Do you find that this sport is made difficult and expensive for no reason? 2024
Glaucus reply :
As the years go by, I'm finding that, more and more, a vast majority of my bass fishing gear and supplies is, for all intents and purposes, useless. There is seldom a time when I need anything but a M/F casting setup and a M/F spinning setup. If I'm at the river, I really only use KVD 1.5's, a Whopper Plopper 90, and the Ned Rig. If I'm at a pond, I really only use 1/4oz Rat-L-Traps, a Whopper Plopper 90, and 4in/5in Senkos (2/0-3/0 Gammy EWG Hooks for Texas Rigging - 1/0 Gammy Octopus Circle Hooks for Wacky Rigging). I fish from the middle of April to the middle of October.
I look around at my supplies and think about all the money sitting here for no reason because I don't use the stuff - it caught me, not the fish. And I catch a lot of fish. The shelves of stores are filled with a plethora of different lures and tackle and gear. At my first tournament last week (3rd place), most guys were in decked out Jon Boats. One guy had a $60,000 bass boat. Another guy chuckled and quietly said to me, "The man's got a 60,000 dollar rig and catches the same fish as everybody else." I'm not talking down about people who have amazing boats, a garage full of tackle, 20 different rods, etc. I just got to thinking about the fact that most of my stuff is unused and I rarely deviate from what I have found that works and that I'm most comfortable and confident with. Not too long ago I was fishing with a friend who was using spinnerbait he was really excited about, catching fish few and far between, and I'm just doing my thing, tossing a Wacky Rig and catching all of 'em.
To newcomers it can be overwhelming. It can be overwhelming to those of us who have fished for awhile. And it really doesn't need to be.
Serious tournament fishing and trophy hunting is obviously a different story. I think for us who are Average Joe's who just like to fish, we can get carried away.
Bluebasser86 reply :
I think part of what makes this sport so great is you can make it as complicated or as simple as you wish. We have members like @Team9nine who are more into understanding the fish and keeping tackle simple, and have tremendous results in doing so. We have lots of folks in the middle of the road that like having some of the new gadgets, but don't go too crazy. Then there's guys that have the biggest, fastest boats and limited run JDM rods and reels just for the sake of having them. I can't say that the guys in the fast boat catch more fish that Team9nine catches with his pocket of baits and single rod and reel from the shore, because the fish don't care who you are, what you do for a living, what your views are, all they care about is that thing is close enough for me to catch and looks like food.
I think things like Midwest Finesse are a prime example of bass fishermen needing to make things too complicated. It's a technique based in simplicity and frugality, and now you can buy all variations of heads for it that almost all go for a dollar or more apiece, a lot of them not even fitting the simple guidelines of what makes it MWF fishing (a TRD on a 1/4oz head isn't a Ned rig, it's a jigworm). There's all sorts of expensive "Ned" worms out there now that only last a few fish. It's a small thing, but I think it's funny how we manage to make even something so simple into something so complicated and expensive.
Is it more expensive for no reason? Not really for no reason, those fancy toys serve their purpose, but they're not a requirement. Just like a guy doesn't need a Corvette or other fancy car to get to work, but I think there's probably not many out there that wouldn't do it if they had the money to throw away.
Me personally, I'm stuck in this constant battle of not really needing anything, but man that new bait coming out sure does look cool! I've downsized a lot of gear, still own more than I could ever really need, but it's doesn't feel out of hand like it use to. I use to find baits that appeared to be years old that I have no idea when or where I got them. I like both sides, being able to grab a rod or two and shove a couple bags of plastics in my pockets and walk the banks, and I also like tying on a $200 swimbait onto my custom built swimbait rod in search of a single bite I probably won't get that day, and we think the fish are hard to understand ????
CroakHunter reply :
I fish about 10 times a year (maybe). I own 14 combos and have 9 3600 tackle boxes crammed to their limits. Do I need all of this? Nope. But I sure wouldn't enjoy my time out if I could only fish a few techniques and had to use just a few rods. I like stuff. Not necessarily high end stuff. But I like having my options. It's what makes fishing so fun. People can have their own views and preferences on how they want to fish but it doesn't make any of them a better angler.
J.Vincent reply :
Absolutely, this sport can be expensive. But it can also be inexpensive; it really depends on the angler.
The Bassman reply :
We're no different than women with their purses and shoes. We're wired to want to buy things. The industry thrives on that. The OP said exactly what I've considered posting at other times. In all honesty some of my best outings are when I grab a rod with only the lure that's attached and a pair of pliers for hook removal. Conversely, some of my least productive trips have resulted from having too many choices.
Catt reply :
The #1 key to consistently catching bass is between your ears not between the folds of your wallet.
Pickle_Power reply :
On 7/16/2018 at 5:22 PM, The Bassman said:In all honesty some of my best outings are when I grab a rod with only the lure that's attached and a pair of pliers for hook removal. Conversely, some of my least productive trips have resulted from having too many choices.
Well said!
BuzzHudson19c reply :
It's the same with every hobby, it's only as expensive as you want it to be. You can buy a $300 mossberg or $1700 Benelli. A $8,000 Yamaha or a $25,000 Harley. Harbor freight ratchet set or a Snap On one. It's not the debate about if expensive is better, it just that fact that we have so many options, which is always a good thing.
Does more stuff make something more fun? That's a completely subjective question.
Wurming67 reply :
On 7/16/2018 at 5:22 PM, The Bassman said:We're no different than women with their purses and shoes. We're wired to want to buy things. The industry thrives on that. The OP said exactly what I've considered posting at other times. In all honesty some of my best outings are when I grab a rod with only the lure that's attached and a pair of pliers for hook removal. Conversely, some of my least productive trips have resulted from having too many choices.
Totally agree,I believe it's more about finding them than lure just my humble opinion
TOXIC reply :
Couple of things to remember. Lure/Bait/rod/reel/electronics/Trolling motors/boat companies are in business to make $$. You can't rest on your laurels in the fishing industry so there always something bigger and better. My attitude has always been you can't put a price on happiness, so I buy what makes me happy and what I can afford. I like the comfort ans speed of a big boat for example but won't spend $70k or more on it so I have a used big boat. I am lucky enough to have sponsors so I concentrate on their products and don't get tempted by others. This year on my annual trip to St Clair, we had a friend come in from Australia and I bounced around between a few boats so he could fish with everyone in our group. When he got in my regular partners boat he discovered all of my discarded/used baits in his cup holder (that's where I put them to be thrown away at the end of the day) and he caught fish all day long by re-purposing my throwaways. 
Cost to him -0-.
scaleface reply :
Know what you mean . I have thirty year old lures that have not gotten wet .
lo n slo reply :
On 7/16/2018 at 5:51 PM, Catt said:The #1 key to consistently catching bass is between your ears not between the folds of your wallet.
well said
NHBull reply :
The two things that go through my mind when reading this thread is
1. There are needs and wants......know the difference
2. Life is a choice
.......a distant third would be that many have become use to instant gratification, and that yellow duck is going to be the key to success.
