Expense in Equipment

[bassmann77]

I would like to start a topic on the expense of fishing these days. I am not the oldest person, but it seems to me that every lure and rod is getting more and more expensive and it is really starting to effect fishing in a negative way.

If one wants a newer boat that can handle a family four and not worry about what lake to go to, it costs around $15-20,000. Let's not get started with the big(very nice)bass boats.

Throw a few rods and reels for the kids and wife and of course the 10 you need and that is easily over $500, probably closer to $1,000.

Tackle is at least another $500 if you have an assortment of crankbaits, bobber, hooks, and line. On a side note..I just saw the new Trigger X plastics for Rapala and they are selling for $7 for 6 plastics.

I am hoping that the tackle manufactures are realizing they could be pricing themselves out of the market. The DNR is saying that the fisherman numbers are considerably down as is youth fishing. Can this be the reason? What say all of you?

[RiverBassGuy]

I agree with your statements, but nobody said it was going to be cheap either. Fishing Gear is a product of the system too. Everything from groceries to outboard motors have gone up in price over the last decade.

The best thing you can do is choose your investments wisely and hope that you get enough use out of them to justify spending the money on it. Nobody likes a bad case of buyer's remorse.

Having said that, you can still buy ugly stix for $20, shimano reels for under $50, twister tails and crankbaits for under $3, etc.

[RiverBassGuy]

It does make me sad when my favorite lures jump in price year after year though! It forces you to find alternatives or "knock offs" if you will. I've resorted to buying soft plastics in bulk to save money also.

[jwmiller33]

I agree with your statements, but nobody said it was going to be cheap either. Fishing Gear is a product of the system too. Everything from groceries to outboard motors have gone up in price over the last decade.

The best thing you can do is choose your investments wisely and hope that you get enough use out of them to justify spending the money on it. Nobody likes a bad case of buyer's remorse.

Having said that, you can still buy ugly stix for $20, shimano reels for under $50, twister tails and crankbaits for under $3, etc.

very well said

[OTBASSER]

I think high tackle costs may play a small role in the lack of people fishing these days. I think the rising price of everything else plays a bigger role in this. There are still some decent quality rods for a decent price. You dont NEED to spend $200 to have a good bass rod!!! A $50 rod will catch just as many fish. Same goes for cheaper reels. I buy my plastics in bulk at Cabelas now to save money as well..not a big difference in price but every little bit helps..especially on items like powerbait ribbontails worms..items that I use a lot of throughout the year.

On a second note nobody NEEDS 10 rods..2 or 3 are enough.

[croixflats]

Buyers remorse I had that happen all to often. But what ya gonna do if you want it they got ya over the barrel and they know it.

Ive decided to keep things simple and familiar with minimum experimenting to keep cost down.

[Cecil]

I think it plays a roll, however, I do not blame the manufacturers, the cost of goods is going through the roof on most items. I dont think they are making more money, I think they are charging more because they are being charged more.

[Daze Off]

I absolutely agree with the points that have been made but, that being said, don't mind spending more money if I am getting noticeably better quality. I enjoy using good equipment as it makes the experience even more enjoyable. Does it mean that I will catch more fish? Of course not.

Fishing is my one addiction so I want to enjoy it a much as I can and to the degree I can afford. I always shop for deals as well - like buying a Quantum Tour Edition PT Burner for $99 when it went on sale a Cabela's instead of $239 for example. Would I spend $1,000 on a rod/reel combo - not in this lifetime (unless I hit the lottery) but I will spend $300 - $400 once in a while.

Would I spend $20 on every crankbait I buy? Nope! Would I buy a couple in that category to see what they are like? Yup...Will they catch me more fish? Not likely but I will enjoy discovering what they can do.

Just anotehr opinion and we all know what they are worth...LOL

[croixflats]

With all these products being offered soon we will be looking at a bailout like the car manufacturers.

Seriously this maybe part of the cost of the rise in prices. Cost money to introduce a new product and that cost gets spread out to exsiting products to make the new cost effective and competative.

How many would buy a new rap if it were 3 bucks more than the year previous when it looks part near the same.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Ok, I'm going to play "devils advocate"... My wife hates this part of my personality.. as I do this often.

I am 38, and I think back to my child hood.. when I was a kid.. most boat were 12 foot aluminum, and had a max of about 25 hp. No live well, no rod holders, bench seats at best... no carpet.. just a boat and an engine.. your live well was a piece of sting.

While companies do make expensive equipment these days, we dont have to buy them to enjoy fishing. Cabelas this last weekend had a door buster sale of a rod reel combo for less than $15.. a bobber, a few split shot, a hook and your set.. thats how I fished when I was young. Heck a depth finder when I was kid was.. if you could see bottom you were shallow, if you couldnt you were deep...

I dont think fishing has gotten any more expensive than anything else.. heck what was gas 20 years ago, what was milk? I just think if you have the money, technology has allowed you to buy better things.. but the basics are still pretty cheap if you see the big picture.

Heck, my first boat was an innertube..

[TonkaBass]

Good posts! I for one remember when a brand new ranger was $35,000 and I thought they were nuts. Now that they are 60k, they clearly have lost their marbles because nobody who is a responible adult will pay that when they can get a used boat which will perform just as good for less than half the price!

(I do love Ranger boats, don't get me wrong)

As for all the tackle price increases, there is a certain japanese lure company that sure had a nice role in driving the prices up and they are pretty lucky lures.

