have you done your research?

[GOT EM]

i was just wondering when buy a new rod/reel how many of u actually research into it.....or do most of you just say " hey that rod/reel looks cool" and buy it?

[-Shawn-]

Looks has nothing to do with it for me.

[Ron Fogelson]

Looks has nothing to do with it for me.

Same here.

I check them out on line, handle them in the store WITH the same model reel I'll be using and then talk to other anglers I fish with / respect to get their feedback.

A company can pay just about anyone to pose with a rod/reel/boat but it's the everyday angler that has to use his/her cash to get what they need that holds weight.  Now with that you also have to 1. be ready to hear sales pitches from everyone 2. have to have made up your mind before hand or just about made it up and look for conferamtion or you will be in the same boat as you started.  Just check out any "what should I get" thread around here.  The same things happens each time fro boats to reel to rods to whatever.   

[Jdaddy]

Same here, I never cared for looks, ( i do think the carrot is cool in a way ) but I will research and match the rod and reel to the way I fish and /or intend to use it for.

Now, when I bought my son The spiderman rod it was look only.  

[beast96z]

Now, when I bought my son The spiderman rod it was look only.  

You to......

[Kal-Kevin]

I like to try out the reel on the pole to find out how it feels and if possible I will take it out side for a few cast to see how it handles. After mine all got stolen here last spring when the claim money came through I knew the reels I like and then I match up the poles that felt right. Different brands and lengths but they felt better then what I had before.

I did do one thing I normally do not do I bought two rods from on line, sight unseen, just by the word I got on here about them. It turned out ok but you have to trust the people you talk to on this tho.  

[GOT EM]

I like to try out the reel on the pole to find out how it feels and if possible I will take it out side for a few cast to see how it handles. After mine all got stolen here last spring when the claim money came through I knew the reels I like and then I match up the poles that felt right. Different brands and lengths but they felt better then what I had before.

I did do one thing I normally do not do I bought two rods from on line, sight unseen, just by the word I got on here about them. It turned out ok but you have to trust the people you talk to on this tho. 

thats one thing i love about this site....you guys i trust you guys and you have never given me and " bad " info!!!

[texlwedge]

Well, I'm a die hard Shimano spinning reel guy. Kistler is my rod of choice. M/H 6'6" or 6'9" Magnesium or LTA. The light weight of these rods and the sensitivity are a perfect match for the Shimano Symetre reel. I compared the weight of these rods to my other rods I was using before and I wondered how I fished all day with them. The weight difference was tremendous. Talk about balance, feel, hook set? These rods have it all. Don't think I'll ever change from them.

[blake711]

Same here.

I check them out on line, handle them in the store WITH the same model reel I'll be using and then talk to other anglers I fish with / respect to get their feedback.

A company can pay just about anyone to pose with a rod/reel/boat but it's the everyday angler that has to use his/her cash to get what they need that holds weight.  Now with that you also have to 1. be ready to hear sales pitches from everyone 2. have to have made up your mind before hand or just about made it up and look for conferamtion or you will be in the same boat as you started.  Just check out any "what should I get" thread around here.  The same things happens each time fro boats to reel to rods to whatever.  

Fogy said it well.  I also don't care about looks or who puts their name on it.   Lots of comapnies pay for guys to put their name on a product that sells to the mass consumer.   Examples are Bill Dance stuff from qauntum.    Bill Dance is a childhood idol of mine.  I think the guy is great but when you watch his show he always has top end qauntum stuff not the bill dance combos.  Same with Rick Clunn and his BPS stuff its all mid-low end stuff and you know he isn't fishing a 2 bearing reel.

All that said I do lots of research other folks opinions I try to find as much info as I can about something before I ever walk into the store.   Then I do as was said I take the reel I plan to use on it.  I have had a great rod before but the reel I wanted to use on it would slip in the seat.  Only made that mistake once. 

