Just Doesn't Matter 2024
*Hootie reply :
So, you can have high end $500 and $600 dollar reels and the bass really don't care. Catch a nearly 21 pound bass on a Zebco 33? Is that even legal? June 23, 1973.
Hootie
Bluebasser86 reply :
What would have been the Arkansas record was caught on a Zebco a few years ago had the guy had a fishing license like he was supposed to.
Goose52 reply :
As many on the board might know, I have long supported the efficacy of "value-priced" equipment for bass fishing........but this is a bit more "value" than I have ever promoted...
BTW - the Florida state record flathead catfish (63.8 lbs) was just reeled in with a................wait for it...............Zebco 33 !!
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 6/23/2016 at 6:14 PM, Goose52 said:
BTW - the Florida state record flathead catfish (63.8 lbs) was just reeled in with a................wait for it...............Zebco 33 !!
As was the world record from Elk City Reservoir in Kansas. A monstrous 123 pounder by Ken Paulie.
http://www.in-fisherman.com/catfish/flathead-catfish/record-catfish-giant-flatheads/
new2BC4bass reply :
No wonder my son-in-law and his father only use spincast reels. They are lucky.
Darren. reply :
Kinda like a Yugo will get you from
point A to point B just like a BMW
only with less flair... 
Todd2 reply :
Reminds me of the time my non-fishing brother in-law was burning a worm across the pond with a 33 from my dad's shed. I think I was in mid sentence on why he was retrieving it wrong when the biggest bass I'd ever seen in the pond attacked his worm. I stayed quiet the rest of the day...lol
buzzed bait reply :
my old man gets a kick out of my "fancy stuff" while he still crushes it on his daiwa goldcast and no name pistol grip rod!
rippin-lips reply :
On 6/23/2016 at 8:57 PM, Darren. said:Kinda like a Yugo will get you from
point A to point B just like a BMW
only with less flair...
I use the same reference for my argument on nice gear.
You can drive to work in a cavalier or a corvette.
Red Bear reply :
yet some people will see this and still think no one can catch fish without the most expensive of everything available...
flyfisher reply :
On 6/24/2016 at 6:18 AM, Red Bear said:yet some people will see this and still think no one can catch fish without the most expensive of everything available...
I don't think anyone thinks that at all. Some people just like to spend their money on higher end gear. If they have the money to do so and it gives them as much enjoyment as anyone else then who really cares.
On a related note, i bought my son his first real fishing rod and it is a zebco 33 and it is surprisingly nice. Hopefully he can feel the tug of a fish on it for the first time this weekend when i take him out on the kayak 
FrankN209 reply :
Still have one of the first ones made
Red Bear reply :
On 6/24/2016 at 9:05 AM, flyfisher said:I don't think anyone thinks that at all.
you would be surprised...
Master Bait'r reply :
So? Broken clocks are still right twice a day and lightning is always striking somewhere in the world. What reel a guy caught a fish on means about as much as the last guy's winning lottery numbers the next time the numbers are pulled.
We can draw whatever conclusion we feel we must for the discussion at hand, but in the end you can go buy 200 zebcos and none of them are more likely to pull a 20#+ fish than any other reel out there. The fact that there are so many out there is the only reason you keep seeing them.
On 6/24/2016 at 9:54 PM, Red Bear said:you would be surprised...
If that's what you honestly think goes through people's' heads when they buy something really nice, I can only assume you never have and don't personally know anyone who has either haha
lmbfisherman reply :
That's great, but I still love fishing with my combos.
Red Bear reply :
On 6/24/2016 at 11:11 PM, Master Bait'r said:If that's what you honestly think goes through people's' heads when they buy something really nice, I can only assume you never have and don't personally know anyone who has either haha
see, you guys are twisting what i said here. or just completely misunderstanding. apart of the problem is you are assuming. i've personally had a person several years ago point at my gear and say "that wont catch no fish, neither will that one, and that one might" and they were dead serious about it. wasnt a case of them yanking my leg. one of them was actually a zebco 33, one was a shakespeare tiger spincast, and one was a tiger spinning combo. yes, none of them cost more than $20, but i had pulled in a bunch of fish on all of them. the only one i still have is the tiger spincast combo, and that is one lucky reel/rod combo, i've since spent more money and have bought nicer gear myself. what im getting at is, i have nothing against someone spending what they want on their gear, its their money after all, but you do have snobs out there who think you cant catch fish on cheap gear. ive personally met one of those people. a couple days later we ran into him out on the water one morning, i had 2 nice stripers i held up for him to see, he was sitting there skunked...
