I baby the hell out of my gear, except the ones I don't.

I intentionally have some older gear around simply because I often find it more durable than newer gear and therefore it gets used when I don't want to baby something.

2 hours ago, WaskaCrank12 said:

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 !!

Looking at this thread, you ain't gonna find many used reels in clean condition😭

I am a serial gear-abuser. Ride it hard and put it away wet.

Won't find this for sale, but fished in salt kayak for 5 years.

1917 Hardy St. George, I fished for 5 years, then sold for twice what I paid. (It paid for the salt kayak). This busted as much brush as anyone else's tackle.

It really isn't hard to be mindful of your gear. I fish in waders and hike through the undergrowth on the regular, conditions where a dunked reel, snapped rod, or bent guide are the norm if you aren't careful. Hiking through game trails? My rod tip is behind me. More commonly, guys do it the opposite way, tip ahead of them and this is what often causes mishaps as they attempt to thread the needle through the brush and branches. Landing a fish? Rod butt gets tucked in my wading belt; it's stable and not going anywhere. Also handy for retying. Once you do it a few times, it becomes a habit. All of my reels look as good as the day I built them.

3 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

Hiking through game trails? My rod tip is behind me. More commonly, guys do it the opposite way, tip ahead of them and this is what often causes mishaps as they attempt to thread the needle through the brush and branches.

If I can see good and depending on the trail, tip can be behind or in front.

Now I normally stay well after dark when I fish.

So tip is ALWAYS behind me when it's dark.

OK that sounded weird.

4 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

If I can see good and depending on the trail, tip can be behind or in front.

Now I normally stay well after dark when I fish.

So tip is ALWAYS behind me when it's dark.

OK that sounded weird.

Top water fishing for big brown trout at night is spectacular. The explosion of a 20"+ brown smacking a wake make makes the bass blush for miles around.

Yes... Hate scratches on my reels... Makes re selling gear so much easier and being able to get a good return on them after years of usage....

I don't baby it, but I try to be careful with it.

I guess I’m both. All of my tackle, rods, reels and even my boat are tools. I take excellent care of everything. Crack open any reel I own and I guarantee you that it will look brand new. Rod covers on all rods, reel covers on all reels. All of that said, if a reel gets scratched it just gets scratched. Same thing with my boat, it’s camo painted aluminum.

I'm careful, but I don't abuse my gear. My reels and rods do have some scratches on them from years of service.

55 minutes ago, volzfan59 said:

I guess I’m both. All of my tackle, rods, reels and even my boat are tools. I take excellent care of everything. Crack open any reel I own and I guarantee you that it will look brand new. Rod covers on all rods, reel covers on all reels. All of that said, if a reel gets scratched it just gets scratched. Same thing with my boat, it’s camo painted aluminum.

On 2/27/2026 at 3:31 PM, TLHSS said:

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.

Not quite as OCD as you but am also retired on SS. Retirement fund went into an old modular home in a 55 plus villa so I'd have no mortgage payments. Villa fees are plenty expensive. If I'd had a wife whose hobby wasn't shopping, I could have purchased a home on a lake and avoided the lot fees.

I must have at least $300 in reel covers and many of them were purchased at $2.99. Whenever I bought a reel from TW, I'd add extra reel covers to save money. Have more used reels than new. Only have about 3 or 4 rod socks. One for every rod would probably be about $600. Not going to happen.

I baby the heck out of all my gear (hunting and fishing) to the point I don't enjoy it as much as I should.

My tackle are tools, but I take good care of my tools.

On 2/27/2026 at 10:59 AM, A-Jay said:

X2 ~

This just about covers it all for me as well.

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

A-Jay

X3 🙃

I’m very abusive to my fishing tackle, it gets used at least 3 times a week barring a blizzard. That’s usually in two different vehicles, and 3-4 different vessels (none of which have dry storage). On the ground, in the sand mud and grass, in a canoe/kayak full of river water and substrate. Bank fishing, falling down on them, using them as trekking poles.

And not a single rod and reel of mine is ever stored indoors.

I break stuff

They make new ones everyday

I'll go as far as I try not to lose anything.. big emphasis on the "try"

I do not abuse anything either.. but really if it scratches, it scratches

Those reels will never be on display again

Treat my gear like friends....Plenty of abuse. TLC when needed. Avoid permanent damage. Countless memories.

I don't baby them, but am mindful not to scratch them. Tools don't have paint jobs 🤷‍♀️

I love the 35$ ozark trail rods from Walmart and buy those for when I really don’t want to care - never broken one.

I fish with my dog and wife and son - I don’t baby my gear at all - I tend to pay attention to the stuff that survives - and buy it again!

I’m a rough and tumble type man, so my rods and reels go along for the ride.