Your Worst Gear Purchase? 2024
McAlpine reply :
Ok, as I am sitting here with cabin fever working on reels, restringing rods, organizing the boxes, putting spare baits up and organized.....
I run into "the reel".
This dad-blasted Browning Midas spinning reel.
The reel that has the worst drag on the planet.
The reel that the drag locked up on and ripped a shakey head hook through the flesh of a 6lb'er in a tournament instead of giving out some line.
The reel I paid about $100 bucks for when Browning first signed their BPS deal with the devil and I still trusted the name.
The reel I hate.
As I sit here pulling line out and testing the drag I can see it catch and then give catch and give with each line pull. Horrible.
I figured I could at least look to my brothers here for equal horror stories, maybe I'll feel better if I'm not the only one.
So, I'm not looking for; "Shimano is the best - No, Abu is the best". I want to know what you bought that you paid too much for. The thing you hate. The thing that is terrible. The gear that gives you a pit of your stomach hatred every time you remember you have it.
;-) this should be fun!
BradGuenette reply :
Caenan..... Urgh
Crappiebasser reply :
On 2/2/2013 at 9:50 AM, DirtNasty said:Caenan..... Urgh
x2 I gave mine to my nephew and he only used it once. It's bad when a broke 14 year old thinks its junk.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Diawa Capricorn spinning reel. Felt nice in the store and then the bail spring broke the first trip out. Had the bail spring replaced and the reel became noticeably rougher after just a few trips. I retired to to a catfish reel after that.
Had pretty bad luck with Cabela's Fish Eagle II rods also. I had a 6' light action spinning rod I used for crappie that broke 3 times in a month.
Teal reply :
1. BPS Johnny morris signature series rod
2. BPS RCX Rod
3. BPS RCX Rod that replaced ^^2.
See a pattern here
All three rods broke on a hook set. I bought all three at the same time about 4 years ago. The RCX rod broke after 2 months, replaced it, broke the JMrod and then a week later broke the other RCX rod. Then I went to the store and got my money back for both.
No more BPS rods or reels.
Correction - i still have a couple, but will not buy anymore.
PS. Other than those rods and one defective Veritas, i have never broken a rod. Ive owned Powells, Castaways, Daiwa, Abu, and Fenwick.
Darren. reply :
BPS Tourney baitcaster combo....
Glad BPS has a good return policy for their gear.
VolFan reply :
Note to self: Do NOT loan Teal rods! :-)
Raul reply :
Oh boy,
Abu Garcia Törno
Can´t remember the name , code or whatever but a couple of Quantum reels and rods
Since we also discuss line here: Magnum 7-20 and 14-40 ...... POS
Daiwa computerized reel ( another real POS )
Teal reply :
^^ see my edited post. I figured there was gonna be one wise guy in the group.
Sam reply :
Johnny Morris baitcaster.
Broke while fishing it for the first time on Buggs Island.
When I went back to BPS to get another one the sales clerk said to get a Shimano Curado in its place.
He was right!!!!
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
Lure-Spro Baby BBz-1
Rod- Veritas micro but returned it so not out anything.
Line- Sufix Performance Braid only paid $5 for it but just too loud like playing a violin
Reel- Zebco Omega
new2BC4bass reply :
Well, I can't say that it is the worst...................yet. Had purchased a Villain ML spinning rod. Like it a lot. Well enough that when a 7'6" MH casting rod was being sold at a very good price, I bought it as well. First impression was a big let down. Rod diameter is way too big for my liking. Has an even greater diameter than my 7'6" Heavy Zillion. Took it down to the river for a few trial casts along with another rod....both with new-to-me reels. Was not impressed with its casting ability, but some of that may be due to the old line that came with the reel. Was using a 1/2 oz. jig. Got the impression that heavier would be better. As I remember it, the rod wasn't loading very well with that 1/2 oz..
However, I want to try it with different lines and different reels. See what weight range it likes. Even if it performs well, its looks would keep it from becoming a favorite. Normally I don't pay attention to cosmetics, but that large diameter turns me off. Hopefully I will find a use for it (other than as a telephone pole) because selling it would be a first for me.
