...you don't use any of the casting controls?

I turn off all the casting controls (magnetic control to 0, centrifugal braking disengaged) and I even loosen the spool tension knob on all my reels (I learned to cast with a baitcasting reel that only breaked with a thumb). My friend, who picked up my set-up to cast, ended up with a huge birdsnest and asked me why I even buy nice reels if I am not going to use the features that make them worth the money. He got me thinking that maybe I did waste some money since I don't use any of the "features."

I would say not....all reels come with braking features, that's not the only reason you bought the reels.  Granted, buying a reel with dual braking my seem useless because that's just extra weight.

no

Hmm...

Other considerations might be casting distance, drag

characteristics (power & smoothness), retrieve, weight

and ergonomics. Brakes and cast control are just two

of the many features of any reel.

:

Hmm...

Other considerations might be casting distance, drag

characteristics (power & smoothness), retrieve, weight

and ergonomics. Brakes and cast control are just two

of the many features of any reel.

:

Took the words right out of my mouth. (so to speak)

My friend, who picked up my set-up to cast, ended up with a huge birdsnest and asked me why I even buy nice reels

Sounds like nice reels aren't for him, but as long as you like them, that's all that matters.

Hmm...

Other considerations might be casting distance, drag

characteristics (power & smoothness), retrieve, weight

and ergonomics. Brakes and cast control are just two

of the many features of any reel.

:

Took the words right out of my mouth. (so to speak)

My friend, who picked up my set-up to cast, ended up with a huge birdsnest and asked me why I even buy nice reels

Sounds like nice reels aren't for him, but as long as you like them, that's all that matters.

He has a host of nice reels, but he maxes out the casting controls to avoid backlashes (which is why when he tossed mine, I didn't warn him that everything was off, hence the birdsnest and comment).  I guess we learned to cast a baitcaster differently.

The higher end reels are built with closer tolerances, stronger, lighter(Sometimes) internal parts, and will outlast the cheaper reels.

It might be wiser to decide if you fish often enough to justify the cost of a higher end reel.

The higher end reels are built with closer tolerances, stronger, lighter(Sometimes) internal parts, and will outlast the cheaper reels.

It might be wiser to decide if you fish often enough to justify the cost of a higher end reel.

Another way to look at that is if you don't go often enough, you still want the few times out to be as enjoyable as they possibly can be and a nice reel helps make that happen for me.

The higher end reels are built with closer tolerances, stronger, lighter(Sometimes) internal parts, and will outlast the cheaper reels.

It might be wiser to decide if you fish often enough to justify the cost of a higher end reel.

Another way to look at that is if you don't go often enough, you still want the few times out to be as enjoyable as they possibly can be and a nice reel helps make that happen for me.

Good point.  I probably fish 250+ hours a year, which is certainly not a lot compared to most, but I enjoy those hours and to me, my equipment really adds to the enjoyment.  Thanks for the replies and for making me feel better about "wasting" my money.

The higher end reels are built with closer tolerances, stronger, lighter(Sometimes) internal parts, and will outlast the cheaper reels.

It might be wiser to decide if you fish often enough to justify the cost of a higher end reel.

Another way to look at that is if you don't go often enough, you still want the few times out to be as enjoyable as they possibly can be and a nice reel helps make that happen for me.

Good point. I probably fish 250+ hours a year, which is certainly not a lot compared to most, but I enjoy those hours and to me, my equipment really adds to the enjoyment. Thanks for the replies and for making me feel better about "wasting" my money.

The only time you can waste money , is when you keep buying the cheapies and they keep falling apart.

And 250+ hours for me would average out to be twenty five 10 hour fishing days. That's nearly a solid month of days dedicated to only fishing, eating, and sleeping.   I'm lucky to pull 5 hours before my wife wishes we were done and wants to leave.  So that could easily be 50 trips for me, which would be most every Saturday of the year.  Yeah, I'd want a GOOD reel and would well feel the cost justified.

And 250+ hours for me would average out to be twenty five 10 hour fishing days. That's nearly a solid month of days dedicated to only fishing, eating, and sleeping. I'm lucky to pull 5 hours before my wife wishes we were done and wants to leave. So that could easily be 50 trips for me, which would be most every Saturday of the year. Yeah, I'd want a GOOD reel and would well feel the cost justified.

Serious fishing = wife at home and cell phone turned off.

How true and man do I ever agree. It's been soooooo long since I did any serious fishing.

But currently I'm off on the weekends and so is she. I work evenings and she works days. No way I'm getting away with coming home on Friday night and saying "honey, I'm going fishing tomorrow, will you stay home??" That would never fly around here. ;D

Another point that I address in all the "Which Is More Important,

The Rod Or Reel?" threads. For "catching" it's probably the rod,

but for "fishing", it's all about the reel. Having a great reel simply

makes fishing more fun!

8-)

How true and man do I ever agree. It's been soooooo long since I did any serious fishing.

But currently I'm off on the weekends and so is she. I work evenings and she works days. No way I'm getting away with coming home on Friday night and saying "honey, I'm going fishing tomorrow, will you stay home??" That would never fly around here. ;D

I am in a somewhat fortunate position, because I get more vacation time than my wife, so I take days off work during the week to go fishing and the weekends are for time with my wife.  When I do take a day off work, I at least get 10 hours on the water per outing.  Also, after fishing mostly during the week, I find the weekends to be almost unbearable to fish, because of all of the boat traffic.

And 250+ hours for me would average out to be twenty five 10 hour fishing days.

This assumes you only use that singular reel for all 10 hours of each day.  My time tends to be spread out amongst 3-5 reels on any 1 fishing day.

With all due respect I can not get past the part that you could not figure this out on your own. Why where you so intimidated by your friend and his reasoning???? Please understand I would think you would have convictions about your owning what you have just like everyone who has responded to you.