I Think everyone is right, as for themselves.

I agree some people have more sensitive hands than others. as for having a high end rod, to get that level of feedback through a rod you must spend alot of money! I don't agree, but saying that I realize there are some benefits to the expensive rod, I just don't see the value to me that would be worthy of the extra money where you may.

I like to replace my rods every now and again and tend to find things I don't like about them after a bit of use, Ive also broke two very expensive brittle rods and it has ruined my day every time.

I LOVE plastics T-riged ,Carolina,weightless, slow rolling spinners in cover, just about anything thing that lets you make a mental picture of whats under the water. I like sensitive rods! I wont buy a rod that doesn't have a blank through handle that you cant get two fingers on the blank while palming the reel,I hate a high seat, a weak backbone and large eyes. Do I spend 200 on a rod? no I can get plenty of rod for half that or less and replace it without feeling like I waisted money. you may feel that way at 50$ or 250$

fortunately the market has put out equipment that alot may refer to as    

a"good starter or economical" that are light years better than that broom stick I was fishing with 20 yrs ago.

The only time anyone can say that they've truly spent too much money on a rod or reel is when your still trying to convince yourself it was worth it and cant explain to your friends why you never fish it! ...

rooster said..

One that is well below that line is an Ugly Stik Lite Pro [hangs head in shame now].  

feel free to unload that "pitiful worthless begginers" rod on me. ill make sure it never defiles you again...  ;D

I find it hard to believe that there is that much difference in the rods that I listed that you could easily tell the difference in them.

This is a serious reply, I'm not putting you down:

If you can't tell the difference, you should not spend

the extra coin, but some of us can. My most expensive

combination is my most sensitive and is used almost

exclusively to fish live bait. Since "fishing live bait requires

no skill," I suspect many would find that hard to believe,

but I'm also fishing for the next World Record smallmouth,

seriously!

8-)

good luck with the record , i hope you do it    

I just love to expend money on good, limited tackle. The part of getting fish with them ,.....it is my part but the pleasure of fishing with them ( specially if I have modified them ) !!!!!!!that one has not a description, price or messuring pleasure.

I think in terms of sensitivity line choice plays a large role. Most of my worm/jig rods are spooled with Florocarbon for fishing deep and/or moderate cover. Higher end rods have definetely helped with bite detection, my choice is the Loomis IMX series though I do have 1 GLX drop shot rod which I'm very happy with. I do have a couple of rods for slop fishing spooled with braid, this an area where I can get by with a rod that might be a step down ( such as my Roque rods which are still very good but not on the IMX level). With braid line having virtually no stretch and combined with shorter pitches a GLX wouldn't in my opinion give me better performance than my Roques for this application. Roque rods are app $ 170 vs $350-400 for a GLX.