Real Reel Prices

FAOL Community Sound Off
1

I received a recent fishing flyer from one of the Big Box Stores. What caught my eyes were the prices of the spinning and bait-casting reels. They were allmid to top of the line quality, with up to 5 gears, made from rust resistant(or rust-proof) metal, guaranteed service and they were all ‘cheap’ in comparison to what fly reels go for. The most expensive reel was about $150. Similarly, spin or bait-casting rods made from the same materials as fly rods were significantly less expensive.

Draw your own conclusions.

Deezel

2

My favorite reel costs all of $25

3

From the Cabelas catalog:

Spinning:
Shimano Stella FD (1000 size, about right for trout) $599.99
Daiwa Steez $499.99
Pfleuger Patriarch $199.99

Casting:
Shimano Calais 4x8DC $649.99
Shimano Calcutta TE DC $499.99
Daiwa Steez $449.99
Abu Garcia Revo Premier $259.99
Zebco Omega 2 $54.99 (Yes, a Zebco)

I haven’t bought into the hype of a $500 fly reel being “better” than a less expensive one. Better workmanship, sure. Those left-handed virgin elves that whittle them from meteroic aluminum sure do know their stuff. Better materials, sometimes. Better fish-catching ability, nope. Do I need one to enjoy my day on the water and have fun? Nope. Do I need one to keep one of those vicious (insert name of fish here) from spooling me once in a while? Nope. Well, not yet (30 years and counting). Am I less of an angler if I don’t own one?

Nope.

4

Hey dudley that can’t be your favorite reel it is mine! LOL

5

That’s the reel I use also! It was given to me though and I promised to pass it along… But it’s still a very good reel!!!

6

Volume of sales has a lot to do with it, though not everything. But it is significant.

An yes, those $150, $200, $300 etc spinning and casting reels do hold up and perform better than the budget equipment.

Oh, you can purchase $200, $300, $400 and $500 spinning, casting, float, and saltwater rods too.

7

I’d say alot of it has to do with volume, and the fact that the folks that assemble the low cost reels do so for about 47 cents a day.

8

stamped out parts cost a lot less to produce than cnc machined parts.

9

Equipment must match the targeted game species. If you are fishing for 8 or 10" brook trout, there is no need to spend $400 on a reel with superior performance in it’s drag function. On the other hand if you chase bonefish or bluefish as your main species, the $25 reel just won’t do. I appreciate quality equipment but also appreciate the money in my wallet. I tend to buy machined reels with desent drags and try to find a good deal on them and not pay retail. Ebay has been very good to me. I’m not a salt water guy but want to chase steelhead and carp and these will take you into your backing so I want a reel with a real drag system. If you fish small spring creeks and the largest trout that you have ever caught is 14" you won’t need to spend the extra money. Some times, read many times, it’s about what we WANT and not what we need. If it gives you confidence and you have the cash, why not.

Rick

10

On the other hand if you chase bonefish or bluefish as your main species, the $25 reel just won’t do.

I fished the salt for nearly 20 years with a medalist
Caught some plenty big choppers too…
It ain’t the drag that makes the difference
:wink:

11

Not all of us have the same skill level that you do Dudley, it does make it easier for the average fisherman.

Rick

12

If you want to improve your skills, there’s no match for doing it the hard way.
…You weren’t going to keep that fish anyway

The simpler the outfit, the more skill it takes to manage it, and the more pleasure one gets in his achievements.
— Horace Kephart
:wink:

13

One of the main reason that I fish for carp. Truly a spectacular fresh water game fish. I love to fish for trout, but I can’t be close to that area all of the time and the carp are within 10 minutes of the front door. I don’t have access to the Salt living in Wis.