Truth be told, there are far worse things to spend your money on and it is cheaper than therapy
Arlo Smithereen reply :
I'm a mechanic, and it's the same with tools. Does having a huge snapon toolbox full of snapon tools mean the guy is a master mechanic? Absolutely not. Is it possible to do a brake job with a crescent wrench and a couple screwdrivers? I suppose. But it aint gonna be fun. I fish for fun, and for me, trying to do everything with one or two rods isn't fun. Just my .02
the reel ess reply :
My dad only wanted to fish a T-rigged 6" purple worm. EVER. The last time we ever fished together I handed him a spinning rod with a weightless Trick Worm and he caught fish. I usually carry 6 or 7 combos in the truck "just in case". But most of the time I catch all the fish on two rods (or less). It's not that I think I need 7 rods to catch a few dink bass. But they're specialized for techniques and I will catch more over time having those rigged and ready when conditions warrant.
I know that I'm more addicted to buying the equipment to catch bass than actually catching the bass. Every lure that I look at, I imagine myself simply slaying them with it next time out. Usually, what happens is the opposite and I put the bait back in the box for another try at a later date. On the other hand, I went cheaper on the boat by getting a kayak. So there's that.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 7/16/2018 at 5:22 PM, The Bassman said:We're no different than women with their purses and shoes. We're wired to want to buy things. The industry thrives on that. The OP said exactly what I've considered posting at other times. In all honesty some of my best outings are when I grab a rod with only the lure that's attached and a pair of pliers for hook removal. Conversely, some of my least productive trips have resulted from having too many choices.
I would like to think I’m a little different than a woman and her purses....... hahaha
rejesterd reply :
I think the only buildup of unused stuff in my boat is soft plastics. Just certain colors that have never seemed to work in my lake, or things for which I don't currently have the right hooks for. Other than that, I use everything in my 4 flat boxes. I have baits that I use less often than others, but I still use them all at least once a month or so. Experimenting blindly with different baits has yielded great results over time, so I think it's a good idea to dust off whatever you haven't been using. I did that just this past week with topwaters, and caught a couple nice ones.
I have 6 rods for convenience only.. but like you said, I could do everything I want to do using only 2 of them. I'd just rather not have to tie on/off as often. I think the expensive rods/reels market is a bunch of hype for the average fisherman. To this day, I still have 3 Ugly Stiks that cost me $40 each. My most expensive rod is a St. Croix Mojo, and I wouldn't buy it again. It's a nice rod, but the only advantage over a cheaper-but-good make is that it's lighter in weight. Not a huge deal for me, as I only go out for 2-3 hours at a time.
Troy85 reply :
Do I think the sport is made more difficult? I'd say no to that one. I exclusively inshore salt water fished for about 25 years, I switched to primarily bass fishing the past 4 years or so. IMO, it is much more challenging to consistently catch quality bass than it is to catch speckled trout or redfish.
Do I think it is made more expensive that it needs to be? Probably so. There is a lot of money that is made in the bass fishing world. A lot spent on advertising as well, just look at the Elite Series, MLF and FLW. Advertisers spend tons of money to promote and sponsor those anglers and events. They gotta recoup that money somehow. For the record, I'm not dogging any of the televised events, I watch the world fishing network so much that I think the logo is burned into my TV screen.
Overall tho, I don't think I'm to bad off when it comes to spending. I do have 6 rods, but that is mainly because I hate having to re-tie just to try a different technique. As far as baits, the only thing I have in several colors that don't get used much are probably soft plastics. I use soft plastics all the time, but I generally stick with the same few colors and the others don't get thrown much.
padon reply :
all just depends on how far down the rabbit hole you want to go.you can keep it simple or you can go for all the big ticket stuff. to me a big part of the fun of this is learning. I want that new high end depthfinder because I wanna know whats down there. why do the fish use this grass edge compared tow the 3000 acres of other grass edge etc , and then I wanna figure out how to catch them. other guys are happy to fish 2 acre farm ponds with the same 2 lures. sometimes they catch them sometimes they don't. if they don't then the fish " weren't biting" . nothing wrong with either approach just a matter of what you enjoy.
roadwarrior reply :
It's not only about catching fish, for many just the "collecting" is as much fun.
As a specific example, I like jerkbaits, especially Megabass Ito Vision 110. I have
been buying a couple a year ever since they were first introduced. I may have
fished five, but that could be an exaggeration!
shovelmouth83 reply :
i fish around 14 times a month. the most money i have in anything is my reels. i have lews and they are not top end reels they are the speed reels 7.1 and 6.3. they are $60 reels and i have others that i have collected over the years and use. when i got to the shop i think do i need or want that. then i have the ltb box. that i think is a waste and i am thinking of stopping. but i like how they interest new baits to people. my boat is a 14 ft v bottom and it only has a trolling motor.
over all i catch fish about every time i go out but i sometimes strike out and that is trying new things.
Jaderose reply :
If you make it that way, yes.
toni63 reply :
I think most fisherman need to remember to buy what they are capable of getting the most out of within a reasonable price range for their level of expertise and frequency of use. Im at the point where I don't want cheap because it doesn't last or get the job done, but I'm not a pro so I don't need the best like they have either. I try to gear what I buy to what I will actually use and what is reasonable for my level of ability and my reason for fishing, which is just recreationally, not competitively for for a living.
NYWayfarer reply :
On 7/16/2018 at 9:35 PM, roadwarrior said:It's not only about catching fish, for many just the "collecting" is as much fun.
I agree. I like purchasing new rods and reels as much as I like catching a fish.
Hell, I can catch a fish on a stick with some thread, a bent paperclip makeshift hook and a dug up Nightcrawler. I have more fun catching one on a nice set-up.
BankBasser reply :
The majority of my fishing this year has been from the bank with either a m/f spinning outfit or a mh/f casting outfit. But, on those days when the bite is slow I grab a ml/f spinning outfit and fish a ned rig (I don't like ned rigs on a medium power rod). During the summer a LOT of the waters I fish are ringed with 6' or more (sometimes the whole pond) of slop. It's nice to grab the h/f outfit and fish a frog when that's the case. When I fish lipless or squarebill (1/4oz RES, KVD 1.5 or Mann's -1) I like to use a m/mf casting. If I had to use just one outfit it'd be the m/f spinning (for where I fish) and I'd be fine with it, but options are nice and can turn a bad day to good.
DINK WHISPERER reply :
I feel ya! I've been liquidating excess and spare gear for a month now and haven't even put a dent in the tackle closet!
Buffdaddy54 reply :
I'm laughing at this thread. I just got back from my local BassPro where I bought a certain soft plastic "that I just had to have." Since February I've been out fishing exactly 3 times for a total of 5 hours.(1- 2lber)
At one point I had 3 KastKing Baitcasters and 3 Pflueger Spinning Reels.All functional for what I needed and skill level,but I got it into my head I just had to have better stuff. So I sold off all of that and within 2 months bought 2 Daiwa Baitcasters and 2 Daiwa Spinning Reels. When each package arrived my wife would look at me and say"why in the world did you buy ANOTHER fishing doohickey? YOU NEVER GO FISHING!" I also had at one point 6 rods but am now down to 4. I find this all kind of funny seeing how infrequently I actually do go out and fish.Boy would I really be in a spot if I could afford a boat!
