Stupid Decision Buying High End Rods/reels? 2024
Mista bass reply :
I was at my local tackle shop talking with a couple guys and they brought up the reels and rods I bought recently. They were telling me I could get stuff just as good for under $100 and I'm an idiot for spending that much. I've been fishing since I was little and I am now 21 years old. I'm done with college and I got a great job making great money. I'm able to splurge on stuff I like. This is my first year fishing Tournaments so I bought some nice gear. I went with Dobyns rods, Lews and diawa reels. Was I stupid for spending so much on quality gear? I kinda feel like the joke of the shop now....
Matthew2000 reply :
Nope, That little thing is called jealousy. The higher end reels obviously perform better then 100 dollar reels. And dobyns rods are kinda great. So no but go buy some mega bass stuff too then they will make fun of you even more. Then come tournament time, show up and fish well and the respect wil come.
Jrob78 reply :
There are haters everywhere, even here. Fish with the stuff you enjoy and worked hard to get. The majority of us are just like you, we like fishing with nice stuff. Anyone who says anything about what you buy needs to mind their own business.
ColdSVT reply :
Its your money
I get picked on for the money i spend on fishing too but i dont care...its my gear and i like it
My one buddy thinks its silly but he will drop 4k on a shotgun in a second lol. We just agree that our addictions are both expensive and the we both expensive taste
A-Jay reply :
On 4/6/2015 at 4:48 AM, Matthew2000 said:Nope, That little thing is called jealousy. The higher end reels obviously perform better then 100 dollar reels. And dobyns rods are kinda great. So no but go buy some mega bass stuff too then they will make fun of you even more. Then come tournament time, show up and fish well and the respect wil come.
I agree with Matt ~
btw- Matt, you're pretty smooth for 14.
I like your style.
A-Jay
KyAngler_1120 reply :
My attitude has always been this, get what you want if that is what makes you happy. If you bought the lower end gear would just have been wishing that you got the better gear? With any given hobby there is upper or lower priced gear, sometimes higher end makes a difference and at other the difference is minimal.
Get what you want and what makes you happy within the reason of what you can afford.
Alpha Male reply :
There are different levels of gear and to some people, this site included, your gear might not even be considered high end. Its a game of diminishing returns when you get above the 200$ mark IMO. Did that stop me from getting a revo mg and an elite 8 reel instead of just getting another pair of revo stx's? Nope. Point is there is a difference in the low end gear and what you bought. To you...
Arv reply :
On 4/6/2015 at 4:43 AM, Mista bass said:I was at my local tackle shop talking with a couple guys and they brought up the reels and rods I bought recently. They were telling me I could get stuff just as good for under $100 and I'm an idiot for spending that much. I've been fishing since I was little and I am now 21 years old. I'm done with college and I got a great job making great money. I'm able to splurge on stuff I like. This is my first year fishing Tournaments so I bought some nice gear. I went with Dobyns rods, Lews and diawa reels. Was I stupid for spending so much on quality gear? I kinda feel like the joke of the shop now....
Definitely stupid. You can ship your stuff to me and start over if you'd like. I really don't like Dobyns rods, or Lews and Daiwa reels for that matter. But I'm a nice guy, so I'll bare the burden of your high end gear. 
rippin-lips reply :
The argument can go both ways. No, I don't need a $$$ combo to catch fish. No, it won't make me a better fisherman. However I buy what I want with my money so other people's opinions don't make a difference to me. I fish alone the majority of the time and when I do fish with people they wouldn't know my combo from one from walmart. Except a few of my friends who tell me I have a problem. It puts a smile on my face and I'm número uno! Buy whatever you want and enjoy using it!
K_Mac reply :
Some of the most judgemental people I know are the ones who are critical of anyone who spends more money on anything than they do. This often has less to do with the ability to buy than an attitude that says my judgment is superior to yours. It is an attitude that says it is foolish to spend your money that way, and is often based on ignorance and prejudice. Hang around any local tackle/bait shop very long and you will hear things so dumb it will make you talk to yourself!
Lucky Craft Man reply :
On 4/6/2015 at 4:43 AM, Mista bass said:Was I stupid for spending so much on quality gear? I kinda feel like the joke of the shop now....
First, you are not stupid at all. Buy what you like and enjoy it. Forget what anyone else says. I get grief for buying $500 rods and having them modified (even on this forum), but I can care less what others think. Here's the only time I would say someone is stupid for buying the gear they do is if someone was using money they needed to provide for their family. If all your "musts" are taken care of, go wild and buy what you want.
