Hey Fellas: I didn't know where to put this so I put it in Everything , if it's wrong the Mods will put it right.

I started to look at what I was doing, the constatn bickering over Pflueger vs Shimano has been fun and I noticed that i was becoming a BRAND SNOB!

I don't have a whole lot of dough to be spending and like most guys here, i have a disease that makes me want more stuff than i will ever need to fish with : BAIT MONKEY-ITIS

I have decided to go with my original way of thinking about this , kind of the LBH philospophy.There is a lot of quality equipment Rods, Reels<Line.Plastics,Hard Baits,Spinner Baits and Terminal Tackle, while not being top of the line IT IS STILL QUALITY STUFF, that offers both longevity and fish in the boat.

I am going back into this groove BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN ENJOY BASS FISHING AND STILL STAY WITHI IN MY MEANS.

I know that BPS Rods are not on the same level as Loomis Rods and Most reels are not Shimanos but for those of us struggeling for the best we can afford there are companies like BPS, CABELAS,ALL STAR,HEDDON,RAPALA and *** that offer us decent equipment at prices that I can reasonabbly afford AND STILL CATCH FISH and GIVE ME COUNTLESS HOURS OF SERVICE AND FUN

I would really like to see when a guy posts I NEED A COMBO I have 99 bucks to spend suggetions; REAL SUGGESTIONS in that range. Roadwarrior not only suggets stuff he gives Links, and he only uses whats considered the best.

I for kidding around as much as the next guy( well maybe a bit more than the next guy) but those of us who are at this pricing point have the need to communicate with eachother without being made to feel like we do o not know what we are talking about. THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR US and this is were we are at> We work for our money like everyone else.

RW offered me encouragement every morning on the FORK TRIP, even gave me a SHIAMANO REEL. ALPSTER, BRENT and RUSS(LBH) tried their best all took me out and showed me various things to help get fish in the boat, THATS THE SPIRIT I LIKE HERE QUOTE:" Out of all my rods the ones I usemost the time are these 33 dollar ALLSTARS I picked up"

I was most comfortable fishing with LONG MIKE, who used good equipment, I was familar with in my pricing range and we both caught fish.

So Im sticking up for us little guys , without the big boats and shinning equipment thats form Japan. I respect and love to see you guys with the high end stuff and all the joy it brings you. I just wish you guys could understand that many of us can't paly on that field and that doesn't make us any less the fisermen than the guys who can afford the Top Pricing Point stuff

Lots of good stuff, I dont think I have ever paid more than 70.00 on a rod and reel combo in my life,and that was to much.the last combo I bought was 21.95 diawa.I sometimes look at what other guys have and forget what ive got,and then I come back to reality,and keep catching fish.Thank you for the encouragement.Poor people catch fish to.Bob

Yo mudster, well said.

As far as you being a brand snob.  Just because you think anyone who doesn't use a Pflueger reel is candyass mama's boy doesn't make you a snob.  It just means your from Brooklyn and still are mad at the world for stealing your beloved Dodgers and taking them to the land of Paris Hilton.

We understand.

I suggest we all sit in a circle and share feelings.

Anyone know the words to Kumbaya?  

Muddy,

I used mostly 2nd hand Abu 4600's and Berkley Lightning rods & Series One rods back in the day. The average combo costed about $60-$70.

My preferences have changed as my disposable income has changed... but I caught lots of fish on a budget... no reason you or anyone else couldn't do the same. (and FYI - one of my favorite rods is built on a $12 blank! )

Yo mudster, well said.

As far as you being a brand snob. Just because you think anyone who doesn't use a Pflueger reel is candyass mama's boy doesn't make you a snob. It just means your from Brooklyn and still are mad at the world for stealing your beloved Dodgers and taking them to the land of Paris Hilton.

We understand.

I suggest we all sit in a circle and share feelings.

Anyone know the words to Kumbaya?

I'd rather have the words to WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE

Seriously,

Fisherman are like everyone else. There definitly are brand snobs.

there is no question that once you pass a certain price point, the amount of improvement you get in sensativity or weight is very little compared to how much you pay for that difference.

The Japanese Domestic Market addicts (JDM) are IMHO the ulitmate example of this.

They will pay really big bucks to get a product that's not distributed in the US and sight the very technical yet essentially subtle differences that in thier mind justify the cost.

I find that alot of hobbyists have the same trend.

Ever talk to someone who is really into sound and recording equipment? OHMAGAWD, you would think that anyone who buys a panasonic is a candidate for dummy of the year.

The one characteristic that is an absolute MUST for me is a reputation for outstanding customer service. This may cause me to spend extra bucks, but I am very rough on equipment, do not maintain it well, and I am a world class klutz.

I need companies that have generous replacement policies that will put up with my clumsy abuse of their product.

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times

The greatest tool for catching bass is between your ears  

Hey Muddy, the first few yrs I bass fished tourneys, I used BPS Mega Cast combos.  One spring (about 7yrs ago) I bought 5.  I has already been using them for 2 or 3 yrs and was getting more serious about fishing.  My reasoning was,if I broke or loose them, I haven't got alot invested.  More importantly, they were reliable.  I used the 5 that year (heavily).  4 of them survived more 4yrs.  One of the best investment's I've ever made.  The cost $39.99 per combo.  I used two of the rods today fishing a tournament.  They look  a little rough (don't we all with age and abuse)  ;)but are still bringing in the fish!           deb

Age brings it's own particular brand of beauty! 8-)

Catt>>>Once again yea u right man!!!!!!!!

