The end all thread 2024
bilgerat reply :
After reading the 4,628th "what's the best" thread, it's time. The following applies to rods, reels, line and baits.
- There is no best. Period. End of story. If you fish with brand X and you like it, fine. If you don't, don't bash (or praise) the other brands UNLESS you have actually fished with them for a considerable period of time. Basing your opinion on what "some guy said" is useless and lame. A lot of records were caught decades ago on gear that would be considered pathetic by today's standards. To borrow a line from SirSnookalot, "It aint the bow, it's the archer"
There is NO substitute for time on the water.
Somewhere out there is a guy throwing a dollar store bait with an Ugly Stik and a Zebco that can embarrass you pretty bad.
firefightn15 reply :
QuoteThere is NO substitute for time on the water.
Somewhere out there is a guy throwing a dollar store bait with an Ugly Stik and a Zebco that can embarrass you pretty bad.
Well said. There is a local kid here (25yr old?) that fishes a $20 combo with a 1/8th oz jig and 2" Mister Twister, when he says he's going bass fishing he catches bass, when he says he's going walleye fishing he catches walleye, when he says he's going panfishing he catches panfish. His only change up is when he's musky fishing.
It's not his arsenal, it's his understanding of the fish, presentation, and the water he's fishing. It impresses the hell out of me every time. 8-)
MattinOK reply :
^^^
This thread deserves to be stickied.
Scorcher214 reply :
Quote^^^This thread deserves to be stickied.
X2. When it comes to reels at least, any title that says "X vs Y vs T vs O" should be locked.
Sam reply :
I gave this thread some thought as I was looking at my Curados and Revos along with setting my rods in a line on a table and I thought that maybe it has some merit.
Then I thought about the suggestion; looked at my tackle; saw my Cabala's and BPS catalogs; and decided against it.
It is just too much fun to get everyone's input and to stir it up. ;D ;D ;D
bilgerat reply :
The thread was primarily aimed at some of the younger members who seem to be slanted toward a "better gear = better success" mindset. It does them more harm in the long run.
If we could set up a scenario where we gave one of the young guys the exact same gear as you and put him in the same boat with you for a day, my money is on experience winning hands down. You didn't hand junior his rear end because of your Loomis rods and Shimano reels, you handed him his rear end because you have MORE TIME ON THE WATER.
Nice gear enhances the experience, no doubt. But without the time earned, the gear itself is useless.
The gear is .000001% of the total equation. You can't buy the rest. Gotta put your time in and school never ends for any of us.
BASSclary reply :
I agree that great gear doesn't equate to success, I've caught hundreds of good sized bass on an Ugly Stick combo from Walmart, but I would much rather have the best gear I can get.
RussBert reply :
QuoteI agree that great gear doesn't equate to success, I've caught hundreds of good sized bass on an Ugly Stick combo from Walmart, but I would much rather have the best gear I can get.
I am always amazed at the depth of your fishing experiences. With all the time you spend here on the 'net, when do you ever get to fish? ;D
BASSclary reply :
QuoteQuoteI agree that great gear doesn't equate to success, I've caught hundreds of good sized bass on an Ugly Stick combo from Walmart, but I would much rather have the best gear I can get.I am always amazed at the depth of your fishing experiences. With all the time you spend here on the 'net, when do you ever get to fish? ;D
I fish every day during summer when schools out (weather pending), I get up early to go to Curtis Lake every day just before sunrise and fish until about noon or so with my dad. Starting tommorow it will be a different story though, darn school :-/
David P reply :
Expensive and better gear gives an added thrill to fishing, not to mention it gives you a boost in confidence. Confidence is very important in fishing.
There may be no BEST, it's all about the users preference, but I personally am glad to see the disputes over what's better as it helps people make decisions.