AND DONT GET ME STARTED REGARDING THE AMOUNT OF SOFT PLASTICS I OWN!!
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
It is just another expensive hobby, but at least I got to use it more often than any other expensive hobby of mine. Motorcycle now is parked in garage have not got on it for the last 9 months, in fact I registered as non-operations this year. Wood working tools, they are in the storage collecting dust, have not touch them for almost 2 years.
What else?
The wife?
Nah I keep that for next time lol.
Smalliefan2 reply :
The sport is more expensive than it used to be. I really don't want to go back to the old rods and reels. New is lighter, smoother, more sensitive and cost more. Like others, I have a limited number of set ups I use on my home lake, but use others on different lakes. My newest electronics are five years old, oldest is 13 years. you know stone age.
Baits, I could stock BPS. Again, different baits for different lakes, fish. Got a Ranger, 13 years old.
I fish tournaments, team and solo. Team out of a friends boat, and never seem to have the rod or bait I need, because I carry a limited amount as a passenger. I do have what I need on my boat for the technique when necessary.
Took a lot of my unused tackle and baits and donated to the local high school team. The other piece is I don't buy top end items,mid range is a good value at a reasonable cost.
The difficulty is so much information, different , new techniques, you can have brain overload, instead of just fishing.
I don't golf, go to sports events, travel much, plus I live on Chickamauga. Fishing is my passion, and release, so I don't feel I over do it, too much.
Yakalong reply :
It can be as expensive as you want it to be, or can afford. It is my hobby so I have no trouble with what I have spent on fishing.
BassWhole! reply :
No.
Happybeerbuzz reply :
No, the sport isn’t made anymore difficult. That part is up to the fish mostly, and they haven’t changed all that much.
As to the expense, it has gone through the roof, but there is a reason. There are lots of people with more money than time, and you can’t take it all with you. Generally speaking, that’s a good thing. Like with many things technology has graced the sport of fishing, and it comes with a price tag. Also, if you have the means to have every lure in every color, and it makes you happy, good for you. On a side note, it is also good for me. It will inspire people to make more lures for you of which one or two might catch my eye. ????
BassWhole! reply :
On 7/17/2018 at 9:29 AM, Happybeerbuzz said:As to the expense, it has gone through the roof, but there is a reason.
Actually it hasn't. If you look at the cost of tackle, and compare it to a chronological standard like monthly salaries, or adjusted for inflation $, it has actually come down in cost. There are many factors for this of course, but the $300 spent for a reel today for example is much more affordable than the $20-60 one would have spent in the last century or so.
Happybeerbuzz reply :
On 7/17/2018 at 6:57 PM, reason said:Actually it hasn't. If you look at the cost of tackle, and compare it to a chronological standard like monthly salaries, or adjusted for inflation $, it has actually come down in cost. There are many factors for this of course, but the $300 spent for a reel today for example is much more affordable than the $20-60 one would have spent in the last century or so.
You have to consider the context of the OP question. He's questioning the merit Stren Original vs. Seagar Tatsu.
BassWhole! reply :
On 7/17/2018 at 9:59 PM, Happybeerbuzz said:You have to consider the context of the OP question. He's questioning the merit Stren Original vs. Seagar Tatsu.
My filter just ignored this cause merit and fluro were in the same sentence... 
Seriously though, that's apples and oranges. That's like someone with their first car wanting to get the same tires the Nascar guys use cause then he'll be able to corner .005% faster on them.
lo n slo reply :
On 7/16/2018 at 7:55 PM, the reel ess said:My dad only wanted to fish a T-rigged 6" purple worm. EVER.
i am hard headed like this. i still throw a t rig most of the time although i have branched out (LOL) to different colors these days. it comes down to being confident with familiarity i guess.
my old high school football coach ran the triple option and we only had a handful of plays, but we could run them in our sleep. i’ve always held on to that mindset i guess.
yes, we had face masks ????
Happybeerbuzz reply :
On 7/17/2018 at 10:21 PM, reason said:Seriously though, that's apples and oranges. That's like someone with their first car wanting to get the same tires the Nascar guys use cause then he'll be able to corner .005% faster on them.
I still have the same answer though. If you have the money, and you are so inclined, pimp your ride.
BassWhole! reply :
On 7/17/2018 at 10:39 PM, Happybeerbuzz said:I still have the same answer though. If you have the money, and you are so inclined, pimp your ride.
Oh yeah, for sure. I sell sporting goods for a living, so you are preaching to the choir. Spend away!
the reel ess reply :
On 7/17/2018 at 10:36 PM, lo n slo said:i am hard headed like this. i still throw a t rig most of the time although i have branched out (LOL) to different colors these days. it comes down to being confident with familiarity i guess.
my old high school football coach ran the triple option and we only had a handful of plays, but we could run them in our sleep. i’ve always held on to that mindset i guess.
yes, we had face masks ????
I was stubborn about that purple worm myself until I started fishing other places and found that color preference by the fish was mainly a location thing. I don't know if that's due to forage, water clarity, quality or what. But when you go to your buddy's regular place and he says "use this color", you use that color.
mattkenzer reply :
On 7/17/2018 at 10:53 PM, the reel ess said:But when you go to your buddy's regular place and he says "use this color", you use that color.
Exactly!
Chance_Taker4 reply :
This reminds me of a time I met a professional Walleye angler. When we were introduced at a family reunion (wife's side) I told him a fish bass tournaments and very rarely for walleye. He chuckled and said "Oh your a bass guy, that means you spend thousands of dollars every year on equipment to catch smaller, easier fish." I laughed and agreed. Then he proceeded to tell me that a successful Walleye angler uses the least amount of tackle that can have compared to a successful bass angler who needs everything.
Personally I collect tons of rods and reels as it is my passion as a collector and don't have a lot of actual tackle.
mattkenzer reply :
Repeat after me:
" Yes my dear, ALL this tackle and gear is necessary! "
TOXIC reply :
On 7/18/2018 at 1:21 AM, Chance_Taker4 said:This reminds me of a time I met a professional Walleye angler. When we were introduced at a family reunion (wife's side) I told him a fish bass tournaments and very rarely for walleye. He chuckled and said "Oh your a bass guy, that means you spend thousands of dollars every year on equipment to catch smaller, easier fish." I laughed and agreed. Then he proceeded to tell me that a successful Walleye angler uses the least amount of tackle that can have compared to a successful bass angler who needs everything.
Personally I collect tons of rods and reels as it is my passion as a collector and don't have a lot of actual tackle.
That's a funny story. I had a friend who was on the PWT and he would buy crankbaits 100 at a time in each color. His bait room for Walleye Tournaments looked like an episode of "Hoarders". In his defense, he fished all over the country and on more bodies of water with more techniques than I ever hope to.
12poundbass reply :
Zona has us all beat. Granted he probably gets his all for free. Would it be nice to have that man cave?
