How often do you upgrade your gear? 2025

TylerT123 reply :

How do you decide when it’s time to upgrade? Clearly, money’s a factor, but other than that, why?

Scott F reply :

When the gear I’m using will not do what I need it to do, I upgrade to new equipment. I was using some Lowrance depthfinders and the mapping on the chip I was using did not accurately show me what was really there. Instead of spending more money on new map chips, I replaced the depthfinder with a Garmin that had high def, accurate maps built in for not much more than new chips alone would have cost. When a reel gets noisy and the parts to fix it are no longer available I upgrade.

optimator reply :

I used to every few years. This year I went a little crazy, 4 new rods & 3 or 4 new reels. And I don't think I'm done yet

Jelvas reply :

Every year i upgrade something. One year it might be a couple of reels, other some rods, then something in the boat etc etc... i like trying new stuff, even when the thing i´m replacing still does is job.

Peter reply :

Constantly lol. I’ve been getting a new rod and/or reel every 2 weeks since February. I’m trying to build up a decent arsenal come summer.

Dtrombly reply :

Every winter I go over my rods and reels and decide which ones I'll be keeping and which ones I'll be replacing. Gives me something to do when it's cold.

Catt reply :

My reels are 30-35 yrs old, don't plan on replacing them but they are scheduled for Delaware Valley Tackle & Hi-Performance Reel Tuning Upgrade.

I have recently purchased a Lew's Speed Spool LFS Series Casting Reels & a Powell Inferno Medium Heavy Extra Fast rod.

Rods get replaced when broken

I'll be replacing a depth finder

Tywithay reply :

Every time ebay posts a coupon code, unfortunately.

Mike L reply :

I'm past all that "new and improved" thing. It took me years to accumulate what I have now.

Some I had to wait to buy because what I wanted I couldn't afford at the time.

But now If I need something new it's only to replace something that can't be repaired or improved upon.

Mike

Armtx77 reply :

I was using 10 year old rods and reels, until last fall. I caught 1000's of fish on that gear in that time period. I have replaced a bearing or two, but the rods have remained the same.

Almost 100% of that fishing was salt water for Reds and Specks.

Last October, after the Redfish run into the marshes. I decided I wanted to get back into freshwater. While I could have easily used the saltwater gear for freshwater. I wanted to get into light action gear. I bought one set up in October and another one in the past two weeks.

I will be honest, I noticed the difference on the newer setups. Especially the rods and how sensitive they were for 100.00 rods.

kickerfish1 reply :

Hmmm...Upgrading to me would literally mean moving from something cheap or entry level to something nicer. If owned an older GLX but sold it to buy a newer GLX is that considered upgrading? There is quite a cult following of the older models and some prefer them to the new. Same thing could be set about any rod or reel when the newest one comes out. If I add 3 new rods or reels to my arsenal but sell nothing I am technically adding to and not necessarily upgrading.

So now for the question on how often do I upgrade? I am not sure as mainly I am buying something to fill a niche like this year I bought my first new BFS outfit. The last 5 years or so most of my gear is mid to higher end so there really isn't a need to upgrade any of it other than if I feel like a new model is better than something I have now.

If something is broke or no longer functions properly it either gets sold super cheap, given away to someone that may have a need for it or tossed out and I may or may not replace it. If your gear works to your liking I see no reason to upgrade unless you feel the need to have the latest models.

new2BC4bass reply :

I am like Mike L and kickerfish1....I accumulate, not replace, and it has been over the course of several years. Several of my reels purchased have been old models, not new. TD-Z 105H and ML, Airy Red, Chronarch 101A and 100B, Scorpion 4x4. Guess you could say I've been downgrading.

Angry John reply :

Way more often than my wife likes for sure. I can't say I have just upgraded in a while, more of just growing. I only have enough for a dozen fully equipped anglers and no end in sight

JawjaBoy reply :

On 4/27/2018 at 6:29 AM, Catt said:

My reels are 30-35 yrs old, don't plan on replacing them but they are scheduled for Delaware Valley Tackle & Hi-Performance Reel Tuning Upgrade.

I have recently purchased a Lew's Speed Spool LFS Series Casting Reels & a Powell Inferno Medium Heavy Extra Fast rod.

Rods get replaced when broken

I'll be replacing a depth finder

Dang! I could've written this! Lol!

I'm still using my old Quantum 1310's I bought in the late 80's. Up until the last couple of weeks when I bought a Lew's Tournament MB and a Mach Crush rod, the newest outfit I had was a Quantum 1310CP on a BPS Crankin' Stick that's probably 10-12 years old. I add to the collection every once in a while, and I'll replace broken stuff, but I've never done the swap out the whole arsenal thing.

BankBasser reply :

Usually one rod and reel every year or two. This year? When I build a new house I have enough pvc tubing laying around from rod purchases to do the plumbing myself. :/

roadwarrior reply :

Generally just one rod and one reel per year, but every year for about

the last 20 years. Over time I plan to replace all of my production rods

with customs. I may replace a few reels as new models are introduced.