Master Bait'r reply :
On 6/24/2016 at 11:43 PM, Red Bear said:see, you guys are twisting what i said here. or just completely misunderstanding. apart of the problem is you are assuming. i've personally had a person several years ago point at my gear and say "that wont catch no fish, neither will that one, and that one might" and they were dead serious about it. wasnt a case of them yanking my leg. one of them was actually a zebco 33, one was a shakespeare tiger spincast, and one was a tiger spinning combo. yes, none of them cost more than $20, but i had pulled in a bunch of fish on all of them. the only one i still have is the tiger spincast combo, and that is one lucky reel/rod combo, i've since spent more money and have bought nicer gear myself. what im getting at is, i have nothing against someone spending what they want on their gear, its their money after all, but you do have snobs out there who think you cant catch fish on cheap gear. ive personally met one of those people. a couple days later we ran into him out on the water one morning, i had 2 nice stripers i held up for him to see, he was sitting there skunked...
I think the person in question was simply an idiot to be fair. Any sane person would have been annoyed! 
Its definitely the Indian and not the arrow... That said, I can't find a single reason to not enjoy having nice arrows too!
*Hootie reply :
Sheesh guys, I didn't mean to start an argument...lol.
Hootie
soflabasser reply :
Great subject with a lot of people bringing up good points! I have been bass fishing longer than some members have been alive and I have realized that expensive gear is not truly needed to catch bass, even the big ones.I have caught the vast majority of my bass on gear many would frown upon on since its ''cheap'' in their eyes. The fact is a big bass is a big bass whether caught on a $100 combo or +$600 combo and nothing can change that!
Ratherbfishing reply :
I don't care much about impressing others and I do believe in the law of diminishing returns but I upgraded a long time ago for a reason. Several reasons, actually.
OCdockskipper reply :
On 6/23/2016 at 10:05 PM, rippin-lips said:You can drive to work in a cavalier or a corvette.
Lebron James will drive you to work? When does the man find the time??
FrankN209 reply :
I only keep mine for nostalgia sake. I never use it. Just neat to look at.
trick worms reply :
On 6/25/2016 at 5:51 AM, OCdockskipper said:Lebron James will drive you to work? When does the man find the time??
Your right he's too busy finishing paying off the refs
EllisJuan reply :
I don't buy expensive gear because I think it will catch me more fish. I buy it because it helps me tolerate days that I don't.
*Hootie reply :
On 6/26/2016 at 7:39 AM, EllisJuan said:I don't buy expensive gear because I think it will catch me more fish. I buy it because it helps me tolerate days that I don't.
That's me, it's just part of the fun of bass fishing. I have been fishing everything from lightning rods to GLX's and my NRX so far this season. For the past couple of weeks, I have been really enjoying using my new Mojo Bass rods. I'm just a hopeless collector. .....lol.
As far as catching more fish, I believe that if you really like what you're using, you will be more focused and fish with more confidence. Therefore, more fish. Just a thought.
Hootie
rippin-lips reply :
I buy nice gear because I I have no other hobbies and I also enjoy having nice things. I can afford it at this point in my life so why not. Can't take it with you. Also as mentioned it's just enjoyable to use. When I float the river for smallmouth I take a $50 combo. I have no problems catching 25-50 fish on it each time we go out. I still have a good time also. As they say - get in where you fit in. There's guys out there fishing Megabass arms rods and limited edition monoblocks. Easily a $2,200 combo. I don't fit in there and never will.
new2BC4bass reply :
On 6/26/2016 at 7:39 AM, EllisJuan said:I don't buy expensive gear because I think it will catch me more fish. I buy it because it helps me tolerate days that I don't.