Ratherbfishing reply :
On 7/18/2018 at 1:33 AM, mattkenzer said:Repeat after me:
" Yes my dear, ALL this tackle and gear is necessary! "
Me thinks there's a mole in our midst. : )
jbmaine reply :
I'm not quite sure how to express this correctly, but here goes. When I was a kid ( 60+ yrs. ago) we had a camp on a lake. My folks gave me an old Zebco rod and reel, put on a worm and bobber, and I was fishing. Loved it from the first moment. I would sit at the end of the dock, staring at that bobber, waiting for the fish to make that bobber bounce. Couldn't be happier.
One day a family friend stopped by, came down to the end of the dock, cast out an in line spinner and caught a fish. From that moment on a worm and bobber just didn't cut it. I saved up my money and bought one, then this, and that, and so on. It's been a slippery slope ever since.
I'll never be able to afford the best of everything but I have decent stuff. Sometimes I miss the "good old days" when sitting on a dock, with a worm and bobber, satisfied me, but If I did that now I know I'd be bored in no time.
soflabasser reply :
Bass fishing can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be and its up to the fisherman/fisherwoman to decide how much to invest in bass fishing. You can catch big bass on a yo yo reel, cane pole, or on a expensive combo if you want. You can catch big bass on live bait you catch yourself or catch bass on expensive hand made lures. You can catch big bass from land in public waters or catch big bass on a boat in private waters. Maybe this is why bass fishing is so popular in the USA and even other countries since there are so many ways to catch a bass that you can spend your whole life bass fishing and never be able to fish with every technique or fish every location that bass live in.
Glaucus reply :
Here's where I'm at with this thread.
I've got more lures sitting around than I know what to do with. Many of us do. From different sizes, different colors, different techniques. All sorts of unused terminal tackle I will never get to. A plethora of rods and reels I never use. All because, and all when, I only truly do a few things and use a few rods because after a lot of time put in, I know what works the best and what I like the most, and I don't deviate from it. Like if I'm at a pond or something, sure I can throw a chatterbait and catch a few. But I don't because I know if I rig up a 4 inch Green Pumpkin Senko I'm going to out fish that presentation 10 to 1. And then we have the 60,000 dollar + bass boats when it is actually true that any decent Jon Boat is going to do the same thing for all intents and purposes.
I'm just getting to the point where I see and have 100 different techniques, But if I'm honest I would only go through them all just for the sake of saying I did it, but my few preferable methods do the same thing, catch a lot of quality and quantity, and don't cost a fortune or waste away unused.
ignign0kt reply :
I don't have a lot but the gear is a major part of the fun of fishing, and having nice gear makes it even more enjoyable. Along with trying new lures... however I think having boxes and boxes of lure's is dumb
But yeah the whole bass fishing industry revolves around selling you ****. You can keep it simple and cheap but it's hard not to give in, especially once you've used the nicer gear.
Throwing bobbers and other wait-baits is super boring unless you're just trying to hang and drink with some buddies :D.
ww2farmer reply :
For me personally, I keep it cheap and simple.
Aluminum boat, budget rods/reels, sub- $10 hard baits, basic electronics, a few tried and true soft plastics.
I catch a lot of fish, and I am competitive in local tournaments. Good enough for me.
NHBull reply :
On 7/17/2018 at 10:36 PM, lo n slo said:i am hard headed like this. i still throw a t rig most of the time although i have branched out (LOL) to different colors these days. it comes down to being confident with familiarity i guess.
my old high school football coach ran the triple option and we only had a handful of plays, but we could run them in our sleep. i’ve always held on to that mindset i guess.
yes, we had face masks ????
Heck, I want to convince our head coach to run the triple for that very reason.....If not, at least the Power I
toni63 reply :
On 7/18/2018 at 1:55 AM, 12poundbass said:Zona has us all beat. Granted he probably gets his all for free. Would it be nice to have that man cave?
And notice this is all hanging on the wall.... not off a hook.
I have told people before, the most expensive fish fillet in the world is the largemouth bass, considering the thousands of dollars spent per pound that ends up on a dinner table.
.ghoti. reply :
"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after."
Something similar could be said about tackle collecting.
What I can for myself is I can fish the rest of my life without ever making another tackle purchase. My wife is gonna have a lot of stuff to get rid of when I check out. And the old line about her selling it for what I told it cost does not apply. She is a professional shopper, and knows precisely what this stuff costs. She bought some of it for me.
Brew City Bass reply :
Expensive is a relative term here.
Nobody is forced to spend more money than they can afford in bass fishing. There is no set dollar amount to get your foot in the door. $25 at walmart will get anyone into bass fishing. That's cheap as hell unless you're jobless and broke.
I can afford middle of the line gear. $200 dollar rods and reels and my bass boat I paid $3,000 for may seem expensive to say a 16 year old kid who doesn't have a job and wants to start bass fishing, but it's fairly affordable for me to own that price range of gear. Then you have the people who make six figure salaries who can afford $500 rods and reels and a $40,000 bass boat. To me, that is EXPENSIVE and I'd go into debt to afford any of that stuff. That's why I afford the middle of the line gear. I can out fish my buddy who buys a new bass boat every 2 years and completely replaces his rod and reel arsenal every year. He can just afford nicer gear and rig. I am happy for him that he can do that, and I am happy he invites me to enjoy those items once in a while, but gear in no way makes the fisherman.
Is there a stigma that if you don't own the best gear you're a lousy fisherman or won't catch as much fish as you would if you had expensive gear? I find that to be somewhat true, but only the douchebags act like that, and you will find that in EVERY hobby.
I do find the big leagues to be "pay to play" though. Not really possible for someone like me to break into that on my budget and salary, even if I sold everything I owned and was a wayyyyy better angler.
12poundbass reply :
On 7/18/2018 at 11:10 AM, Brew City Bass said:I do find the big leagues to be "pay to play" though. Not really possible for someone like me to break into that on my budget and salary, even if I sold everything I owned and was a wayyyyy better angler.
This is false especially for the Elites and now the FLW. The FLW up until the change a few weeks ago if you could pony up the cash you'd get on a waiting list and make the big leagues. Elites you've always had to qualify.
Mike Iaconelli, Gerald Swindel, Jacob Wheeler just to name a few worked their way from hardly nothing to where they are today. You fish local tournaments win those save cash. Go to the next step, win frequently at that step, go to the next. Win tournaments where first place is a boat. Up grade boats or sell it to fund the next level. Where there's a will there's a way. It's a long rough road that isn't that glorious the more you look into it.
Brew City Bass reply :
On 7/18/2018 at 5:59 PM, 12poundbass said:This is false especially for the Elites and now the FLW. The FLW up until the change a few weeks ago if you could pony up the cash you'd get on a waiting list and make the big leagues. Elites you've always had to qualify.
Mike Iaconelli, Gerald Swindel, Jacob Wheeler just to name a few worked their way from hardly nothing to where they are today. You fish local tournaments win those save cash. Go to the next step, win frequently at that step, go to the next. Win tournaments where first place is a boat. Up grade boats or sell it to fund the next level. Where there's a will there's a way. It's a long rough road that isn't that glorious the more you look into it.