Also, the only joke in that shop are those clowns who were putting you down. No need for that. We all share the passion of fishing and that bond alone is all that matters.
MemphisFF reply :
Do you and don't worry bout other guys that are jealous, Mathew was correct.. If that's what you want to do with your money do it.. You work hard for your money spend it how you want..
Montanaro reply :
They can go ahead and buy a sub 100 dollar carrot stick, or an ugly stick with a sub 40 dollar reel.
When their drag fails, their carrot stick snaps, or they can't feel a fish pick up the jig, I'll be using quality gear and having a better day.
Mista bass reply :
Thanks guys I appreciate it. I was taught at an early age to buy quality stuff and you can enjoy it for years to come. Maybe I made this thread after I felt a little down about what they said and wanted to justify my purchases. I'm really excited to start the season and I love my gear. Tight lines everyone!
SenkoGuru reply :
Do not feel down about it. It is your money and you worked hard to make it, you can spend it on what you want. I can tell you from XP there is a big difference in quality gear and it may not make you a better fisherman but it will make you enjoy fishing a heck of a lot more. You should buy some things you like and enjoy them, you can't take all of that money with you when you go.
Mista bass reply :
On 4/6/2015 at 5:43 AM, Arv said:Definitely stupid. You can ship your stuff to me and start over if you'd like. I really don't like Dobyns rods, or Lews and Daiwa reels for that matter. But I'm a nice guy, so I'll bare the burden of your high end gear.
What's your address? I'll start packing them now!
J Francho reply :
They're just leaving the door open for excuses when you beat them. Then it's all, "if I had a $1000 rod and I reel I could have beat him," blah blah blah, lol. Fish what you want. Let the scales prove who is better and only you can judge how fun it was.
Alonerankin2 reply :
Sounds like your shop is seeking to become a non- profit organization, don't let them shoot you down. After all, it's your hard earned cash!!
gulfcaptain reply :
To each their own. If you can afford it buy it. I have upgraded a lot of my gear in the last year from what I had reel wise with quite a few rods thrown in. I can say having improved my gear has made fishing more enjoyable which lends to catching more fish since it's more comfortable to fish over longer periods of time. If it makes you happy with what you have aquired then don't let others judge what you fish with. Enjoy what you worked hard to aquire and let the haters hate. Just smile and walk away.
Matthew2000 reply :
Like someone else said on another topic haters gonna hate, baiters gonna bait.
Matthew2000 reply :
Thank you for you A-jay that means a lot.On 4/6/2015 at 5:02 AM, A-Jay said:I agree with Matt ~
btw- Matt, you're pretty smooth for 14.
I like your style.
A-Jay
tomustang reply :
It's only stupid if you can't make rent and you're buying the more expensive stuff.
I agree with the jealousy part. I knew a guy who was so envious of others because they had or wanted nicer gear, constantly talked crap because of it. Suffice to say I got rid of that negativity, make sure you keep an eye on these guys that brought it up, they could be toxic.
Dwight Hottle reply :
Yes you are stupid. Welcome to the club. Did the same guys tell you what kind of car or truck to drive? It's your money spend it wisely.
tappinbass reply :
A Dodge Neon and a BMW will both get you cross country, which would you rather do it in?
Poolshark reply :
Jealousy. The fact that most higher end equipment is less fatiguing is in itself justifacation for acquiring it. Especially if you are fishing tournaments. I'm also one to Beleive that higher end reels tend to last longer and perform better all around, probably saving you money in the long run. I would simply ignore the water cooler talk at your local shop and stay focused on what you love to do. Catch fish!! And enjoy the gear you are using to do it. You sure don't NEED higher end gear to catch fish, but it sure is a lot more enjoyable when fishing for long periods at a time.
WdyCrankbait reply :
I agree with a lot of the statements here. A $100 reel will catch fish as well, but the higher end reels usually are lighter, more refined with better ergonomics. It's your money, be smart, buy the tackle you want, fish what you want and if people are going to talk down to you about that, well you know they're really not your friends, or looking out for you.
Fishing is fun, and it is more enjoyable when you have good equipment to use. Go fish and ignore the haters.
PS, maybe you should find a different tackle shop, store clerks calling their customer an idiot for buying equipment he wants to fish with, really?
