I'm contemplating a spending freeze on my fishing equipment.  

The main reason is because every rod I've looked at today has gone up at least $20 in the past week.  Before Christmas they were $20 cheaper.  I think this constitutes me not buying anymore fishing equipment until I run into a sale worth taking advantage of.  

What do you guys think?  

I mean, it almost seems like they've added a 'cost of living' increase to the price of the new rods.   ;D  I know they don't cost that much more to make than the previous years.   Also, I don't think transportation costs have affected the industry enough to constitute such a big increase in price.  

Am I making any sense?  

Yes, you are making a lot of sense.

I suggest waiting until January or February when the tackle stores have their sales events.

Keep an eye on BPS, Gander Mountain and Cabella's for their on-line sales or in-store sales.

Also, the larger regional tackle stores, like Academy down south, will have their sales.

Look for the fishing expos in your neighborhood or a city near by and attend.  Sometimes you can get some good bargians from the dealers.

And of course, keep checking out this forum as the guys will let you know about items on sale this winter.

Yeah you are making perfect sense.

But, with the world wide web it makes it too easy to find what you want at an ¨affordable¨ price. This is my vice. I search around on the internet for what I want until I find the best price. Then the baitmonkey bites me in the ashe. I rarely, if ever, pay for any fishing equipment at retail price.

Good luck with your spending freeze. It 's going to be like any other New Year 's resolution...it won 't last.

This is a pretty good thread IMO. A lot of buying tips spread out in various threads, but not a lot in one singel thread.

Other than a few bags of worms, a few hard baits, a lot of my line, and all my hooks and terminal tackle, I have not paid retail for anything fishing.

The most I paid for a Loomis rod was 20% below MSRP. I got my spinning reels 10% below MSRP (pretty good for a brand new line), I got my baitcasting reels about 25% off MSRP. I look for sales on hard baits, and I got the bulk of my worms on a year end inventory reduction.

I recommend sitting down and having a long talk with the bait monkey. Let him know that you wish to buy tackle, but you want to be frugle about it. Being prepared to buy at the right time, having patience to wait for the right time, can pay off big time.

I just bought a 2007 Browning Citori spinning rod to replace the one I destroyed in the ceiling fan a few months ago.  The $79.99 sticker was covered with an $89.99 sticker.   >

Now I notice yet another price increase on that rod.  The 2008 BPS catalog lists them now for $99.  The 2008 model is a 50 million mod rod and has Fuji aluminum oxide guides, versus the old model that was 47 million mod and had alconite guides.  :

Hey Lucky AGREED. Except for the ALPSTER CUSTOM WRAP, which was a present from ALPSTER HIMSELF, I got all my other rods and reels on the Flea Market or on deep discount ( REDLINER ALSO GAVE ME 2 ALLSTAR TITANIUMS)

4 Pflueger Trions ( 100bucks/retail) total out lay 180.00 bucks(all on Flea Market)

2 President Spinning reels(60/retail) 65 bucks Total(Flea Market)

Fenwick Tehna AV( 239/retail) 90 bucks and I had to get one guide fixed ( got that one from Litghning rod)

7 Foot AllStar Classic 70 bucks shipped( In excellent condition)(Cart 7)

Cabelas Gold Label Spinning rod( 49/retail) 20/on sale

Thats why I wait, and Cart 7,Pond Hopper and Hawgin are excellent sources to buy from on the flea market, all 3 have under-described their products. The only thing i have done is send out the Trions for normal annual cleaning and lube

Hey Lucky  AGREED. Except for the ALPSTER CUSTOM WRAP, which was a present from ALPSTER HIMSELF, I got all my other rods and reels on the Flea Market or on deep discount ( REDLINER ALSO GAVE ME 2 ALLSTAR TITANIUMS)

4 Pflueger Trions ( 100bucks/retail) total out lay 180.00 bucks(all on Flea Market)

2 President Spinning reels(60/retail) 65 bucks Total(Flea Market)

Fenwick Tehna AV( 239/retail) 90 bucks and I had to get one guide fixed ( got that one from Litghning rod)

7 Foot AllStar Classic 70 bucks shipped( In excellent condition)(Cart 7)

Cabelas Gold Label Spinning rod( 49/retail) 20/on sale

   Thats why I wait, and Cart 7,Pond Hopper and Hawgin are excellent sources to buy from on the flea market, all 3 have under-described their products. The only thing i have done is send out the Trions for normal annual cleaning and lube

Ha!!!!  You think you got a good deal but I fooled you  Every reel I sold you had anti-mook juice in the gears which reversed your mojo.  

I'm with you bro, after the ISE comes through sacto, i'm going on a spending diet.  Every toy I own (Car, truck, boat, and dirt bike) need $500 or more in work.  So after the ISE is over i need to save all money to fix the toys.  So i've been spending like a madman, i only have 2 1/2 weeks left.

This is all very upsetting,...where's your allegiance???  >

Don't make me come visit you personally,....

Hey Lucky AGREED. Except for the ALPSTER CUSTOM WRAP, which was a present from ALPSTER HIMSELF, I got all my other rods and reels on the Flea Market or on deep discount ( REDLINER ALSO GAVE ME 2 ALLSTAR TITANIUMS)

4 Pflueger Trions ( 100bucks/retail) total out lay 180.00 bucks(all on Flea Market)

2 President Spinning reels(60/retail) 65 bucks Total(Flea Market)

Fenwick Tehna AV( 239/retail) 90 bucks and I had to get one guide fixed ( got that one from Litghning rod)

7 Foot AllStar Classic 70 bucks shipped( In excellent condition)(Cart 7)

Cabelas Gold Label Spinning rod( 49/retail) 20/on sale

Thats why I wait, and Cart 7,Pond Hopper and Hawgin are excellent sources to buy from on the flea market, all 3 have under-described their products. The only thing i have done is send out the Trions for normal annual cleaning and lube

Ha!!!! You think you got a good deal but I fooled you Every reel I sold you had anti-mook juice in the gears which reversed your mojo.

Good that means MY PB on the way this season 8-)