Age of your rods and reels? 2024

Theripper666 reply :

Are u guys on the latest greatest or do u hold on to your gear years after?For me I usually have a new reel a year but most date back as far as 06.

MN Fisher reply :

Two of my rigs are new this year. The Fuego and the President.

Two of my rigs were new last year. The Trion and the Avocet.

Last two of my rigs are 40+ years old. The Cardinal and the 640.

Had a 20 or so year old Ambassadeur 500R until this year, winter tear down and maintenance showed that it was past it's lifespan. The President is it's replacement.

Theripper666 reply :

See this is what I find if u clean and grease they last forever..well for the most part!

MN Fisher reply :

Until the beginning of last year, all I had were the 640, Cardinal and Ambassadeur. Added the Trion and the Avocet last year to expand my techniques. That was the reason behind the Fuego...adding pitching/flipping to my repertoire this coming year.

tholmes reply :

2006? That isn't even broken in good yet.

My newest reel is 4 years old, the oldest (still in regular use) is ~ 50 years old. Most of my gear is at least 10 years old. Regular cleaning and lube keeps them going.

I did buy a new baitcasting rod last year to replace a broken one, but the rest of my rods are getting pretty old too. If it still works, I see no reason to replace it.

Tom

C.S. reply :

All my rigs are setup reel wise w/ curado k's. and been upgrading all my sticks with loomis imx-pro's. I basically end up giving all my old reels and rods away to my friends and nephew.. trying to get them into the sport.

I currently have 27 combos.

Paul Roberts reply :

New rods and reels have advanced in many aspects. But, there are good ones of many vintages. For rods, in terms of conventional tackle, I generally draw the line at the point when good graphite appeared. Still one of my favorite rods is a Skyline 6005 I bought off the rack in 1981. Skyline had their schtick together back then, making fishable graphite without the breakage issues of the early "fishable" graphites. I use it regularly without hesitation. And a few others get regular use that date not too much after that one.

That said, I also "upgrade", where needed. Things do get better and better.

fvogel67 reply :

I have Shimano Sidestabs from the early 90s

Symetres from the 90s

An Abu Super Seven rod I use for Catfishing from the 90s

FishTank reply :

I cleaned everything out about 15 years ago and started fresh. I have added one setup about every three years.

A-Jay reply :

Some are old, some are new, some are borrow and some are blue.

A-Jay

the reel ess reply :

I have 3 BC combos are 3 Lew's LFS reels on rods that are more than 10 years old. Though one of them is a Falcon Lowrider. I have one newish reel on a Cabela's Frog model rod. This is the newest combo and it's a couple years old.

But I cleaned up several of my dad's combos from the 90's and even a Daiwa spinning reel from the 80's. I rearranged his rods with my arsenal and his to maximize the lot of them. There were a couple Ambassadeurs a big ol' Shimano Bantam and a couple spinning reels that are usable. I'll use them from time to time if only to be holding a reel my dad held. The Procaster in the pic is about shot but I'll keep it.

Theripper666 reply :

On 1/28/2019 at 8:45 AM, the reel ess said:

I have 3 BC combos are 3 Lew's LFS reels on rods that are more than 10 years old. Though one of them is a Falcon Lowrider. I have one newish reel on a Cabela's Frog model rod. This is the newest combo and it's a couple years old.

But I cleaned up several of my dad's stuff form the 90's and even a Daiwa spinning reel from the 80's. I rearranged his rods with my arsenal and his to maximize the lot of them. There were a couple Ambassadeurs a big ol' Shimano Bantam and a couple spinning reels that are usable. I'll use them from time to time but to be holding a reel my dad held. The Procaster in the pic is about shot but I'll keep it.

That's totally wicked

BassWhole! reply :

I have gear that is over 30 years, and some that is less than a month old, and some that falls somewhere in between. I like tried and true, but I'm open to new things if they help or offer something new.

WRB reply :

I honestly don't know how many rods and reels I own because they get retired and become a collection or occasionally donate a few to folks who need them.

The 15 bass rods and reels I keep in my boat locker range from late 80's to about 2012 for reels about the same for rods and added a few MajorCraft rods last summer.

I tend to take good care of my tackle and a believer that good quality will last a long time.