Teal reply :
New2, i dont own a villain but my buddy has a few of them and ive fished them. I like them and they seem to be as light as the Veritas. It didnt feel big in diameter to me. My only complaint is that they feel a little stiff. Their power rating may be higher than it says it is... give it a few more chances. If it dont break, it should serve you well.
new2BC4bass reply :
On 2/2/2013 at 11:25 AM, Teal said:New2, i dont own a villain but my buddy has a few of them and ive fished them. I like them and they seem to be as light as the Veritas. It didnt feel big in diameter to me. My only complaint is that they feel a little stiff. Their power rating may be higher than it says it is... give it a few more chances. If it dont break, it should serve you well.
I had bought the ML figuring on throwing lures lighter than its 1/8 rating for panfish. I mean it is a spinning rod, right? Shouldn't be a problem...so I figured. I was wrong. I do like its looks a lot, but need to get it out again, but this time with heavier lures. I got a very good price on this rod. Wound up with a Fenwick River Runner for my panfish rod.
I don't think of the MH casting rod as heavy, just a bit stiff for its rating, and having a larger diameter than I prefer.
thehooligan reply :
I bought a symetre on eBay that had a gear problem. That got sent back, lol.
mnbassman23 reply :
Carrot stix, Carrot stix replacement 1, carrot stix replacement 2.... Carrot stix replacement 3 is now my fiances rod because she thinks it looks pretty lol
Loop_Dad reply :
Daiwa Silver Cast Spin Cast.
I had a old casting rod that I wanted my daughter to use. So I figured "buya spincast reel and she'll have fun". WRONG!
The line gets stuck often in mid air and lure makes a big splash. This was such a horrible reel. My mistake was that I thought I put too much line or something, so I didn't think about returning this back to the store right away. Even if I had brought back to the store right away, I am not sure if they would have taken it back, because it does not get stuck if you just have the reel on your hand. Right now It has very close to the smallest diameter line printed on the reel. With that the problem seems to be less frequent. But it is basically collecting the dust.
Wasted $30.
bigfishbk86 reply :
Every reel that said "Shimano" on the side of it. Seriously.
kickerfish1 reply :
Haven't had a bad purchase in years. Before that it was a string of quantum reels both spinning and casting. Not one of the 5 reels lasted more than a season. I paid between $60 and $100 per reel. Since then I have only bought shimano and Daiwa primarily.
KYntucky Warmouth reply :
Gloomis CBR 843 bought it on eBay. That thing had the power and backbone of a foam pool noodle. Couldn't handle a LC RC 1.5 on it.
Every Revo I have ever had, except the Toro. Thought I was going to like the older Premier, casted great until until the guy I was in the boat with sneezed and it blew up. Even with a light breeze it was uncontrollable, bought the reel a week before going to guntersville, sold it the weekend I got back.
bassh8er reply :
Shimano Corsair. My second baitcasting reel and almost my last.
BradGuenette reply :
On 2/2/2013 at 1:08 PM, bassh8er said:Shimano Corsair. My second baitcasting reel and almost my last.
LOL that was my first baitcaster! It's incredible I didn't pull my hair out trying to cast with it, I must've went through $100 of braid the first week. It blew up a few weeks later.It makes me appreciate my Lew's TP's now. If only I could've leavened on one of these!
BassinB reply :
Orra SX. thing was junk....and I'm a die hard Abu guy.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 2/2/2013 at 12:33 PM, mnbassman23 said:Carrot stix, Carrot stix replacement 1, carrot stix replacement 2.... Carrot stix replacement 3 is now my fiances rod because she thinks it looks pretty lol
Forgot about my Carrot stix, must be my brain trying to block it out of my memory. Never seen a MH rod break that easily. My buddy bought one right after I broke mine and I tried to warn him. It made it through a couple trips before blowing up on him.
Christian M reply :
On 2/2/2013 at 9:57 AM, Crappiebasser said:x2 I gave mine to my nephew and he only used it once. It's bad when a broke 14 year old thinks its junk.