Expensive being relative. I can't force myself to buy a $300 reel very often. Did spend that much once when TW was selling the PXL Type R for that price. The most I ever paid for a rod was $175 so as you can see I don't own "expensive" gear. I do try to buy "better" gear. I buy new (or new-2-me) gear for the simple reason it is the only thing that keeps me going out fishing. Fishing is that bad in my area....especially when you fish from shore.
I may not catch a fish in several outings, but my gear brings me pleasure anyway. Were I still fishing with $30-$40 combos like I use to, I would have quit again. I did for 23 years when using that kind of gear after moving to this area. Poor fishing here is why I own 6 to 7 times more gear than I need. I'd much rather be catching fish than trying new gear. I'd be happy using those $30-$40 combos if the fishing was good. Of course $300-$400 combos would make me happier.
OCdockskipper reply :
I hope this doesn't come across wrong, but I don't get the logic behind using more expensive gear just because the fishing is lousy. Following that rational to the extreme, you should use the most expensive gear at the local urban pond when you are shoulder to shoulder with folks trying to catch the one & only bass left in the lake and then use the cheapest gear when fishing Toledo Bend or Cayuga.
If fishing is so bad where you are at, wouldn't it make sense to instead use the money that would have been spent on more expensive gear and spend it on gas/travel expenses to get to someplace where the fishing is better? Of course, that assumes that the fishing is indeed terrible where one is and it isn't user error in figuring out how to fish a particular lake. I have had over a dozen experiences where someone who felt they were proficient at bass fishing told me a certain body of water is lousy only to later meet another angler whom I discover absolutely slays them on that same lake.
I would argue that the rational way to choose ones gear is based on where you are fishing and the methods/techniques you are using. If a more expensive piece of gear allows you to do something that a less expensive piece doesn't, then it makes sense to have it in order to be successful in landing numbers or certain sizes of fish.
That said, if emotionally one just wants expensive gear, go for it. No need to rationalize it other than saying using it brings you pleasure.
EllisJuan reply :
Do you think high horsepower sports cars are a waste also?
If I am going to be stuck in traffic, I would rather it be in a great car than in a econobox also...
If I am going to make an unsuccessful cast I would rather grind away with my Conquest than with a Zebco.
new2BC4bass reply :
On 6/27/2016 at 4:36 AM, OCdockskipper said:I hope this doesn't come across wrong, but I don't get the logic behind using more expensive gear just because the fishing is lousy. Following that rational to the extreme, you should use the most expensive gear at the local urban pond when you are shoulder to shoulder with folks trying to catch the one & only bass left in the lake and then use the cheapest gear when fishing Toledo Bend or Cayuga.
If fishing is so bad where you are at, wouldn't it make sense to instead use the money that would have been spent on more expensive gear and spend it on gas/travel expenses to get to someplace where the fishing is better? Of course, that assumes that the fishing is indeed terrible where one is and it isn't user error in figuring out how to fish a particular lake. I have had over a dozen experiences where someone who felt they were proficient at bass fishing told me a certain body of water is lousy only to later meet another angler whom I discover absolutely slays them on that same lake.
I would argue that the rational way to choose ones gear is based on where you are fishing and the methods/techniques you are using. If a more expensive piece of gear allows you to do something that a less expensive piece doesn't, then it makes sense to have it in order to be successful in landing numbers or certain sizes of fish.
That said, if emotionally one just wants expensive gear, go for it. No need to rationalize it other than saying using it brings you pleasure.
I don't buy "expensive" gear. I didn't pay over $100 for most of my rods. I hardly consider that expensive when I read about all the guys fishing St. Croix Avids & Legends, Dobyns Champions & Extremes, Gloomis IMX, GLX & NRX (Heck. even the GL2 & MossyBacks cost more than my rods), Phenix, Kistler, Falcon Cara T7, Megabass and on and on and on. My most expensive rod (retail) cost me $75. Two of my Smallmouth rods were less than $80. I've got a $17 Lightning I use. I said I use "better" gear than before.
I did buy a PXL Type R on closeout because I got tired of trying to make reels that weren't designed for very light baits work. It is my most expensive reel. Plenty of my reels cost less than $100. Several were less than $50 used. I don't think "expensive" describes my gear. More along the lines of everyday gear for someone who likes to fish, but isn't a fanatic about it. I just have more of it.
