So you think throwing away 300$ on a rod you don't like but thought it would be great because of its color isn't a waste of money ?

 

Buying a $300 rod for color alone while ignoring all other features is silly, yes. However that isn't what the OP was asking. The question was about matching rod and reel and your response was that matching was only for children and those who spend their money frivolously. That's the part I took issue with.

my mistake I should have elaborated a bit more on that one.

I don't buy gear that matches color or brand but I can see how some people might want to.  

 

I think sometimes it is a matter of taste.  When I head to a lake, I see a lot of guys with trucks that match their boat.  At first glance this may seem odd and overkill, but it's kind of cool.  With that in mind, buying rods and reels to match doesn't seem that far fetched.  Part of the fun of fishing is buying gear and equipment.  If someone increase their fishing fun with matching gear, I say go for it but I hope for that person's sake that they don't forget functionality when buying equipment.

Look good, feel good. Feel good, fish good.

I figure that if I stick with Loomis rods, I can ALWAYS buy a Shimano reel that matches it perfectly.

I don't own any but I've seen some custom painted & engraved reels that looked awesome!

I am very picky about rod color, but dont give a d**n about reel color, as long as the reel is not a mirror finish like the shimano antares.

 

god that reel is ugly....

Never even thought about matching colors until I read this thread. I just looked around my place and noticed all the rods I actually use are black (so part of my unconscious decision making process may be in play when I am selecting a rod). My reels are all different colors. I have a tendency to purchase reels based on brand, then price point, 

When you're dropping $800+ on a combo, you're not sacrificing any performance at all to match the rod and reel.

I like a setup that looks good together. I run a lot of black rods like the old avids so the reel can be any color and really it matches right? I have some black reels I put on my colored rods st Croix legend. So that's easy. But I love my done up Sol on my dobyns DX. It looks great and fishes good to. Did I give up performance, I think not and I did not pay more to have them match. I I am a sucker for orange though. Fish what makes you happy. I enjoy rods and reels but have a yak vise a boat. Some might claim to use setups worth more than your boat, is crazy but I don't care about that either. So does that mean I now have to drop 5k on a hobie? I fully understand painted reels and custom rods. Color of thread most of the time does not cost more. Eve a few bucks in a custom project is really nothing. So yes!

i think i can agree that if i were building a custom to pair with a particular rod i would opt for some options to somewhat match them up.  aside from that i just don't get worked up about color.  same can be said for me and the color of my baits.  have like 3 colors of plastics, 3 main colors of jigs and maybe 4 different patterns/colors in hardbaits.

It absolutely matters to me. The gears in the price range that I am buying now are all really good performers so matching it just makes it all come together. When paring up combos of course I'm not just going to pick two that matches blindly. Both reel and rod have to be what I'm looking for, looks may sway my decision.

 

We are all different and there's no right or wrong in this hobby.

We are all different and there's no right or wrong in this hobby.

Exactly. I am as confident with my mismatched combos as Roadwarrior is with his carefully coordinated ones. It's all good.

Brands match colors of rods and reels to show anglers "Hey, this rod and reel go together, Get both!" Like with the Revo S and Veritas, or SX and Veracity.  Or Wright and McGill using yellow and black, and how the Okuma Helios rods and reels use Green and black. Some people like that they have these rods and reels that can match up, some dont care either way.

I'll be honest I am thinking about buying a *** ***. It wasn't really about the color, I just wanted one of their reels but once I seen the White one I  knew it would look great on one of my White Ice Rod's.  I didn't buy the Ducketts because they were white in color I bought them because after years of buying different rods and not being happy with them, the Duckett's were the best I found. They are simply fantastic Fishing Rod's, it was just a big bonus that they are white in color and TBH my Black and Red Tatula Type-R's doesn't look to bad sitting on them..

as long as the reel is not a mirror finish like the shimano antares.

 

god that reel is ugly....

Just for you newb!

 

Function over form for all day every day

If a combo happens to look cool thats just a bonus...that being said my ch ci4/*** combo looks awesome and so does my lews tp/ ltb. The ltb is just straight pretty lol

I like dark non showy equipment. Except seat cushions !!   White only.

I'm more performanced based but I do like it if the combo works well together. If I'm spending my money on it then I want to like everything about it and enjoy using it. That includes the color. It's not a total deal breaker if it doesn't though. However if I don't like how something looks I probably won't purchase it because once again it's my money and I want to enjoy it. Example I'll never buy a red or yellow vehicle. Even if it's a good price. So I guess for me it does play a part in my purchase it's just not my main concern.

This!

I have tons of mismatched stuff. I have red rods with green reels on them. Lol. Its ugly. I also have some nice black matching stuff and a new white on white rig that looks great. But honestly I think it comes down to - matching stuff up is great If you have the money to do so.

Example-

I have decided to use my old 100a Cardiff as a deep crank reel. But I need a rod. The only thing that champagne color matches really is black. There's plenty of black rods. ... but what if I can get a veritas winch for $35? I'm not going to hesitate. I could care less. The rod and reel would individually be exactly what I want performance wise and the price is right.

But if said rod came up and I got it and then thought.....eh. .... that Cardiff doesn't look right on here...... and then decide to save up for a white - or black obviously- cranking reel, then that is spending unneeded money on matching color. I already had a reel that would do the job- but I spent money on aesthetics. Its nice if you have that extra 50-150 bucks to factor aesthetics in.

Obviously if you're going to already spend that money. ...then its nice to make things look good. Ex: I have a little black pinnacle on a veritas, but I'm not thrilled about the reels paddles. If/when I get some paddle grips- of course I'm getting the black/white camo!

The color of rods and reels isn't what I'm looking for when I pick out a combo. I'm going by performance first and if they happen to match up that's great. If not, oh well I'm not thinking the fish are going to notice anyway!

I'm not a fan of flashy colors or rods and reels that look more like toys.

My favorite combos for looks have to be my chronarch 50mg on an older loomis imx rod, and my avid spinning rods with daiwa ss 1300s. To me that's what rods and reels are supposed to look like.

I figure that if I stick with Loomis rods, I can ALWAYS buy a Shimano reel that matches it perfectly.

Problem solved.

Hootie

I tend to stay away from ''Fruit Loop'' colored equipment, fishing or otherwise.

Function over form for all day every day

If a combo happens to look cool thats just a bonus...that being said my ch ci4/*** combo looks awesome and so does my lews tp/ ltb. The ltb is just straight pretty lol

I think any reel looks good on a LTB. I use a revo stx and a less tp.