If the pros had no sponsors?

[bigrod]

If the pros had no sponsors on their rods and reels what do you think they would be fishing with? The reason I ask is because I am looking to make a change on mine but I have a hard time coming up with 2-300 for reelas and the same for rods seems rediculous are they really worth the money for the novice fisherman or not.

[90skeeter]

well i hate too sound cheap but at wal-mart they have graphite rods for under 20 bucks that are great ,or atleast i think they are .

[CTFSHWHISKER]

my cousin has a few of those cheaper walmart rods for under 30,i have used them and they work well,

[rbcrawdaddy]

anyting shimano is going to last you a very long time. Rods i like the H&H rods light and sensitive sold in several places in the state.

[Danny]

I have a question for you, or actually a few...

How Novice are you?
How much can you afford?
How important is fishing to you?

These determine what my answer to you would be. When I first took back up fishing, I used the $49 combo's from WalMart. This was in '94. They worked OK, but they did not last long if I fished very often.

I moved up to diawa graphite reels. WRONG I was told my problem was that those reels did not respond to heat and direct sunlight very well. I then tried the old Citica, which was $89 at Wal Mart. It is from Shimano. It has been retooled to replace the curado, and the price has been increased. I have almost all Shimanos. I have one Lew's for deep cranking (3.8:1 ratio) and one Quantum flipping reel.

My best reel I just got last year. I bought it along with a GLoomis rod from a friend. He had paid over $600 for the combo, as the reel was the top of the line shimano -- Japanese version. I would not have purchased it if I did not get a good price.

Rods, I usually tried to buy good rods and or reels at end of year prices. I got a great Falcon Rod for $49!!

For inexpensive rods, Berkley rods are pretty good. You can get inexpensive versions.

So the moral is get what works, what's affordable, and what fits your importance level.

Good luck,

Danny

[bigrod]

To answer your question I make good money but that really isn't my concern. Just because you might be able to by a expensive sports car doesn't mean it is the best for someone with 2 kids to ride in all the time. My point is are the best rods and reels the most expensive. Yes I agree you usually go by the phrase you get what you pay for but in this case I wanted more than just my opinion. I now have what I use most are quantum energy baitcasters about 9 yrs old and basspro extreme rods same age. I fish probably at least 6 days a month. I like my equipenment but am looking to go new just don't have a good feel for all thats out there. Thanks, any advice is well appreciated. I have a 2004 TR-21 like you that is also paid for, thank God!

[Danny]

Very nice!! Paid off boats are the best kind, PERIOD.


I still recommend Shimano Reels. I've got two over 10 years old. While they are beginning to slow a bit, they are still very good, and have had little to no service.

If I don't go back to work, and stay retired, I'll have to be a little more selective about purchases, but I am intrigued by the theory of using only one type reel and only one type of rod for all applications. Rick Clunn has spoken on it, and several on here have also. The theory is that you always know exactly what the rod will feel like and the how the reel will cast.

I have to say, I love fishing with my GLoomis rods. They are by far the lightest I have, and are very sensitive. My arms don't tire nearly as much using them.

Have fun, buying new equipment is almost as good as using the new equipment. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, fishing is a 10, buying new equipment is at least an 8 sometimes a 9.5.... based upon cost obviously... LMAO


Good luck.

Danny

[smljaw]

I have to say, I love fishing with my GLoomis rods. They are by far the lightest I have, and are very sensitive. My arms don't tire nearly as much using them.

I certainly agree with this comment. I own 2 Loomis rods and have used one of them (66MH) very regularly for the past 18 years. IMO, dropping $140 to $200 into a GLoomis GL2 or GL3 will be well worth the money when you look back on it in 15-20 years. I think I paid about $90 for my 6'6" Loomis in '87 or so. Once you buy Loomis you will wonder why you didn't make the switch/investment sooner. They are super strong, super sensitive and feather light compared to a $40-$80 rod from WalMart, BPhops or where ever. Put a little money aside until you come up with enough to buy one. See for yourself.

Shimano reels are super nice and last. I started fishing with the "old" Curado this year. From my limited experience so far they seem to be the real deal! They're very smooth... I have always been a Quantum baitcasting fan as well. The old EX400 was a killer reel for the money.

[Viper201]

Bassin 101 and gettingonefishin hit the nail right on the head,the equipment doesn't catch or find the fish,the person using that equipment does.I personally know guys that could catch em all day with a canepole and i also know guys{lots of guys}that have the latest and greatest,most sensitive rods on the market that consistently come to the scales empty handed.I read so much bs on here and other sites about certain overpriced rods that it makes me wonder how we ever caught fish 20 years ago without them.Spend the money on a good quailty reel and find a rod that fits you in length and weight.

Just a question here,didn't berkley introduce the first of the "sensitive" graphite rods back around 1985,IM6 graphite lightning rod??

[zx150]

I think if there was a big difference in rods and reels. All of the pros would be using that rod and reel. I do believe in buying good quality stuff.

[Roothead]

MOST pros aren't getting rods and reels for free, but rather at a discounted price. There are a select few that get theirs free, i.e. KVD.

I would have to agree with Redneck Shadrap. In my opinion, I would imagine that most of them would still be using the same thing that they are using today. They have too much money invested in their tournaments to be using something that they don't have 100% confidence in.

[gettingonefishin]

Let me run this by ya. A few years back I quit work and fished tourneys for money for 2 years and was living good. The majority of my rods and reels came from Wal Mart. It is not the equipment that catch's the fish, it is the person holding the equipment. If it takes a 5 or 600 dollar fishing rod and reel to catch a fish then alot of people are hurting. My opinion. However ya should look for rods that are IM7 or 8 for the quickness of the hook set. But it dont have to be a 300 dollar rod. If ya get a reel in the 50 to 100 dollar range keep the maintenance up on it and they last a long time my friend. Once again my opinion. Good luck and choose what you are comfortable with and can afford.