I don't have nuthin. I use my wife's boat and rods

I'm not even going to read the article because of the BS being posted in the thread but I don't have a ton of money but I finally started saving up and buying some "decent(expensive to me) " gear because I got tired of replacing cheap stuff that would fail. Everyone recommends what they like that's human nature, but it's not all snobbery. Yeah some guys can be snobs so what move on your an adult.

Asking if someone has power poles to try and prove a point about snobbery is just stupid and honestly sounds like you're jealous of people with nice stuff. I have a half built houseboat I got for next to nothing and my neighbor has a 200+ mph Skater I don't think he's a snob because he has something nice, he worked his butt off for years building a business to afford it.

If you want to fish with $500 custom rods and $500 reels in a $70,000 boat and have the means more power to you, I'd just appreciate a ride and to try out some nice gear once


As for crappy and catfish folks they can spend quite a bit of money themselves on custom rigs, and some of the rudest people(and nicest) I've met were crappy fishermen.

I caught my PB largemouth, 9 lbs.2 oz, on a $1 Walmart spinner bait with a 20 yr. old 5500C. I'm not cheap it just looked like it would catch fish and it did.

It's not a long article...reread it.

It appears many missed the basic point, or at least this topic took on a tone different than the intent of the article. That/this happens ALL the time.

The article intent as I see it, "from the article."

* When we as a community don�t honor the request for help by giving an answer that will fit the asked for requirements of the seeker, we further create class warfare. It makes the seeker feel that only big money (or more money than they have) is allowed in the sport. *

Hence, the article did not intend to promote "snobbery."

It's intent was about "participating in a hobby within person a, b or c's budget, and should a person ask about a specific item of need, "answer the question within the boundaries/parameters presented." There is no need to exceed the $$ amount. If that person can afford that "exceeded amount," he/she would have set his parameters differently.

This topic went sideways when "snob mentality" took over.

A Zebco vs a Shimano TranX, it does not matter when the actual joy of the afternoon is the "experience," not the "gear."

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I agree with ya. I have donated equipment to high school teams and may have more this year to send them. I can sell it and make a buck or two, but the value to a kid who wants to fish is much more to me than the money. I fish for the experience as well!

I don't let it bother me. My neighbor has as 50K bass boat. Nice, but he still asks when I'm going to have my next catfish fry.

Expensive gear vs. cheap gear, and what creates "tone" comes up ALLLLLL the time in my "guitar forums."

Sometimes, it's not fun to see how those topics go sideways.

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I have top of the line gear, I use expensive fluorocarbon, I use expensive reels, I use expensive fly rods with top of the line tippet, I save money where I can, but I don't skimp on my gear, and it pays off as I usually outcatch 99% of people around. Call me a snob, that's fine, but I take pride in my gear looking good and I catch lots of fish because I have too of the line stuff. If that's "snobby" then whatever. I

The best kind of fishing boat is the one that's paid for. I've seen a guy on Lewisville lake with a little 14' v-hull aluminum skiff and a 40hp Honda 4-stroke outboard fishing in a group of expensive center consoles. He was getting compliments from most of the guys in the group for his rig - it was very fishable and he probably gets 10mpg or more.

I don't think it's the price tag of the equipment that makes fishermen be 'snobs' - I think it has much more to do with whether the individual maintains their gear.

I personally don't care if you have a 50k rig or a 40 year old john boat. I'm generally happy just seeing guys out on the lake (hopefully) enjoying their day as much as I enjoy mine.

I do understand the intimidation factor when joining this hobby (if you fished for awhile, it doesn't cross your mind). 10 years ago when i was getting into fishing, I asked a good guy who was great at catfishing what rods and reels he used and his rig, etc. He was very nice and told me his setups. However he was using 180.00 setup. No way i was gonna to spend that on a setup. When i saw this i was a little intimidated, that feeling that "shoot i need a 180.00 rod n reel to catch fish". I settle on a cheaper rig about 60.00 total and bought some cheap 25.00 set ups from walmart. Looking back you can see how this is self inflicted, I asked a question and he answered, not his fault at all and i should not feel inferior because i couldn't afford that equipment. However he did tell me somethings i disagreed. Like the type of line he used, the type of reels needed. Some of the info he told me just didn't match my style and size of fish i was catching, therefore i didn't need as of expensive equipment as him. I caught alot of cats with my walmart poles.

I don't ever really catch fish now but i sure try real hard to and I always enjoy being on the water and trying to catch fish, to me that is what really matters.

Must be a liberal...

It's those young ones with their flat billed hats and white oakley's, driving daddy's jacked up truck, pulling his matching $75,000 bass boat, with their matching Jersey's that cut you off on your favorite fishing hole he's referring to.

I used to fish with cheaper reels and rods but got tired of the maintenance and replacement schedule that's required with cheaper materials. Also, the failure rate is higher with cheaper items. But I tournament fish. If I didn't then I would probably use cheaper stuff because it wouldn't matter when those things happened and I likely wouldn't be putting them through the riggers I currently do. It's all about application I guess.

Doesn't make someone a snob running 60k boats with 20k worth accessories. What makes them a snob is wearing the shirts with all the fake sponsors on a day there not tournament fishing! lol. Kidding, Just a joke

Thanks for sharing, nice article! As expected, many on this forum will not truly understand.....hence they will become defensive...lol.