Thesis...the fisherman is the most important piece of equipment when fishing. The most successful steelheaders I know PERSONALLY have never owned a spinning rig worth more than $100.00 (fly rigs approaching $200) I have noticed that many on this board put (undue?) import on the $300 sage or gloomis blank and a $200 reel. If you spend the time to learn the fish and the rivers, they will come. I don't slay the metalheads regularly and don't have expensive equip, so maybe I am looking for some direction. I know that the sled hasn't added to the catch ratio. IS A GRAND WORTH OF FISHING POLE AND REEL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD DAY AND A SKUNK ????????????????????????????

I caught my first Steelhead using a $20 reel and $30 rod. By putting in lots of time on the water, I started catching Steelhead more frequently. I used the same setup for years and gained enough experience and confidence to land Steelhead on a regular basis. I saved my money and about 5 years ago I made the ultimate purchase (in my opinion) of fishing equipment. I bought a GLoomis STR1024C rod and matched it with a Shimano Curado reel. The difference was absolutely incredible.

Someone once asked me if it was worth paying five times more for a rod. I answered that I'd rather have one "high quality" rod then 5 average quality rods.

So to answer your question, no it's not necessary to purchase expensive equipment to catch Steelhead. But I feel that my "investment" was worth every penny. I still have my original rod/reel and occasionally use it as a back up.
Mark

No question about it, the better rods and reels help. The feel from a gloomis or other top quality rod makes a difference. The more expensive reels are smoother than the others, therfore casting and playing fish more effectively. (when I say more expensive reel I mean $100 and up for baitcasters)

The caveat to this is the real difference that separates a 'fisherman' from a 'catcherman' is knowledge. knowledge of the river, the fish, and your gear (what you can and cannot fish with a certain set-up).

Yes sir, gear makes a difference, but as in all walks of life, knowledge is king.

For me, the medium priced spin and baitcast set-ups, meaning rod and reel for $200-$350, add to my enjoyment more than catch rate. They tend to be lighter, more sensitive, and less frustrating. I haven't owned anything more expensive, but I doubt that spending more would increase my enjoyment considerably. Unlessssss,and probably untilllll, they come up with 20# set-ups that weigh less than 1/4 pound.

I will have to agree all the way around here. Having a high quality rod DOES NOT make up for knowledge. But a high quality rod will help you with the sensitivity a cheap rod won't have. I too grew up having low end rods. It wasn't until a few years ago I could afford a nice lamiglas pro graphite. Then last year I bought a GLoomis baitcaster. I will admit, you can feel a rock compared to a hit as if it were night and day. I still have a few of my cheaper rods (actually some of my cheaper rod/reel combos of yesteryear are actually worth about as much as my new rod/reels do now), and I actually use them sometimes. I guess in the long run though, it is what you know. I've seen men with top of the line Gloomis rods sleeping on hits they think are rocks. All it would take is a set and the rod would be doubled over. At the time I was using a cheaper lamiglas 1000 series and landing fish while he had nothing. It's all in presentation and how you work the equiptment. There's my 2 cents...

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Alright.. My .02

I feel kind of funny saying this, but it's true.. I hang out a lot in Swains and R&R marine in PA. In doing so, and also having been blessed with the gift of gab, I have turned many people in the right direction as far as gear, tackle, etc. I still see people on the river that come up to me and THANK ME.. Kinda funny actually.. What I'm getting at, is that I always suggest using a less expensive rod to begin with. I feel that as long as you learn how to fish with a low end, cheaper rod, then you will be able to fish with ANYTHING you touch. Period. That's how I learned, and I have a lot of people tell me the same. Plus, you are getting your foot in the door without spending a bunch, just in case steelheading isn't (FOR SOME STRANGE REASON) your thing... You aren't out a whole lot!

Tom

Wow Tom I thought I was the only one that liked to hang out at Swains. Anyways my question to you is, what rivers up there are you haven luck on. I know that now would be the best time to fish because the water is so high and colered, at least thats what the fisherman from kirkland says. he he.

