So I decided to clean house and really try to limit the amount of gear I have. I have way more rods and reels needed for a bank fisherman most of the time and when I do get on the float tube or a friends boat I’m still limited to what gear I have anyways. These days it feels like I just enjoy collecting the finer things in life but don’t put in the use they deserve because I’m just rotating through combos every time I go out and the choices and options stress me out the last few years. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Anyways when selling gear of multiple rods in the same length/power/action or similar enough. What are your thought processes of which ones to sell?

for example if you have 3-4 rods from different brands that are a 7’3MH (all around) or 6’8M (jerkbaits).

Are you keeping the rod that is most high end because the quality is there? Because you know you wouldn’t buy something as high end again? Because you won’t get back what you put into it so it’s better to keep it than take a lose? do you just keep what doesn’t sell? Or do you keep what feels best to you regardless of quality and warranty?

Same with reels. Would you keep what’s most high end or would you keep what feels best? Like if you have a steez and it feels great but it doesn’t get the distance you need. But your tatula 100 doesn’t feel as smooth but it gets the distance you need, Are you keeping that tatula or are you keeping the steez because once you go to the top of the line there is no looking back?

Just curious on others process of elimination.

I would keep what feels best.

I would not sell my favorite rods or reels unless I were quitting fishing.

Keep it all. You know you need everything plus much more.

If something cheaper outperforms something more expensive the answer is easy.

Sell the more expensive.

You should end up with more proceeds and you get to fish with what performs the best.

I personally don't always apply "tool rule" to my fishing equipment because so often it's about the whole aesthetic experience for me. But, at work and when trying something new I will. It says you start by purchasing the cheapest tool that gets the job done and use it until it breaks. If it never breaks then you spend the least amount possible. If it does break, you've proved to yourself that you will use the replacement enough to warrant the extra spend.

Obviously it's just a guideline, but if it's a technique/species that you're in love with, keep the nice stuff. If you want to maintain the ability to fish a particular way, but only do it once in a while, keep a cheap/mid tier setup. And, if you bought it thinking you'd use it but more than year has passed and you haven't, sell it.

I'm in the same boat (pun intended) as you except I'm now strictly a bank fisherman. Currently I only have two rods that it wouldn't bother me to sell. Not all my rods have been fished yet. Several reels have yet to be spooled. Two reels could go only because I don't care for reels with the clutch release on top next to the spool. Reels function fine...just not my cup of tea.

I know at my age and where I am in the fishing world that I really need to downsize a lot. However, deciding what to get rid of (if I could actually make a decision) requires using each piece of gear for awhile. Might not be able to make it through all of it before dying or reaching the point where I can no longer fish. ☹️

I wish there was a magic wand I could wave that would make the decisions for me.

EDIT: For my fishing I could go to two crankbait rods, two ML rods, two Medium rods one Heavy and several MH as that is the weight range I mostly fish. Maybe 12 casting rods total. Probably only need two spinning rods. Ain't going to happen. too many rods and reels.

Based on your hypothetical... if you have 3-4 keep the best 2. That way you thin and still have an option and/or a back up.

Btw are you a lefty or a righty for reels? Asking for a friend...🙃

Keep what you use the most. I have seven crankers, but I only use three on a regular basis. If I were doing what you're thinking of, I'd sell the three that rarely get use. That being said, I'm thinking of building another one.

I will sell something every once in a while but over the years I have sold several. Sometimes it depends on the what I use it for and if it actually worked out the way wanted it to. Then sometimes the bait monkey calls and says what are willing to sacrifice to get that new rod or reel you want. I will also evaluate my set ups every year to see what needs to be improved upon or eliminated due to lack of use.

There are some reels and rods I regret selling, like my Shimano Calais 101A and my first St. Croix Avid. It was a heavy set up but the smoothest reel around and an all around great rod. I was offered more than what I paid for it. Then there are reels like the Quantum Smoke, nice reel but just didn't fit my style of fishing. In rods, the St. Croix Premier Split Grip MH Fast from BPS comes to mind. This thing was a pool cue and a mistake to buy. Another was the G. Loomis GLX crankbait rod. It so sensitive in terms of vibration that it was hard to fish a deep diving bait on it. It would make my hands hurt.

In the end, it's a chess match between what the gear is worth and if it really increases my fishing fun.

I have been trying to organize and make sense of my "quiver" with the intention of having myself covered in the areas I care about, and investing more heavily in the areas I care about most.

Every winter I try to do some reorganize the pairings that make the most sense, and clarify the roles that each can play. This year I put some thought into making a spreadsheet that I can use as a dashboard to see the overall picture.

I have repurposed or replaced some gear and have a couple of racks that I will be working from. I don't have a lot of rod storage capabilities on my boat so between myself and whomever will be with me, I strive to choose five or six rods that will suffice for my intended trip.

I'm hoping that I will end up the season pretty close to where I am starting. In years past, by the time the season is ending, everything is kind of all over the place. We shall see.

I sell what I haven't used or will never use. I buy stuff cause I think it is cool but never use it, then it is time to sell it. Also sell stuff if I want to upgrade my stuff.

I down-sized from a bass boat to a motorized kayak in the last couple years. I had approximately 25 rod/reel combos, but now really only need 12-15. Plus I don't need a lot of the longer rods I had boating. Some longer ones still have their uses, but in general longer rods make it harder to fight hard-charging fish at water level in a kayak.

So I took about half of my rods and reels and traded them in for a few higher-end combos that fit my current needs and kayaking better. Gone are the 7'6" rods and in come the 7 footers. The 7 footers are the very versatile type so if I have limited rod options on the water, I can re-tie for what I need.

Sometimes you just have to re-shuffle your deck based upon your evolving or unique needs..