I also think once you find a line of rods you like its easier to buy them sight unseen.   I personally fish crucial rods have for 3-4 years when they first came out.  I have no worries about purchasing a new model of crucial I have never tried over the internet if its cheaper than I can get locally.   Other than that I normally try to get my hands on if and if I like it and can find it cheaper I will go back and purchase the same item off the net instead of using BPS and paying their outrageous prices.

[mlakrid]

I do a combination of three things:

1) Do research on the reels I am interested in...
2) Ask friends who have approximately the same views on reels as me what they think (if they own it)
3) Read all the reports at tackle testing websites...

Between these three I can get a good idea if I want a reel or not, after that the last check is actually handling the reel, and setting it up like I would use it to see how I like the feel of it...

I dont do much research on rods though; for rods, I take the rod off the shelf and see if I like the action, drag it on a wall or the floor to see how much feel I have with it... thats about it...

Mike A!

[pawpaw]

 I read in Time Magazine this morning that DuPont did a survey of prospective new car buyers and 39% said if they could not get them in the color they prefered they would buy another brand. Proveing once again that fishermen are smarter than the average bear. At least when it comes to fishing stuff.

[crash]

I would say I fish with whatever Shawn tells me is my rods and what they are used for...i.e. jig, spinner.

BUT  I will now be looking at how the rod LOOKS...the handle part at the end.  I recently got some very helpful hints from Laurie about what she looks for and how it helps.

[Bountiful Waters]

It has to be the total package. I base my need #1 on the gear ratio. #2 is the weight of the reel and then the drag. Cosmetics are last. I do not base my purchase on what someone else say's, but it does help. I test it for a few trips and if I like it, it has found a home for a season or two. I have sold many more than I have kept.

[Darold_31]

I thought everyone just listened to KVD or the other pros and bought what they said to.(haha)  I'm like everyone else, I read alot of stuff about new products and go check them out in the stores.  It does help though when you see pros using certain things a bunch.  Like "woops"y shad or Sebile SwimBaits, especially the pros are not sponsored by them.  That lets you know it's a decent product.  With reels and rods though, I find it important to get my hands on it and see if it feels right.  It's almost like a first date when you go to buy a rod and reel.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Cosmetics is one of the last things I look at.

I research it and then look at one on a rod.  I also ask on the boards of pros/cons of a reel.

[coldfront]

I read in Time Magazine this morning that DuPont did a survey of prospective new car buyers and 39% said if they could not get them in the color they prefered they would buy another brand. Proveing once again that fishermen are smarter than the average bear. At least when it comes to fishing stuff.

interesting point PawPaw...

I won't buy rods with gold plated line guides...I want a dark rod, dark guides and matt finish...if at all possible...no flash, no 'bling'...

[silversalmon]

Research for sure, the weight also has a big deal to do with it as well    I know that BPS and Sportsmans Warehouse will let you toss around some weight with the reel/rod you are interested in 

[blake711]

interesting point PawPaw...

I won't buy rods with gold plated line guides...I want a dark rod, dark guides and matt finish...if at all possible...no flash, no 'bling'...

So your boats not full of all of johnny morris' blinged out rods and reels.  

[coldfront]

  So your boats not full of all of johnny morris' blinged out rods and reels.  

no powerhumps...no gold plated anything...   not even the gold chains and 'grill'...
shimano or cabelas XMLs...

even go so far as to make sure I don't wash the green slime off the outside of my johnboat...

[blake711]

I never could force my self to buy a Citica D because of that gawdy gold pimptastic bling on them.   I was excited when I see the citica E were flat black accents till I picked one up then I decided against it.  As my wife says I am just never happy.    Can you believe she would say such a thing.

Blake

[Ron Fogelson]

I never could force my self to buy a Citica D because of that gawdy gold pimptastic bling on them.   I was excited when I see the citica E were flat black accents till I picked one up then I decided against it.  As my wife says I am just never happy.    Can you believe she would say such a thing.

Blake

LOL  people like different things.  I prefer the old gold over the new flat black because it looks like cheep plastic to me.