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Posted on 4/23/20 at 7:11 am to CharlesLSU
I'm not the fisherman most of you guys are the subtleties of an expensive rod and reel are lost on me. Now a good reel obviously feels way better in hand but it doesn't effect if I can reel the fish in or not.
Posted on 4/23/20 at 11:19 pm to CharlesLSU
If anyone on here has more rods and reels than I have, they are nuts. (Almost 100 of each now)
I have everything from stellas to no names from China. And rods from combos to custom 600 dollar rigs.
Rods are more important than reels to me, you can get a lot of good reels in the 75 to 250 dollar range. Just buy a good middle line Shimano and call it a day. I still have everyone I have ever bought.
Rods are different animal, and as soon as you find a great deal they change the rod or company gets bought out etc. You really have to go out and feel them. Redbones are good, castaways used to be good, st croix are always solid, Number 8 tackle blue spinning rods were the bomb etc
I have everything from stellas to no names from China. And rods from combos to custom 600 dollar rigs.
Rods are more important than reels to me, you can get a lot of good reels in the 75 to 250 dollar range. Just buy a good middle line Shimano and call it a day. I still have everyone I have ever bought.
Rods are different animal, and as soon as you find a great deal they change the rod or company gets bought out etc. You really have to go out and feel them. Redbones are good, castaways used to be good, st croix are always solid, Number 8 tackle blue spinning rods were the bomb etc
Posted on 4/24/20 at 2:06 am to CharlesLSU
When i first started fishing with my son, our reels were $30 Okuma’s paired with a rod that probably cost $20.
We caught fish and we had a lot of fun doing it, but they didn't last in the saltwater. I would get about 10-20 trips before the reels seized and I had to buy another.
As the years have stretched on, our budgets for gear has also stretched... And so has the longevity and reliability of our rods and reels. Not having to keep replacing the cheap reels has actually saved me money over the years.
I'm still not too keen on spending more than $150 on a reel... Most of ours are Shimano Nasci’s ($100)
Rods are a mixed bag... I have a couple $200 ones, but most are $100ish and the majority have been bought on clearance or won in tournaments.
We caught fish and we had a lot of fun doing it, but they didn't last in the saltwater. I would get about 10-20 trips before the reels seized and I had to buy another.
As the years have stretched on, our budgets for gear has also stretched... And so has the longevity and reliability of our rods and reels. Not having to keep replacing the cheap reels has actually saved me money over the years.
I'm still not too keen on spending more than $150 on a reel... Most of ours are Shimano Nasci’s ($100)
Rods are a mixed bag... I have a couple $200 ones, but most are $100ish and the majority have been bought on clearance or won in tournaments.
Posted on 4/24/20 at 7:01 am to nahtanojc
It's a dam shame, but I been looking at some new rigs to get back into fishing. I really haven't found anything I really like. But, I refuse to spend $500 on a rig. Hell, some offshore rigs I bought cost $1500+. Now times that by 6, it get dumb. Been there, done that many times in the pass. 
Posted on 4/24/20 at 7:18 am to CharlesLSU
I have 3-4 cheap zebcos
I catch fish.
But I do understand .. I play golf regularly and have 2-3k invested in golf equip
I catch fish.
But I do understand .. I play golf regularly and have 2-3k invested in golf equip
Posted on 4/24/20 at 3:10 pm to DeoreDX
quote:Wrong.
Now a good reel obviously feels way better in hand but it doesn't effect if I can reel the fish in or not.
A “good reel” will cast better, longer, and less backlash. And more importantly, good reels have good drag systems which help you catch more fish.
Do this little experiment with a cheap reel:
Take your rod and reel combo with string on it and tie on a weight and have someone hold the weight in their hand. Set your drag as you normally do when fishing and then release the spool and have the person walk away from you until you have let out about 30 or 40 feet of line. Engage the spool and take any slack out of the line. Hold the rod tip up like you have a fish on the end of your line and have the person holding the weight start walking away from you to simulate a fish swimming away from you and taking drag. Don’t pump the rod, just hold it steady. Does your rod tip remain steady and bent over and the drag letting out smoothly, or is the rod tip twitching and constantly moving up and down? If the rod tip is moving, the drag is not consistent and smooth. When the drag hangs up, that’s when you pull a hook out of a fish’s mouth, or break your line.