Daddyodo reply :
Im glad to hear about that guy with the ugly stik because that is what I currently have. As a newbie I gotta tell ya it is very daunting to read about all these different types of rods and reels and line and lures.Good gracious I think I am getting lost in the forest because of the trees :-/ I actually thought I would just go out throw a line in the water and go fishing 
Now I find out that I need " this rod and reel combo for this fish and that rod and reel combo for that fish :'( Its enough to make a grown man crawl up in a small ball and sit in a corner and cry I was a golf teaching professional for 20 years and my number one piece of advice to a beginner was " if you've only got a $10 swing a $500 club is only going to do so much" :-[
bilgerat reply :
QuoteExpensive and better gear gives an added thrill to fishing, not to mention it gives you a boost in confidence. Confidence is very important in fishing.There may be no BEST, it's all about the users preference, but I personally am glad to see the disputes over what's better as it helps people make decisions.
Agreed, but there's a fine line between a discussion of tackle and a thread deteriorating into nothing but the same ol same ol. I never intended to jab at anyone and their gear choices. Just trying to steer newbies away from a path that leads nowhere.
If you suck at fishing with an Ugly Stik, you're likely gonna suck at fishing with a Steez.
Dave P reply :
QuoteIm glad to hear about that guy with the ugly stik because that is what I currently have. As a newbie I gotta tell ya it is very daunting to read about all these different types of rods and reels and line and lures.Good gracious I think I am getting lost in the forest because of the trees :-/ I actually thought I would just go out throw a line in the water and go fishingNow I find out that I need " this rod and reel combo for this fish and that rod and reel combo for that fish :'( Its enough to make a grown man crawl up in a small ball and sit in a corner and cry I was a golf teaching professional for 20 years and my number one piece of advice to a beginner was " if you've only got a $10 swing a $500 club is only going to do so much" :-[
First of all, you don't need X, Y or Z for this fish or that fish. Someday you will WANT X, Y or Z, but you don't NEED X, Y or Z. Use what you've got. Buy what you can afford and ENJOY yourself. For me, that equates to my most expensive reel being $60 and my most expensive rod being $80 (not acquired at once). Am I missing out on something? Maybe...but it isn't worth eating your liver over...
K_Mac reply :
QuoteIm glad to hear about that guy with the ugly stik because that is what I currently have. As a newbie I gotta tell ya it is very daunting to read about all these different types of rods and reels and line and lures.Good gracious I think I am getting lost in the forest because of the trees :-/ I actually thought I would just go out throw a line in the water and go fishing
I am one that has limited resources, so I have mostly moderately priced gear. It is good enough not to limit me too much without breaking the bank. If I could afford to I would have high-end tackle. That is much more about want than need IMHO.
Your comment that a $500 club can only do so much with a $10 swing is very true. It is also true that a $500 swing would be hampered by a $10 club. In golf and fishing, having the right tool for the job is a good thing. There is huge difference from high-end to low end. Most of us end up somewhere in the middle.
trevor reply :
QuoteQuoteQuoteI agree that great gear doesn't equate to success, I've caught hundreds of good sized bass on an Ugly Stick combo from Walmart, but I would much rather have the best gear I can get.I am always amazed at the depth of your fishing experiences. With all the time you spend here on the 'net, when do you ever get to fish? ;D
I fish every day during summer when schools out (weather pending), I get up early to go to Curtis Lake every day just before sunrise and fish until about noon or so with my dad. Starting tommorow it will be a different story though, darn school :-/
I know, man. School SUCKS, but homework sucks more.
