 or 3 more to sell here. 

i was at academy for the first time and picked up 2 of the tournament choice premier edition rods for $20 each... ive since used them and wish i'd bought all they had left.... one of the best looking and feeling rods i've used and only $20...

When I was fishing for my college, we got a discount from Daiwa and I got a TD Advantage Supertuned Baitcaster for around $100. Wish I would have gotten a few more.  Its an unbelieveable reel.