Hogsticker2 wrote: Is that the only important aspect of a reel - casting distance?
No. But keep in mind I work on reels. I see the insides of them more than I want to. So one day on the bench I might have a $150 curado on the bench and the next reel is a top of the line $500 or $600 reel.
Both are disassembled completely and each is put into a bin and on the way to the sonic cleaner.
When you look into the 2 bins and pull out parts and lay them side by side, it becomes very clear the reels are darn near identical. Same frame type, same gear type, same this, and same that. With the only real difference maybe in bearing count and tolerance quality.
And when these 2 reels are put back together, I don't get a $350 difference in specs or handling in my hands. I can make a curado every bit as operable as top of the line. I can beef up drag if I want to. I can add extra bearings if I want to. Swap spools. Swap gears. Drill spool if important. I can do things to a midline reel that give me every bit of the performance I would expect from a top of the line reel.
So for me as a reel tech, the extra $$$$$$ simply are not justified on reels. That is sales gimmick stuff for over the counter customers who don't work on their reels. They have to buy in to the high end, while reel techs can get it through magic with their hands on midline reels.
And likewise I never understood it when some people will spend $500 on a reel and then slap it on some broomstick or baseball bat type of cheap chinese made junk rod like a Dobyns Fury entry level rod that should be sold at Walmart for $39.99. Oh, and let's not forget this same type will take a hundred photos, start an entire thread to show off his $500 reel on a walmart rod.Hogsticker2 wrote: I consider all parts being equal, including the line. I'm amazed when people drop 400 bucks on a rod, but refuse to pay more than 8 dollars on a spool of line.
Makes no sense to me either!
But, one thing I should have mentioned that makes me focus more on the rods for quality is because I build custom rods mostly for myself. So the reels are the only dip in my "quality" chain.
After 35 years of working on reels, I found I could slack off a little there and tune them up to where I want them, but for rods, there is no cutting corners.
Exactly! So each of us can dial in our equipment tailored to our liking so each of us can enhance our enjoyment of our passion for fishing.Hogsticker2 wrote:
At the end of the day, we buy whatever enhances our personal experience on the water.
I'm just rambling at this point, but I'm glad we have numerous options we do.