$$$ Saving Ideas 2024
the reel ess reply :
I'll freely admit I'm a cheapskate when it comes to fishing. I don't spend as much as I probably should on fishing tackle and I'm always on the lookout for ways to save money whenever possible.
What are some of your money saving ideas? Here are a few of mine:
I don't buy $100 rods for reaction baits or topwaters because sensitivity matters less than weight and durability.
I've bought a Johnny Morris reel off Ebay for $50. Had to send to BPS for $18.95 to repair, but that's a JM reel for $68.95.
I usually kayak fish. No electronics.
Berkley Big Game 15# mono! Sold by the pound and cheap enough to change a couple times a year.
I use cheap mono line for backing for reels that have braid (I don't skimp in braid, but you can reel it from one reel to another, then you're using the unused end of it)
I started wire tying baits with cheaper skirts so I don't lose them often.
When using a T-rigged soft plastic craw, after one side gets chewed up at the head, flip the bait over on the hook and catch another one.
Fishing Rhino reply :
You want to save some serious bucks? Use elaztech baits for shaky heads and when rigged, put a drop of super glue where the bait buttons up to the weight, or slides over a holder. You can use it 'til you lose it. You may have to glue it again if the bond fails, but the bait is indestructible. Not even a toothy pickerel can ruin it.
I use the four inch finesse worm in coppertreuse, or PB&J on a 3/16 ounce shaky head (Spot Remover where lead is legal, and Vike tungsten where lead is not. I glue everything that is rigged on a weighted hook except for wacky worm rigs. It may be Fat Alberts, Rage Tail menace, craw, Yamamoto Flapping Hogs, etc. The baits will last much longer and will not slide on the shank of the hook. They will get torn up, but will last much longer if glued.
FloridaFishinFool reply :
So glad this forum is NOT T,T! Over there it is the opposite and how much can some guys spend on art to hang on the wall and NOT fish with it!
Like you I want to save money on gear and tackle.
I visit pawn shops on a regular basis looking for rods and reels and sometimes find tackle boxes full of tackle for less than $20 usually. I have purchased some $200 custom rods this way for less than $15 each.
Garage sales and even estate sales have been good to me over the years. My first custom spiral wrapped rod came out of a garage sale for like $3.
But I gotcha on the Johnny Morris reels. I have repaired and modified reels for more than 30 years. So what I do is look for broken reels needing parts and repairs. My first Johnny Morris reel cost me like $5.00 for the reel and less than $20 for the parts. So $25 on my first JM. I recently picked up another one for $15 again missing some parts, and I am waiting on the parts from Bass Pro as I write this. So another JM for under $25.
One man's broken junk is another man's treasure! Thanks guys who don't repair reels! And rods too!
And a side note on those Johnny Morris reels, there are specific models to buy and models to avoid! You can download all of the JM manuals and schematics from the Bass Pro website. Once you have these you can compare the guts of each reel. So the only models I will purchase are the ones with triple carbon fiber drag washers and avoid all the models with a single drag washer that is not carbon fiber.
Another Bass Pro reel secret is that some of the now discontinued Rick Clunn signature reels are identical inside to the JM reels! Most of the internal parts are identical. Same reels, different exterior basically. But, there is really only one model to buy. Bass Pro shorted some of the RC reels and they only come with magnetic brakes, but there is one model that has both magnetic and centrifugal braking and triple drag washers, but not carbon fiber. I simply switch them out with the carbon fiber. Piece of cake! And on my Rick Clunn reel I leave the drag dry so I can lock that drag down for pitching and flipping while the JM reels I lube the drag and use them for spinners and crank baits. Oh, and those RC reels are much cheaper than JM reels and no one wants to bid on them hardly as compared to fighting for a JM reel in a bidding war!
And, Bass Pro did not make a Rick Clunn lefty in the 7:1 speed that I know of for the series I want with dual braking. No problem! The gears from a JM will fit right into the Rick Clunn. Problem solved.
I walked into a thrift store one day and found a nice 7' top of the line Bass Pro spinning rod made from IM-8 graphite and bought it for $2 because some of the guides were broken. Took all of 3 hours to remove and replace all the guides with titanium oxide guides and I've been using it ever since. A sweet deal!
One of my local bait and tackle shops routinely buys tackle out of estate sales and then resells it in their store. I can go in there and buy all kinds of name brand lures for $1 each, or $2 each. Bags of rubber worms for a $1.
I save money buying a lot of rubber lures in bulk. Rather than hit Walmart and get a bag of zoom lures that come in like 8 or 10 per bag for $3-4, I go online and locate bulk sellers and buy like 50 or 60 rubber swimbaits at a time for $10 with free shipping type of thing.
To save money on line, this may cause some controversy but oh well... when I began using braid line I paid the price for power pro coated with teflon poison that quickly wore off on my hands and into the water. Next I paid the price for sufix. Good line no doubt, but way over priced.
Today I buy bulk rolls of cheap Chinese braid line without any poison teflon coating. My average price is like $20 for 1500 yard roll. And guess what? I have been using this line for 2 years now and I don't lose fish.
I did some research on braid line 2 years ago and I went to the plastics industry who makes the PE gel spun fibers and I discovered there were only 12 companies in all the world who even made gel spun fibers used in all braid fishing lines. There are a couple in America, some scattered across Europe, but by far the most gel spun plastic fibers are made in China. So what happens is various line companies buy these gel spun fibers and then do their own weave and processing and then sell it for top dollar, some other companies just buy the already woven fiber line and then do a finishing processing on the line and also sell it for top dollar.
I made the decision one day to skip all those top dollar high priced line companies and just try out the cheap Chinese line I read online here in America all these fishermen complaining about it, so I decided to give it a try and see if it was as bad as I read about and I was pleasantly surprised the line was not as bad as some make it out to be. And I have been saving a ton of dough over the last two years using Chinese made braid line ranging from 8 pound test up to 50 pound test and never had a problem with any of it.
It is kind of humorous to know that some of those American fishermen who would complain about the cheap Chinese braid line are actually buying it themselves from Walmart marketed under another brand name and paying much more for it!
Let's see... A roll of power pro for one reel's worth of line at Walmart is what $12 to $13? I can spool a reel with chinese line for a $1. I can do without the teflon poison too power pro uses for their finishing processing to make their line special. So I would not exactly call chinese braid line a cheap knock off since in the plastics industry about half of the gel spun capacity in all the world is coming from China. They can make it as well as anyone else and do! And they can weave it too.