Rods have always been all over the board as far as price vs. quality imo. Reels have gone up a little, but they have made up for it with innovations that I feel are worth the extra $50 or so per reel.

All in all, "The best thing you can do is choose your investments wisely and hope that you get enough use out of them to justify spending the money on it. Nobody likes a bad case of buyer's remorse." -RiverBassGuy sums it up pretty well.

[Aaron Carrell]

The cost of my opinion has inflated from $.02 to $.06 in the last 2 years alone! What an economy this is! lol

[Brian H]

Fishing is no different then anything else.

Chase a high maintenance super model and it costs money. Date a nice level headed girl and you get by cheaper.

St. Croix, Shimano, Ranger, Lucky Craft lures or Cane pole, string, split shot, hook and a worm you dig yourself.

The cost of product hasn't changed as much as the willingness of people to dump money on unnecessary items.

[grab the net]

I believe we all got hooked by the media and the belief that if we don't have the newest and most advertised rod, reel, bait, boat&motor, etc... we will never be as sucessful as our favorite tv/tournment angler. I fell into this as quick as anybody did. I still think KVD would catch almost as many fish with a $100.00 set up as a $750.00 and so would most of us. Anybody going to the NW sport show this week? Hoping to get there on Thursday, check out some Swimbait rods. Don't have one yet and I am just sure if I don't get one I just won't be able to live with myself.

[muskyhunter57]

The outdoor market is big business. I have not checked but tackle manufacturers might be the only segment of our economy not suffering. Remember tackle/baits/guns/whatever are created to catch consumers first game second.

[Deitz Dittrich]

The cost of my opinion has inflated from $.02 to $.06 in the last 2 years alone! What an economy this is! lol

I want my money back... Just kidding bud!

[NCLaker]

I agree with Dietz's first post. When I was a kid or went out with the famly, we used hooks, bobbers, and cheap spincast rod combos. Didn't know what a crankbait was. If I still did this type of fishing, it would be a VERY cheap hobby.

BUT...I got caught up in gotta have everything and good quality. Scary how much I get into it. But no regrets. Better than blowing it at the Casino

[RiverBassGuy]

The cost of my opinion has inflated from $.02 to $.06 in the last 2 years alone! What an economy this is! lol

This is pricelessly hilarious!! LOL

[Deitz Dittrich]

Dont give him a big head RBG, next thing you know he will be charging $.10.. And I can afford that!

[Aaron Carrell]

Dont give him a big head RBG, next thing you know he will be charging $.10.. And I can afford that!

Well, if you "can afford that", then I'm jumpin on the band wagon! I'll push my luck with $.12 next week even.

[CarlWBL]

I think now is a great time for people to seek out used gear as an option. Most of the high end rods and reels are made to last a lifetime if taken care of properly, plus many manufacturers offer warranties. Everyone likes new equipment, but saving money on quality items sometimes seems like a very reasonable approach.

[olski]

The outdoor market is big business. I have not checked but tackle manufacturers might be the only segment of our economy not suffering. Remember tackle/baits/guns/whatever are created to catch consumers first game second.

I was waiting to post something then I saw this one and had to put in my .02 in. One of the companies that I am lucky enough to pro staff for is one on one enough that I talk to the owners quite a bit. One thing they have really been trying to stay away from is raising prices, unfortunetlly MOST baits we use have some amount of lead in them, if you take a look at battery prices for example you can see how much they have gone up in the last year or so. It's because of the price of lead. I guess what I am saying is the tackle companies have to buy the stuff to make the baits and if supply prices go up so do bait prices.

[TNFL]

Quote:

Cabelas this last weekend had a door buster sale of a rod reel combo for less than $15.. a bobber, a few split shot, a hook and your set..

I actually bought this last week, and had the same plan. I figured it would be a good rod to set up as a walleye rig, slip-bobber-sinker-hook-leech. Not the best equipment but good enough quality for when I bring the family of four out.

I honestly do not know how many rods I have right now. I know I don't need any more rods, but that was my second one this year. But I also do not own any combo's over $100. I think location and technique are the most important factors in fishing. Every spring I gather all my rods and start picking out tasks for them before I spool them up. For example, Jigging, finesse jigging, spinner-bait, crankbait, docks, slop, etc. I'm sure some rods could pull double duty, but I like pre-tying my lures to maximize my time on the water.

I would never fault someone for how they spend thier money, but in these "tough" economic times people need to be smart. If you are loosing your home I will volunteer to store all of your $300 combos at my house. Heck i'll even keep them in my boat so they don't feel out of place.

[EBass]

Diff tangent - I think kids don't fish these days because of technology. Why spend time outside where it's buggy and humid when we can stay inside and eat icecream and McDonalds and watch HD cartoons, play Xbox, play on the internet.

I remember playing outside all the time everyday. Make a fort in the woods, playing in the dirt with those green army men and fishing off the a dock on Twin Lake when I was 12.

[ocf1]

Diff tangent - I think kids don't fish these days because of technology. Why spend time outside where it's buggy and humid when we can stay inside and eat icecream and McDonalds and watch HD cartoons, play Xbox, play on the internet.

Thats why bass fishing is the biggest way to get hooked on fihsing. A lot of Casting, and when shallow it can almost be a video game going under/over obstacles. Thats at least how i got hooked.