That is a very valid point tex!  Glad someone finally said that!    It seems that companies are taking advantage of us, so that they can produce colors, that are looked into by their R&D...  What the hell?!  Why do we spend the extra money for something, that we can get, and paint ourselves, and spend a fraction of that cost?!  It's so pointless to me.  I can see a bass boat being different, as some are inferior to others, but in tackle, it makes no sense...  We are just paying for colors...  If you know someone whom can airbrush from pictures, have them paint your cheaper rapala lure...  It's the same thing!  

I love the claim that you can paint your own or get someone to paint your baits so they look just as good without it costing as much as the high end stuff. You are either A) insane, full of it or C) you know something or someone i dont.

Yes, I do know someone you don't...  Myself!  I also know that I am not insane, nor that I am full of it.  I also know several people whom can produce paint jobs that are phenomenal compared to mine, but mine are good.  You can do it, you just have to understand what a real fish looks like, which is why you look at the pictures...  I know, that most companies cannot produce a perfect fish either, and I don't claim that.  I just said that you can have them painted just as good, for a lot less!    I have a friend who usually paints flames on cars, and skulls.  But I know for a fact, given the chance, that he could produce a fish with no problems...  I will have him air one up on paper for me.    Then I will show you!

          All of you guys will come to the realization tha RW is right. The problem is by the time you figure this out you will have already collected a ton of stuff you will never use.  I used to buy anything that was decent and cheap. Now I only use high end gear. Is a $200 reel worth that much more than a $50 one? actualy its worth about $2000 if you compare it like that. I wouldnt trade any of my good reels for a hundred Abus. Will thay catch more fish? No. Will you get more distance and less backlashes? Maybe but most likley it wont matter too much. Then what makes a high priced reel worth it? The experience!!! It just feels good. They are so much more enjoyeble to use. They are so much smoother and they feel like $200. A $50 reel feels like one. I bet in "regular" fishing I would catch the same amount of fish with a cheap rod and reel as I would with good gear but I wouldnt enjoy the trip as much. There are some actual advantages to higherpriced gear especialy reels. The DRAG is usualy the most noticable upgade. It may never come into play for you but if it ever does you will be sorry you bought that cheap reel. If your drag is just a little sticky and you loose a monster because of it you will hate your prized reel that you got such a great bargin on. Also since I fish a lot of big swimbaits and saltwater I can tell you that the lesser reels cant take the same abuse.  

There is a reason people always say " you get what you pay for"

cause its true. The real bargin is to buy it right the first time and you wont need to upgrade.  

Now with all that said ther are definatly bargins out there. I own 2 calias and 2 calcutta te's. I paid $200 or less for each one. 3 of them I bought from board members in the clasified section on my home board. the 4th I bought on Ebay. I actualy had to send that one to Shimano but now ita as good as new. wait for a sale or a deal on Qaulity gear and you will save money.              

Mattlures that so true.  You and RW are correct.  That is what I was trying to say in a early post but it didn't work.