Budget Sweet Spot... Casting Reels

[CheezusCrust]

I like how poor people who can't afford high end gear always say ;"your 600$ rod won't catch you more fish than my 40$ ugly stick uhuhuhuhuh".

But it does catch more fish.I can feel so many more bites that I couldnt detect when I was poor and fishing with cheap rods.You get what you pay for.A 600$ rod is 600$ for a reason.

[mark poulson]

I like how poor people who can't afford high end gear always say ;"your 600$ rod won't catch you more fish than my 40$ ugly stick uhuhuhuhuh".

But it does catch more fish.I can feel so many more bites that I couldnt detect when I was poor and fishing with cheap rods.You get what you pay for.A 600$ rod is 600$ for a reason.

For me, since I pass the line over my index finger as it enters the reel, I feel just about everything, no matter which rod I use.

[hoohoorjoo]

I like how poor people who can't afford high end gear always say ;"your 600$ rod won't catch you more fish than my 40$ ugly stick uhuhuhuhuh".

But it does catch more fish.I can feel so many more bites that I couldnt detect when I was poor and fishing with cheap rods.You get what you pay for.A 600$ rod is 600$ for a reason.

For me, since I pass the line over my index finger as it enters the reel, I feel just about everything, no matter which rod I use.

I used to do that, before I started using braid. Got a nasty cut/burn when the drag slipped on a hookset. Wont' make that mistake again!

[Sore Thumb]

I like how poor people who can't afford high end gear always say ;"your 600$ rod won't catch you more fish than my 40$ ugly stick uhuhuhuhuh".

But it does catch more fish.I can feel so many more bites that I couldnt detect when I was poor and fishing with cheap rods.You get what you pay for.A 600$ rod is 600$ for a reason.

How many top pros using $600 rods? I use top quality/price gear for my pleasure. Confidence in your gear catches fish, if your $600 rod works for you, good. If you can catch as many fish, and I fish with some people who could catch fish with an uglystick in a wet sponge, use what you can or want to afford.

[hoohoorjoo]

I like how poor people who can't afford high end gear always say ;"your 600$ rod won't catch you more fish than my 40$ ugly stick uhuhuhuhuh".

But it does catch more fish.I can feel so many more bites that I couldnt detect when I was poor and fishing with cheap rods.You get what you pay for.A 600$ rod is 600$ for a reason.

How many top pros using $600 rods?

Now that Aaron Martens is with G. Loomis, he would be one of the few. Almost guaranteed, he will be using a $600+ rod for dropshot.

[CheezusCrust]

I like how poor people who can't afford high end gear always say ;"your 600$ rod won't catch you more fish than my 40$ ugly stick uhuhuhuhuh".

But it does catch more fish.I can feel so many more bites that I couldnt detect when I was poor and fishing with cheap rods.You get what you pay for.A 600$ rod is 600$ for a reason.

How many top pros using $600 rods?

Now that Aaron Martens is with G. Loomis, he would be one of the few. Almost guaranteed, he will be using a $600+ rod for dropshot.

And thar rod's name starts with "N" and finishes with "X" lol

[mark poulson]

I like how poor people who can't afford high end gear always say ;"your 600$ rod won't catch you more fish than my 40$ ugly stick uhuhuhuhuh".

But it does catch more fish.I can feel so many more bites that I couldnt detect when I was poor and fishing with cheap rods.You get what you pay for.A 600$ rod is 600$ for a reason.

For me, since I pass the line over my index finger as it enters the reel, I feel just about everything, no matter which rod I use.

I used to do that, before I started using braid. Got a nasty cut/burn when the drag slipped on a hookset. Wont' make that mistake again!

That used to be my rite of spring, a braid cut from a loose drag. Now I button them down tight enough that they won't slip, and leave the like that. If a fish pulls drag after that, it's on!

