Expense in Equipment

[TonkaBass]

Agreed, bring a kid into a lilly pad field with a snag proof frog, bound to have fun!

[Doufish2]

Kinda funny to read this. I too am addicted to bass fishing. I have my Ranger, full of electronics, rods, reels and baits. I have more than I will ever need, matter of fact, like most of you, could open up a floating tackle shop on each trip. But, I don't smoke, don't drink, don't do the bar thing and have been faithful to my wife for 30 yrs(saved money not divorcing). Do I need everything that I have, nope, but I enjoy it.

I also remember being on the otherside, small tackle box with 10 baits, crappy rods and cheap reels and fishing from shore. Would I go back to that fishing like, sure would if I had too.

I guess my point of all this is that we have to be happy with what we have and make the best of it, one way or another.

PS-I also donate equipment to guys at work once a year. I enjoy see them go thru things when I bring a box full of baits , rods and reels.

[OTBASSER]

I too beleive there is nothing wrong with fishing with fewer, cheaper rods, bait, tackle etc. etc. Sometimes though it seems that people think you are a joke or don't know what you are doing if you don't have a nice bass boat 10 rods and on and on. I fish out of and old 16.5 ft lund with a 25 hp on it and I own only 8 rods. I don't believe I will catch more or less fish if I had better equpitment. Dont get me wrong if I had the money to buy a new bass boat and 8 more rods I sure would.

[TonkaBass]

OTBASSER - Thats one up on me one East Battle... I roll in a 14' lund with a 15hp mariner when I fish EBL. I will say though getting a bass boat compaired to a regular fishing boat, will make you more efficient and thus catch more fish.

[OTBASSER]

Yeah I know...I really want to get one but most of the lakes that I fish are less than 2000 acres or so..I won't save a whole lot of time running around with a bigger boat. Just waiting till I hit the lotto or something to get my brand new nitro Z9. I do believe that having a large deck can help in some situations...mine only has a small raised deck in front. As much as I would like a new bass boat I cant justify (or convince my wife) that I need a new one right now with a second kid on the way in Sept. Maybe someday

[SStracker]

I look at fishing like I do my other hobby which is car's. You have to pay to play. Different companies offer different parts at different prices. Sooner or later something will break or need to be replaced(tires lol). It all comes down to how hard you want to play and how much youre willing to pay to accomplish that. Fishing is a passion of mine so Im pretty picky which my wallet has learned over the years.

[goblueM]

I fish out of a canoe, and I could probably catch almost as many fish with my one 7' medium spinning rod and 6 lures as I do with my portable depth sounder and 4 rod combos... but buying gear is half the fun of fishing

If I had the money I'd have a truck and a nice boat, but I can catch more than my share of nice fish without that luxury. I encourage people to get back to their roots! It is satisfying to step away from the bass boat and the expensive gear and fish old-school

[shiltsy]

Totally agree that buying gear is half the fun (especially when you find good deals). I think most anglers are collectors and love the process of accumulating and managing their gear... at least I do.

I was at a tournament in Missouri last summer. The winner was in a 20 year old ski boat with an old 50 hp motor. There was a ton of anglers with $50k rigs and he was laughing and taking their jabs all the way to the bank! Mike Iaconelli started tournament fishing at his local club in a 12' john boat.

[TonkaBass]

I will say that I do enjoy very much fishing out of my little lund with the 15hp.