Thank's for clarifying on that. I didn't know those guys came from nothing! Good for them!
BassWhole! reply :
On 7/18/2018 at 9:54 AM, .ghoti. said:"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after."
True enough, but for some of us its all about the fish.
12poundbass reply :
On 7/18/2018 at 7:56 PM, Brew City Bass said:Thank's for clarifying on that. I didn't know those guys came from nothing! Good for them!
Just to clarify I'm not implying they were dirt floor poor. They started out like me and I'm assuming you just an average Joe. They weren't like a Boyd Duckett and extremely wealthy. There are many more like the three I mentioned.
My point if this is the route you're considering you can do it. You don't need top of the line anything. You need skill, dedication, and the desire to be the best.
Brew City Bass reply :
On 7/18/2018 at 8:56 PM, 12poundbass said:Just to clarify I'm not implying they were dirt floor poor. They started out like me and I'm assuming you just an average Joe. They weren't like a Boyd Duckett and extremely wealthy. There are many more like the three I mentioned.
My point if this is the route you're considering you can do it. You don't need top of the line anything. You need skill, dedication, and the desire to be the best.
Want to be my life coach? Great motivational words
TOXIC reply :
Fishing means different things to different people. For most it's a fun activity, for some it's a hobby, for some it's a competitive sport and for others it's a job. All levels have differing monetary investments. Everyone has their own path to follow depending on how serious you want to take it. For me it started out like most kids worm and bobber fishing. Then my grandfather took me to Canada as a young teen and I was able to experience catching 8lb walleye on hair jigs and double digit pike on red/white Daredevil spoons. When my grandfather passed, I quit fishing for a number of years.....like 30. Life got in the way, I got married/divorced and remarried. Changed multiple jobs, got a serious career, moved multiple times and 25 years ago ended up here in Virginia. Got to know my neighbor who loved to fish and we would go to a small lake 5 miles from our houses to catfish in a jon with chicken livers. Got the opportunity to buy a pvc bass hunter with a trolling motor and because of my location, had numerous bodies of water to fish for bass. Worked with a lady who owned 3 acres of riverfront on the Shenandoah river and discovered wade fishing and fly fishing for smallmouth. It was a misty morning out in the middle of the river after a heard of deer had just swam past me within arms reach, like I wasn't there, when a feeling came over me, it was if my grandfather was standing right next to me and at that point everything just clicked. I became a student of the sport of fishing....all fishing. It came somewhat naturally. Had a friend coming from Nebraska and I hired a local guide to fish Lake Anna. Had my father coming and hired him again to fish the Rappahannock river . Out fished the guide on both trips. He offered me a job taking out his overflow clients and offered me his sponsored boat for that year if I could pass the interview. The interview was that I met him on the Potomac river (which I had never fished at that time) and I had to put him on fish. I studied up for a week and met him at the river. He sat in the passenger seat and told me to take him to the fish. I did. That started my guiding experience. In guiding, sponsorships help your bottom line and puts products in the hands of potential buyers everyday. I approached the companies whose products I used and believed in. It also started my requirement to work shows, give seminars and product demonstrations. I have to stay up to date on current offerings and what is out there in the industry. I got "connected" in the business side of the industry and it has lead to a wonderful relationship with a lot of people/companies. I was active pro-staff for Bass Pro for 15 years. Did a lot of seminars and tank demos for them. Although I am still under contract, I am not affiliated with a store right now. I work for a Rep Group out of Kansas for numerous products in both hunting and fishing and appear in Bass Pro and Cabela's across the country for Grand Openings and local for annual events. I represent my sponsors every time I am on the water for fun or for business. I take it very seriously.
Long story long.... That is my journey into the fishing world and why I choose what gear I do. I could have stopped at any point along the way and still be fishing for cats out of a jon but I took a sincere interest in the sport. Now that I will be retiring from that serious career I started 34 years ago next year, I can't wait to see what's next for me in the fishing world.
J Francho reply :
I've actually noticed a shift. More and more, the industry is offering some quality products at a lower price point. You do not have to spend $300 or more for a sensitive, light combo with a decent warranty.
Raul reply :
the angler makes it complicated and expensive when it is not.
However, to me, purchasing fishing stuff that I don't need is part of the fun, 95% ( I bet it's more ) of my baits haven't touched the water, I have several NIB reels that ain't gonna see action in many years to come, there are many baits I purchased with the only purpose of exhibition.
And in the end .... BETTER HAVE AND NOT NEED THAN NEED AND NOT HAVE ( Baitmonkey is happy ).
Tennessee Boy reply :
On 7/20/2018 at 1:56 AM, Raul said:And in the end .... BETTER HAVE AND NOT NEED THAN NEED AND NOT HAVE ( Baitmonkey is happy ).
I feel the same way about money. That's why I try not to buy a bunch of tackle that I'll never used. To each his own. ????
bhoff reply :
I mean this is purely an opinion based question/statement you made so everyone is going to have a slightly different answer by nature. As far as only needing one of two combos for fishing that is completely personal and only applies to you. Some people might only feel like they need a single combo and others an entire room full. It could depend on factors like what type of fishing you like doing, geographical location etc. You can make the sport as cheap or as expensive as you want. However, to point at someone who has most likely invested their hard earned money in a boat and say hes naive for doing so is not the right frame of mind. I'm sure everyone including the man that made the comment has something in his life he spends a relative large amount of his income on because he enjoys doing so. For me that is cycling and fishing. As long as I am making (somewhat) smart decisions with my money and having fun in the process I will continue to do so.
.02
bait__Monkey reply :
u kant stop me. i wil hawnt u
On 7/18/2018 at 10:34 PM, J Francho said:I've actually noticed a shift. More and more, the industry is offering some quality products at a lower price point. You do not have to spend $300 or more for a sensitive, light combo with a decent warranty.
i get dem huukd yung
WRB reply :
You can catch bass using a cane pole and nightcrawler if catching bass is your goal.
Boating is something a lot of non fisherman do for recreation, some combine the two, boating and fishing.
Everybody can choose how they bass fish and how much money, time and effort to invest in the sport.
Tom
TroxBox reply :
Don't listen to any of these guys on here... They are just trying to keep you from one of the best kept secrets in bass fishing in case they ever have to compete with you in a tournament. People who have been around know that Bass are attracted to the smell of money. I once knew a guy who fished and he told this me this secret. What you need to do about a week before your next trip, is go to the bank and request a MINIMUM of $100 in singles. The more the better. Get a box and dump in the cash. Then, get all of your stuffed Plano boxes and just dump everything in there. The direct contact with money is what makes a good bait deadly. And the longer they are kept in the money box, the nastier they get with the scent of luxury and believe me, they will be able to tell how long you let those puppies soak. Dude, people be slayin' bass all day with this technique, and if you got good credit, go ahead and print out your credit score and toss it into that box as well. 30lbs sack by 9.
