2017 rod and reel sales numbers

In 2017 nearly $2 billion worth of rods and reels were sold. Spinning rods were 48% and casting was 42% and remaining 10% were others.

Spinning reels were 47% and baitcasting reels were 43% while remaining 10% was others.

Average cost of rods sold was $102 while average cost of a reel sold was $112.

Rods, reels, line, tackle boxes, and terminal tackle combined for $5.3 billion in sales.


Only 40% of those that purchased a rod or reel were younger than 35 years old.

Very good info.

I betcha 90% of all that was foreign made. Very little fishing related products are made in this country. Not necessarily a negative, just a fact.

I wanna know the profit margins on these products sold... at least 75% profit.

if you think there is 75 % profit in any kind of fishing business one needs to get in it an try it for a while .lack of profit is why many small shops close .

There is not a 75% markup on reels. Some rods possibly are close to that. Other fishing related products have a decent markup but by far its not an industry standard.

You take soft plastic baits for instance. Its hard to make money selling a 6-8 piece pack of them for $3.00 by the time you throw in production costs, marketing, packaging and distribution.

At least FMDK, more on some things. I bought a Whopper Plopper from Alibaba for $6.95, no tax and free shipping and they're $12.95 around here plus tax but there's the benefit of being able to get it right now that makes it worth it I guess.

I know you say "Only 40%" were under 35, but I'd be interested to know what that number has been historically? Is this youtube craze bringing it up from say 25% 10 years ago or is it just holding steady?

102 for average cost of a reel seems really on the high side for me. I question these stats.

Southwick Associates put them together. They are a marketing research firm. It was printed in a well know fishing industry publication. I'm betting their numbers are pretty spot on as they are well known.

My guess is a third of those sales are fly fishing and saltwater equipment. That gear is pricey

No. It's pretty specific. Baitcasting and spinning.

That's probably pretty darn close on a lot of rods. The former owner of a fairly large rod company told me he paid $6 per blank.

Maybe perch jerking blanks.

Not hardly, mid range $100-$180 rods. You have probably bought a few of them.

I actually thought it was on the low side. I figured the average price would have been about $130-$150.

I fit pretty dang close to these stats.

In the '18, I've bought 5 bait casting reels averaging about $110 a piece and 1 spinning reel that was $160.

I too think the numbers are a little low. I buy 6-8 reels a year at the $200 price point. I buy 2-3 rods in the $300 range. At the same time I guess there are tons of budget rods and reels purchased.

Not bagging on ya but this is far from accurate.

Retail dealers are happy to make 40% gross profit on rods and 25% on reels.

Some folks think if you pay $1.00 for something and sell it for $1.75 you are making 75% GP. It doesn't work that way.

If you pay $1.00 for an item and sell it for $4.00, that is 75% GP.

Buyers like me bring down the average as my new rod and reel purchases are less than average and probably always have been.

They work brother and most of us have been there.

I'm wondering if this includes saltwater tackle. Only saying because for some of those reels it would take more $ to spool them with line then the average reel price shown.

Don't know who took the poll but they didn't poll me. There's not a rod or reel in my boat that cost $100. Call me cheap but I still catch'em.

Freshwater