Oh, and for skirts... I hate them! I am not going to lie. Playing around with skirts gets old real fast. So I looked around for an alternative and found a yamamoto lure, a soft rubber molded bait that has the skirt molded as a part of it! And in the dark waters I fish here in Florida where you can't see your hand 6 inches below the waterline, there is no way any fish can see it 6 and 8 feet down either, so they don't care as long as they think they can eat it, it catches fish! And no more skirts to play with!
roadwarrior reply :
No need to downgrade or buy Chinese knock-offs, Another alternative is simply having the discipline to buy tackle ONLY when it is on sale. Over the years the majority of my rod and reel purchases have been from BassResource.com members in our Flea Market. Some of my most recent scores are McSticks on sale at Academy for $4.98, Tatsu for half price and Siebert Outdoors jigs for $1.75.
scaleface reply :
I also buy used and new lures at various second hand / antique stores.., .Theres one crankbait no longer made that I highly covet . I found a couple a few years ago lost one but still have one . I like fishing small lakes with small craft . I rigged a depth finder on an old trolling motor bracket , so I'm ' one of the few anglers to fish these waters with eyes under water . I save 50 to 100 dollars a trip when I leave the big boat at home .
EricTheAngler reply :
I buy most of my stuff at walmart, the flea market on here or on sale. I also use big game 12# on my baitcasters, so I can afford to buy lures. But the line works well for my use and Its dirt cheap.
Evan K reply :
Like @roadwarrior said, just have the discipline to wait for a good deal or shop around. I agree that there's no need to buy cheap Chinese knockoffs- just be judicious and careful about what you spend and buy quality stuff when you do.
cgolf reply :
With a kid in college now, I am really watching and waiting for sales. I also got lucky with Coke rewards, I have been saving points there for a while now and they are offering Walmart gift cards as rewards so I am getting them to replace the ancient line on some of my reels and will get some tackle with the left over proceeds. The biggest thing I did was look at the gear I have and decided what I really needed for next year and am trying to keep my expenditures to just those items. Impulse buying has got me in the past, and a lot of times I have found those baits that I had to have are sitting in a box and were never used.
the reel ess reply :
On 1/6/2016 at 9:23 PM, FloridaFishinFool said:So glad this forum is NOT T,T! Over there it is the opposite and how much can some guys spend on art to hang on the wall and NOT fish with it!
Like you I want to save money on gear and tackle.
I visit pawn shops on a regular basis looking for rods and reels and sometimes find tackle boxes full of tackle for less than $20 usually. I have purchased some $200 custom rods this way for less than $15 each.
Garage sales and even estate sales have been good to me over the years. My first custom spiral wrapped rod came out of a garage sale for like $3.
But I gotcha on the Johnny Morris reels. I have repaired and modified reels for more than 30 years. So what I do is look for broken reels needing parts and repairs. My first Johnny Morris reel cost me like $5.00 for the reel and less than $20 for the parts. So $25 on my first JM. I recently picked up another one for $15 again missing some parts, and I am waiting on the parts from Bass Pro as I write this. So another JM for under $25.
One man's broken junk is another man's treasure! Thanks guys who don't repair reels! And rods too!
And a side note on those Johnny Morris reels, there are specific models to buy and models to avoid! You can download all of the JM manuals and schematics from the Bass Pro website. Once you have these you can compare the guts of each reel. So the only models I will purchase are the ones with triple carbon fiber drag washers and avoid all the models with a single drag washer that is not carbon fiber.
Another Bass Pro reel secret is that some of the now discontinued Rick Clunn signature reels are identical inside to the JM reels! Most of the internal parts are identical. Same reels, different exterior basically. But, there is really only one model to buy. Bass Pro shorted some of the RC reels and they only come with magnetic brakes, but there is one model that has both magnetic and centrifugal braking and triple drag washers, but not carbon fiber. I simply switch them out with the carbon fiber. Piece of cake! And on my Rick Clunn reel I leave the drag dry so I can lock that drag down for pitching and flipping while the JM reels I lube the drag and use them for spinners and crank baits. Oh, and those RC reels are much cheaper than JM reels and no one wants to bid on them hardly as compared to fighting for a JM reel in a bidding war!
And, Bass Pro did not make a Rick Clunn lefty in the 7:1 speed that I know of for the series I want with dual braking. No problem! The gears from a JM will fit right into the Rick Clunn. Problem solved.
I walked into a thrift store one day and found a nice 7' top of the line Bass Pro spinning rod made from IM-8 graphite and bought it for $2 because some of the guides were broken. Took all of 3 hours to remove and replace all the guides with titanium oxide guides and I've been using it ever since. A sweet deal!
One of my local bait and tackle shops routinely buys tackle out of estate sales and then resells it in their store. I can go in there and buy all kinds of name brand lures for $1 each, or $2 each. Bags of rubber worms for a $1.
I save money buying a lot of rubber lures in bulk. Rather than hit Walmart and get a bag of zoom lures that come in like 8 or 10 per bag for $3-4, I go online and locate bulk sellers and buy like 50 or 60 rubber swimbaits at a time for $10 with free shipping type of thing.
To save money on line, this may cause some controversy but oh well... when I began using braid line I paid the price for power pro coated with teflon poison that quickly wore off on my hands and into the water. Next I paid the price for sufix. Good line no doubt, but way over priced.
Today I buy bulk rolls of cheap Chinese braid line without any poison teflon coating. My average price is like $20 for 1500 yard roll. And guess what? I have been using this line for 2 years now and I don't lose fish.
I did some research on braid line 2 years ago and I went to the plastics industry who makes the PE gel spun fibers and I discovered there were only 12 companies in all the world who even made gel spun fibers used in all braid fishing lines. There are a couple in America, some scattered across Europe, but by far the most gel spun plastic fibers are made in China. So what happens is various line companies buy these gel spun fibers and then do their own weave and processing and then sell it for top dollar, some other companies just buy the already woven fiber line and then do a finishing processing on the line and also sell it for top dollar.
I made the decision one day to skip all those top dollar high priced line companies and just try out the cheap Chinese line I read online here in America all these fishermen complaining about it, so I decided to give it a try and see if it was as bad as I read about and I was pleasantly surprised the line was not as bad as some make it out to be. And I have been saving a ton of dough over the last two years using Chinese made braid line ranging from 8 pound test up to 50 pound test and never had a problem with any of it.
Oh, and for skirts... I hate them! I am not going to lie. Playing around with skirts gets old real fast. So I looked around for an alternative and found a yamamoto lure, a soft rubber molded bait that has the skirt molded as a part of it! And in the dark waters I fish here in Florida where you can't see your hand 6 inches below the waterline, there is no way any fish can see it 6 and 8 feet down either, so they don't care as long as they think they can eat it, it catches fish! And no more skirts to play with!
Dude! You're a wealth of knowledge.
