20 year old Bailey Boutries leads the FLW event on Grand Lake as of today. He is sponsored by and is using Profishiency rods. A quick check of their web site lists casting rod prices from $29.99 to $79.99....

Edited March 30, 20197 yr by 1201vilbig
spelling

My want is stronger then my need.

you don't need to spend over 100 bucks for a nice rod ... that's a given ... still light, sensitive and strong ... if choose to ... that's ok with me ....

 

good fishing ....

1 hour ago, 1201vilbig said:

A quick check of their web site lists casting rod prices from $29.99 to $79.99

2 lengths of spinning rods, 3 of casting and only one power/action for each of those 5 rod selections.

 

Very slim pickings and there's plenty of rods by others in that price range that cover a wide range of length/power/action selections.

5 hours ago, 1201vilbig said:

20 year old Bailey Boutries leads the FLW event on Grand Lake as of today. He is sponsored by and is using Profishiency rods. A quick check of their web site lists casting rod prices from $29.99 to $79.99....

AND he's fishing on an older Ranger with a fortrex. That'll be changing quick if this kid places in the top 5 on Sunday haha. I'm rooting for him. 

52 minutes ago, punch said:

AND he's fishing on an older Ranger with a fortrex. That'll be changing quick if this kid places in the top 5 on Sunday haha. I'm rooting for him. 

Man I hope he smokes 'em

Nobody needs expensive rods. Amateurs are way more hung up on expensive gear than pros who do it for a living. A good portion of the top level pros use mid level gear. 

 

That said, I like nice gear as much as anyone, nothing wrong with that but it doesn't make you a better fisherman.

2 hours ago, punch said:

AND he's fishing on an older Ranger with a fortrex. That'll be changing quick if this kid places in the top 5 on Sunday haha. I'm rooting for him. 

That's awesome. 

Most pros dont use expensive gear because to them it's just a tool. Its expendable to them. They are sponsored, so they get it for cheap or free.

I would never throw my rods down like they do. I paid too much money for my stuff. 

I need expensive rods. They're lighter stronger and just generally feel good. I fished with cheap stuff my whole life - well, except for an 11' surf rod I had built by Red Drum tackle in Buxton NC 30 years ago.  A month ago I finally threw away the 2 freshwater rods I used as a child. I had kept them to remind me how bad they were. 

 

One was a metal rod and one was some newfangled fiberglass rod that wasn't too good even 50 or 60 years ago. The round metal reels still worked. Sort of.

 

I love my 3 Shimano/Loomis  Conquest rods. I think I should buy another one. I need them.    

All that proves is if you're good enough you can catch em if you find em. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

11 hours ago, nwstriper said:

My want is stronger then my need.

The baitmonkey 

8 hours ago, punch said:

AND he's fishing on an older Ranger with a fortrex. That'll be changing quick if this kid places in the top 5 on Sunday haha. I'm rooting for him. 

Me too!

 

Doesn't Skeet also use his off the shelf Walmart rods? I love when pros prove that a tool is a tool. 

Food, water and shelter...

6 hours ago, Johnbt said:

I need expensive rods. They're lighter stronger and just generally feel good. I fished with cheap stuff my whole life - well, except for an 11' surf rod I had built by Red Drum tackle in Buxton NC 30 years ago.  A month ago I finally threw away the 2 freshwater rods I used as a child. I had kept them to remind me how bad they were. 

 

One was a metal rod and one was some newfangled fiberglass rod that wasn't too good even 50 or 60 years ago. The round metal reels still worked. Sort of.

 

I love my 3 Shimano/Loomis  Conquest rods. I think I should buy another one. I need them.    

They are everything but stronger. Expensive rods made with high end graphite are much more brittle than the Ugly stick, I'll be you my house I can lift more with an ugly stick than you can with a conquest rod before it breaks. I'm not being smart, most of my rods are in the $120 to $400 range with my most used rods in the $150 to $200 range. The very reason high end rods are more sensitive also makes them more brittle, the lighter crisper actions are much more enjoyable to fish with but you aren't boat flipping a 10# channel cat with a medium power conquest without it snapping like a dead and rotted pine branch. You can take an ugly stick of medium power and boat flip a 17# carp with though and not suffer any ill effects, I saw that happen, I would even try  to do that with a good composite rod. Yes, the better rods are lighter, crisper, and more enjoyable to fish but they aren't stronger.

Nobody has ever said that you need expensive gear to catch fish. Aaron Martens is a fine example of that. He went from using some high dollar Megabass rods ($700 X7) to using Enigma rods that are $100. He still catches plenty of fish. Some of us just get enjoyment out of nice gear. Which is a relative term as it is. Some of us are enthusiasts and are okay with spending $400+ on a rod, or a reel. I know guys that have over $2,000 in a single combo. Some people think that’s just absurd and their idea of high end is a $300 combo. That’s perfectly okay too.  “Get in where you fit in” 

the fish don't care what rod you use........just saying.

46 minutes ago, crypt said:

the fish don't care what rod you use........just saying.

But other fisherman do...

Considering my line-up, I could care less what rod/reel you use. If it works, it works.

Looks like the kid is blanking today... bummer. I was hoping to see him get a camera on championship Sunday. 

21 minutes ago, punch said:

Looks like the kid is blanking today... bummer. I was hoping to see him get a camera on championship Sunday. 

I think it’s those cheap rods causing all his problems. Seems he needs some better rods!

Just now, BaitFinesse said:

No one needs live in a house bigger than 750 square feet.

Darn it all...I'm 100 sq-ft over the limit. Guess I'll have to downsize.

 

(No, I'm not joking...my house is 850 finished sq-ft)

 Always find these threads to be very comical......Do you really worry about what others think about your gear , if you are on the water and having fun then that is all that matters. Happen to be one of those who knows expensive gear is not required to catch fish however that is what I prefer and enjoy using.  Have a fishing buddy who loves his 10.00/20.00 clearance priced rods all the while catching his fair share of fish. Now our days on the water are full of laughter as balls get busted big time and especially when he snaps one of those rods and loses a 5lb. brown fish. What is important and always has been important is the enjoyment fishing brings not to mention the stress it relieves.....@J Francho aka The "Crass Angler" can certainly attest to the fun and laughter that is had on the boat along with the characters involved...

19 hours ago, 1201vilbig said:

20 year old Bailey Boutries leads the FLW event on Grand Lake as of today. He is sponsored by and is using Profishiency rods. A quick check of their web site lists casting rod prices from $29.99 to $79.99....

and ? ....