X3...
rockchalk06 reply :
Bass Pro Tourney LTD combo. The reel was great. Still wish I had the reel. It was a combo that Bass Pro had on sale for 79.99. The rods were kinda so so but I thought what the heck. I got the 7' MH. I was practicing in the back yard with a 1/2 oz plug. I loaded the rod and it snapped before I ever made a cast.
Took it back the same day. 2nd one did the same thing first cast in the back yard. The manager at the rod counter thought I was breaking them on purpose. Kinda acted like anass about it. Returned it and gave me a 3rd. I took said manager out into the parking lot with the new rod and the old reel. Tied the plug and said cast it. The look was udderly fregging priceless. Got my money back and a 10 dollar BP card to boot.
Went back to BP for some hooks two days later. All 50 plus combos were off the racks.
Note though. This was the only time I have had problems with BP rods.
skeletor6 reply :
Shakespeare rods when I thought that a reel was everything and a rod was unimportant. Wow has that changed
flippin and pitchin reply :
Years ago I bought an Okuma baitcaster, the VS series I think. One trip and back to the store it went. I spent up and got a Curado 200B. Much better. I bought two Mojos sight unseen and that was a mistake.
LgMouthGambler reply :
Quantum KVD signature reel. It was on sale for a good price. What a piece of crap.
Ima Bass Ninja reply :
Quantum escalade. My first jump up the 80-100 class reels. Bad mistake. It is the only reel that I have had actually break on me. After that one I went to pq and pfluger. No problems since. And I will say that every time I think of buying a quantum the image of that reel pops in my head and I just walk away.
Rangerphil reply :
Abu c4 I use the 5500 c3 and love it so I decided to get the c4 with the thumb bar and hated it! Could not cast without a backlash and it was never as smooth as the c3!
.RM. reply :
All of my older Quantum reel were crap, most still are..... 
thehooligan reply :
Only quantum reel i ever bought and liked is my boca surf reel, lol.
Hyrule Bass reply :
On 2/2/2013 at 4:15 PM, skeletor6 said:Shakespeare rods when I thought that a reel was everything and a rod was unimportant. Wow has that changed
I love my Shakespeare rods =D
flyfisher reply :
Quantum baitcaster I think it was a bill dance special or some crap. That thing was total junk.
MCS reply :
I got a M/F ugly stick. I wanted a cheap number two for some hard lures, poppers and jerk baits. Man I don't know if it is the glass or the rod but it is the thickest, heaviest junk with a mushy tip. Only thing worse is if it came with cork grips. I wanted to spend a little more and get a Shakespeare inshore select, the BPS sales guy told me why waste the money. I will stick with my carbonlite, or at least a graphite rod from now on. I still fish with it and everytime I hook one I think how much this thing sucks and I should start using my old Abu conlon rod that is 20 plus yrs old.
Knightiac reply :
On 2/2/2013 at 10:52 AM, Teal said:1. BPS Johnny morris signature series rod2. BPS RCX Rod
3. BPS RCX Rod that replaced ^^2.
See a pattern here
All three rods broke on a hook set. I bought all three at the same time about 4 years ago. The RCX rod broke after 2 months, replaced it, broke the JMrod and then a week later broke the other RCX rod. Then I went to the store and got my money back for both.
No more BPS rods or reels.
Correction - i still have a couple, but will not buy anymore.
PS. Other than those rods and one defective Veritas, i have never broken a rod. Ive owned Powells, Castaways, Daiwa, Abu, and Fenwick.
Definitely agree with you on rods, but I absolutely love their reels. The PQ is a great entry level and the Johnny Morris Sig2 is an amazing reel for $160.
My first baitcaster was a $60 Quantum Aura combo. It was awful. The first two fish I ever hooked on a baitcaster were whilst picking a birdsnet. Put it to the side and bought a PQ.
drew4779 reply :
Bps rods. Broke one on a hookset and one snagging a piece of drift wood (about as big as wrist to elbow). Not a fan. The drift wood incident was 15 years ago and it still gets to me when I think of it.