Captain Shane Procell reply :
Advances in design and engineering in both rods and reels keep me wanting the latest and greatest that I can afford. Every time I think I have bought the latest and greatest.....they come out with a later and greater I think the tackel companies are conspireing against me ;D
NateFollmer reply :
Also you don't need to have 10 different rods to be successful either. I use 2 about 99% of the time. I have a baitcaster I use most of the time, then an ultra light for when it gets real tough. Both of these rods plus the reels were under 60 per setup.
airborne_angler reply :
A couple of the rods I use are made by Shakespeare. Some might laugh but they work as well as anything else I have ever used.Im not a Brands type of guy either. I mix and match based on what I can afford:
Berkley Cherrywood Rod with a Shimano Bantam Mag Reel(Baitcasting combo-Rod New $30;Reel inherited from my Uncle)
Shimano Sojourn Rod with a Pinnacle Slyder Reel(Baitcaster combo-Rod new $15;Reel New $20)
Daiwa D Shock Rod with a Daiwa D Shock 2000 B reel(Spinning Combo-$20)
Shakespeare Excursion Rod with a Shimano Sonora 1500FA Reel(Spinning combo-Rod New $15;Reel New $18)
Shakespeare Cirrus UL combo(Given to me by my wifes friend)
Now I may not catch Whoppers like Big-O on these,simply because there may not be big fish in the lake I fish,but when I tie into them im sure these "Cheap" combos will handle the situation just fine.
Its just like Drag Racing. You can have the best of the best,best engine,best tires,fastest car in the world.All of that isnt squat if you cant cut a light(reaction time) Basically if you cant drive,the best of the best isnt worth a dime.
You can have the best rod,reel,line,bait,but if you dont know the basics your just not gonna catch anything.
There are some items you MUST have when fishing certain situations. Deep Cranking you must have the correct rod and the correct gear ratio reel or your gonna wear yourself out(Learning this now)
Sure you CAN throw deep cranks with any old setup,but its not gonna be as enjoyable as if you threw the same bait with the proper setup.
Throw a deep crank with an UL and then throw it with the proper gear and youll understand what I mean.
NorcalBassin reply :
There's definitely some truth to all of this. The only bass fishing I did up until a few years ago was with an Ugly Stick and spinnerbaits in June in the middle of the day when it was too hot to trout fish... then it was back to trout fishing when it cooled off. Now, with a lot of more expensive gear, I hardly catch any fish with spinnerbaits. Heck, maybe I should quit looking at St Croix and G. Loomis rods in favor of an Ugly Stik from Wal Mart to get back my spinnerbait mojo.
Hammer 4 reply :
The number of rod's & reels, depends on the techniques you use. You could get by with 2, but if you added flipping and swimbaits, I'm talking the heavier baits, you would be very limited with just 2 setups.
I have a mix of sorta real good stuff, and some middle of the road stuff, and some that's below a 100.00 for a few of my rods.
In the end, buy the best you can afford, above all..have FUN! and don't worry about what the Jones have..
choupique reply :
QuoteIm glad to hear about that guy with the ugly stik because that is what I currently have. As a newbie I gotta tell ya it is very daunting to read about all these different types of rods and reels and line and lures.Good gracious I think I am getting lost in the forest because of the trees :-/ I actually thought I would just go out throw a line in the water and go fishing
I have fished with Ugly Sticks for years and have caught plenty of fish on them. I have just recently began to upgrade my rods. My dad still uses Ugly Sticks and won't give them up, he can't see spending the money. For a newbie they are fine, you can always upgrade later if you want. I still use Abu Garci reels that I have had for years, one of them was my dad's it is about 30 years old if I remember right and still catches fish. Only one of my reels was over $100 and that is my Revo STX.
RobbyZ5001 reply :
QuoteAlso you don't need to have 10 different rods to be successful either. I use 2 about 99% of the time. I have a baitcaster I use most of the time, then an ultra light for when it gets real tough. Both of these rods plus the reels were under 60 per setup.
Sure if you enjoy tying and retying all day.
I will say for most places I have fished I could get away with 5 rods.
Let me guess... you fish with a senko 99% of the time?
slonezp reply :
QuoteIm glad to hear about that guy with the ugly stik because that is what I currently have. As a newbie I gotta tell ya it is very daunting to read about all these different types of rods and reels and line and lures.Good gracious I think I am getting lost in the forest because of the trees :-/ I actually thought I would just go out throw a line in the water and go fishing
Everyone on this site has at one time or another owned an Ugly Stick. If they tell you they haven't they are lying Shakespere has been making a quality product for a long time.