Krux5506 reply :
The thing about fishing and I will say specifically bass fishing is because it's so addicting and theres a plethora of options as far as baits/lures (not to mention a rod/reel rigged for each technique) there is very much this feeling that I can only assume addicts have where they always want more more more. Therefore the fishing market can capitalize on that so easily. The newest, latest and greatest baits to catch you the most and biggest fish. It's such an easy marketing tactic to a bunch of fishing junkies, lol.
I do think the longer you're into the sport, the more you just revert back to the tried and true classics, or whatever baits and lures you have come to be the most comfortable and successful with. It's easier to pass up those brand new $20 lures when you already know what works. At the same time, I always like seeing new stuff hit the market, but I am kinda tough to sell to and it's definitely not because I know everything, it's because I tend to be a cheapskate.
Glaucus reply :
On 7/20/2018 at 4:09 AM, WRB said:You can catch bass using a cane pole and nightcrawler if catching bass is your goal.
Boating is something a lot of non fisherman do for recreation, some combine the two, boating and fishing.
Everybody can choose how they bass fish and how much money, time and effort to invest in the sport.
Tom
Well of course, Tom. I'm not advocating for the use of a cane pool and some nightcrawlers. What I'm saying is, is having dozens and sometimes even hundreds of techniques ready to go really necessary? I get that it can be part of the fun for some people. I get that boating can be fun too. Lately I'm just not seeing a point in all of it when there's a dozen really good techniques that will land good fish, any time, any place, and that a Jon Boat will do everything a bass boat will do, when reaching spots is your goal and not simply recreational boating. Call it buyer's remorse, I guess, since I've spent years buying things for this or that situation, and out of not having to retie a lure.
It's like, ok, what worm really works for me? Zoom Trick Worm. Many different rigging methods, always my go to. So why have 17 different types of worms? What finesse tactic really works for me? Wacky and Ned. So why have 6 ready to go? What crankbaits really work for me? 1.5's and 1/4oz traps, so why have 100 different kinds? What topwater gets the most action? Whopper Plopper. So why have a couple dozen different baits? After narrowing it down, it seems silly to me to keep stuff I don't use or that works to a lesser degree. It's not about the cheapest route at all. It's about what will work, what does work, and why having other similar stuff that isn't as good, just to say I have it, just in case??
813basstard reply :
On 7/21/2018 at 5:01 AM, Glaucus said:Well of course, Tom. I'm not advocating for the use of a cane pool and some nightcrawlers. What I'm saying is, is having dozens and sometimes even hundreds of techniques ready to go really necessary? I get that it can be part of the fun for some people. I get that boating can be fun too. Lately I'm just not seeing a point in all of it when there's a dozen really good techniques that will land good fish, any time, any place, and that a Jon Boat will do everything a bass boat will do, when reaching spots is your goal and not simply recreational boating. Call it buyer's remorse, I guess, since I've spent years buying things for this or that situation, and out of not having to retie a lure.
I’m with you on this. Best advice I’ve gotten (in fishing and life) get good at what your good at. With that in mind I’ve scaled down what I throw but expanded on colors. So instead of 5 different kind of jigs now it’s 2 in 3 different colors. Instead of 12 different styles of lipless now it’s 3 with 5 different colors. We don’t fish table rock one week and the Big O the next so we don’t need to be as flexible as the pros. Would it be nice? Sure. But I’d rather increase the quantity and quality of the fish then completely start over with a new technique. And I’ll never, ever buy a bait more than $8. Ain’t doing it. Don’t need it.
WRB reply :
Very few recreational bass anglers own multiple presentaion specific rod and reel outfits.
It wasn't until Dobyns exploited presentation specific rods, brilliant on his part, that the vast majority of bass anglers owned more then a few MHF bass rods and a rod crankbait rod, maybe 4 to 5 combos if they also flipped.
Finesse bass fishing wasn't a factor outside of selected regions like the west coast and Midwest finesse anglers that used spinning.
The west coast introduced swimbaits and now swimbait rods and reels became popular.
Flipping gave way to pitching so another specific rod combo is popular.
Jerk baits and poppers use the older shorter rods as the mainstream MHF got longer 7' to 7'4" is common, too long for working some lures so 6'6" rods are again popular.
Instead of the basic 4 to 5 combos a decade ago most bass anglers today feel the need 10 combos. Good for the rod & reel mfr's, are they needed? No, you can catch bass using a cane pole and nightcrawlers if being a minimalist is your thing, it's not mine so I keep 15 combos in my boat locker.
Tom
slonezp reply :
Nothing is stopping you from using an Ugly Stick combo, Eagle Claw hooks, lead sinkers, and a red and white bobber with live bait
Glaucus reply :
On 7/21/2018 at 8:05 AM, slonezp said:Nothing is stopping you from using an Ugly Stick combo, Eagle Claw hooks, lead sinkers, and a red and white bobber with live bait
You missed the point along with the other elitists.
Russ E reply :
On 7/21/2018 at 8:05 AM, slonezp said:Nothing is stopping you from using an Ugly Stick combo, Eagle Claw hooks, lead sinkers, and a red and white bobber with live bait
^^^^ what he said
it is as expensive as you want to make it.
soflabasser reply :
On 7/21/2018 at 8:05 AM, slonezp said:Nothing is stopping you from using an Ugly Stick combo, Eagle Claw hooks, lead sinkers, and a red and white bobber with live bait
Don't forget a yo yo reel. Very simple to use and provides a challenge that most people are not used to. I caught a fat 24 inch, +7 pound bass a couple months ago on a yo yo reel as bycatch while fishing for channel catfish. Guess somebody forget to tell this bass that my yo yo reel was not a +$500 combo and that I was not fishing with a lure that some professional bass fisherman says is the best?
NHBull reply :
On 7/21/2018 at 8:21 AM, Glaucus said:You missed the point along with the other elitists.
Way over the line.....
soflabasser reply :
On 7/20/2018 at 9:09 AM, Krux5506 said:I do think the longer you're into the sport, the more you just revert back to the tried and true classics, or whatever baits and lures you have come to be the most comfortable and successful with. It's easier to pass up those brand new $20 lures when you already know what works.
Well said. I think most decent bass fishermen find what works for them and stick to it with the exception of a couple new techniques they try out to see if they can add it to the list. These new techniques might not work all the time but they do work in very specific situations so it's worth learning new techniques no matter how good you think you are.
Glaucus reply :
On 7/21/2018 at 8:34 AM, NHBull said:Way over the line.....
Please tell me pun intended
buzzbaiter83 reply :
On 7/18/2018 at 5:59 PM, 12poundbass said:This is false especially for the Elites and now the FLW. The FLW up until the change a few weeks ago if you could pony up the cash you'd get on a waiting list and make the big leagues. Elites you've always had to qualify.
Mike Iaconelli, Gerald Swindel, Jacob Wheeler just to name a few worked their way from hardly nothing to where they are today. You fish local tournaments win those save cash. Go to the next step, win frequently at that step, go to the next. Win tournaments where first place is a boat. Up grade boats or sell it to fund the next level. Where there's a will there's a way. It's a long rough road that isn't that glorious the more you look into it.