Age brings it's own particular brand of beauty! 8-)

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Mudddddddyyyyyyy  

Age brings it's own particular brand of beauty! 8-)

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Mudddddddyyyyyyy

LOL!  Avid, you are ON FIRE today!  ;D

Age brings it's own particular brand of beauty! 8-)

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Mudddddddyyyyyyy [/quote

My lady at age 58, AVID MY BROTHER AAS THEY SAY BACK HOME CASE CLOSED MOOK!

ps date wrong that picture was from Dec 30 this year First time i used a digital camera :

I just got one thing to say................

MUDDY......YOU IS ONE LUCKY MOOK!!!!

My friend, you must have special hidden attributes, because there is NO WAY a Mook as ugly as you should appeal to such a classy lady with such a classy chassis.   ;D

she is near sighted

For your own good, never allow her to but a pair of glasses. ;D

For your own good, never allow her to but a pair of glasses. ;D

How do you BUT a pair of glasses anyhow?

OK, my spell checker didn't catch it, but you had to rub it in, didn't you?  One more word from you and I will tell the world about how you confided in me at Lake Fork and told me how much like to wear silk lace panties.  

Yea after you got honest about wearing leather buttless chaps  

Oh Im sorry that was Avid

Well said Mudster.....That is why I buy only old Curado's I'm not part of any Posse but if anyone can find a better reel for less that $100.00 ........BRING IT!

When purchasing anything, one must ask themselves one question.

Do I want to spend $50 on something that might last 5 years or $100 on something that will more than likely last 10+ years.

Society has become very impatient.  Rather than wait and save, they go cheap in order to have it right now.  And in the long run end up spending more than they would have had they saved to buy the higher quality item.

Will a $125 Poulan chainsaw get the job done?  Sure, as long as you're only using it a couple of times a month.  Take that $125 and put it towards a Stihl or Husqvarna and you've got a saw that will stand up to being used as much as possible for 10 years.

In the past I was guilty of having the above mindset.  Gotta have it now, so go ahead and buy the cheap stuff.  Be it fishing tackle, golf clubs, tools, etc.  Over the last couple of years I have come to the conclusion that anything worth purchasing is worth waiting on.  If that means that I have to spend a couple of months saving, then so be it.  

Being on a budget doesn't mean you have to scrimp on things.  It just means that you need to be more studious with your funds.

Ican safely and honestly say , from first hand experience that there are Rods,Reels and Lures that while no where near the top pricing points that offer years of dependable service with results= fish in the boat .

  I can't give first hand knowledge of stuff like Loomis,Lucky craft and the Shimano Line( even though RW gave me one)

 I can tell you that i am very pleased with the likes of goods from BPS,Cabelas,Pflueger,*** and my most used and oldest lure  The Original Floating Rapala. These products have afforded me and a lot of my friends and i have years of experience with them. I have also discovered how much more value the BPS line of reels offer, because I try to stay open minded.

Ican safely and honestly say , from first hand experience that there are Rods,Reels and Lures that while no where near the top pricing points that offer years of dependable service with results= fish in the boat .

  I can't give first hand knowledge of stuff like Loomis,Lucky craft and the Shimano Line( even though RW gave me one)

 I can tell you that i am very pleased with the likes of goods from BPS,Cabelas,Pflueger,*** and my most used and oldest lure  The Original Floating Rapala. These products have afforded me and a lot of my friends and i have years of experience with them. I have also discovered how much more value the BPS line of reels offer, because I try to stay open minded.

I've bolded an excellant point muddy.

I used round reels for years.  I love them, unfortunately my body, specifically my hands and wrists don't due to tendon and nerve damage in those areas from years of my job and this sport.  I've had to changeover from round reels to LP reels the past year and a half.  Since I"m on a budget, like most everyone else, I decided to explore BPS reels as a means to make the transition as cheaply as possible ( I like to carry a lot of rods and reels    )

As someone who was turned off to the BPS brand of reels since a bad experience with their stuff 20 odd years ago I can say my attitude towards their reels has changed alot!

As someone who sells a lot of used reels on the internet,  I also wouldn't be so quick to knock the durability of their equipment for the average bass fisherman either.  I've sold a ton of used Shimano, Daiwa, Garcia and Pflueger equipment and also my share of BPS stuff.  I've yet to notice a real discernable difference in the overall fitness of a 2-4 year old BPS reel vs. one of the name brands of equal bearing count.  If the reels, regardless of brand, have been cared for I can't say that a 4 year old Shimano Curado green reel works any better than a BPS qualifier reel the same age.  

BTW, for anyone wanting to get into higher end reels without the cost, consider buying used.  Like I said, if the reel has been cared for (ie: little rash, cleaned and lubed at least once a season and stored properly) a 3 or 4 year old high end reel will work nearly as good as new for half the price or less.  Considering these higher end reels are supposed to last a lifetime, at 3 or 4 years you're talking about a reel that's still in it's infancy.  

It doesnt matter what we have or what we spend as long as we are fishing and having FUN...That is what is all about is having fun...

As we all know it is the 4 year old kid with the snoopy pole  and a leaf worm that will outfish us.

Hey Wild Bill I gotta disagree with you here! FLUKEMSTER BROUGHT HIS KIDS SNOPPY ROD TO LAKE FORK AND A GROUP OF US WERE FISHING CRAPPIES AT NIGHT WE ALL TOOK TURNS AND HAD TO CATCH AT LEAST ONE CRAPPIE ON THE SNOPPY ROD, THIS INCLUDED GUYS AND GALS FROM 70 YEARS OLD AND DOWNWARD!!!!!!!!!! :