Cheap reels have shitty drag systems.
Posted on 4/24/20 at 3:56 pm to bhtigerfan
A lot of good information has been posted.
There's tons of different factors that come in to play for me. I usually start with the type of water. Fresh or Salt? Certain reels will fail after two trips surf fishing. The next criteria is feel. This one comes to play more specifically for rods. I have a Gloomis ($250.00) and also a $100.00 quantum rod. They both feel incredible for what I'm using them for. The next and most important factor is what kinda deal Academy has going they are always marking things down that you can get for steals.
There's tons of different factors that come in to play for me. I usually start with the type of water. Fresh or Salt? Certain reels will fail after two trips surf fishing. The next criteria is feel. This one comes to play more specifically for rods. I have a Gloomis ($250.00) and also a $100.00 quantum rod. They both feel incredible for what I'm using them for. The next and most important factor is what kinda deal Academy has going
they are always marking things down that you can get for steals. Posted on 4/24/20 at 7:42 pm to CharlesLSU
In reels I look for a reel that has an aluminum frame. Graphite frames just do not hold up once flexed under stress. For $80 to a little over $100 sometimes less I can find a nice name brand reel that has an aluminum frame.
As far as rods I build my own.
When Mudhole or other rod bulding components have blank sales on a blank I like I jump them. At this time I am sitting on some blemished rainshadows from the early 2000’s I got for $15 each on sale that I like the actions of the rod blank.
I can spend $80 or less and build a lot better rod than $100 and over mass production rod.
A guide breaks just cut it off and replace it instead of throwing a good rod blank away.
Rod blank breaks strip off the components and guide and put on another blank.
Where it pays off is on jig and worm fishing a sensitive rod blank really helps out.
As far as rods I build my own.
When Mudhole or other rod bulding components have blank sales on a blank I like I jump them. At this time I am sitting on some blemished rainshadows from the early 2000’s I got for $15 each on sale that I like the actions of the rod blank.
I can spend $80 or less and build a lot better rod than $100 and over mass production rod.
A guide breaks just cut it off and replace it instead of throwing a good rod blank away.
Rod blank breaks strip off the components and guide and put on another blank.
Where it pays off is on jig and worm fishing a sensitive rod blank really helps out.
Posted on 4/24/20 at 9:11 pm to johnnyrocket
quote:
As far as rods I build my own.
What do you do for flex coat? I had a Bass Pro carbon lite that I really liked, but if you don’t baby them and the carbon fiber gets the slightest nick they just snap. Happened twice before I figured out the problem. I just stick with St. Croixs now.
Posted on 4/24/20 at 9:12 pm to AlxTgr
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
Disagree. I have a Revo combo that has been great.
Posted on 4/24/20 at 10:19 pm to lion
If you’re soaking shrimp it doesn’t matter so much.
If you’re throwing spooks all day, a light weight, high quality, well balanced rod and reel are easily worth the money.
If you’re throwing spooks all day, a light weight, high quality, well balanced rod and reel are easily worth the money.
Posted on 4/24/20 at 10:24 pm to CS94
quote:
The next and most important factor is what kinda deal Academy has going ? they are always marking things down that you can get for steals
This is what I do. Probably 90% of my rods and reels were on sale either at Academy or somewhere online, with some great deals amongst them. One of my outfits should have cost $400 retail and I only paid $225. Got the Tatula sv for $130 new and G Loomis e6x for $95 new.
Posted on 4/25/20 at 10:04 am to MeatHead1313
IMO, $100 combo is going to be lacking in the quality I want to see. A $200 combo, however, offers significant value versus more expensive rods and reels. Once your get into the $100-150 rod or reel discussion there are some serious values available.