Jesse Wiggins fished team tourneys with his brother out of an old boat of their grandpas starting out. They won 2 big tournaments on Smith Lake by fishing next to the launch because the motor was so old it wouldn’t crank in the cold. You don’t have to be born with a silver spoon to make it if you have the knowledge, drive & skill.
813basstard reply :
On 7/21/2018 at 8:21 AM, Glaucus said:You missed the point along with the other elitists.
^^????????????
I like. I want to hear the one about the cane pole and night crawler......again
WRB reply :
Elitist, somehow missed that dig.
If you fish nearly all your life and become a good bass angler you are somehow an elitist because your skilled?
Here is the cane pole and nightcrawler statement 1 more time. I started off bass fishing using a cane pole and nightcrawler catching bass at age 3 to 5. Worked at a boat helping my brother for the summers to earn enough money to buy my 1st baitcast rod and reel at age 12. Our family wasn't dirt poor but but we didn't have any extra money and ate the fish we caught for food.
I had a mentors to teach me to cast, Red the boat dock manager and Jason Lucas the editor of Sports Afield magazine that I read at the boat dock the owner would bring on ounce a month. I wrote to Jason Lucas who recommended the Langley Lure Cast reel and Connolin rod I bought and used until graduating high high school catching a lot bass and becoming the elitist skilled bass dangler I am today.
Tom
Buffdaddy54 reply :
Back in my golfing days I had multiple sets of irons and many, many drivers and wedges. If I was playing a course that had more holes that bent to the right I used a driver setup to hit a fade. If the course had more holes bending to the left I used a driver that would hit a draw. Windy course, irons with less loft, not so windy, more loft. Had dozens of wedges with different bounce angles and lofts for different types of bunkers and carries. I was able to have all these different options because I worked in the industry atook advantage of all the discounts afforded to me and it was my job.The point of my bloviating is this, if I had the financial means and the acces to different bodies of water and the different scenarios a lot of you guys have I also would want the tools to get the job done. I would LOVE to be able to afford a boat and multiple rods, reels, and baits but as of now, no-can-do. So I will stick to my 4 rods and reels and my back pack of baits and will make due with what I have.
Gotta admit though, I do buy a lot of soft plastics I will probably never use. I look at it this way, I don't smoke, I don't drink, I don't cheat on my wife and I don't gamble. If buying useless fishing gear is the worst habit I've got I think I'm ok ????
EGbassing reply :
On 7/18/2018 at 9:54 AM, .ghoti. said:She is a professional shopper
I'm a bit of a professional shopper myself when it comes to Bass Pro Shops.
Tennessee Boy reply :
When I bought my first boat about 30 years ago, I had no idea how to catch bass from a boat on a large lake. I started reading everything I could find and watching fishing shows like Bill Dance Outdoors. I was inspired by the shows and fishing magazines to buy A LOT of stuff. I learned a lot about fishing and started to consider myself something of an expert. I was catching a few fish and decided I was good enough to join a bass club. At one of the first meetings I met a nice older angler who was very friendly and loved to talk fishing. I was surprised that he had very little to say about the latest thing that I was reading about in Bass Master magazine. He said he fished mostly jigs, plastics and spinnerbaits. I thought he was just an old geezer who was stuck in his ways and refused to learn anything new. It was at a tournament weight in that my opinion of him changed. He walked to the scales with a five fish limit for the day that was bigger than the five biggest fish I had ever caught. That's when he became a mentor and I learned that Bill Dance and Bass Master Magazine was helping me spend money but not helping me catch more fish. I learned a lot from the guy. I would summarize it all by saying focus was the key to his success. He had fine tuned the way he fished through a lifetime of learning. He choose the equipment he used not from what he saw some pro using on TV but because he knew exactly what he wanted from the equipment. He made his own jigs, not because it was fun but because that was the only way he could get the exact jig he wanted. He could tell you exactly why he chose every component he used in the jig. I don't try to fish the way he did but I do try very hard to focus on the details of what I do. I'm continually trying to perfect it the way he did.
To @Glaucus original question, yes I can say from my experience 30 years ago, fishing was made more expensive and difficult by an industry driven to sell more. I think the great majority of fishermen would catch more fish if they focus on doing a small number of things very well instead of trying to learn the latest fad technique that changes every month. They would also save a lot of money. That new $400 rod is no substitute for time on the water with the old rod you already have. You will see your greatest return when you master in the finest detail whatever techniques you choose to catch fish.
WDE reply :
My Tatula blew a bearing earlier this year, just haven’t repaired it. My Pfluger President broke when someone piled their luggage on it????. However, I inherited an Okuma spinner that I’ve fallen in love with, so my heart is not completely broken.
My $60 Abu Garcia Black Max with a busted thumb switch that I got 2 years ago is still doing work.
I “need” 2 combos when I get out. But I prefer 3.
Regardless, I’m sure it’s been said...this game is only expensive or inexpensive as you make it.
toni63 reply :
On 7/21/2018 at 12:11 PM, buzzbaiter83 said:Jesse Wiggins fished team tourneys with his brother out of an old boat of their grandpas starting out. They won 2 big tournaments on Smith Lake by fishing next to the launch because the motor was so old it wouldn’t crank in the cold. You don’t have to be born with a silver spoon to make it if you have the knowledge, drive & skill.
I think if you win 2 big tournaments fishing next to the launch because the motor was so old it wouldn't run in the cold there's a little more luck than skill involved. Just sayin...
J Francho reply :
On 7/25/2018 at 1:19 AM, toni63 said:I think if you win 2 big tournaments fishing next to the launch because the motor was so old it wouldn't run in the cold there's a little more luck than skill involved. Just sayin...
If there are several tournaments out of tat launch, and fish are released there, a good percentage of those released fish stay, and fishing not far from the ramps is well known pattern. So well known, they are usually off limits for many tournaments.
Ralph Nicholas Vito reply :
Honestly i had to rebuy my whole tackle box because my tackle box rusted out completely
I think i have spent maybe $700 on resupplying myself with rods and lures
My most successful lure so far is the cheap Storm 360 GT all these other 10+$ lures .... haven't caught a single fish on then again im so worried to throw them and lose them that i tend to just stick to soft plastics lol
I think the sport could be cheaper but i realize .... people got to make a living and i want to have fun and you can't have fun for free 100% of the time so i'm willing to pay to have fun especially if the fish bite
J Francho reply :
On 7/25/2018 at 1:24 AM, Ralph Nicholas Vito said:i had to rebuy my whole tackle box because my tackle box rusted out completely
Get these, and rust problems are history:
http://www.planomolding.com/fishing/stowawayr-utility-boxes/hydro-flo
Been using them for around six years now. No Rust.
Ralph Nicholas Vito reply :
On 7/25/2018 at 1:50 AM, J Francho said:Get these, and rust problems are history:
http://www.planomolding.com/fishing/stowawayr-utility-boxes/hydro-flo
Been using them for around six years now. No Rust.
Are rusty hooks bad for the fish i have been meaning to ask this like if i have rust not near the hook point like near the hook eye or something like does that kill or hurt the fish ? i never want to use rusty hooks personally but i have seen a few friends using rusty hooks or hard baits with rusty trebles
also thanks for the link definitely gonna get a few of these 
!