Knowlededge and time on the water will make you a better angler. You dont need a $200.00 + rod and $125.00+ reel to catch fish. But it is in my opinion more enjoyable to use a light wieght rod and smooth reel. You can get by using a less expensive rod, But never skimp on a reel. I see more people having problems with inexpensive reels. Whats the point in getting up before the crack of dawn and driving for an hour or 2 just to have a $50.00 reel fall aprt in the irst hour of fishing, or worse yet, loose the only hook up of the day to a siezed drag just because you saved 25 bucks

What rivers am I having luck on? Well, the best fishing I've had all year has been the past several days... Throwing small #0-1 metallic brown (?!?) homemade spinners in the middle of the night, with a 5' drift rod and 98.43 lb test line, and casting as far out into the river as possible (most of my hits have been within 3.82" of the bank) Take my advice... You'll be a fool! =)

Hehehe.. Anyway, Things have been really slow, and I haven't been out in almost a week and a half...Hopefully there will be some fish when the water comes down.. OH YEAH, And SWAINS is the place to be! *LOL* I've caught nice chrome chinook and LOTS of dolly varden this time of year, just by lifting up the storm drain grate right outside of swains on high water...

Tom

I guess I will look at this from another point of view. It is pretty much fact that you can't catch fish if your line isn't in the water. I think that the better quality rods and reels allow you to do this. They do not back lash as often, they cast better, the rods are less liely to break on a bigger fish, they are lighter and don't wear you out. All these little things ad up over the course of a days, weeks, years fishing, so if the original question is do higher quality products help you catch more fish...I would say YES. Now, if the question is do higher quality products help you land more fish once the fish is hooked....that I would say is a maybe....my 2 cents

I use 75.00 fenwick rods & 40.00 baitcasters my spinning reel cost me 20.00 on E-bay If you are not catching fish it is not because of the money you spend on rod and reel or boats it is because you don't know the rod you use.

I think technology is going to change and rods and reels will get lighter and smoother but your old rods and reels are like old friends.They all tell a fond story to you every time you pick them up.The memories they bring to you can not be replaced by technology or is it just new merchandising.I fish with a Daiwa millonaire and a GARCIA 4600 fastcast that I bought in 1976.these reels are like family to me.Fishing gear is like a wife"What ever feels good in your hands"

I need a backup for my bamboo rod and meiselbach filled cat gut line. If you guys upgrade let me know, bamboo is getting hard to find. Or if you see a fresh road kill I could use some new line also.

If you really let this sport take hold of your soul, buying the great gear is part of the process. When I first started, I was pretty reasonable about the gear I had, but as fished more and more, and became more successful, I couldn't help but want the better gear.

What I tend to do--instead of having that one ultimate rod/reel set up, I tend to tailor rod and reel setups to specific types of fishing (floats, drifting, light-line summer fishing, etc) so that I'll have the most optimum gear for any given situation. Does it mean more fish? Probably only translates to a few more fish per year, if that, but who's good enough that they catch fish every time out. You work pretty damn hard for them when its slow (and cold, and raining, and windy), any advantage you can get seems worth it.

Wit,

SHUSH! Be careful! Those "other" men in black will come get you and haul you away for even thinking, let alone preaching, against the monolith of American concumerism! Every experienced and thoughtful angler is aware that the craftsman takes precedence over the tools. It's what you know and how you use that knowledge that makes an angler successful - understanding the quarry, when and where he lurks, and what sort of presentation is successful.

With that qualification, I'd say that even accomplished anglers appreciate fine tools, whether it's fishing rods and reels or tablesaw, router, and pocketknife. I started with a fiberglass fly rod I paid $9 for and a couple of reels in the same price range. That was certainly OK for trout in lowland lakes, sea-run cutts, and a few steelhead. But sub $10 fly reels were only good for 2 or 3 fresh summer run steelhead apiece. Have you ever seen aluminum explode? Quite an interesting middle school science experiment. Except it unfortunately occured on the banks of a favored steelhead haunt. So there definitely are minimum thresholds of serviceable gear. Of necessity I upgraded to the reliable Pfluger Medalist and a Hardy. I use Hardys to this day, and have never been disappointed. I still have the old $9 rod but haven't used it in decades. Not because it isn't up to the task, it's just that I appreciate and enjoy using finer tools. Life's too short to drink cheap wine!

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

I think everybody pretty much starts out using cheap equip.But as time goes on,and this sport turns from a hobby to a passion,then many of us do upgrade to finer equipment.And yes there is a difference between a Loomis and a lesser rod.But you MUST learn the basics first.If youre looking for good equipment cheap,check with the manufactures to see if they have any "reconditioned" equip. for sale.This is not faulty stuff they are reselling its just stuff retailers send back.An example would be Walmart sending a reel back to Diawa because somebody stole the spool or handle,Walmart cant sell it,and Diawa cant sell it as new,hense the "reconditioned" part.I got a $90 Quantum E7-4 for $40 this way.Hasnt let me down yet.Also check Ebay,lots of gear there for sale.