I've been fishing for close to 40 years and have just started upgrading in the past 3-4 years. The main reason for that is at this point in my life I can afford to. Wife is gone, kids are grown and I have a decent job. Been tourney fishing for 4 years and this is the first year I cashed some checks. Not because of the equiptment but because of time on the water and time researching my hobby.
And take your own advice. Learn how to catch fish. Learn how to catch them consistantly. Then buy the nice combo to reward yourself.
Do you think the fish knows you have a Revo on a St. Croix?
Nine Miler reply :
QuoteQuoteAlso you don't need to have 10 different rods to be successful either. I use 2 about 99% of the time. I have a baitcaster I use most of the time, then an ultra light for when it gets real tough. Both of these rods plus the reels were under 60 per setup.Sure if you enjoy tying and retying all day.
I will say for most places I have fished I could get away with 5 rods.
Let me guess... you fish with a senko 99% of the time?
C'mon, whats it take, 20-30 seconds to tie a new rig? And if the Senko works, why not? Though I would wager his arsenal is deeper than that, just based on his contribution to these forums.
Catt reply :
#1 key to consistently catching bass is between your ears not between the folds of your wallet.
Primus reply :
I agree with the idea that you can be a good fisherman with simple tackle and a limited number of rods and reels. That said, if you want to maximize the full potential of certain bait styles it does help to have specialized equipment.
I'll use fishing crankbaits as an example. There is no doubt that someone catch a lot of fish with 6'6" or 7' Medium action Ugly Stick and fish a wide variety of crankbaits with it.
I've fished with guys who struggle to catch fish with Deep Cranks because they simply are not getting a long enough cast to allow the lure to reach it's maximum depth and they fatique quickly and get discouraged because their rods are underpowered for these high resistance baits. I fish these baits on a 7'6" MH Crankin stick with 12 lb. Floro and I know for a fact that my success with this bait style has went way up since adding this to my arsenal.
I do not like using the previously mentioned combo for fishing small shallow running cranks like a Baby 1 Minus. I prefer a shorter 7' or 6'6" Medium action rod because I'm often target fishing and a shorter rod makes it easier to make the neccesary accurate cast around boat docks etc. Also, a MH Crankin' rod in my opinion deadens the feel of this type of bait and it doesn't wiggle as well as the Medium action rod.
I also use a 6'9" medium action spinning rod for tiny & light cranks like the Lucky Craft RC 0.5 or Rapala Shad Raps, I also using this combo for twitching Floating Rapala's and fishing jerkbaits.
So that's 3 different combo's for fishing cranks and I also use a 4th which is a 7' MH rod for fishing small 1-2 oz swimbaits and larger wake cranks and this rod has 17 lb. mono, this combo doesn't get used as frequently.
I could probably fish most of these baits on one combo but not as effectively as I can with these 4 different set-ups, keep in mind that I'm a diehard crankbait fisherman and I realize that for many this is not a go to bait for them or they may not have the room in their budgets or their boats to dedicate that many set-ups to one bait style. If that's the case pick your best jack of all trades master of none crank rod and you'll still catch alot of fish.
I also feel that a high quality rod reel combo is going to help you catch more fish when fishing jigs & soft plastics because you are going to have better feel especially in deep water. I do think there is a point of diminishing returns, if I'm fishing soft plastics there are a lot of $ 100-$ 200 dollar rods that are going to give you a better feel and catch a lot more fish than if you took the same angler with an Ugly Stick and ask him to feel a fish pick up his football jig in 20' of water at the end of a long cast. However, there is only a slight performance edge if he upgrades to a $300-$ 400 rod.
The point I'm trying to make is fish confidently with whatever equipment you have and if you make good cast and decisions on the water you can catch a lot of fish. However if your budget allows and you want to take your fishing up another level or 2 it does help investing in rod/reel combo's that will maximize the presentations that you are trying to make with various bait styles.