Bigchunk reply :
Some people just dont know what time it is
Josh Smith reply :
I generally buy $100 to $200 reels and sink another $50 to $100 into them. These range in retrieve rate from 23ipt to 30+ipt. I'm thinking about changing the gears out in one of the 23ipt to 18ipt or so, though, for a couple specialized applications.
If I did not have the skill to do this, I'd buy a Morrum or a Calcutta reel and call it good. I love this hobby, though; it gets my mind off business.
Rods. I don't spend as much on rods as maybe I should, and definitely not as much as some here. I have a couple custom orders planned from DVC, but being the only one working in this family, money is tighter than it was. I have to save for them.
The rods I do have range from inexpensive to fairly expensive, ones I've accumulated during my 37 years on this earth, 35 of which have been spent fishing.
I choose rods for what I want them to do.
My Cherrywood HD, for example, feels exactly how I want it to for its intended role. Likewise the old fiberglass Lew's rod that was Dad's first casting rod, as is the 5'6" MH and very stiff pistol grip rod from Bass Pro, as is the 7'6" (or whatever) rod that I use for long distance casts (in reality, there's only a gain of about 5 yards over my beloved pistol grip rods.)
Having used more expensive rods, I'd have to say they'd have a niche role in my collection. They're sensitive partially because they're light, but growing up on pistol grip rods, I've learned to feel on them, too.
Point of all this is that you pick what you need to catch fish, or win, if it's a tournament. I would never expect, say, an Ambassadeur S to perform with an Ambassadeur c3, c4, or c5. The quality parts just aren't there.
For someone who hasn't gotten used to a particular type of rod, I'd likewise say that the lighter and stiffer (to a point!) the better, from a sensitivity standpoint.
Just a few thoughts on the subject.
Regards,
Josh
MickD reply :
You've got some great advice already, so just let me add that this issue goes beyond fishing tackle. don't worry about what others think of you. You will never meet the expectations of some people and you can go crazy trying. Besides that, as others have said, none of their business what you spend on anything.
Darren. reply :
You're good, man. If you can afford it, and want to
spend it, it is your choice.
For me, rods in the $100 range, and reels as high
as Shimano Chronarch 50e is about my limit. And
I look for those on sale, LOL.
I also have a wife, 4 boys, 3 dogs, 1 cat, a mess of
snakes, 3 cars with 1 paid for...a mortgage, etc.
I do what I can with what I have. If I had more money
to spend, the Aldeberan would be in my arsenal! 
Mista bass reply :
Thanks guys! It's great to know I'm not crazy and there is others like me out there. I've learned a ton from this site and I keep learning every day. If any of you are in the northeast lets catch some fish!
RSM789 reply :
In most products, be it fishing gear to electronics to automobiles, there is a diminishing return as you go up the scale of price. That doesn't mean you are stupid for what you chose nor that what you chose wasn't right for you. Rather is sounds as if the guys who were chiding you are misapplying this adage to mean that less expensive is the way to go for you. They seem to be making a universal declaration without looking at your particular situation, wants & needs. I would wager that none of them are in sales or if they are, they aren't any good.
If you fished from the bank once a month and were struggling to make rent, then they might have a valid point. However, from your posts, this doesn't seem to be the case.
SirSnookalot reply :
Spend what you want. A nice rod and reel certainly affects ego and makes one feel good. As Catt always says fishing is done between the ears, that's going to give you more pleasure than anything you might buy.
Joedodge reply :
If you like nice things and are in a position to get them and not owe debt. Why not! Just be responsible. Were all at different points in life. I personally am a young guy with a family. I buy mid grade equipment so I can maximize my technique specific. If I spent top dollar I couldn't have the several combos I have. But hey it's different strokes fr different folks. Enjoy what you bought and find a new tackle shop. I won spend money where people talk down to me out of ignorance and jealousy.
DogBone_384 reply :
You pretty well said it all in your opening post: you finished school (comgratulations) and have a good paying job. It's something you like doing, enjoy your equipment, and good luck in your tornaments.
Lastly, you know what they say about opinions ...
blackmax135 reply :
Me and a buddy went to bass pro to get us some reels. We got there and I got me a abu Garcia revo and a good rod for about $200 and he said that was stupid he would be just as happy with a cheaper reel so he goes and finds a combo for about $70. Talking crap and saying he wishes he had my money and everything in between. You know what? That was a lot of money but that was 5 years ago and guess who still has their rod and reel; This guy does!!!! His lasted about a year and has bought 2 more because he can't put his mind to spending $200. Not saying cheaper stuff wont last or catch fish but odds are you paid for quality that will last you a long time.
