I was at my local tackle shop talking with a couple guys and they brought up the reels and rods I bought recently. They were telling me I could get stuff just as good for under $100 and I'm an idiot for spending that much. I've been fishing since I was little and I am now 21 years old. I'm done with college and I got a great job making great money. I'm able to splurge on stuff I like. This is my first year fishing Tournaments so I bought some nice gear. I went with Dobyns rods, Lews and diawa reels. Was I stupid for spending so much on quality gear? I kinda feel like the joke of the shop now....

Nope, That little thing is called jealousy. The higher end reels obviously perform better then 100 dollar reels. And dobyns rods are kinda great. So no but go buy some mega bass stuff too then they will make fun of you even more. Then come tournament time, show up and fish well and the respect wil come.

There are haters everywhere, even here.  Fish with the stuff you enjoy and worked hard to get.  The majority of us are just like you, we like fishing with nice stuff.   Anyone who says anything about what you buy needs to mind their own business.

Its your money

I get picked on for the money i spend on fishing too but i dont care...its my gear and i like it

My one buddy thinks its silly but he will drop 4k on a shotgun in a second lol. We just agree that our addictions are both expensive and the we both expensive taste

Nope, That little thing is called jealousy. The higher end reels obviously perform better then 100 dollar reels. And dobyns rods are kinda great. So no but go buy some mega bass stuff too then they will make fun of you even more. Then come tournament time, show up and fish well and the respect wil come.

 

I agree with Matt ~

 

btw-  Matt, you're pretty smooth for 14.

 

I like your style.

 

A-Jay

My attitude has always been this, get what you want if that is what makes you happy. If you bought the lower end gear would just have been wishing that you got the better gear?  With any given hobby there is upper or lower priced gear, sometimes higher end makes a difference and at other the difference is minimal. 

 

Get what you want and what makes you happy within the reason of what you can afford. 

There are different levels of gear and to some people, this site included, your gear might not even be considered high end. Its a game of diminishing returns when you get above the 200$ mark IMO. Did that stop me from getting a revo mg and an elite 8 reel instead of just getting another pair of revo stx's? Nope. Point is there is a difference in the low end gear and what you bought. To you...

I was at my local tackle shop talking with a couple guys and they brought up the reels and rods I bought recently. They were telling me I could get stuff just as good for under $100 and I'm an idiot for spending that much. I've been fishing since I was little and I am now 21 years old. I'm done with college and I got a great job making great money. I'm able to splurge on stuff I like. This is my first year fishing Tournaments so I bought some nice gear. I went with Dobyns rods, Lews and diawa reels. Was I stupid for spending so much on quality gear? I kinda feel like the joke of the shop now....

Definitely stupid. You can ship your stuff to me and start over if you'd like. I really don't like Dobyns rods, or Lews and Daiwa reels for that matter. But I'm a nice guy, so I'll bare the burden of your high end gear.

The argument can go both ways. No, I don't need a $$$ combo to catch fish. No, it won't make me a better fisherman. However I buy what I want with my money so other people's opinions don't make a difference to me. I fish alone the majority of the time and when I do fish with people they wouldn't know my combo from one from walmart. Except a few of my friends who tell me I have a problem. It puts a smile on my face and I'm número uno! Buy whatever you want and enjoy using it!

Some of the most judgemental people I know are the ones who are critical of anyone who spends more money on anything than they do. This often has less to do with the ability to buy than an attitude that says my judgment is superior to yours. It is an attitude that says it is foolish to spend your money that way, and is often based on ignorance and prejudice. Hang around any local tackle/bait shop very long and you will hear things so dumb it will make you talk to yourself!

Was I stupid for spending so much on quality gear? I kinda feel like the joke of the shop now....

First, you are not stupid at all. Buy what you like and enjoy it. Forget what anyone else says. I get grief for buying $500 rods and having them modified (even on this forum), but I can care less what others think. Here's the only time I would say someone is stupid for buying the gear they do is if someone was using money they needed to provide for their family. If all your "musts" are taken care of, go wild and buy what you want.

Also, the only joke in that shop are those clowns who were putting you down. No need for that. We all share the passion of fishing and that bond alone is all that matters.

Do you and don't worry bout other guys that are jealous, Mathew was correct.. If that's what you want to do with your money do it.. You work hard for your money spend it how you want..

They can go ahead and buy a sub 100 dollar carrot stick, or an ugly stick with a sub 40 dollar reel.

When their drag fails, their carrot stick snaps, or they can't feel a fish pick up the jig, I'll be using quality gear and having a better day.

Thanks guys I appreciate it. I was taught at an early age to buy quality stuff and you can enjoy it for years to come. Maybe I made this thread after I felt a little down about what they said and wanted to justify my purchases. I'm really excited to start the season and I love my gear. Tight lines everyone!

Do not feel down about it. It is your money and you worked hard to make it, you can spend it on what you want. I can tell you from XP there is a big difference in quality gear and it may not make you a better fisherman but it will make you enjoy fishing a heck of a lot more. You should buy some things you like and enjoy them, you can't take all of that money with you when you go.

Definitely stupid. You can ship your stuff to me and start over if you'd like. I really don't like Dobyns rods, or Lews and Daiwa reels for that matter. But I'm a nice guy, so I'll bare the burden of your high end gear.

What's your address? I'll start packing them now!

They're just leaving the door open for excuses when you beat them. Then it's all, "if I had a $1000 rod and I reel I could have beat him," blah blah blah, lol. Fish what you want. Let the scales prove who is better and only you can judge how fun it was.

Sounds like your shop is seeking to become a non- profit organization, don't let them shoot you down. After all, it's your hard earned cash!!

To each their own.  If you can afford it buy it. I have upgraded a lot of my gear in the last year from what I had reel wise with quite a few rods thrown in.  I can say having improved my gear has made fishing more enjoyable which lends to catching more fish since it's more comfortable to fish over longer periods of time.  If it makes you happy with what you have aquired then don't let others judge what you fish with.  Enjoy what you worked hard to aquire and let the haters hate.  Just smile and walk away.

Like someone else said on another topic haters gonna hate, baiters gonna bait.

I agree with Matt ~

 

btw-  Matt, you're pretty smooth for 14.

 

I like your style.

 

A-Jay

Thank you for you A-jay that means a lot.

It's only stupid if you can't make rent and you're buying the more expensive stuff.

I agree with the jealousy part. I knew a guy who was so envious of others because they had or wanted nicer gear, constantly talked crap because of it. Suffice to say I got rid of that negativity, make sure you keep an eye on these guys that brought it up, they could be toxic.

Yes you are stupid. Welcome to the club. Did the same guys tell you what kind of car or truck to drive? It's your money spend it wisely.

A Dodge Neon and a BMW will both get you cross country, which would you rather do it in?  

Jealousy. The fact that most higher end equipment is less fatiguing is in itself justifacation for acquiring it. Especially if you are fishing tournaments. I'm also one to Beleive that higher end reels tend to last longer and perform better all around, probably saving you money in the long run. I would simply ignore the water cooler talk at your local shop and stay focused on what you love to do. Catch fish!! And enjoy the gear you are using to do it. You sure don't NEED higher end gear to catch fish, but it sure is a lot more enjoyable when fishing for long periods at a time.