RussBert reply :
Quote#1 key to consistently catching bass is between your ears not between the folds of your wallet.
Words to live by. That would make an excellent sig line!
SoFlaBassAddict reply :
I agree with Nate about not needing a bunch of rods and reels. I could very easily fish and be happy with a pair of rods. That being said, I enjoy having more setups handy. No it doesn't take all that long to retie, but having the proper tool for the job is quite nice. I use all of my rods equally over the year. Last time I went out, I didn't bring my cranking rod. Mind you, there are trips where I've gone out and only used the crank rod all day long.
Buy whatever you want to buy. Don't think that having thirty rods or 400 dollar rods is going to make you a better fisherman though.
SirSnookalot reply :
Catt is right on this one. Every thing is secondary to finding the 10% of the water where the fish are, find the fish and whatever technique employed will catch fish if the bite is on.
I use 1 rod whether I'm freshwater or saltwater fishing and have no more than 3 or 4 baits with me at any given time, learned that's all I need.
If I were in the business of catching fish for a living or being a guide or captain I would buy top of the line equipment, but as recreational fisherman I think it's thrown out money. I guarantee I have as much fun as anyone using mid price gear.
GRiver reply :
QuoteAlso you don't need to have 10 different rods to be successful either. I use 2 about 99% of the time. I have a baitcaster I use most of the time, then an ultra light for when it gets real tough. Both of these rods plus the reels were under 60 per setup.
same here ....the old lady who lives across the river from me uses a cane pole....she has just as much fun as I do..that's what it all about....having fun
grimlin reply :
I have a little more fun with mid price gears($200 combos) than i do with my old shakespear combo i had starting out(lasted less than a year).Plus i really don't have to worry about my set ups breaking during a fishing trip,I can't say that back then when i was fishing with nothing but cheap stuff.
Buy what you want,can afford and have fun with it.
I don't agree with this thread entirely. You can't buy one set up and use it under all conditions....it just won't happen. My buddy has the cheap,cheap stuff and every time we fish he loses those fish in the grass and rocks,yet i don't.because i had the right rod for the job.
roadwarrior reply :
Higher end gear will NOT turn a bad fisherman into a
good fisherman, but it can make a good fisherman better. All
the guys I know that fish with the high-end gear are "collectors".
It has very little to do with "catching", but it makes "fishing"
more fun!
8-)
SJB1226 reply :
QuoteHigher end gear will NOT turn a bad fisherman into agood fisherman, but it can make a good fisherman better. All
the guys I know that fish with the high-end gear are "collectors".
It has very little to do with "catching", but it makes "fishing"
more fun!
8-)
Perfectly spoken/wrote RW... bravo!
Raul reply :
QuoteHigher end gear will NOT turn a bad fisherman into agood fisherman, but it can make a good fisherman better. All
the guys I know that fish with the high-end gear are "collectors".
It has very little to do with "catching", but it makes "fishing"
more fun!
8-)
I 've always said it, it ain 't the wand it 's the magician, heck, I can fish with a Coke can spooled with 100 yards of line and whup some rear ends, not that I do it a lot but I 've done it.
brushhoggin reply :
QuoteQuoteHigher end gear will NOT turn a bad fisherman into agood fisherman, but it can make a good fisherman better. All
the guys I know that fish with the high-end gear are "collectors".
It has very little to do with "catching", but it makes "fishing"
more fun!
8-)
I 've always said it, it ain 't the wand it 's the magician, heck, I can fish with a Coke can spooled with 100 yards of line and whup some rear ends, not that I do it a lot but I 've done it.
those cans have some amazing sensitivity! ;D
BASSclary reply :
QuoteQuoteQuoteHigher end gear will NOT turn a bad fisherman into agood fisherman, but it can make a good fisherman better. All
the guys I know that fish with the high-end gear are "collectors".
It has very little to do with "catching", but it makes "fishing"
more fun!