I have one of the Rick Clunn baitcast reels from BPS, bought off the website on clearance. The drag WON'T lock down. It has the 7:1 ratio and only a magnetic cast control, but it casts a country mile. I use it for reaction baits with trebles and topwaters because that's an instance where you would want a little more free drag anyways. The thumb bar has never worked great on it either. I have wondered if RC was ashamed his name was on that reel.
My local pawn shop wants newer-than-new prices for all its old beat up tackle. I wonder if I'm supposed to haggle with him, but the only time I tried with gun, he told me to go to Academy and buy it. 
FloridaFishinFool reply :
On 1/6/2016 at 10:08 PM, the reel ess said:I have one of the Rick Clunn baitcast reels from BPS, bought off the website on clearance. The drag WON'T lock down. It has the 7:1 ratio and only a magnetic cast control, but it casts a country mile. I use it for reaction baits with trebles and topwaters because that's an instance where you would want a little more free drag anyways. The thumb bar has never worked great on it either. I have wondered if RC was ashamed his name was on that reel.
My local pawn shop wants newer-than-new prices for all its old beat up tackle. I wonder if I'm supposed to haggle with him, but the only time I tried with gun, he told me to go to Academy and buy it.
So you have one of the RC models without centrifugal brakes, and more than likely you also have an RC model with a single drag washer too, and in the RC reels Bass Pro used some white plastic looking drag washer I doubt if it is teflon, probably something cheaper than that.
But yeah they made RC reels right handed with the 7:1 speed, but on the paperwork I got from Bass Pro it shows they did not make a lefty in the series I want in 7:1 speed, but it did have triple drag washers, but 3 of those cheaper white plastic type of washers which I quickly replaced with carbon fiber.
I also noticed that Bass Pro shorted 2 bearings in the handles and only installed 2 out of 4 handle bearings and instead put in a cheap white plastic bushing which I also quickly swapped out with some ball bearings. Now my RC reel has everything the JM reels have. Virtually no difference except the nice shiny exterior JM has and my RC is an unpleasant purple! But I don't care. I ain't no reel pimp! My rods and reels do not have to match color-wise. Not into that sort of thing. I'm strictly a function over form guy.
And as to the pawn shop situation, it sounds like you are dealing with a small independent mom and pop owned type of shop and they do want top dollar, but try some national franchise type of pawn shops- and haggle like hell! Cash talks!
cgolf reply :
One other thing I have found is that I catch a ton of fish on my ugly sticks. I have a few 100$ sticks, but the ugly stick stays in the truck all season so I can stop and hit some shore spots on the way to and from work. Not saying the expensive sticks aren't great, but some cheap solid products are out there. Saying that I bought some cheap graphite rods once and had the tips break on the cast, so I have tried to stick with uglies for budget fishing.
the reel ess reply :
Almost forgot. I got a 7' MH Falcon LowRider rod from a co-worker who needed $ for a motorcycle build for $50. It's technically the "heavy crankbait" rod, but I use it for T-rigs and last season for frogs. It's by far the most sensitive rod I have and I have the $50 Johnny Morris reel on it. That's probably $250 worth of combo for $100.
I use Lightning Rods, bought on sale for the lures that don't require sensitivity like lipless cranks spinnerbaits because they're light and durable. I have 3.
the reel ess reply :
On 1/6/2016 at 10:22 PM, FloridaFishinFool said:So you have one of the RC models without centrifugal brakes, and more than likely you also have an RC model with a single drag washer too, and in the RC reels Bass Pro used some white plastic looking drag washer I doubt if it is teflon, probably something cheaper than that.
Check your PMs
roadwarrior reply :
On 1/6/2016 at 10:22 PM, FloridaFishinFool said:Virtually no difference except the nice shiny exterior JM has and my RC is an unpleasant purple! But I don't care. I ain't no reel pimp! My rods and reels do not have to match color-wise. Not into that sort of thing. I'm strictly a function over form guy.
With all the options available today, at virtually every pricing point, there is no reason to sacrifice beauty for function.
the reel ess reply :
The most rip-roaring deal in spinning reels I have ever come across is the Pfleuger Trion. $40 all day, every day, everywhere it's sold. It's a tad heavier than the next model up the line, but I believe all the running gear is the same. Smooth, doesn't twist, works well with braid, and great drag. I'll buy another when the old BPS Viper reel wears out (if it ever does).
imagine29028 reply :
Only buy tackle that works in your water conditions. No need for 10xd if youre a bank fisherman or fish shallow water.
Know a few solid colors of lures and stick to them. All the different varities of colors dont matter to a fish. All those Flecks and flakes dont matter!!!
Custom painted lures are a way to throw money in the toilet. Those catch fisherman, not more fish. Think a 5lber looks at a crankbait and can see the custom painted gills??? Cmon ya'll....these are little fish with little brains. They react to things in their environment.
Once you find something that works (rod, line, soft plastic, etc) STICK WITH IT!!!! Buy it in bulk...stop experimenting.
my $0.02
RedHeadAngler reply :
On 1/6/2016 at 10:37 PM, the reel ess said:The most rip-roaring deal in spinning reels I have ever come across is the Pfleuger Trion. $40 all day, every day, everywhere it's sold. It's a tad heavier than the next model up the line, but I believe all the running gear is the same. Smooth, doesn't twist, works well with braid, and great drag. I'll buy another when the old BPS Viper reel wears out (if it ever does).
For $30 dollars I also thing the Shimano sienna is an awesome deal. I have the 500fd n my ultralight ugly stik elite for trout and panfish and I have the 2500fd on a 6 foot medium ugly stik lite for a travel rod. They are incredibly smooth and pretty solid I would recommend it to anyone looking for a low priced quality spinning reel.
Master Bait'r reply :
Money saving tip #1: Block BR, 'that auction site' and all international storefronts from your browser haha
Really though, elaztechs whenever possible and mend-it for all the other soft baits. Plastics are often overlooked in terms of expense, but the longer they last the less they cost. One would be wise to squeeze every cast possible out of a bait before you retire it. I throw all my broken plastics in a ziploc bag and go through them when I get home to see if anything is salvageable, there always is.
In terms of hard goods like rods and reels I enjoy having nice things so I patiently watch and wait until I can find a really good deal on something. I'm honestly not willing to skimp on any link in the rod-reel-line Holy Trinity so I have to make up ground elsewhere, be it a reel that needs repair or one that has a bit of age, etc. I am pretty much maxed out for rod slots right now too, so I have to sell something to get something and rolling the sale money into the purchase of the next item helps take some out-of-pocket sting out.