Montanaro reply :
To be fair, Chris Lane won the Sabine with BPS carbonlite combo.
.ghoti. reply :
Yes, young man, you are stupid. But then so am I. You're in pretty danged good company. Enjoy your gear. You earned the cash to buy it, and it's yours to enjoy.
It's only fair and proper to issue a warning to you. Beware the Dark Side.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
I don't know a single person that restricts all spending to 100% NEED. It's good advice to live within your means, but if you're doing that and it gives you pleasure to splurge here or there whether it be on a car, furniture, vacation, fishing tackle, other hobby related equipment or whatever no one has any business commenting. Enjoy the fruits of your labor. Remember we work to live, not live to work.
Choporoz reply :
Fishing gear purchases are little different than any other non-necessities. I have the same conversation about any number of purchases; If you have made your purchase based on reason and well-thought out plans, considering what you already have and what you can afford to spend on this 'hobby, and you've taken impulse and irrational thinking out of the equation.... then you have every right to ignore those opinions of the the guys at the shop and sleep well with your decisions.
OK Bass Hunter reply :
It's called sour grapes. Some people put down things they can't as not worth it as a way of protecting their egos.
Alonerankin2 reply :
Lord have Mercy! A topic and postings that we all generally agree with! Go figure!!
LuckyHandsINC. reply :
Mista bass, noticed you are in Danbury. Is the shop you're talking about The Valley Angler? I've only been there a handful of times since I moved away, but never felt very welcomed in there.
stkbassn reply :
I'm surprised to hear your local tackle guys tell you that. To me, I say buy the best that you can afford and enjoy fishing with it. Once you've bought enough you'll know what fits you best and what you enjoy fishing with most. If you can afford high quality gear and enjoy what you bought then I say you bought exactly what you should have. Good on you for that! Let no one bring you down! Enjoy it sir.
S Hovanec reply :
I give my buddys a hard time about their high-end gear but I'm fishing with custom SCVs. I especially like to pick on the guys that modify NRX's!!
jignfule reply :
Main reason I fish is to have FUN. Using quality equiptment makes fishing more FUN for me and that isn't stupid.
SoFlaBassAddict reply :
On 4/6/2015 at 4:43 AM, Mista bass said:I was at my local tackle shop talking with a couple guys and they brought up the reels and rods I bought recently. They were telling me I could get stuff just as good for under $100 and I'm an idiot for spending that much. I've been fishing since I was little and I am now 21 years old. I'm done with college and I got a great job making great money. I'm able to splurge on stuff I like. This is my first year fishing Tournaments so I bought some nice gear. I went with Dobyns rods, Lews and diawa reels. Was I stupid for spending so much on quality gear? I kinda feel like the joke of the shop now....
Honestly, who cares what they think?
If you're happy with it, screw them. You're the only person who's opinion matters.
robster80 reply :
enjoy the fruits of your labor my friend.
jignjake reply :
As with anything you can buy there are endless levels of cost versus quality, proven name brands versus new companies to an old game. Me personally? I am a big believer in CONFIDENCE! Nothing is more importanrt in fishing, especially tournament fishing you are talking about. Get quality gear you can rely on and have confidence in, period. Another thing people get twisted is the use of high end equipment in the wrong application. Example, someone will go out and buy a very high end flippin stick and tie on a spinnerbait and complain about the rod. Be sure that if you DO spend serious money on rods and reels that they are being used for what they were designed to do and you shouldn't be dissapointed.
Side note but in my experience I haven't found a better reel for the money than Lews. WOW, durable, smooth and powerful. And they make some sweet spinning reels that cast further than anything I've ever owned.
Tight Lines!
Mista bass reply :
I love the rods and reels. I couldn't be happier with my purchase. Thanks for all the support guys!
EmersonFish reply :
I wish I was young, and single, and could afford to be stupid. I have four kids in private school, and a wife, and on and on. Enjoy it while you can. I wish I had a time machine so I could back and buy a slick, late-model, Ranger before I tied the knot. Now I'm pretty well stuck with my Tracker until the kids are out of the house.
JaxBasser reply :
You earned the money, it makes you happy, who cares what they think.
