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Started By
Message
True value: high end reels vs $100 combos
Posted on 4/22/20 at 7:09 am
Posted on 4/22/20 at 7:09 am
I am a fan of the Penn Fierce and Battle combos. Wife has a saltwater Offshore Angler set up from Bass Pro she loves (nice feel to it).
While looking at the Bass Pro website and seeing the shimanos and such, I notice the ratings and wonder if its guys who are almost convincing themselves that dropping $500+ on a reel was a good decision.
Hey, to each his own, but are the high end rods/reels really THAT much better?
Hell, got a friend who’s newest Shimano needed work in no time and he was back to using his beater rods.
While looking at the Bass Pro website and seeing the shimanos and such, I notice the ratings and wonder if its guys who are almost convincing themselves that dropping $500+ on a reel was a good decision.
Hey, to each his own, but are the high end rods/reels really THAT much better?
Hell, got a friend who’s newest Shimano needed work in no time and he was back to using his beater rods.
Posted on 4/22/20 at 7:14 am to CharlesLSU
In general, the higher cost will result in a much better feels (rod or reel) but not always.
I've posted about it on here before but my Lew's MG Speed Spool is about $80 which is far from their $200 reels. The only thing I'm missing on mine is the big handle that makes it easier to grab.
Outside of that, it is durable, smooth, perfect drag, etc.
I also have a daiwa coastal to compare it to and I pretty much only use that daiwa for trolling and for slow weedless fishing. I hate that I paid $160 for it, my crappy abu garcia black max is better than the daiwa.
So just go with what you like, price tag is only price tag although in general it will mean better craftsmanship and a few niceties.
I've posted about it on here before but my Lew's MG Speed Spool is about $80 which is far from their $200 reels. The only thing I'm missing on mine is the big handle that makes it easier to grab.
Outside of that, it is durable, smooth, perfect drag, etc.
I also have a daiwa coastal to compare it to and I pretty much only use that daiwa for trolling and for slow weedless fishing. I hate that I paid $160 for it, my crappy abu garcia black max is better than the daiwa.
So just go with what you like, price tag is only price tag although in general it will mean better craftsmanship and a few niceties.
Posted on 4/22/20 at 7:25 am to CharlesLSU
I have a Bass Pro Pro Qualifier baitcaster. It’s a perfectly serviceable reel. It’s noticeably less smooth than my Revo SX and Curado. My SLX is a better overall reel. I feel like there are a lot of great reels at the $100-$150 price point
As far as rods are concerned, the Bass Pro Carbon lite rods I think are fantastic. I’ve got a MH casting and a 6’ lite action spinning that I have on my panfish lite tackle rig. I caught an insane deal on Castaway Skeleton V2 rods last year and got three for $79/ each. I’m a big fan of Castaway.
I’ve got a friend that’s big into G Loomis rods. It’s nice but damn spending $300 on a rod.
As far as rods are concerned, the Bass Pro Carbon lite rods I think are fantastic. I’ve got a MH casting and a 6’ lite action spinning that I have on my panfish lite tackle rig. I caught an insane deal on Castaway Skeleton V2 rods last year and got three for $79/ each. I’m a big fan of Castaway.
I’ve got a friend that’s big into G Loomis rods. It’s nice but damn spending $300 on a rod.
This post was edited on 4/22/20 at 7:27 am
Posted on 4/22/20 at 7:28 am to elprez00
quote:
It’s nice but damn spending $300 on a rod.
That's how I feel about spinning and casting rods, but never even blinked swiping my card for an Orvis fly rod
Posted on 4/22/20 at 7:35 am to Ingeniero
Having just gotten into trying throwing a fly rod, I can understand why the quality of the rod makes a difference. But for 99.9% of your average recreational fishermen, a $300 rod to throw a spinner bait is a little absurd.
Posted on 4/22/20 at 7:36 am to CharlesLSU
All personal preference and application. I own reels from $75 to $300 and there is a noticeable difference in build quality once you get past that 150ish price point. A higher end reel will have a company standing behind it to repair it if something is wrong, and parts will be available for a long time. It feels smoother and will be more consistent. For knocking around the marsh and throwing heavier stuff you likely don’t get to realize a lot of the benefits that would come into play throwing really light baits or having to work the drag on light line. For someone who fishes daily and has the cash, they’re willing to pay for a little more precision machining and QC.
This would be a lot like asking if you really need a $3K table saw to do some light carpentry work around the house. Probably not, but your retired neighbor who builds furniture probably loves his.
This would be a lot like asking if you really need a $3K table saw to do some light carpentry work around the house. Probably not, but your retired neighbor who builds furniture probably loves his.
Posted on 4/22/20 at 7:37 am to CharlesLSU
I'm battling this same issue with my teenage son. He loves fishing and has so for a very long time. He watches videos and reads blogs every day and belongs to a few groups on the web.
Anyway, he's lately been pushing for more expensive stuff. I finally caved and got him a $90 rod and some fancy $180 Shimano reel to reward him for good grades. He points out to me often what makes them so good and I don't really get it.
Anyway, he's lately been pushing for more expensive stuff. I finally caved and got him a $90 rod and some fancy $180 Shimano reel to reward him for good grades. He points out to me often what makes them so good and I don't really get it.
This post was edited on 4/22/20 at 7:46 am
Posted on 4/22/20 at 7:43 am to CharlesLSU
I think spending a few more bucks on a rod will be more beneficial in the long run. If cork fishing you attach a reel to a 1X and catch fish, but bouncing plastics on structure I think the feel/sensitivity of a quality rod comes into play. I have one "good" rod and the rest are your $100 combos you referenced. I do not spend top dollar on reels, but I also don't buy cheap ones either.