[Hobie-Wan Kenobi]

I like how poor people who can't afford high end gear always say ;"your 600$ rod won't catch you more fish than my 40$ ugly stick uhuhuhuhuh".

But it does catch more fish.I can feel so many more bites that I couldnt detect when I was poor and fishing with cheap rods.You get what you pay for.A 600$ rod is 600$ for a reason.

I would think there are diminishing returns after the $150-200 mark. I have own rods from every price point. Best rod for the money I have used was the OG Tatula rods. Retail 150ish and could be found all day for less than $100. They are light, sensitive and the series was pretty comprehensive, other than for deep cranking. I think most fish I have caught from any NRX, Conquest, Megabass rod...that I have owned I could have caught on the OG Tatula line of rods. I use high end gear because I enjoy it. Seems dumb but, I will spend the extra $200-300 dollars just to compare rods. I will also buy them to feel that small difference in perception when it comes to feel, taper and sensitivity.

It is a joy to feel those complex tapers when fishing a jerkbait. light enough tip to launch the jerkbait, fast, snappy and crisp when working the lure, sensitive enough to feel the fish tap the jerkbait when still on semi-slack line, power to set the hook and then, the taper opens up into a beautiful moderate to keep those treble hooks pinned...poetry in motion.

[Jnkoepp]

No budget. I buy what I like and want

[Houndfish]

While I have a few reels over the $200 mark, I have been on a an older Daiwa buying kick of late. I picked up an Alphas Finesse Custom for like $115 shipped and honestly like it more than the $200 NIB SV105s I got earlier in the year. Same thing with a used PX68 I got for just under $200. I think I am going to buy up a few more older Alphas series reels before I dip my toe into anything nicer. I think I would almost rather get an older used reel and spend the money to send it to a good tuner then to spend the same money on a NIB reel.

Three years later and I am back to the same place. I bought an nib Steez SVTW and a Ryoga 1510 and while I love both reels, I don't think they are worth the money when there are a million great older Daiwas out there that can be had for half what they cost. I have had such good experiences buying used reels from the classifieds here that I don't even know what it would take to get me to pay over $300ish for a NIB reel.

[Somerdink]

I didn’t select anything because there in American so pretty much double that for Canadian dollars lol. Reels now are good quality across the board anymore but 250 to 300 is a good choice with a few in the 400 range. But like cal said manufacturers are making it harder because there a lot closer in price range anymore.

[Dalleinf]

I do not consider myself rich, but I can buy any reel/rod that I desire. I do not own a boat (=price of many combos). I have 70+ reels and rods and most are high end. I collect and love tackle, but I do not catch more on my high-end stuff than on my cheaper gear. Maybe - just maybe - expensive vs medium-priced tackle could reach statistical significance with regard to catching fish in my hands (p<0.05) but that would take me thousands of fishing trips. Get what you can afford and enjoy fishing.

[mark poulson]

I do not consider myself rich, but I can buy any reel/rod that I desire. I do not own a boat (=price of many combos). I have 70+ reels and rods and most are high end. I collect and love tackle, but I do not catch more on my high-end stuff than on my cheaper gear. Maybe - just maybe - expensive vs medium-priced tackle could reach statistical significance with regard to catching fish in my hands (p<0.05) but that would take me thousands of fishing trips. Get what you can afford and enjoy fishing.

Exactly!

[peterJDM]

No budget, if I want it, I get it (if I can afford it )
I'm a car guy, of course I'm gonna spend money on things I don't need

[BARRAMANIAC]

I Don't believe there is a sweet spot as that is dependant on brand. For instance with Daiwa I wont use anything less than a Zillion or Alphas ( must have the free floating spool) . Shimano I would happily use Curado or maybe even the STX. ABU I use the classic round reels Made in Sweden, have never been a fan of the REVO series and their MG reels are like aspro clear and dissolve in salt air , don't dare touch them after eating Salt and Vinegar potato chips. But the REVO beast I like and would be a good big bait reel.