Also I've recently developed a way to help my passion pay for itself. I originally got a cheap aluminum boat for the simple fact that I couldn't afford a bigger better one. I've been a custom metal fabrication guy pretty much my whole life, so it obviously ended up turning into a project that spiraled into an actual long-term plan after I experienced nonstop positive feedback everywhere I brought it. Long story short, in the past year I've started plucking cheap but solid aluminum boats off CL and stockpiling them over the winter. Come spring I will have a couple fully rebuilt like the one I made for myself (shown below) so I can sell them, reinvesting the cash threefold: a ~5hp or less gas motor for my boat shown below (I want to Quabbin seal it this year), a new kayak and at least one more project boat to rehab and flip to keep the work/gear/cash/fish/rinse/repeat flow alive. See, I may not *have* the money for much of what I want, but with hard work and some determination I know I can work my way into where I want to be over time and that's important to remember. Having a side gig does help compartmentalize the cost of fishing though too. My PayPal is almost like my ghetto fishing/business account lol.
I mean, who wouldn't want one of these little guys? 
Full custom configuration too, imagination and money are the only limiting factors for a buyer.
So yeah, it's all about examining your strengths and developing a plan to get where you want to be. There's always a way, even if it requires a lot of effort, time, research and planning. Anything worth having is worth earning though IMO. I don't mind spending dough because I like nice things, but I do need to feel like I got a good value before I will spend my hard earned cash, that much I will say for sure.
the reel ess reply :
When I use a Zoom Trick Worm T-rigged, as I do more than any other worm, after a few bites it gets torn on the head. Bite off a half inch and re-rig it. I believe I get more bites on the smaller one and the action is better if you're jerking it, no pun intended.
the reel ess reply :
On 1/6/2016 at 11:02 PM, Master Bait'r said:
Awesome!
Racerx reply :
On 1/6/2016 at 10:37 PM, the reel ess said:The most rip-roaring deal in spinning reels I have ever come across is the Pfleuger Trion. $40 all day, every day, everywhere it's sold. It's a tad heavier than the next model up the line, but I believe all the running gear is the same. Smooth, doesn't twist, works well with braid, and great drag. I'll buy another when the old BPS Viper reel wears out (if it ever does).
Yup! I love my Trion. I have 3 kids, all going to Catholic school, and the oldest is about to go to college. I can't afford high end gear. I have the Trion, and Shimano Sierra, a Pinnacle Matrix Signature, hell, even an in-house Walmart spinning reel for $15 that works amazingly, all on Either Berkley Cherrywood Hds, or Field And Stream Inferno rods. I'm doing this for fun, not tourney money, so how can I justify dropping serious bucks on high end gear? Simple: I can't.
the reel ess reply :
On 1/6/2016 at 11:18 PM, Racerx said:Yup! I love my Trion. I have 3 kids, all going to Catholic school, and the oldest is about to go to college. I can't afford high end gear. I have the Trion, and Shimano Sierra, a Pinnacle Matrix Signature, hell, even an in-house Walmart spinning reel for $15 that works amazingly, all on Either Berkley Cherrywood Hds, or Field And Stream Inferno rods. I'm doing this for fun, not tourney money, so how can I justify dropping serious bucks on high end gear? Simple: I can't.
I have an UL Academy Sports brand Tournament Choice spinning reel that works like gangbusters for $19.99. I fish one pond that only has small bass and big bluegills in it and I always take that combo there.
roadwarrior reply :
On 1/6/2016 at 10:54 PM, imagine29028 said:Know a few solid colors of lures and stick to them. All the different varities of colors dont matter to a fish. All those Flecks and flakes dont matter!!! Once you find something that works (rod, line, soft plastic, etc) STICK WITH IT!!!! Buy it in bulk...stop experimenting.
WHAT?
Blasphemy!
Sometimes neither color nor profile are important, but sometimes they are critical.
FloridaFishinFool reply :
On 1/6/2016 at 11:02 PM, Master Bait'r said:I've been a custom metal fabrication guy pretty much my whole life, so it obviously ended up turning into a project that spiraled into an actual long-term plan after I experienced nonstop positive feedback everywhere I brought it.
I may not *have* the money for much of what I want, but with hard work and some determination I know I can work my way into where I want to be over time and that's important to remember.
I mean, who wouldn't want one of these little guys?
Wow! I do the same thing! I also use to do metal fabrication and working on aluminum boats is a breeze! Someone gave me an old 1973 AlumaCraft with a shattered transom because they used a 60hp outboard on a transom rated for a 20hp. So he gave me the old boat for free. I spent an entire winter overhauling it and customizing it, but I added a yamaha 25hp 4-stroke outboard that is a perfect match for the 14 footer. Here is what it looked like before and after:
For a free boat, a few modifications and presto! Instant bass fishing boat on the cheap and it can take me to where many fiberglass boats can not go because they draft too deeply and will ground out when this one keeps on going and going. I can go all day on a gallon of gas too. And I added a rectifier/regulator to the outboard and now charges the trolling battery as I run it. That cost $25 and was well worth it.
I used no wood in this overhaul. But one difference between your boat and mine is that front deck. I used all plastic and aluminum. That front deck is all aluminum angle framing, but covered in expanded foam PVC plastic sheeting in 2 pieces with hinged access to below where the batteries and fuel tank are stored out of the way under the front deck. I wanted an open floor in the boat without lots of obstacles.
I only used an 1/4" aluminum plate under the casting seat and raised it up another 1/4" to match the thickness of the plastic decking I used to keep weight down, and the plastic decking was a 1/3 the price of an all aluminum deck. In this next photo you can see how I extended the casting deck back another foot by using some custom made L brackets I hand hammered to fit this boat and used all aluminum hardware. Stepping up and down on the deck is solid now and I am not stressing those weak old seat rivets which would eventually tear out of the thin hull. My extension method hanging the rear of the casting deck from the upper railing takes all of the weight with ease and is not dependent on the hull for support back there.
In total I spent maybe $1500 on it- including the 4- stroker, but it is like new and takes me where ever I want to go for freshwater fishing.
I did add a Lowrance dual scan sonar with GPS and mapping...
Aluminum boats do save money, and are cheaper to maintain over the long term. It may not be as nice as a fiberglass boat, but it is more important to me to be able to go into places to fish that fiberglass bass boats simply can not go!
the reel ess reply :
On 1/6/2016 at 11:35 PM, roadwarrior said:WHAT?
Blasphemy!
Sometimes neither color nor profile are important, but sometimes they are critical.
Better to have the wrong lure in the right location than the opposite. Then selection and color comes into play.
I use Trick Worms a lot. I have bags full of the natural colors like watermelon and pumpkinseed that never get used. The bubble gum, limetreuse and methiolate are always in need of replenishing.
I used to buy a chrome, firetiger and natural shad color of every hardbait. Now that I fish a place where the main forage is gold shiners, I buy only gold shiner or gold chrome.