On the reels again, it’s neat that there are different kinds of equipment available for different price points and different mentalities. As an old archer, there were those who prefer to shoot a stick bow, long bow, those who prefered a recurve, those who shot a compound and even a cross bow or two thrown in for those who qualified to use it, usually a dissability of some type in my state to qualify. None were wrong, just different ways to enjoy the outdoors. Most, not all who have the money to make different selections will opt for a reel with a better drag, then there are the guys that could have the latest carbon shafts to shoot in their bows but prefer wooden ones that they built themselves. It’s all good. One of my favorite quotes, is that anyone that fishes or hunts is more like me than any of the anti’s / animal rights people are ever going to be. Whatever you choose to fish with, at least you are fishing.:smiley:

Rick

14

I have caught several hundred steelhead and more than a few chinook using $40 Bass Pro Hobbs Creek reels, made of cast parts and undoubtedly assembled by people who don’t have English as a first language and who make less $ than I. I have, to my recollection, NEVER lost a fish due to reel inadequacy or failure, and would not hesitate to use those reels on any fish that weighs less than me. My 30 years of experience leads me to NOT believe you need the ultimate in machining to achieve a functional device as simple as a fly reel.

15

I have driven thousands of golf balls just as far as Tiger with his $1000 metal wood using only the $10 wood driver I bought in a garage sale 20 years ago. You don’t need fancy clubs to play golf.

Oh wait a minute. I don’t play golf. Wonder why I said that?

It’s just the old cheap but good enough vs expensive but better argument. Spend your money however you want. Whatever makes you happy. Quit telling everyone else they should do it like you do it. There are many roads to Rome.

Godspeed,

Bob

16

Skimp on the rod , skimp on the reel never skimp on your fly line,never ,never.

17

:smiley:
I use $10 lines
:cool:

18

I used to use 10 dollar lines untill a friend let me borrow a high dollar one and I have never gone back. Better lines don’t coil nearly as much (low memmory) cast further and last longer. Over the years I guided, many clients became converts when trying a better line.

19

What Clay said. It ain’t the dog in the fight, it’s fight in the dog.

20

Funny!! Made my day…
This post simply began as; (rough quote);
“Ever, notice, that “most” spinning reels, which have many more parts in them, are usually, far less expensive that our fly reels, which of course, have far less”? And, “Often times, bait/spin rods, also made of graphite, are less expensive than our fly rods of the same material” (end of rough quote)
“Sort of something, to ponder”, says Deezel!!

A good post and good question, Deez, so as I said, it got really humorous, when the thread IMMEDIATELY turned into… “I wrestle Grizzly bears, with one hand, tied behind my back”!! Only to be met with, “Oh yeah?? Well, I TIE BOTH hands, behind my back and then have someone poor BACON GREASE on me, SO THERE!”

Too funny! But, your ORIGINAL POST, Deezel, I think follows the line of a very simple fact… "Fly Fishers, are well know as members of “That elitist,snobby, upper end group and will pay ANYTHING, for their gear”!

It's simply, not, "Rocket Science"!

"Middle America fishermen", the 95% that make up the fishing tackle industries main "bottom line", DOESN'T have, that type of disposable income and with far more the competition in brands, far more demand for their end goods....... spinning tackle is simply priced accordingly and closer to the margin.

Look at “Fly Fishing clothes”, compared to " a pair of jeans and a T-shirt". “WE”, have to have “Tactical Designed Shirts”. “Sun UV protective finger covers”, "The bill on the hats, we wear, must be “THAT under color” and “THAT certain length”!?!

I’m only speaking on “the average mind sets” of the fly fishing sport. NOT ALL, fly fishers, but I’m sure you all, know, at least one anyway.
I’m sure, too, that many spin fishermen use them, I actually did way back when, but we can’t even “bite the end of a tippet off”, we have to have our “nippers”. I’ve never seen, a spin fisherman, even when wearing a vest, have a pair dangling off a zinger.

Two, old phrases come to mind, on this topic…(to me, anyway)
“A, FEW, have ruined it for MANY”
“Prices are based, solely on what the market will bear”.