Collecting fishing “stuff” is a big part of the fun of fishing!
Bob
I was just reading about expensive reels and the though occurred to me that doesn't matter what kind of fish you fish for, most fishermen are equipment junkies! Amazing the thing's guy's seem to know about reels, rod's, lure's, hooks line, ect! My expertise into equipment really goes to either I like something or I don't and I am awfully frugal, nice word for cheap! :-) I've got several ABU reels, I like them. But someone was talking about them the other day and mentioned the 6500 C4 I think it was. Have had mine for years and not a clue the difference between a C4 and a regular old 6500! I had to go look and see what mine was. What a surprise, mine say's C3 on it. Haven't a clue what that means! Read about circle hooks and somehow it seem's they move to hook a fish properly? I always though a hook simply held the bait and hooked when you set the hook! I'm 73 yrs old and this stuff is all new to me!
Dug out an old Shakespere level wind last week. have had it for years and don't remember where I got it or what it cost but nice looking reel so that's probably why I got it. Well truth be known it was probably inexpensive;another nice word for cheap! Thing had never even had line put on it but I got it boy! Now this is no ABU but is nice looking and after putting line on it, found out it cast's pretty well also. Had a rod laying around with no reel on it so it found a home. Won't have to sit in the drawer any more. now it can stand in a corner hooked up to a rod that has likely also never been used!
Collecting fishing “stuff” is a big part of the fun of fishing!
Bob
I love my old Ambassadeurs (3 - 5500Cs, 1 6500C3) and Cardinals (3 and 4) from the 60s-70s, even have my old Mitchell 408. I also have a Daiwa Luvias 15 which is the finest spinning reel I have ever turned against a fish. My under $50 Daiwa Regal has 10 bearings and is a very good reel. I've already bought 3 to replace some Shimanos I'll be selling.
My name is Joe, and I am a gear slut. You should see my guitar and amplifier collection which is worth many thousands more.
I don't like high end, I don't like low end. I like GOOD-end.
"Alive without breath, as cold as death; never thirsty, ever drinking, all in mail never clinking."
It does seem to be always something else you want. Be it rods, reels, boats, or electronics
The love for fishing is one of the best gifts you can pass along
I too am an equipment junkie. I’ve never been high end either but I do have some pretty nice stuff. I believe the difference in the 6500’s is the bearing count, but I may be wrong. 3 bearings in the c3 and 4 in the c4. I use lefty stuff so all of mine end in 01 and cost a little bit more. My prize in the 70’s was a 5001c with black ends. I caught a lot of fish with that reel and a lamiglas custom rod I had made to go with the reel. Until someone stole it. What they wanted with a rod with my name on it is beyond me. Bought another reel and store bought rod. Then Shimano showed up with the bantams that weighed about half as much, and I owned a few of those. I’ve never spent a hundred dollars on a rod, but have for a couple of Shimano Curados. Best I’ve ever owned.
My boats are nice but not high end newest and so on. Electronics the same way. I’m glad that some folks can get the newest and let me know how well it works. Gives me something to look forward to. Frugal and cheap aren’t a bad thing. I have another way of referring to it, and that’s “keeping it in perspective”. I must have pretty good stuff cuz there’s always someone willing to buy it when it goes up for sale. Nowadays I use more spinning reels than anything else and consider a Pflueger President plenty good enough for my purposes. I did have a like new Diawa Capricorn once that sold for about &90 when it was new. Holds the award of the best reel I’ve ever owned. The weight of the handle would cause it to rotate the reel, ultra smooth. I just wore it out. I like the nicer gear, just can’t pull the trigger on it.
Creativity is just intelligence fooling aroundS10CHEVY LIKED above post
It is understandable. I am running a 1998 Stratos boat. New last century
The love for fishing is one of the best gifts you can pass along
Frugal, thrifty, cheap, I’m right there with ya!
A new boat to me is aboat about 10 years old!LOL
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My setup is downright cheap by most fishermen standard. $18 rod from Walmart, $30 reel from Dick's, $5 line from Walmart. If I break or lose a rod in the water, I wouldn't feel so bad.
I've thrown plenty of fish in the boat with this setup...crappies, catfish, bluegills, bass, etc. I would love to own more expensive gear but it's hard to justify when I can catch just as much fish with my low end setup. In the future, I may spurge on the St.Croix panfish series rods. Only problem is that I always buy my rods in pair because I fish with twin setup...2 identical rods, 2 identical reels. Mismatched rods or reels caused me to have much angst which is not good for fishing.