Color matters even less for topwaters. Fish simply don't care what it is. They MUST KILL IT! I caught two Saturday on a black spinnerbait with a huge black Colorado blade. I don't know what that resembles, but they bit it.
FloridaFishinFool reply :
I get a kick out of fishermen in Florida worrying about color in dark waters where you can not see your hand 6 inches below the waterline.
If you can't see your hand only 6 inches down with good light, how in the heck is a fish going to see what color a lure is 3 or 4 feet deep or deeper? They can't! In that situation color does not matter in my opinion.
Oh but wait! Purple works better than black!
Uh huh... sure it does.
Sometimes us fishermen worry about details that in the real world simply don't matter as much as some think they do!
Master Bait'r reply :
On 1/6/2016 at 11:37 PM, FloridaFishinFool said:Wow! I do the same thing! I also use to do metal fabrication and working on aluminum boats is a breeze! Someone gave me an old 1973 AlumaCraft with a shattered transom because they used a 60hp outboard on a transom rated for a 20hp. So he gave me the old boat for free. I spent an entire winter overhauling it and customizing it, but I added a yamaha 25hp 4-stroke outboard that is a perfect match for the 14 footer. Here is what it looked like before and after:
For a free boat, a few modifications and presto! Instant bass fishing boat on the cheap and it can take me to where many fiberglass boats can not go because they draft too deeply and will ground out when this one keeps on going and going. I can go all day on a gallon of gas too. And I added a rectifier/regulator to the outboard and now charges the trolling battery as I run it. That cost $25 and was well worth it.
I used no wood in this overhaul. But one difference between your boat and mine is that front deck. I used all plastic and aluminum. That front deck is all aluminum angle framing, but covered in expanded foam PVC plastic sheeting in 2 pieces with hinged access to below where the batteries and fuel tank are stored out of the way under the front deck. I wanted an open floor in the boat without lots of obstacles.
I only used an 1/4" aluminum plate under the casting seat and raised it up another 1/4" to match the thickness of the plastic decking I used to keep weight down, and the plastic decking was a 1/3 the price of an all aluminum deck. In this next photo you can see how I extended the casting deck back another foot by using some custom made L brackets I hand hammered to fit this boat and used all aluminum hardware. Stepping up and down on the deck is solid now and I am not stressing those weak old seat rivets which would eventually tear out of the thin hull. My extension method hanging the rear of the casting deck from the upper railing takes all of the weight with ease and is not dependent on the hull for support back there.
In total I spent maybe $1500 on it- including the 4- stroker, but it is like new and takes me where ever I want to go for freshwater fishing.
I did add a Lowrance dual scan sonar with GPS and mapping...
Aluminum boats do save money, and are cheaper to maintain over the long term. It may not be as nice as a fiberglass boat, but it is more important to me to be able to go into places to fish that fiberglass bass boats simply can not go!
Nice! I like how clean it is and that front storage is pretty cool! Nice work on the brackets. I just want a small ~5hp motor though, that 25hp would straight up flip my boat haha- That white would have me in tears though, my eyes are too sensitive to light for a color that bright inside. Check out the full build thread I made when I was doing all the work to my boat, I think you'll appreciate the details that went into it for sure! I love projects. making something amazing from something neglected is always a rewarding feeling. I may not be able to afford to buy a nice bass boat outright but I can sure make myself a sweet one!
http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/155730-its-official-i-have-a-project-the-dream-12er/
Evan K reply :
Those are some sweet boats!
fisherrw reply :
I always try to buy my fishing stuff when it's one sale and I shop eBay and Craigslist and the flea market for used rods and reels. Although I occasionally buy a new rod reels I almost always buy used.
Arobb2012 reply :
This thread is awesome. I knew I wasn't the only cheapskate towards buying fishing gear.
I only buy lures that are on sale and try to get them on clearance if I can. I always check closeout bins too.
I have received my kayak and 2 rod and real outfits for Christmas or father's day. My kayak and baitcast combo were Christmas presents and my wife was able to get them for half price by getting them on Black Friday sales.
Last year my health insurance gave us gift cards for filling out health assessments, so I chose bps gift cards and used them during the classic sale last year.
Edit: I forgot add that a local mom and pop tackle shop also pours their own jig heads for a very reasonable price. They have a tubs bait and grub bar that has tiny crappie tubes and grubs up to flipping tube and 5-6 inch grubs.
Edited by Arobb2012Forgot a couple of things
buzzed bait reply :
it's been said before, but didn't see it in this thread....
MEND IT
the stuff can keep your soft plastics together for much longer than you'd imagine
Murrica reply :
A lot of my lures I buy used or from Cabelas clearance section. I have picked up a lot of lucky crafts lately the lvr's and pointers for 5.99. Plus a lot of the baits I like are discontinued so finding them used is the best way so I don't pay an arm and a leg. Swim baits are another thing to buy used if you find the right deal. I have purchased some lure lots that have some expensive discontinued baits I don't use and resold them to pay for the lot.
imagine29028 reply :
On 1/6/2016 at 11:47 PM, the reel ess said:
Color matters even less for topwaters. Fish simply don't care what it is. They MUST KILL IT! I caught two Saturday on a black spinnerbait with a huge black Colorado blade. I don't know what that resembles, but they bit it.
EXACTLY!!!! Dont understand the 'need 8 Frog colors' argument....they hit it because its on the surface creating a disturbance, just like.....FOOD! Black, White, maybe Green....MAX.
the reel ess reply :
On 1/7/2016 at 1:06 AM, imagine29028 said:EXACTLY!!!! Dont understand the 'need 8 Frog colors' argument....they hit it because its on the surface creating a disturbance, just like.....FOOD! Black, White, maybe Green....MAX.
No need for more than a couple colors of frog. And I figure why get them in colors fish don't see. So I usually use the frog color. IT'S A FROG!
Murrica reply :
On 1/7/2016 at 3:03 AM, the reel ess said:No need for more than a couple colors of frog. And I figure why get them in colors fish don't see. So I usually use the frog color. IT'S A FROG!
I wasted money when I first bought frogs and bought every color. Just don't cheap out on the brand on them (some fill with water and sink on the first cast). White, Black and Chartreuse are the only colors really needed and if you find a deal on frogs and all they have is white use a chartreuse or black paint marker and paint the bellies those colors.