I also put a bid a browning M something or other on eBay that I unexpectedly won that was used once and will be never again.
ww2farmer reply :
I like St Croix's, but not every rod they make is a winner. I once bought a 7' H power, fast action Premier Casting rod. Calling it a pool cue, would be an insult to pool cues.
Any reel made by BPS, before I switched to all Shimano, I had a hodge podge of stuff. No reel I had from BPS lasted more than a season. I had Extremes, Johnny Morris, Rick Clunns, the old Pro qualifier round reels...etc. I would of quit using them, but at least BPS would giveme a new one every time one crapped the bed.
Spiderwire fluorobraid.........yeah it sinks..........yee haw.......but compaired to power pro it also has the strength of a wet noodle. And even though abbrasion resistance is never been braids strong suit, this stuff was the worst, thumbing it on a casting reel would frey it.
PondBoss reply :
Skeet Reese W&M reel, bought one on my way to the lake, spooled it up and on my first cast it exploded! The gears locked up and the side plate fell off into the water. Junk!
0119 reply :
Sebile lures. Cant handle any fish with teeth or a sandpaper mouth. Koppers Live Target lure too, pretty until one fish then just sort of whitish silver.
tholmes reply :
Many years back, a Quantum QL 1000 baitcaster. The only thing worse than the reel was Quantum.s indifferent, if not outright insulting, customer service rep.
Any spinning reel with a casting trigger. They might be great for a right-handed caster, but for a lefty, not so much. Add to that any rear-drag spinning reel. I just hate 'em.
X2 on the Sebile lures. Great looking, great action, crappy finish.
Tom
loodkop reply :
I have a couple of Quantum baitcasters that are terrific paperweights.
Greenstealth reply :
I'm a long time lurker but I'll contribute.
1. Black friday quantum baitcast combo
1A. Black friday quantum spinning combo
Absolute garbage. The baitcaster was mind-boggling bad and both of the rods eventually broke. Garbage.
2. Quantum kvd pt burner baitcaster. Pretty, but crap.
MarkH024 reply :
Spiderwire Invisibraid. Terrible line. It was like trying to line your reel with plastic they use to make Christmas garlands out of. Maybe they have enhanced it now but I never looked back at it again.
jerzeeD reply :
Penn Captiva spinning reel. I actually passed over the Pflueger President when I started to really get back into fishing. It was in the same price range at 60 dollars. What a POS. The stem flexed every time I caught a fish on it and gears would come out of alignment when reeling it in. The finish would also chip every time I sneezed. Just an absolutely horrible reel that drove me away from Penn forever.
McAlpine reply :
On 2/2/2013 at 7:53 PM, LgMouthGambler said:Quantum KVD signature reel. It was on sale for a good price. What a piece of crap.
Oh my, I had blocked this PoS out of my memory. I bought one of those on some 75% off sale or something. Took it out of the box and put it on a rod, strung it up. Just trying to set the reel up I could tell it was absolutely horrible. Back in the box and back to the store for a refund.
SudburyBasser reply :
On 2/2/2013 at 11:18 PM, MCS said:I got a M/F ugly stick. I wanted a cheap number two for some hard lures, poppers and jerk baits. Man I don't know if it is the glass or the rod but it is the thickest, heaviest junk with a mushy tip. Only thing worse is if it came with cork grips.
I'm glad I'm not the only one. What's personally embarrassing for me is that I wasn't some kid buying his first rod after saving his paper route money, I was an otherwise educated 38 year old (three years ago) and I bought an Ugly Stik. To this day I still can't understand what my reasoning was.
MCS reply :
On 2/3/2013 at 6:12 AM, SudburyBasser said:I'm glad I'm not the only one. What's personally embarrassing for me is that I wasn't some kid buying his first rod after saving his paper route money, I was an otherwise educated 38 year old (three years ago) and I bought an Ugly Stik. To this day I still can't understand what my reasoning was.
Same here this was a year ago. I know exactly what I was thinking "new, cheap, how bad can it be? Right?" Boy it can be worse than imaginable! Worst thing is you can't ever put it in the garbage disposal or chop it up.
webertime reply :
Paycheck nosejobs. Let's put something in front of a perfectly good bait that makes it just spin.
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