I am comparing my "better" gear to what I owned previously. The only decent spinning reel I had was a Penn 430SS that I still have and use and is still on the most expensive rod I owned back then...a Berkley Lightning. The other reels weren't as good as the current Pflueger Trions nor were my other rods near the quality of the Lightning.
I do have more gear than necessary....just to keep my interest up. If I had a bass boat, I would be trying lakes further out. I would have less gear if I had a bass boat. I also have driven about an hour and a half to try out a lake I hoped would be better. Maybe it was....the day before I got there. I've never used a depth finder. I admit to not being that good of a fisherman. I caught my fair share of fish the first 15 years and did it without a bass boat or depth finder. Of course most of them were not bass. (I was out of fishing for awhile because of working on the road. Then out again for 23 years after moving here.)
And my "expensive" gear does bring me more pleasure. If what I read is true, I am not the only member who feels the same way. I am not trying to rationalize spending money on fishing gear or justify what I spend to anyone else. Nor do I think it will suddenly make me a better fisherman. It has taken me a bit over 7 years to get what I have. Strange as it may seem to you, I do get more pleasure out of my $76 Smallmouth rods than my $60 Tec Spec. I feel the Smallmouths are much better rods, and I don't like the tip recovery time on the Tec Spec.....even if it will catch just as many fish.
EDIT: Remove part of my first statement. No idea why I made it since "lousy fishing" is exactly why I have a lot more gear than needed and I have stated so more than once. However, I have about reached my acquisition saturation point. Doubt there will be any more rod and reel additions. Also practicing my casting at a local boat ramp no longer gives me the pleasure it once did. Think I will stop wasting my time and gas money going there. Maybe I'll still make the occasional trip to a lake just for the fresh air. 
OCdockskipper reply :
On 6/27/2016 at 9:04 AM, new2BC4bass said:I do get more pleasure out of my $76 Smallmouth rods than my $60 Tec Spec...
Then that's fine, no justification needed. I may have misunderstood your previous post where you said "...Poor fishing here is why I own 6 to 7 times more gear than I need...".
OCdockskipper reply :
On 6/27/2016 at 5:04 AM, EllisJuan said:Do you think high horsepower sports cars are a waste also?
If I am going to be stuck in traffic, I would rather it be in a great car than in a econobox also...
If I am going to make an unsuccessful cast I would rather grind away with my Conquest than with a Zebco.
No, I enjoy high horsepower cars, specifically American muscle cars. However I wouldn't buy one just because I know that I am going to be stuck in traffic. I would buy it despite the fact I could be stuck in traffic.
That said, if I lived in New York City and never had an opportunity to drive outside of Manhattan, I wouldn't own a tricked out '69 Camaro in order to go to the grocery store & back. There are other cars that are more appropriate for that situation & environment. The joy I would get from sitting in the Camaro would be offset by never getting out of 2nd gear and being perpetually worried that it would be damaged. I would choose the right tool for the job, which isn't necessarily an econobox.
Actually, in the above scenario, I would choose to move out of the city in order to enjoy the Camaro...
roadwarrior reply :
I have no idea why anyone would need to justify the cost of their hobby. "Affordability" is very subjective. If you "catch & keep' the cost per pound maybe small if you fish locally from the bank, but how can you justify the cost of "catch & release"? I think it's silly, but boils down to this: If it is just about catching fish, everything generally works regardless of the cost. However, for a lot of guys better gear is simply more fun to fish with.
Oklahoma Mike reply :
On 6/27/2016 at 11:15 PM, roadwarrior said:I have no idea why anyone would need to justify the cost of their hobby. "Affordability" is very subjective. If you "catch & keep' the cost per pound maybe small if you fish locally from the bank, but how can you justify the cost of "catch & release"? I think it's silly, but boils down to this: If it is just about catching fish, everything generally works regardless of the cost. However, for a lot of guys better gear is simply more fun to fish with.
Absolutely. I think this goes for just about any hobby.
Hobbies cost money, and you can put in a little or put in a lot. If you are able to put in more money and that enhances the joy you get while participating in your hobby, then why not? If you don't find the value in buying high end equipment and feel you are getting enough enjoyment out of your hobby by putting in less and using basic gear, knock yourself out.
It really just comes down to individual preferences.
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