Fishes in trees reply :
I try to go cheap and some of the time I am successful. I take that back, I try to go inexpensive. There is a difference between inexpensive and "cheap". I don't do cheap. Cheap stuff breaks and causes more issues. That's why I nearly always buy Shimano. That's why I nearly always buy rods that have a lifetime warranty. Fenwick HMG's and AETOS have been my last few rod purchases, primarily for that reason. I hear lots of people talk about Dobbyns rods, but there is only one shop in the metro area that carries them and it is a drive to get there. Different issue. However, if there is a piece of tackle out there and I want it and I can afford it I just go ahead and buy it. When I'm dead I'll let someone else sort out all the gear. I justify it be reminding myself that I don't have very many other bad habits other than fishing. Is drinking craft beer a bad habit? I don't know.
the reel ess reply :
On 1/7/2016 at 4:26 AM, Fishes in trees said:I try to go cheap and some of the time I am successful. I take that back, I try to go inexpensive. There is a difference between inexpensive and "cheap". I don't do cheap. Cheap stuff breaks and causes more issues. That's why I nearly always buy Shimano. That's why I nearly always buy rods that have a lifetime warranty. Fenwick HMG's and AETOS have been my last few rod purchases, primarily for that reason. I hear lots of people talk about Dobbyns rods, but there is only one shop in the metro area that carries them and it is a drive to get there. Different issue. However, if there is a piece of tackle out there and I want it and I can afford it I just go ahead and buy it. When I'm dead I'll let someone else sort out all the gear. I justify it be reminding myself that I don't have very many other bad habits other than fishing. Is drinking craft beer a bad habit? I don't know.
I drink craft beer as well. I like to taste good beer and there's no turning back from that. There are some things I won't skimp on. For instance, I use PowerPro braid, Gamakatsu hooks, all my reels with the exception of one I'm about to replace is good quality. I bought a new fishing kayak that's middle-of-the-road, price wise, while my buddy was telling me they're for sale on Craigslist all the time for $100-150 (his now has a leak and I let him use my daughters-oh, how I wish it was pink!). I'm no longer in the market for the cheapest of every lure at Walmart. I take my time choosing exactly what I want.
I want good quality. I just don't want to pay for it!
BIGDFISHERMAN reply :
I always look for sales and clearance for things I want but if I need it or think I need it then it gets bought no matter the price if I have the money. I have been known to walk shorelines when lakes or ponds are low and gather lures, even shimmied up a tree or two for nice ones. I also tend to use plastics until they are destroyed, won't stay hooked, or fish just flat won't touch them. Once in a while I grab a rod or reel from thrift stores, yard sales, or pawnshops, have even pulled some from trash cans and out of the water and repaired.
buzzed bait reply :
On 1/7/2016 at 7:14 AM, BIGDFISHERMAN said:I always look for sales and clearance for things I want but if I need it or think I need it then it gets bought no matter the price if I have the money. I have been known to walk shorelines when lakes or ponds are low and gather lures, even shimmied up a tree or two for nice ones. I also tend to use plastics until they are destroyed, won't stay hooked, or fish just flat won't touch them. Once in a while I grab a rod or reel from thrift stores, yard sales, or pawnshops, have even pulled some from trash cans and out of the water and repaired.
@chriwkbrd can tell you that i almost fell out of my kayak on sunday trying to rescue a baby torpedo i saw dangling from a tree and it was about 30 degrees out.......
badhatharry reply :
I don't know about where you live, but every time I go to my favorite lake it cost's me $20 to launch. I can buy a lot of gear for $20. I contacted the city hall and was told I could buy an annual pass for $120. I average probably 30 launches a year there so the math even makes sense to me. 
Fishing Rhino reply :
On 1/6/2016 at 10:54 PM, imagine29028 said:Only buy tackle that works in your water conditions. No need for 10xd if youre a bank fisherman or fish shallow water.
Know a few solid colors of lures and stick to them. All the different varities of colors dont matter to a fish. All those Flecks and flakes dont matter!!!
Custom painted lures are a way to throw money in the toilet. Those catch fisherman, not more fish. Think a 5lber looks at a crankbait and can see the custom painted gills??? Cmon ya'll....these are little fish with little brains. They react to things in their environment.
Once you find something that works (rod, line, soft plastic, etc) STICK WITH IT!!!! Buy it in bulk...stop experimenting.
my $0.02
Fish may have small brains, but that doesn't mean they don't process much information. Consider salmon, herring, and some other species. They spawn in fresh water. Some die after spawning, others return to the sea along with the year class, and are able to process enough information through smell to return to the spawning grounds. Some on a yearly basis, while others spend a few years at sea before returning to their birthplace.
If that pea brain can navigate to the open ocean and then return to their birthplace, that pea brain can process a lot of information. Two fishermen can fish the same bait, yet one will consistently outfish the other based on nothing else but presentation.
I would say we'll have to agree to disagree on the importance of coloration. If a fish can precisely navigate thousands of square miles of oceans, with their currents, and sea conditions, who am I to limit what their tiny brain is capable of processing.
I've seen times when striper fishing that they wanted a certain color and could not be bothered with anything else even though the only difference in the bait was color. They would fight each other to get to a fluorescent red, pink, or orange hoochie troll (a bait that has not been around for decades), but would not give those colors a sniff if they weren't fluorescent. I'm talking about stripers that were in a feeding frenzy, or a blitz, if you prefer. As soon as you'd engage the reel after paying out line, you'd get hit. You could tow the non fluorescent for miles without a hit.
There have been days when color did not seem to matter, but on other days it has been critical.
Bankbeater reply :
First off, those are cool boats! Secondly, the best way I have found to save money is to ask for gift cards for holidays, birthdays, etc. It really makes a difference when you are buying a $200 reel and only need to spend $30 in cash.
soflabasser reply :
When it comes to fishing I only buy what I need and don't waste my money on overpriced fishing gear.Bass don't care how much your gear is worth ,Bass care how you present the lure to them!My favorite bass rod/reel is less than $100 and it has caught me enough fish to prove to me I don't need expensive gear to catch a bass.
FloridaFishinFool reply :
In an earlier comment I mentioned that I now use a particular yamamoto lure because I hate messing around with skirts. So I found a one-piece molded rubber bait that works just as well in most circumstances and saves me a lot of time and trouble while out fishing.
With this lure I do not have to buy jigs, skirts, and trailers. I just buy this one lure, rig it weedless with or without weight and go to town with it. I use it a lot for flipping, pitching, and punching through vegetation and I do not have to mess with it no where near as much as I have with jigs with skirts and trailers.
So I got a couple of PM's asking which bait it is and here it is- the Yamamoto Hula grub double tail. I absolutely love this thing!