Tom

The Bassman reply :

On 1/28/2019 at 8:29 AM, A-Jay said:

Some are old, some are new, some are borrow and some are blue.

A-Jay

My wife thinks I'm married to my stuff instead of her.

A-Jay reply :

On 1/28/2019 at 9:16 AM, The Bassman said:

My wife thinks I'm married to my stuff instead of her.

As long as you're not sleeping with it I think you're OK.

The tackle I mean . . .

A-Jay

MN Fisher reply :

On 1/28/2019 at 9:31 AM, A-Jay said:

As long as you're not sleeping with it I think you're OK.

The tackle I mean . . .

A-Jay

It's not the rods and reels that's the danger...it's the hooks that are murder.

QUAKEnSHAKE reply :

On 1/28/2019 at 7:35 AM, Theripper666 said:

Are u guys on the latest greatest or do u hold on to your gear years after?For me I usually have a new reel a year but most date back as far as 06.

I think reel tech is out pacing rod tech.

Dont feel anything major has changed with rods the Last 10 years or so. Think NRX rods, those are nearly 10 years old now and still considered tops. My (2010 I think) Quantum Smoke rods v1 you would be hard pressed to find today a rod lighter with same/more power at the price they were. I have a 2008 St Croix Avid and that line is unchanged still.

Reels seems to have pronounced improvements. Braking systems being #1 IMO for the top 2 brands Daiwa with their SV concept Shimano SVS Infinity. The SV has much praise for spool control and helping people with their skipping game. SVSI lets a person really tweak the braking profile lower for far noticeable gains and making available outside adjustments. Also DC tech has made its way down the line now under $200 during sales. You also see lighter spools & shallower as well.

So Im more apt to buy newer reels and hold on to my older rods.

KDW96 reply :

I have alot of Abu Garcia 4600s. They were the reel i learned on. Still use them today. As for rods, one of my favorite, but dont use alot is a BPS Pitchen Stick. 6ft6in with the telescoping handle.

Bluebasser86 reply :

I just cleaned all my old 200B Curados this past weekend. They're all in the regular lineup and somewhere around 20 years old and still working great. Also have some reels that were new this last year, but I don't jump on the hype train anything like I use to. Too much changing the name and color of a reel and pretending it's new going on anymore.

Bankbeater reply :

I bought a new Daiwa bc reel last year. My other 3 bc reels are 10, and 11 years old. I have two spinning reels that were bought back in 2011, and I bought a light reel back in 2016 when my 15 year old Mitchell 308 died. For punching I use an Abu 5600 C3 that is around 16 years old.

TnRiver46 reply :

All my baitcasters (except 1) are round abu Garcia reels from the 80s. Honestly I wish they were older because the plastic thumb button is always fouling up. The older ones had a metal button off to the side that never messed up

redmeansdistortion reply :

I use mostly round Abu baitcasters ranging in age from 20 years to just a few months old. They all use similar parts so it was cheap and easy for me to upgrade the old ones with the same tech as their newer cousins.

Catt reply :

My #1 worm rod & jig rod both have a Calcutta 100A on them!

Never changed a single part in close to 40 yrs; I do plan on upgrading bearings & drag washers this year.

I have 2 Cardiff 100A & a Calcutta 50A that are in their early to mid twenties. The 50 has had a paw replaced.

In last 8-10 months I've purchased 2 Lew's Speed Spool LFS & a H2O XPRESS TAC-40.

18RangerZ520L reply :

I'm in the "latest/greatest" category...

I'm a gear junkie though, all my rods/reels are less than 1.5 years old.

NYWayfarer reply :

I buy new rods and reels every year. I love buying fishing gear almost as much as fishing itself, maybe more.

I give away older combos to friends and people I work with that have kids. Some I keep even if I don't use them much any more.

I have some Shimano spinning reels from the 80's and 90's. My oldest rod is from the 90's as they don't last as long as reels do.

I do have an old Mitchell 300 all metal reel that I used when I was a kid. Still works fine other than some chipped paint.

GReb reply :

I’ve expanded my lineup the last 2-3 years but still fish several old Energy PTs that are 15+ years old.

crypt reply :

On 1/28/2019 at 9:10 AM, WRB said:

I honestly don't know how many rods and reels I own because they get retired and become a collection or occasionally donate a few to folks who need them.

