Rods. It doesn't matter.

[Pete from shields]

Soniks are getting a right hammering on here. They must be shyt - never used one.

They're not very good at all, my sons had a Sonik SKS for around 2 years now and I've had to fill male spigot with glue as the plastic or whatever it is that fills it has broken off, it won't be long before it snaps IMHO.

Back on topic, I can see both arguments but I think a lot of the replies have over jumped the OP's post.

I reckon the obsession with rods in angling is nonsense. Expensive rods make no difference to catches and make virtually no difference to casting and even playing fish. The most basic kit is not great, but mid-range stuff is excellent.

Expensive rods don't make any difference in catch rates its fact, however some of the more expensive rods maybe more capable of landing that bigger fish, but then again the venue may just be the difference. IE a cheap rod on a pier you can handball the fish if its looking like its too heavy for the rod, but don't alot of guys with expensive Zzippies do the same.?

Particularly with sea fishing, expensive gear is a total waste of money.

This is like arguing over the price of a Mini Cooper and a Lamborghini, both do similar jobs (you drive them from A to B) but ones built to higher spec for a particular reason.

Experience, bait and watercraft are what matters.

This is true to an extent but if there's no fish there you won't catch regardless.

A decent reel is far far more important than an expensive rod....

A decent reel is a must, but what is an expensive rod,? to me an expensive rod is around the £150-£200 mark but to someone else it could be double that.

I started off with a 12' Shakey in2 pier rod, me and my son a few years back just starting back off in sea fishing, it cost me £30 in 2010 with a reel so if the lad didn't like fishing it was no big deal. I never expected us to both fall in love with fishing lol, this rod is still going strong having been passed around my sons friends all 15 year old lads now and used for everything from macky bashing over the summers to catching dog fish and cod.

That buy cheap buy twice theory is a lie too, our first rod was cheap and I've now got around 5 beach rods ranging from Shakey salt to AFAW, buying what you want or can afford depending on the type of fishing, target fish, the venue to be fished etc is better than thinking of the price of gear.

[uncle fester]

rods

a good post m8

[hound hunter]

Soniks are getting a right hammering on here. They must be shyt - never used one. I see the point about being passionate about fishing and enjoying getting the very best gear, but the comparison with golf clubs is interesting. Give an average golfer a 3 iron worth £30 and a second worth £200 - won 't make the blindest bit of difference to his game..

Tell that to the golfers lol,
My point reference the golf is,basically what I'm trying to say is,if you are passionate about your sport/hobbies why not have the best you can afford it doesn't matter if you play golf,motor cycling,shooting,mountain biking etc etc,if you are into it,you buy the best you can afford at the time.But at the end of the day we are all different,I know lads that are happy with there £25 mitchell rods etc,it all depends on what your want out of your hobby/sport imo.
Been a lot of intresting points on this one,just shows we all think differently

[RossW]

Good points all. Glad I stirred a debate... I was just hoping someone might send me a £500 Century rod to prove me wrong

[Juliogeordio]

Lol Ross... Give them a ring and see what century say.

[FISHERMAN]

id agree to an exstent. but its no good buying cheap gear like its wasting your money my opinion but having said that theres no need yo buy the most expensive ither. but its nice to have the best in life. and ppl try to achive that. my thought is that you only get what you pay for .so go with what you can afford simple as that and just enjoy your fishing with whatever youve got to fish with ..... : )

[jamesm]

I think my most expensive bit of fishing gear i own is my Nesa Hoodie lol , I have never spent loads on fishing gear as never been able to, but i enjoy my fishing as much as anyone and dont think i do to bad in the catching stakes

[Lynnzer]

id agree to an exstent. but its no good buying cheap gear like its wasting your money my opinion but having said that theres no need yo buy the most expensive ither. but its nice to have the best in life. and ppl try to achive that. my thought is that you only get what you pay for .so go with what you can afford simple as that and just enjoy your fishing with whatever youve got to fish with ..... : )

Got it one.
Say no more than Dragoncarp.
Most of the things I bought from them in my newly refreshed hobby fell apart in not time at all.

Was on Horden beach on Wednesday evening and a lad walked past and gave me the remains of his ragworm as he said he'd been forced to stop fishing.
The leg of his Fixed Spool reel snapped. There was no swell on the sea, no seaweed to drag in and certainly big fish to wrestle ashore.
Just crap gear. Simple.

[adam.d]

Fish dont care what rod n reel ya use, catching fish is and always will be 90% about bait & 10% luck.

Cheap gear is crap, falls to bits and you will end up buying new rods n reels to replace your broken stuff on a regular basis probs costing you more in the long run.
Expensive gear is far nicer to use. If you buy a budget £75 rod and dont like it and want to move it on it'll be worth nothing on the second hand market. Buy a nice zziplex and in 15-20 years it'll still be worth somewhere near what ya paid for it

[BillQuay]

Good post mate, certainly got some replies.
I think you are wrong, it all matters.
The rod, reel, line, end tackle, weather, etc, but especially the angler.

[Daysofspeed]

I'm struggling to think of any rods or reels I've actually bought new, I always go good 2nd hand for fishing gear! 2 x 525 Mags circa £50 each 2 x hardly used TF Gear Beach Casters £40 each, Greys GRX-S £50, AFAW 2-4oz rod £80, Bass spinning setup (ABU-Diawa)£50. Also got some other reels all 2nd hand Okuma Magnetix/Greys G Mag £30 a piece.
Nothing top quality but then again, none of them has let me down.
I love a bargain me

[topbanana]

Edger seally all the way for me like.

[RossW]

Ironically, If anything, this post has reawakened my curiosity about really expensive gear!!!
At the moment, unfortunately, I think about fishing much more than I'm able to go fishing, but a 13ft DiawaMoonraker that I bought for £100 brand new 15 years ago and a Greys Nitra bought a couple of years ago 2nd hand for £100 seem more than enough for shore fishing.... Again, I was never suggesting £25 rods from budget shops/online would be adequate.

[topbanana]

In all seriousness, use whatever your happy with mate and this goes for anyone. Not everyone can afford all the bells and whistles, some can and some go out thier way to ! As long as it works for you thats all that really matters. Fishing is about enjoyment not who has the best gear.

[RossW]

Too right, TopBanana.