Glaucus reply :
On 7/25/2018 at 1:24 AM, Ralph Nicholas Vito said:Honestly i had to rebuy my whole tackle box because my tackle box rusted out completely
I think i have spent maybe $700 on resupplying myself with rods and lures
My most successful lure so far is the cheap Storm 360 GT all these other 10+$ lures .... haven't caught a single fish on then again im so worried to throw them and lose them that i tend to just stick to soft plastics lol
I think the sport could be cheaper but i realize .... people got to make a living and i want to have fun and you can't have fun for free 100% of the time so i'm willing to pay to have fun especially if the fish bite
So many people are missing my entire point. It isn't necessarily about the cost of gear and lures and boats. At all really. It's about having a plethora of things you'll never get through or that you don't use or that don't work as well as x in that same category of baits but you buy and have anyway because maybe once this year the fish will prefer it. Or having super specialized outfits that hardly get used, or having half a dozen 7' MH/F for this, this, and that, when you could retie. Not about simply the cost of a single lure, or the cost of any single setup.
J Francho reply :
On 7/25/2018 at 2:00 AM, Ralph Nicholas Vito said:Are rusty hooks bad for the fish i have been meaning to ask this like if i have rust not near the hook point like near the hook eye or something like does that kill or hurt the fish ?
Probably not. There's always a risk of infection from bacteria, parasite, or fungus from a hook wound, rusty or not, but a healthy fish can fight that off.
On 7/25/2018 at 2:31 AM, Glaucus said:So many people are missing my entire point. It isn't necessarily about the cost of gear and lures and boats. At all really. It's about having a plethora of things you'll never get through or that you don't use or that don't work as well as x in that same category of baits but you buy and have anyway because maybe once this year the fish will prefer it. Or having super specialized outfits that hardly get used, or having half a dozen 7' MH/F for this, this, and that, when you could retie. Not about simply the cost of a single lure, or the cost of any single setup.
Underutilized gear is on the angler that purchased it. Not using it? Sell it off on our Flea Market. Turn that $$$ into stuff you will use, or pocket it for a rainy day.
Side note: thread drift will happen, and despite going off track a bit due to not understanding your question (honestly, you've got to understand this, since you've had to tell us several times we aren't getting it), but there's been a ton of useful advice. Like it or not, it's a good, useful read.
mattkenzer reply :
On 7/16/2018 at 2:25 PM, Bluebasser86 said:I think part of what makes this sport so great is you can make it as complicated or as simple as you wish.
This ^^^^^^ !
Team9nine reply :
On 7/22/2018 at 3:14 AM, Tennessee Boy said:To @Glaucus original question, yes I can say from my experience 30 years ago, fishing was made more expensive and difficult by an industry driven to sell more. I think the great majority of fishermen would catch more fish if they focus on doing a small number of things very well instead of trying to learn the latest fad technique that changes every month. They would also save a lot of money. That new $400 rod is no substitute for time on the water with the old rod you already have. You will see your greatest return when you master in the finest detail whatever techniques you choose to catch fish.
This is pretty much inline with my thoughts on the question...
RickB reply :
I like marshmallows
Glaucus reply :
On 7/25/2018 at 4:43 AM, RickB said:I like marshmallows
Taffy >>>>>>
toni63 reply :
On 7/25/2018 at 2:31 AM, Glaucus said:It's about having a plethora of things you'll never get through or that you don't use or that don't work as well as x in that same category of baits but you buy and have anyway because maybe once this year the fish will prefer it. Or having super specialized outfits that hardly get used, or having half a dozen 7' MH/F for this, this, and that, when you could retie. Not about simply the cost of a single lure, or the cost of any single setup.
No one forces you to buy it. Personally I could care less what other people spend their money on, none of my business. If you go and buy a ton of crap and rarely if ever use it, that was your choice.
I have 13 guitars, 4 amps, 4 different speaker cabinets and thousands of dollars in effect rack equipment, home studio equipment, etc. It all gets used at some point of other, but mostly I use one guitar, one effect rack and one amp setup 90% of the time, and I use 2 other guitars for specific songs/styles that we play from time to time with the same amp/effect rig. The other stuff is there so I can do what I need/want to do in a given situation. Some people look at me like I have three eyes and two noses when they see the gear I own, one friend looked around and said "when you leaving on tour?"
But I dont sit around pondering "hmmmm..... have I just made my hobby too expensive for no reason? Couldn't I just use one guitar, a couple pedals and one amp all the time instead of having to have a slide guitar setup for 3 songs a year? Am I overcomplicating this and wasting money? Is the guitar playing community just making this too expensive with all these choices out there luring me into spending money on stuff I will never use or is only slightly different than what I already own and use?"
Now if I spent money on something and it never got used in any situation, it would be sold to someone who would use it. No point in it gathering dust in my house when someone else would be using it all the time. But again, it isn't everyone else that made my guitar hobby expensive. It was me. My choice.
So my advice, if you think, as your initial question asks, that this sport is made difficult and expensive for no reason, then that is for you to figure out. But No, no one is making this any more expensive or difficult than you choose for it to be. Personally I LOVE the wide range and variety of things that are out there for me to ponder over buying, but just because the umbrella rig is out there and works in certain situations doesn't mean I am going to buy it. For the record, I own NO umbrella rig stuff at all, for the very reason you posted this. I don't see that it would be useful where and when I fish to the point that I just had to have it because I would use it. The truth is I wouldn't. I dont need an umbrella rig any more than I need an expensive bass boat or a big OB or thousands in electronics. I dont have that either.
J Francho reply :
On 7/26/2018 at 9:00 PM, toni63 said:I have 13 guitars, 4 amps, 4 different speaker cabinets and thousands of dollars in effect rack equipment, home studio equipment, etc.
At one point, there were five kits in my house. All but one was set up. I'm back down to my one kit again, lol.
Boomstick reply :
My best outing this year, at least given the short amount of time I made it on the water involved bringing one rod rigged with a single crankbait. I did bring some other lures in my dry storage tray just in case, but just ended up using the one crank because it was killing it.
That said, I typically run a three rod setup for myself, a MH/F rod, a MH/MF rod I use for moving baits and a ML/XF spinning rod. Someday I'll add a dedicated frogging rod and a M/F or M/XF casting rod. As far as tackle goes, I keep the storage trays in my tackle bag full. Once I lose one (or deem it worthless) I replace it.
Since I don't currently own a boat, my personal guitar and amp collection is far more expensive than my fishing gear collection.
GReb reply :
Conservatively speaking I have $1,500-1,750 in fishing gear. And that’s overkill really. I don’t need 6 setups and a dozen 3700s full. But i don’t think that’s an unreasonable cost for gear and if you shop smart you can get quality for a good price.
There’s a lot more money in my gun safe and golf bag. That’s for sure. And I don’t use either near as often.
Ratherbfishing reply :
On 7/25/2018 at 4:49 AM, Glaucus said:Taffy >>>>>>
Turtles...
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