The 15 bass rods and reels I keep in my boat locker range from late 80's to about 2012 for reels about the same for rods and added a few MajorCraft rods last summer.

I tend to take good care of my tackle and a believer that good quality will last a long time.

Tom

this in a nutshell..........

TnRiver46 reply :

On 1/28/2019 at 8:33 PM, Catt said:

My #1 worm rod & jig rod both have a Calcutta 100A on them!

Never changed a single part in close to 40 yrs; I do plan on upgrading bearings & drag washers this year.

I have 2 Cardiff 100A & a Calcutta 50A that are in their early to mid twenties. The 50 has had a paw replaced.

In last 8-10 months I've purchased 2 Lew's Speed Spool LFS & a H2O XPRESS TAC-40.

Wow. I might have to look into Calcutta. I’m sure down in the swamps you put reels to the test. Surely those reels never sat through a rainstorm with dirt and sand splattering all over them..........

Glaucus reply :

Some as old as 8-10 years, some as new as this month.

CrankFate reply :

I have 30+ year old gear, but most of my gear is from the last 15 or so years, since I also started to have the money to buy stuff I don’t need after getting out of school about 19 years ago. That plus the internet, which made more expensive gear hit the mainstream, right at the time I started having money to buy things.

Catt reply :

On 1/29/2019 at 9:44 AM, TnRiver46 said:

Wow. I might have to look into Calcutta. I’m sure down in the swamps you put reels to the test. Surely those reels never sat through a rainstorm with dirt and sand splattering all over them..........

DogBone_384 reply :

I didn't get serious about fishing until 2012 when our daughter got into her teenage years and my wife went back to work full time. Most of my casting gear is probably 2014 & newer ...

Mobasser reply :

ABU 4600c, 23yrs old. ABU 5500c 25yrs old. ZEBCO Cardinal 4 spinning reel, 1981? 2 Shimano spin reels at least 10 yrs old. Newer Qauntum casting reel, 1yr old. Rods from various makes, Lews, Berkley, Shimano and St Croix. I use some old and new stuff. The biggest difference I see in the newest rods/ reels is that they weigh so much less. Otherwise my older ones still work well

N Florida Mike reply :

I have around 10 bass combos. Most are 8 + years old up to 20 years old. Got a few newer rods and older reels from a friend who buys and sells from pawn shops. These include a berkely lightning rod and a couple gander mtn rods. They are all servicable rods.

I still have my 6.6 mh ugly stick from the 90s that I have caught many hundreds of fish with, and its matched with my shimano stradic from 8 years ago that I LOVE. Favorite reel Ive ever had .

Oregon Native reply :

After many many years of service my Chronarchs are sounding bad. The old Curado's still hold in there though. Simple routine maintance have kept them going. For spinning the Daiwa 1300SS are battleships...they've gotten loose but still work awesome. Finding out that the smaller and lighter casting reels are easier on my hands now...the ol thumb and palm area of the hand can get painful. So have made a couple purchases this year. Been a long time.

Columbia Craw reply :

I still have six LEWS BB1N's and it's more likely than not they will be buried with me.

roadwarrior reply :

My older rods are 20+ years old and PERFECT in every way.

For the past several years I have been switching to custom

rods. I have given some of my favorites to my brother that

just recently came back to the sport. One of them is my all

time favorite, G. Loomis GLX 844C. The old rods I still have

are these: G. Loomis PR844C, PR844S, BCR854 , BCR 894

and a Lamiglas SR705R.

bayvalle reply :

I recently replace parts on a few of my 20 year old well maintained Pflueger reels They still work well but I also recently purchased a few KastKing and Piscifun reels to play with. I have found that these new reels significantly outperform my older reels. Reel technology has definitely advanced to the point that these newer under $100 (think no middleman and low marketing costs) reels are well worth the minor investment.

I agree rod technology has not improved much but I purchased a few new rods to try the different brands and to add more lighter power rods to my arsenal.

MAN reply :

I am passionate about my older Abu's and Shimano's....but I have more newer age reels than I know what to do with because I am in the industry. I love a fishing reel with a history behind it. The reels these days have an average life span with the same individual of about 5-10 years in my opinion.

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