8-)
I 've always said it, it ain 't the wand it 's the magician, heck, I can fish with a Coke can spooled with 100 yards of line and whup some rear ends, not that I do it a lot but I 've done it.
those cans have some amazing sensitivity! ;D
Really? I've been looking to upgrade from my Diets to Coke... :
hitchhiker reply :
QuoteQuoteHigher end gear will NOT turn a bad fisherman into agood fisherman, but it can make a good fisherman better. All
the guys I know that fish with the high-end gear are "collectors".
It has very little to do with "catching", but it makes "fishing"
more fun!
8-)
I 've always said it, it ain 't the wand it 's the magician, heck, I can fish with a Coke can spooled with 100 yards of line and whup some rear ends, not that I do it a lot but I 've done it.
Perhaps in your neck of the woods, but the guy with the 8 foot rod with a strong baitcaster and 65 spectra throwing frogs in the mats will woop yours. :-X
Besides that, gear changes all the time just like ugly sticks used to be high end. If you can't stand to see another "what's best?" post, don't click on it. May as well shut down the whole site if you think it's worthless reading.
ksbasser reply :
I have to agree with the first post. There is no best. It's all opinions. I have used some cheap walmart rods that were very sensitive and I have tried some expensive rods that seemed a little lame in that area. I know of several inexpensive reels that if properly cared for will last a very long time. I have seen very expensive reels that had problems way before they should have. There is nothing wrong with wanting or owning nice equipment, but there is something wrong with making others feel like their equipment is inferior. We should be telling new anglers that the most important thing they can do is to get out and fish, learn to use whatever equipment they can afford to the best of their ability. The flip side to that is there is nothing wrong with owning and using multiple rigs or expensive rigs. If you can afford them, then there are some advantages to having rigs setup for several situations instead of just one or two multi purpose rigs. Just remember, it's not about who has the nicest stuff, it's about enjoying the sport and passing it on. Lets not ruin the experience for someone by suggesting that they need expensive equipment or dozens of rigs.
Dave P reply :
QuoteI have to agree with the first post. There is no best. It's all opinions. I have used some cheap walmart rods that were very sensitive and I have tried some expensive rods that seemed a little lame in that area. I know of several inexpensive reels that if properly cared for will last a very long time. I have seen very expensive reels that had problems way before they should have. There is nothing wrong with wanting or owning nice equipment, but there is something wrong with making others feel like their equipment is inferior. We should be telling new anglers that the most important thing they can do is to get out and fish, learn to use whatever equipment they can afford to the best of their ability. The flip side to that is there is nothing wrong with owning and using multiple rigs or expensive rigs. If you can afford them, then there are some advantages to having rigs setup for several situations instead of just one or two multi purpose rigs. Just remember, it's not about who has the nicest stuff, it's about enjoying the sport and passing it on. Lets not ruin the experience for someone by suggesting that they need expensive equipment or dozens of rigs.
Yes
Hammer 4 reply :
QuoteQuotether owned an Ugly Stick. If they tell you they haven't they are lyingI've been fishing for close to 40 years and have just started upgrading in the past 3-4 years. The main reason for that is at this point in my life I can afford to. Wife is gone, kids are grown and I have a decent job. Been tourney fishing for 4 years and this is the first year I cashed some checks. Not because of the equiptment but because of time on the water and time researching my hobby.
And take your own advice. Learn how to catch fish. Learn how to catch them consistantly. Then buy the nice combo to reward yourself.
Do you think the fish knows you have a Revo on a St. Croix?
Been fishing since 1958, off and on...Never fished with, or owned an Ugly Stick..not everyone lies..
paangler3117 reply :
Best advice I've ever recieved, "take the money you have for gear and buy gas for your boat."
Time on the water will make up for less than top notch stuff.
Jim
Captain Obvious reply :
Does this post end that great thread about how the Vendetta was rated better than that $300 Shimano rod ;D
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