I’ve gotten more serious about fishing so I continue to invest in nicer gear. My next purchase is a Daiwa Ballistic LT 2500 spinning reel. It’ll cost about $200 but is sealed and can be used for fresh or saltwater. I’ve currently got a Daiwa Legalis 2500 that I’m using on my drop shot / ned rod which was about $60. Really nice reel for the value both I didn’t want to invest in top end gear until I knew I’d enjoy fishing this style.
I’ve got two Johnny Morris Platinum combos as my bait cast setups and they have been terrific. Really good value. I have a Johnny Morris Signature combo from 10 years ago that still works pretty well too.
I’ve gotten more serious about fishing so I continue to invest in nicer gear. My next purchase is a Daiwa Ballistic LT 2500 spinning reel. It’ll cost about $200 but is sealed and can be used for fresh or saltwater. I’ve currently got a Daiwa Legalis 2500 that I’m using on my drop shot / ned rod which was about $60. Really nice reel for the value both I didn’t want to invest in top end gear until I knew I’d enjoy fishing this style.
I’ve got two Johnny Morris Platinum combos as my bait cast setups and they have been terrific. Really good value. I have a Johnny Morris Signature combo from 10 years ago that still works pretty well too.
Posted on 4/25/20 at 10:17 am to lynxcat
quote:
I’ve gotten more serious about fishing so I continue to invest in nicer gear. My next purchase is a Daiwa Ballistic LT 2500 spinning reel.
I'm not sure what the price jump is these days, but consider the Luvias. I bought one last year from Digitaka when it was a Japanese market reel, but they're showing up on the US Daiwa site now. I think I paid about $240 a year ago, and it quickly put a Ci4+ in second place. A close second to be sure; I'm still very happy with the Shimano, but I rig the Daiwa for whatever I think I'll be throwing most.
Posted on 4/25/20 at 10:29 am to Flats
I’ve looked at the Luvias but price is $350 vs $200.
Posted on 4/25/20 at 11:02 am to lynxcat
quote:
I’ve looked at the Luvias but price is $350 vs $200.
Ouch, I'm glad I took a chance when I did. Looks like you can get them new on Ebay for $250; I would pay that again all day. I'd get another Ci4+ before I paid $350 for one though.
Posted on 4/25/20 at 3:35 pm to lynxcat
quote:seconded. Some quality reels out there for $100 and another $100 will get you a rod that'll do the deal and hold up awhile
IMO, $100 combo is going to be lacking in the quality I want to see. A $200 combo, however, offers significant value versus more expensive rods and reels.
Posted on 4/25/20 at 5:37 pm to Flats
As far as flex coat I use that or Pro Kote just because Mudhole has it.
Really looking hard at some stuff on swampland tackles website that does not bubble up.
After the virus thing I may stop by his shop in Houma to check it out.
I use to like BPS rods and when guides went bad just put new guides on them. Lately the blanks snap really easy and not at the tip.
As far as blanks I’m siting on rainshadows which cross my fingers I have not broken one since 2003. I do not have to baby them.
Spinning rods inshore those simple CRB’s and when Mudhole puts a sale on MHX’s I buy a few.
St Croix is nice I am just really rough on blanks and they are a little higher than I want to pay for a blank.
Really looking hard at some stuff on swampland tackles website that does not bubble up.
After the virus thing I may stop by his shop in Houma to check it out.
I use to like BPS rods and when guides went bad just put new guides on them. Lately the blanks snap really easy and not at the tip.
As far as blanks I’m siting on rainshadows which cross my fingers I have not broken one since 2003. I do not have to baby them.
Spinning rods inshore those simple CRB’s and when Mudhole puts a sale on MHX’s I buy a few.
St Croix is nice I am just really rough on blanks and they are a little higher than I want to pay for a blank.
This post was edited on 4/25/20 at 5:39 pm
Posted on 4/25/20 at 7:56 pm to CharlesLSU
A high end bait caster, 249 and up is definitely a better product than the cheaper models in nearly every aspect.
Pull one apart and look at what and how they are put together and you will have all your questions answered
Pull one apart and look at what and how they are put together and you will have all your questions answered
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