Are you the "fishing gear are like tools to me", or are you babying your gear, and don't want to scratch your reels/rods? My OCD doesn't allow me to scratch my reels, so i usually prefer losing a PB than scratching a reel of mine. Good for resale value, i guess🙂

They're tools to be used, and some of mine show it - though I don't abuse them, there is some boat-rash on a couple reels and some scratches on a couple rods.

I don't have a lot of high end gear, but I'm still pretty careful with my stuff. I don't spend my hard earned money on something unless I like it, and if I decide that it's worth buying then it's worth taking care of. I am not so careful that I won't use it though. If I buy it I plan to use it. I don't generally consider resale value with rods and reels, and I'd sacrifice my gear over losing a PB anyday.

They are tools but if you take care of your tools they’ll take care of you. I don’t baby but I don’t worry either.

3 minutes ago, Fishlegs said:

I don't have a lot of high end gear, but I'm still pretty careful with my stuff. I don't spend my hard earned money on something unless I like it, and if I decide that it's worth buying then it's worth taking care of. I am not so careful that I won't use it though. If I buy it I plan to use it. I don't generally consider resale value with rods and reels.

X2 ~

This just about covers it all for me as well.

I consider all my gear as tools, just not a hammer.

A-Jay

Definitely treat some of my gear a bit rough, but I try not to abuse them.

You can be thoughtful without being OCD. Some people abandon all thought when fishing is in front of them and may charge into it like lemmings (my buddy Lou).

But if you take every step with thought, screwing up your tackle isn't part of the experience.

Prewar Heddon marked for Folsom Arms, prewar JW Young perfect marked for MC Thorburn.

I'm not a reseller or collecter and my boats are uncarpeted aluminum. There are a few scratches on my reels but they function just fine. But I'll never reel a rod tip down to dislodge a hung bait.

Reading all these responses hurt my soul. I wouldn't even put my reel on grass😭

My attitude is my gear works for me, I don't work for it. I don't care what it looks like. It's unlikely I'll ever try to resale it. A personal best is worth infinitely more than all of my equipment. I still cry over a big smallmouth I lost in the 90s. I've never shed a tear over a rod or reel.

I do expect my equipment to work correctly and I'll do what's necessary maintenance wise to make sure it performs to my expectations. That's about it.

Can't say I "baby" my stuff but I definitely take care of my stuff.

But then again I have tools from my father for 40 years and they sure weren't new when he gave them to me.

Frugality rules, my wife has a different saying bout that 😛

Very careful. I agree with fishlegs except for losing my gear for a PB. It's only a fish after all and a one-time deal. My rod and reel could be used for years to come. I'm as happy catching a 12 incher as a 24 incher...almost. 😄

Also agree with bulldog1935 that you can use your gear without making a mess of it. My money is hard earned. If a rod isn't in my hands, the reel has a cover on it. I don't throw a rod in the back of my nonexistent truck.

I don't sell but that's not a reason to not take care of my gear.

35 minutes ago, Micro Module Police said:

Reading all these responses hurt my soul. I wouldn't even put my reel on grass😭

“GET OFF MY LAWN”

All my gear gets used, but I take care of it. All my rods are multi-piece travel rods, so they are easy to transport safely. I fish from the bank exclusively so they are short rods to prevent breakage on brush and trees. All reside in storage tubes when they are not being fished for the day. Reels reside in fabric bags and sometimes EVA hard cases depending on means of travel. All reels, rods, landing nets and boots are cleaned after every session. All reels are full serviced every year.

Retired and on a fixed pension. For me, gear needs to last.

I treat my boat/kayak/fishing gear like my cars and tools. I use them as designed and take good care of them. I drive a '17 Tundra, a '68 GS400 convertible, and a '07 BMW K1200S motorcycle. Most of my tools are Snap-On.

I take care of it to the level of any other tool I own, including my wooden canoe. I keep everything working as well as I can but don’t mind a scuff or scratch as long as it’s just cosmetic.

I’m rough on gear, and always have been. Fishing from the bank and wading rivers over the years has desensitized me to the minor scratch or bump. I don’t recommend putting fishing gear through what I do but I want to be where the people aren’t to enjoy my hobby.

My "family motto" that I've preached to my kids since they were young. They could all sight this word for word I'm sure.

Work hard.

Save money.

Buy nice things.

Take good care of them.

With that being said, I've bought some very nice combos (aka tools) the last few years. And yes, I take very good care of them.

If you want to call it careful, sure, I'm careful with them. But that's not holding me back from going anywhere or catching fish.

They are just tools to me, but I don't abuse them either. I don't abuse my hand tools or power tools either. I have some $200 setups. I have some $1,000 setups. Most of them are somewhere in between and I maintenance them and try and make them last.

4 hours ago, Micro Module Police said:

Reading all these responses hurt my soul. I wouldn't even put my reel on grass😭

I'm not that extreme, however I try to keep my gear meticulous. If I have to lay my rod and reel down I will lay it down carefully and not drop it on the ground or in my boat. All my rods and reels have covers on when not used. By doing this over the years, all my rods and reels have worked flawlessly and I have never had any problems with them. Also resale value stays high if you take care of your rod and reel.

I do not baby my fishing arseiels, I got some SV103,

30 minutes ago, cadman said:

I'm not that extreme, however I try to keep my gear meticulous. If I have to lay my rod and reel down I will lay it down carefully and not drop it on the ground or in my boat. All my rods and reels have covers on when not used. By doing this over the years, all my rods and reels have worked flawlessly and I have never had any problems with them. Also resale value stays high if you take care of your rod and reel.

That's the way, I do not baby them cuz I like to FISH HARD but I do take care of them.

I baby all my reels, new or old, cheap or expensive, trying to avoid any scratches or abuse. I don't even reel that hard so that the gears won't be worn out so soon. But they are not more valuable than my fishing experience. When I am too old to fish, I will still be able to buy new gears or antique gears to play with, but those memories will be priceless. So yeah, PB all the way of course.

7 hours ago, Fishlegs said:

I don't have a lot of high end gear, but I'm still pretty careful with my stuff. I don't spend my hard earned money on something unless I like it, and if I decide that it's worth buying then it's worth taking care of. I am not so careful that I won't use it though. If I buy it I plan to use it. I don't generally consider resale value with rods and reels, and I'd sacrifice my gear over losing a PB anyday.

I could not say this any better myself.

I have bought most of my gear used -- so I appreciate the @Micro Module Police of the world who take meticulous care of the gear -- so I can purchase "like new" gear at a fraction of the cost of new gear when they sell it :))))

I would say I am in the camp of using the tools as intended -- not being reckless or careless -- ie, if I am not using the rods or I am transporting them then they are in rod sleeves/socks -- I have a few reel covers but only use them intermittently (I should use them more often) -- I keep the rods in rod racks, clean/service the reels each year, ect.... -- and that PB is coming in the boat !!

I don't find it burdensome at all to be mindful of the condition of my stuff. I hate door dings on vehicles, so I don't stuff them into tight parking spots just to be close to the front of an establishment or park them next to jalopies. That's just begging for it. Besides, walking is good for me.

It's painless for me to slip a reel cover on or off between uses as well as a rod sleeve. Same as above, I don't like looking at scratches and dings on my stuff, especially due to my carelessness when it's easily avoidable. That's double irksome.

That said, I'm with @newapti5 . If I had to choose between either losing a new PB or dropping my favorite rod/reel onto sharp rocks in order not to, it's getting dropped.