Posted on 4/22/20 at 7:45 am to CharlesLSU
I've caught alot of fish on $10 and $20 rods. Reels I spend about $30 on. I like the Shimano Sienna and used the TX back in the day when those were made. If I break one of these pieces of gear I don't even care and just grab another I have lieing around. Rods get stepped on and bounced around so much in the boat that I'd cringe to think about having $300 wrapped up in one.
There's a sucker born everyday and the difference between a $30 and a $60 reel isn't that much and screw spending $300 on one
There's a sucker born everyday and the difference between a $30 and a $60 reel isn't that much and screw spending $300 on one
Posted on 4/22/20 at 7:45 am to notiger1997
Lol
That’s awesome!
Three teen boys but only one loves fishing, but his skill level is muscling them in with a Fierce 5000......it’s brutal to behold
That’s awesome!
Three teen boys but only one loves fishing, but his skill level is muscling them in with a Fierce 5000......it’s brutal to behold
Posted on 4/22/20 at 8:25 am to CharlesLSU
Been fishing for 40 years. My wife bought me a Curado DC 150 for our anniversary a few weeks ago. I have a old school Lews BB-1 reel that is a fine baitcaster but the Curado is a game changer for me. Be able to throw into the wind with no backlash lets me spend more time fishing than screwing with equipment.
It is also a good reel to teach a kid how to throw an open face. I have been working with my 12 yr old son with it.
It is also a good reel to teach a kid how to throw an open face. I have been working with my 12 yr old son with it.
This post was edited on 4/22/20 at 8:27 am
Posted on 4/22/20 at 8:27 am to CharlesLSU
quote:
Hey, to each his own, but are the high end rods/reels really THAT much better?
Yes/no, it honestly depends on what you want out of it. Look at it like bicycles, does the average dude really gain that much performance from buying a $800 bike versus a $3000 bike? Probably not but he'll tell people it makes a difference.
A couple years ago I bought a bunch(7 to be exact) of the Shimano Antares, they were normally $599.99 but because they were left handed and never sold Academy had them marked down to $99. They were great and the smoothest reels I've ever handled but at the end of the day they weren't ~$450 more performance out of them than the Shimano Curados, especially after they put the microteeth gear in the K models. I ended up selling them all on Ebay and got about $400 a piece for them. To someone who fishes professionally or a hell of alot more than I do they may have been great but they were overkill for what I was doing. Hell at one point I was going out with about $2500 worth of rods and reels in a $600 kayak
Posted on 4/22/20 at 8:39 am to CharlesLSU
I can't answer the question in total, but
quote:suck hard. One of the two will suck every time, and many times, both do. The proliferation of them at Academy is disturbing. Please, please, please stop buying them.
$100 combos
Posted on 4/22/20 at 8:54 am to CharlesLSU
All I know is I'll take my $100 Shimano SLX reels over my 300$ reels any day.
Posted on 4/22/20 at 8:55 am to lsufan1971
quote:
It is also a good reel to teach a kid how to throw an open face. I have been working with my 12 yr old son with it.
I thought so to until he picked up one without DC. Then it's a mess.
I think it's better to learn on the older stuff so they can really dial it in. My kids are bitching all the time about how they can't cast like me, left or right hand, forward or back hand. I had to tell them that i din's have a boat growing up and that i had to be able to cover tho whole pond or lake bank from whatever spot i cleared out.
But those bastards can skip a jig 30' under a dock and it looks like im throwing M-80's in the water.
Posted on 4/22/20 at 8:59 am to YOURADHERE
quote:
Look at it like bicycles, does the average dude really gain that much performance from buying a $800 bike versus a $3000 bike? Probably not but he'll tell people it makes a difference.
I feel personally attacked
Posted on 4/22/20 at 9:03 am to elprez00
quote:
s
Having just gotten into trying throwing a fly rod, I can understand why the quality of the rod makes a difference.
Some of fly rod costs are caught up in the components. A lot of people don't realize #20 recoil stripping guide retails for $15, quality cork is in the $30 range, double foot snake guides that have a decent finish are several dollars each. Reel seats can get pricy. It's easy to spend $100 on components and then glue them onto a $50 blank.
As for the prepreg, I have my doubts. I've built and repaired enough rods at this point in my life to have the opinion that most rods are relatively close in raw material quality. I have some 8wt and 10wt rods built on IM7 blanks that were $45/each and they cast every bit as well as some of the trendy thousand dollar sticks.
Posted on 4/22/20 at 9:05 am to CharlesLSU
Depending on what type of fishing you are doing, rods are probably much more important than reels. Having said that, better reels usually offer more durability and are longer lasting. The differences may be too intricate for most to notice but if you have the money then why not get the best gear out there. Part of the fun is being a gear junkie.
Posted on 4/22/20 at 9:10 am to CharlesLSU
quote:
are the high end rods/reels really THAT much better?
Better? Yes
Will both high end and low end get the job done for the general angler? Yes
Posted on 4/22/20 at 9:21 am to CharlesLSU
Depending on my intended use fresh/salt water.
Saltwater:
1. High quality reel $200 range more than that I can’t justify it.
2. Tough and durable rod. I don’t care about sensitivity as much, just something tough.
Freshwater:
1. Nice budget reel in the $75-$115 range
2. More of my money goes to better rods. I need a rod with much more feel and bait specific action than in saltwater.
That’s just what I do and has worked out pretty well for me.
Saltwater:
1. High quality reel $200 range more than that I can’t justify it.
2. Tough and durable rod. I don’t care about sensitivity as much, just something tough.
Freshwater:
1. Nice budget reel in the $75-$115 range
2. More of my money goes to better rods. I need a rod with much more feel and bait specific action than in saltwater.
That’s just what I do and has worked out pretty well for me.
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