:o ;D ;D ;D Yo Rocky!!!!!!! This is as good a place as it has ever been, There are times where i have been part of the mess myself, im trying to stay out of the way and avoid conflict and mind my own business. The key is not to respond, and that is sometimes difficult for me. So now i have a few people i really get along with, i keep my corespondec with them, and just leave the rest go.

I agree the quality is still there; maybe it is my memory going but I remember being able to talk about different rod and reel preferences without it getting into bashing as it seems to now. That is why I totally stopped posting about my new rods and reels because I buy what I like and what I think will work best for me under the conditions I fish where I fish and my budget at the time. Sometimes I pick great combos and sometimes not. You know as well as I do what may work wonders for me here may work horrible for someone else because they fish under different conditions. I just don't see any point in trying to share what I have learned only to get in some disagreement with someone since there seems to be so many willing to jump in with both feet anyway and besides RW pretty much covers the way I fish other than I have Daiwa and he has nicer Shimano reels. I did buy my first Loomis the other day. ;D

As below some people get the point the hardway.

Dead horse?

I don't regularly visit the rods and reels section because I think much of it is opinion at best, balderdash at worst.  I am a darn good angler.  I fish tournaments, and often finish well.  I own a hodgepodge of rods and reels I get on sale.  I can afford to buy better equipment, but choose not to.  Other than an old Series One I once bought (to see the difference a quality rod would make), I don't recall any of my combos being over $75.  To say that I can't be serious angler because I won't go out and buy expensive equipment is ludicrous in my opinion.  I would welcome a fishing challenge from anyone, and put up my crap up against their quality equipment anytime.   I have nothing against those who own expensive equipment, but I for one would like to see a Low Budget Equipment section where people could get and give some sound advise on low end equipment, without feeling inadequate.

yeah since I can't afford a bass boat, i would appreciate it if people would stop recommending them too!

of course my 20 year old deep v aluminum has had more double digits in it that 95% of the high end glass boats, so maybe I'm not inadequate :

yeah since I can't afford a bass boat, i would appreciate it if people would stop recommending them too!

of course my 20 year old deep v aluminum has had more double digits in it that 95% of the high end glass boats, so maybe I'm not inadequate :

Ouch!

theres people who cant afford a g loomis ( my dream rod) and get stuck with a quest med/hvy action for 25 bucks on sale. i really wish more people would let me know whats best to use in the cheaper rods from wally world or dicks sporting goods

All you have to do is ask the question. In fact, you (and others) have asked a couple of questions like that and gotten some good answers. The problem is most of the time people don't specify "cheap." (your word, not mine)

flechero your correct once again cheap to me is between 18 and 25 smackaroonies sorry i didnt clarify myself. i'm sure even muddy can give good advise here. he usually does