Graham reply :

Way to frequently. Unfortunately that is just the way I am. As soon as I buy some new gear I’m deciding what’s next!

tholmes reply :

On 4/27/2018 at 6:29 AM, Catt said:

My reels are 30-35 yrs old, don't plan on replacing them but they are scheduled for Delaware Valley Tackle & Hi-Performance Reel Tuning Upgrade.

I have recently purchased a Lew's Speed Spool LFS Series Casting Reels & a Powell Inferno Medium Heavy Extra Fast rod.

Rods get replaced when broken

I'll be replacing a depth finder

This sounds just like me. I don't really upgrade, just add to the collection. I'm fishing a fleet of Sweden-made Ambassadeurs and haven't found a compelling reason to change. They are serviced and repaired as needed and as long as parts are available, I'll keep them going.

Rods are replaced when I break one or new ones added when I need something that I don't have.

Tom

NYWayfarer reply :

I buy a few new rods and reels every year.

soflabasser reply :

I buy new rods every year or so but have many rods that are +20 years old. I don't plan on throwing away those old rods since they still work very well. Because of this I have more rods than I really need and probably have enough rods and tackle for a big group of people to fish comfortably.

Mobasser reply :

Im kind of like Catt. Some of my reels are older. I try to take care of them, and they've served me well. I replace rods when they break.

grub_man reply :

It's been about 10 years since I had the upgrade bug. Mostly because I hadn't really known what to look for in a rod until I got the rod building bug. Once did my research and learned what I needed and built it to to suit my taste, the rods have stayed. The only rod I built that I haven't liked is a graphite 6'6" crank bait rod. It got 'upgraded' to a 7' glass cranking rod.

This year I am replacing my RX7 MB783 6'6" MH fast action jig/T-rig rod and old Curado that went in the drink with me last spring (Was not happy when I could not recover that one). The new blank is a metallic silver MHX MB843 and getting Ohio State inspired EVA grips making it by far the flashiest rod in my arsenal. It's getting paired with Revo X.

I'm also adding a spinning rod for targeting spotted bass in deep water. It's getting built on a Liberty MB692XF 1/8 - 1/2 oz drop shot/shaky head type blank. It will be paired with an old Shimano Sahara 2500 I have laying around with the reel wrapped onto 4.5" sleeved woven graphite TN handle section with red EVA trim rings on the ends and a red EVA butt grip. This rod is filling a niche. Before I relocated, I rarely had to fish more than 10'-15' deep. Now I need to be able to fish deeper water more effectively and the spinning reel is the way to go.

Boomstick reply :

I try to buy decent rods and reels so I end up adding to my collection, not replacing them unless they break or I lose them.

optimator reply :

On 4/28/2018 at 7:05 PM, Mobasser said:

Im kind of like Catt. Some of my reels are older. I try to take care of them, and they've served me well. I replace rods when they break.

I'm still using a Abu Garcia 4600cb that I bought in the late 80's. It's had the drag washers replaced a few times and a bearing upgrade. It's solid.

Burke reply :

I tend to replace my stuff when I find some new purpose. I would sell my rods/reels and upgrade the cost difference.

Darren. reply :

For quite a few years I was accumulating.

Then when I was supposed to be satisfied I fell upon

a deal here and a deal there and got more than I

*needed*.

Today I am trying to maintain what I have while buying

what I need most, baits and hooks.

flyfisher reply :

I haven't bought a new reel or rod in quite a few years but i am on the fence right now as i have two spinning rods with broken eyes that I like but i am kind of wanting to try something new. Now keep in mind also that money is a big factor for me as i decided to change careers to become an elementary school teacher (best decision ever) and took a pretty substantial pay cut so my expendable income isn't what it once was. I am ok with it though because i bought a bunch of stuff right before i switched

crypt reply :

don't really need to upgrade, love older ambassadeurs. build 2-3 rods each year for myself. so I look for reels online, or garage sales. then upgrade the bearings, gears etc. that.s how I upgrade.

Mobasser reply :

Optimator, 4600c ismy all time fave reel. Im still using 2 of mine I've had for years

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

A rod will last indefinitely. A reels lifespan can be affected by a number of variables (quality, use, maintenance, conditions etc). I don't think you can set any firm timetable for replacement. Upgrading for the sake of it is completely up to you.

jeffo21 reply :

I upgraded my stuff this do to a company not standing behind a product. It is a company brand and can't get parts for them. I upgraded all my reels to Lew's Speed Spool LFS and Tournament MB's. I wont be guilty of buying store brand reels again.

TylerT123 reply :

On 4/29/2018 at 11:32 AM, jeffo21 said:

I upgraded my stuff this do to a company not standing behind a product. It is a company brand and can't get parts for them. I upgraded all my reels to Lew's Speed Spool LFS and Tournament MB's. I wont be guilty of buying store brand reels again.

Hmm, good to know!

jeffo21 reply :

The reels were ok reels but When Academy wouldn't stand behind them I lost all interest in using them

TylerT123 reply :

On 4/29/2018 at 12:06 PM, jeffo21 said:

The reels were ok reels but When Academy wouldn't stand behind them I lost all interest in using them

Thank you for the information!

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How often do you upgrade your gear? 2025

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