I guess Gary Yamamoto hates messing with skirts as much as I do! Thanks Gary! Wish there were more like this one on the market!
cgolf reply :
I like what you guys did with your boats, really slick. I did something similar with my 16 foot alumacraft Kit boat. I ended up putting depth finders front an back, but both transducers are on the back due to the 80lb terrovas terrible design for transducers and all the interference it gives off, thankfully with the short boat I don't lose much because of this. The trolling motor was a much needed upgrade from the 55lb motor that came with it
I did add a removable front deck next to the front so that I can lay down 7 and 8 foot rods on deck. As you can see from the picture it is a bit tight, but for 60k less I can make it work. I also added a new storage bit on the front with leftover plywood from the deck and treated 2x4s I had lying around. The only thing I need to add to that is putting a piece of tarp or cloth on top that hangs over to give better sun protection to bottles of scent or bags of Zman baits I don't want to roast in the sun.
Scott F reply :
I've saved hundreds of dollars by using the same rod and reel combo for several different lures, by adjusting my technique, instead of having a different combo for every lure I own. I've saved tens of thousands of dollars by being happy with my 28 year old boat that only goes 35mph and not trying to shave a few minutes off my travel time on the water with a 250 hp bullet. I've also saved a lot of money by realizing years ago that the angler is the biggest difference between catching and not catching, not the lures. I'm immune to the bait monkey.
whitwolf reply :
This is always an Interesting topic when It comes up and I truly enjoy the exchange of Ideas. I tend to be a little brand loyal when It comes to certain things and simply won't buy something different.
As for money saving, like others I try to buy on sale and only with age has It become readily clear that buying what you can use means you don't have to buy everything "new" that comes out each year.
As for the color debate I'm a bit like Rhino In that I do believe that at times It will make a difference. It's certainly situation dependent I suppose but I choose to be over-prepared as opposed to the opposite.
Lastly, I can only address the custom painted debate with this: No matter what you're using If you have a great amount of confidence In that bait more than likely you're going to use it and in the end you're going to catch fish.
cgolf reply :
I too agree that custom painted and super detailed cranks are overrated and overpriced. I do think color matters and have lived through it a lot fishing clear water. With Crankbaits I just make sure the bait has the colors of the prey I want to match in it to give the bass the illusion it is say eating a bluegill.
Jaheff reply :
The cheap 1.97 Cotten Cordells lipless crankbaits in the bargain bin at Wally world work great in shallow water. I've never had to tune any of them out of the package, can't say that about RES.
Senko lover reply :
Don't know if these have been mentioned, but here ya go:
-Mend it
-Berkley Havoc
-Yum
-Flea Market
-Bargain Bins/Clearance
-Dick's Sporting Goods
primetime reply :
I spend most of my money on jigs, weights, terminal tackle etc...I find most of my rods end up rigged with jigs and soft plastics at the end of the day lately, and maybe a jerkbait. I try to limit my colors to 5-7 in total, and a few different sizes and actions...
most days a Jig of some style, or a soft bait of some style will work...In fact, I could probably fish with a Power worm or Culprit and some weights and be good most days...
Buckeye Ron reply :
I've learned to save money by staying focused on what catches fish for me and staying with that vs spending a fortune on the latest "gotta have it" lures. That's one advantage of getting older in that you've been around long enough to know what works to catch fish and not the fisherman!
My tackle boxes are filled with a lot of older lures in traditional colors that have proven effective for me in the areas I frequently fish.
I use primarily Yum ribbon tail worms in three colors. Same with plastic craws. Spinner baits in white,chartreuse,and black or blue. I quit trying to have every blade combination and now use either Colorado or Willow blades only.
Topwater baits in frog,black,or something shad colored.
I buy lures on EBay but I am very rigid when it comes to the price I'll pay for used lures. It's amazing how much people will pay for used lures,but I refuse to get caught up in that. A lure would have to be very special to get $10.00 of my money,and that includes shipping!
These are just some of the ways I save money on my gear.
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 1/6/2016 at 11:02 PM, Master Bait'r said:Money saving tip #1: Block BR, 'that auction site' and all international storefronts from your browser haha
Really though, elaztechs whenever possible and mend-it for all the other soft baits. Plastics are often overlooked in terms of expense, but the longer they last the less they cost. One would be wise to squeeze every cast possible out of a bait before you retire it. I throw all my broken plastics in a ziploc bag and go through them when I get home to see if anything is salvageable, there always is.
In terms of hard goods like rods and reels I enjoy having nice things so I patiently watch and wait until I can find a really good deal on something. I'm honestly not willing to skimp on any link in the rod-reel-line Holy Trinity so I have to make up ground elsewhere, be it a reel that needs repair or one that has a bit of age, etc. I am pretty much maxed out for rod slots right now too, so I have to sell something to get something and rolling the sale money into the purchase of the next item helps take some out-of-pocket sting out.
Also I've recently developed a way to help my passion pay for itself. I originally got a cheap aluminum boat for the simple fact that I couldn't afford a bigger better one. I've been a custom metal fabrication guy pretty much my whole life, so it obviously ended up turning into a project that spiraled into an actual long-term plan after I experienced nonstop positive feedback everywhere I brought it. Long story short, in the past year I've started plucking cheap but solid aluminum boats off CL and stockpiling them over the winter. Come spring I will have a couple fully rebuilt like the one I made for myself (shown below) so I can sell them, reinvesting the cash threefold: a ~5hp or less gas motor for my boat shown below (I want to Quabbin seal it this year), a new kayak and at least one more project boat to rehab and flip to keep the work/gear/cash/fish/rinse/repeat flow alive. See, I may not *have* the money for much of what I want, but with hard work and some determination I know I can work my way into where I want to be over time and that's important to remember. Having a side gig does help compartmentalize the cost of fishing though too. My PayPal is almost like my ghetto fishing/business account lol.
I mean, who wouldn't want one of these little guys?
So yeah, it's all about examining your strengths and developing a plan to get where you want to be. There's always a way, even if it requires a lot of effort, time, research and planning. Anything worth having is worth earning though IMO. I don't mind spending dough because I like nice things, but I do need to feel like I got a good value before I will spend my hard earned cash, that much I will say for sure.
Do you have any pictures of these other projects?
scaleface reply :
I dont buy jig trailers. As long as its a decent color I use whatever piece of torn up plastic thats lying on the bottom of the boat .
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 1/7/2016 at 10:28 AM, FloridaFishinFool said:In an earlier comment I mentioned that I now use a particular yamamoto lure because I hate messing around with skirts. So I found a one-piece molded rubber bait that works just as well in most circumstances and saves me a lot of time and trouble while out fishing.
With this lure I do not have to buy jigs, skirts, and trailers. I just buy this one lure, rig it weedless with or without weight and go to town with it. I use it a lot for flipping, pitching, and punching through vegetation and I do not have to mess with it no where near as much as I have with jigs with skirts and trailers.
So I got a couple of PM's asking which bait it is and here it is- the Yamamoto Hula grub double tail. I absolutely love this thing!
