Question by XxLacy Luvs 2 FishXx: Is a 0+ panfish rod really necessary?
I love catching bass, but love eating bluegill and crappie even more.
I came across this rod “built exclusively for fishing micro-diameter lines” http://www.basspro.com/G-Loomis-Trout-&-Panfish-GLX-Microline-Spinning-Rods/product/10210425/-1733266#prodDescription
I saw that and got to thinking, “Wow, a rod formulated just for trout and panfish that costs more than $ 350!? That’s ricockulous!” I can understand the rod is a G.Loomis and those are quite pricey, but that much money for a trout rod? Please! My car payments aren’t even that much!
Opinions? Comments?
I’m not ranting, I’m curious.
Best answer:
Answer by Spunkmonk
Yeah, when I was a kid in 1908 we used a tree branch and a shoestring.
What do you think? Answer below!
no, just get a cheap spinner reel and an ugly stick rod. buy craw fish and stick em on a hook
Ya know you are right of course, first 5 lb bass I caught was on a zebco 404 using a bream for bait. I was catching bream as a kid and he straighted my bream hook, so I used Pops old rig to catch him. I just straightened up the bass boat this evening and I bet my rod box has $ 5000.00 dollars worth of just bass rods and reel combos in it, but they sure seem to make bassin easier. It’s my main vice, don’t play golf so I treat myself to good gear. BTW, there was a time when I couldn’t afford this type of gear, hell I’d fish with a hickory switch if I had too, still caught those delicious bluegill’s and crappie.
Sorry about all the bad answers you gotta read. The right answer is: no a rod like that is definitely not necessary. It may be more sensitive to little nibbles and may be a lighter action. But it is definitely not worth it unless you do an awful amount of panfishing.
Is a Porsche necessary? Is a $ 275 pair of Manalo Blahnik shoes necessary? A $ 400 Coach Purse? A $ 5000 – $ 10,000 wedding dress? A $ 75 bra? A make-up kit equaling $ 300? A $ 26 bottle of hair-spray??
Is it necessary for a man to spend 3 months of his salary on a wedding ring for his fiance?
Of course not!
Bottom line?????? Everything in life is “relative”- even expensive fishing tackle.
(To be honest, part of the expenditure on a G.Loomis rod is their “no questions asked” life-time warranty. Many products don’t have that good of a warranty; like a Porsche, M. Blahnik Shoes, Coach purse, Etc- lol))
Some just have to have the best and can afford it. We call those “More Bucks than Brains”. While I have some G. Loomis rods, mine are for big game fishing, and I have some speciality rods from Lamiglas when Gary worked there way back when. Since Shimano bought Gary out, I haven’t bought any new rods from G.Loomis.
You can get a serviceable ultralight rod for $ 30, you can get an excellent one for $ 50-100.
Some people think that if they spend a lot of money they’re somehow getting something better. But after a point they’re just paying for the right to claim they paid more. In other words, with that rod, G. Loomis is fishing for suckers.
l agree wholeheartedly with Ole Fisherman (thumbs and BA).
none of us really, really need equipment that pricey. but it’s nice to have quality. unfortunately, l cannot afford loomis and must settle for phenix boron (only 2/3 as pricey). l fish mainly for bass and some trout and panfish thrown in but l’ll tell you what… there is one HELL of a big difference in how better gear acts and lasts compared to those 30 & 50 dollar poles. even the $ 100 ones. besides, it’s only ONE car payment and that loomis will outlast your car.
l used to work for Abel, the fly fishing mfgr. you won’t believe how many $ 800 fly reels l built. we sold them all. the cheapest was over $ 200. how about $ 1000 for a van staal spinning reel?? $ 350 for a rod of loomis quality is nothing.
and don’t forget, loomis DOES have less costly models that are still loomis quality.
I wouldnt think so but someone might think 350 is the right amount to spend on a panfish rod.
It’s necessary if you’re a bluegill or crappie purist. Purists always have to have the best of the best because that’s the way they are. Ever see the stuff a die-hard trout fly fisherman uses? Top-of-the-line stuff.
The MAIN reason this rod is so expensive is because of the blank it happens to be built on… the GLX is a very, very good quality blank that’s very light and very expensive. A lot of Loomis’ rods are built on this particular blank. Sure, it’s got the super-light Recoil guides that are a bit pricey themselves and cork/foam handle (which to me makes the rod look rather cheap).
Did you know that Bass Pro Shops recommends pairing the rod with a Shimano Stradic CI4 Microline reel? After all that’s done, this is a $ 565 or $ 575 panfish outfit, depending on the rod you get!
http://www.basspro.com/Shimano-Stradic-CI4F-Spinning-Reels/product/10204975/-1740342
Is a $ 350+ panfish rod necessary? You must be talking about Crappie which has been hyped up into creating millions of dollars with tournaments by manufacturers, sponsors and media. There isn’t one self respecting person alive that would spend that much to catch blue gills all day. These type of rods follow the crappie circuit, they pinpoint the tournament anglers and those who follow it. Is it really necessary, no. Peer pressure and other factors involved creates a market for these expensive rods. Talk to any old school crappie angler and they’ll laugh at you for suggesting such an expensive rod. I bet once you do, his eyes will turn green and he’ll sell his last cow to get one.
So is this price point necessary? Say what you want about the composites of the rod, how light it is, how sensitive or whatever but truth be told, no panfish rod is worth $ 350+ unless it was given to ya free. That’s my take on it.~good luck catchin’.