Grantman83 reply :
If owning nice gear makes me stupid then consider me an idiot lol. I have two extremes, some really nice stuff and some average beater gear. They both catch fish but i certainly enjoy using my nicer gear when I can.
beenreelsince94 reply :
They say "You get what you pay for" and that saying absolutely applies for fishing. Enjoy brother!
fisherrw reply :
On 4/6/2015 at 4:48 AM, Matthew2000 said:Nope, That little thing is called jealousy. The higher end reels obviously perform better then 100 dollar reels. And dobyns rods are kinda great. So no but go buy some mega bass stuff too then they will make fun of you even more. Then come tournament time, show up and fish well and the respect wil come.
this guy is 100% right
Redlinerobert reply :
On 4/6/2015 at 4:43 AM, Mista bass said:I was at my local tackle shop talking with a couple guys and they brought up the reels and rods I bought recently. They were telling me I could get stuff just as good for under $100 and I'm an idiot for spending that much. I've been fishing since I was little and I am now 21 years old. I'm done with college and I got a great job making great money. I'm able to splurge on stuff I like. This is my first year fishing Tournaments so I bought some nice gear. I went with Dobyns rods, Lews and diawa reels. Was I stupid for spending so much on quality gear? I kinda feel like the joke of the shop now....
You've just scratched the surface. Wait until you start buying Japanese rods and reels. If nice tackle makes you happy, buy it. I do. If you're concerned about what others think, well, you're doing it wrong.
Dogmatic reply :
On 4/7/2015 at 4:01 AM, jignjake said:As with anything you can buy there are endless levels of cost versus quality, proven name brands versus new companies to an old game. Me personally? I am a big believer in CONFIDENCE! Nothing is more importanrt in fishing, especially tournament fishing you are talking about. Get quality gear you can rely on and have confidence in, period. Another thing people get twisted is the use of high end equipment in the wrong application. Example, someone will go out and buy a very high end flippin stick and tie on a spinnerbait and complain about the rod. Be sure that if you DO spend serious money on rods and reels that they are being used for what they were designed to do and you shouldn't be dissapointed.
Side note but in my experience I haven't found a better reel for the money than Lews. WOW, durable, smooth and powerful. And they make some sweet spinning reels that cast further than anything I've ever owned.
Tight Lines!
This^^^^CONFIDENCE...If you're not confident in your gear, just like your favorite baits, you're not going to be successful.
masterbass reply :
If fishing is your "thing" and you can afford it then I believe life is too short and unpredictable to not buy and use what you desire. Also if you buy good stuff, you can always sell it and make some of your money back. My dream combo used to be an NRX with an ito on it. Guess what, it's not a dream anymore because I have it!
Fishes in trees reply :
Were these guys in the tackle store or did they work for the tackle store? If the latter, I'd find a different tackle store. The primary job of a tackle store employee is to gently nurture your addiction and make you feel good about the money you're spending at their store.
I feel like I'm fortunate in the KC Metro area in that there is an independent tackle store that totally gets this.
At work, I get the you're nuts comment about fishing tackle quite a bit. My retort is "yeah, I'm nuts - so what?" Everyone is nuts about something - some things are more self destructive than others - a fishing tackle addiction is fairly benign as addictions go.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 4/16/2015 at 12:59 AM, Fishes in trees said:Were these guys in the tackle store or did they work for the tackle store? If the latter, I'd find a different tackle store. The primary job of a tackle store employee is to gently nurture your addiction and make you feel good about the money you're spending at their store.
I feel like I'm fortunate in the KC Metro area in that there is an independent tackle store that totally gets this.
At work, I get the you're nuts comment about fishing tackle quite a bit. My retort is "yeah, I'm nuts - so what?" Everyone is nuts about something - some things are more self destructive than others - a fishing tackle addiction is fairly benign as addictions go.
Everybody has their thing they blow money on, mine is fishing. I meet people every day that blow theirs on much worse, which is how they ended up meeting me 
Addiction runs in my family, fishing is my escape from that. I got very close to being sucked into that world shortly after I turned 21. My fishing buddies pulled me back and I haven't looked back since. Trust me, there are much, much dumber things you could waste your money on. At least fishing has a positive side to it right?
What kind of shop is going to make fun of someone for buying expensive gear?? Seems a bit counterproductive to me.
Slipknot_Fan666 reply :
If I were a tournament fisherman, the last thing I'd want is my equipment to malfunction while I'm catching good fish. Buy what you can afford. Just because you buy nice stuff it doesn't make you any better, but it also won't hurt. Especially when you feel confident in your equipment and feel that maybe you're more accurate with it or can cast further, feel bites better, etc.
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