I guess Gary Yamamoto hates messing with skirts as much as I do! Thanks Gary! Wish there were more like this one on the market!
Big Bite Baits makes a similar bait for 1/2 the price of the Yamamoto.
FloridaFishinFool reply :
On 1/18/2016 at 7:03 AM, HoosierHawgs said:Big Bite Baits makes a similar bait for 1/2 the price of the Yamamoto.
I know! But they also have discontinued it! Try finding it on their website. Presently I have found a couple of bait companies making a similar bait as this one and I am buying them. It is a great multipurpose bait I plan on expanding its use this next year. I am working on rigging it on a spinner set up, I use it for flipping and pitching too.
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 1/18/2016 at 7:17 AM, FloridaFishinFool said:I know! But they also have discontinued it! Try finding it on their website. Presently I have found a couple of bait companies making a similar bait as this one and I am buying them. It is a great multipurpose bait I plan on expanding its use this next year. I am working on rigging it on a spinner set up, I use it for flipping and pitching too.
That sucks, must be the last batch at the Gander Mt. then. I really like the Big Bite Baits they save me a lot of money buy being very inexpensive. They are supple as any other good plastic on the market, so they aren't amazingly durable, but I'm not as worried about durability when I am paying for 1/3 of the price for a bait that has an action that is just as good!
cgolf reply :
On 1/18/2016 at 7:26 AM, HoosierHawgs said:That sucks, must be the last batch at the Gander Mt. then. I really like the Big Bite Baits they save me a lot of money buy being very inexpensive. They are supple as any other good plastic on the market, so they aren't amazingly durable, but I'm not as worried about durability when I am paying for 1/3 of the price for a bait that has an action that is just as good!
Didn't they start out as a pouring house for others and then start selling their own line too? I have a couple of their baits, but have really taken a liking to YUMs new price point.
Master Bait'r reply :
On 1/18/2016 at 2:41 AM, HoosierHawgs said:Do you have any pictures of these other projects?
Boats? They're hull up in my yard until the ski season beats me up enough to start staying home on the weekends haha
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 1/18/2016 at 8:38 AM, cgolf said:Didn't they start out as a pouring house for others and then start selling their own line too? I have a couple of their baits, but have really taken a liking to YUMs new price point.
The new Yum price point is great. I wasn't a big Yum fan until they went to the $2.99 for everything after they discontinued the F2 scent
imagine29028 reply :
On 1/18/2016 at 10:58 AM, HoosierHawgs said:The new Yum price point is great. I wasn't a big Yum fan until they went to the $2.99 for everything after they discontinued the F2 scent
yup...picked up some Christie Craws at Walmart...the legs remind me of a Rage Tail
Ringonu reply :
On 1/6/2016 at 10:37 PM, the reel ess said:The most rip-roaring deal in spinning reels I have ever come across is the Pfleuger Trion. $40 all day, every day, everywhere it's sold. It's a tad heavier than the next model up the line, but I believe all the running gear is the same. Smooth, doesn't twist, works well with braid, and great drag. I'll buy another when the old BPS Viper reel wears out (if it ever does).
I have a local auction that sells Amazon returns. I look for their combos with broken rods. Picked up two Trion reels for $25 total. Love those reels.
EricTheAngler reply :
On 1/18/2016 at 1:39 PM, imagine29028 said:yup...picked up some Christie Craws at Walmart...the legs remind me of a Rage Tail
I like to use them on jigs!
primetime reply :
You can actually get everything for free and make money if you bring your phone with you and get a deal on clearance lures at any store...Often you can approach a manager if they are stuck with a certain item that is popular on Ebay, and if you walk into a fishing store on the right day, you may just find that they have a rack full of Mepps spinners and panther martins in say a sports authority like here in Florida, so nobody buys them, so I will just buy all of them for crazy discounts..
Just keep it simple..Buy a few colors, few sizes and this way you can list all items at one time, and I know it seems like work but I recently found a bunch of savage lures for $3 and grabbed a cart full, they ended up being slightly less, only grabbed 3 types, 3 colors, had em listed before I left the store but now I made a few bucks and also have half dozen savage lures I would neve buy since they retail for $10 plus in most cases...Line is another good one...Sports authority will do 75% off of Suffix braid at times etc...Stuff like that, if spro frogs are buy 2 get one free and on sale, I don't mind selling 6 to get 2 free....Just a thought, less stress than starting a legit business....and also just buy house brand lures from Academy....They work as good as any for me....
kbeeb374 reply :
On 1/6/2016 at 10:08 PM, the reel ess said:I have wondered if RC was ashamed his name was on that reel.
I was actually in his boat as a marshal during a tournament last year and was pleasantly surprised to find that every single baitcaster he used was one of those. Now he probably had some upgraded components but I'm not so sure. He also used almost exclusively, his own Luck-e-strike lures that had his name on it as well. So I would say he probably isn't ashamed of them (regardless of whether or not he should be :p). Oh and probably 80% of his rods were those turquoise ones everyone seems to hate haha.
cgolf reply :
On 2/6/2016 at 2:32 AM, kbeeb374 said:I was actually in his boat as a marshal during a tournament last year and was pleasantly surprised to find that every single baitcaster he used was one of those. Now he probably had some upgraded components but I'm not so sure. He also used almost exclusively, his own Luck-e-strike lures that had his name on it as well. So I would say he probably isn't ashamed of them (regardless of whether or not he should be :p). Oh and probably 80% of his rods were those turquoise ones everyone seems to hate haha.
I actually really like the turquoise sticks. I carried one in my truck last summer and it saw over 100 trips of use and abuse. A tad heavy but very comfortable to fish, and I scored 2 of them for 50 a couple of years ago at DSG
Scarborough817 reply :
the best money saving idea i have had is to kill that d**n bait monkey
kbeeb374 reply :
On 2/6/2016 at 2:56 AM, cgolf said:I actually really like the turquoise sticks. I carried one in my truck last summer and it saw over 100 trips of use and abuse. A tad heavy but very comfortable to fish, and I scored 2 of them for 50 a couple of years ago at DSG
Yeah I actually think they look awesome as well but for some reason I haven't heard of many people liking them very much.
cgolf reply :
On 2/6/2016 at 4:06 AM, kbeeb374 said:Yeah I actually think they look awesome as well but for some reason I haven't heard of many people liking them very much.
The squarebill rod works really nice for that purpose on the river. Tossed SK100s along with their new shallow SB and bandit 100s with it.
Last_Cast reply :
Who doesnt like saving some money!?
I tend to just look for those awesome sales/deals.
Sometimes I dont.
Depends on my mood.
related Fishing Tackle topic
previous topic
© 2024 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.