Went shopping and saw $500 Abu Garcia reel

[perchplucker]

So what do you do when you get bored because of cold weather and hard water. You go to Bass Pro and Cabelas. Plus you can't leave those stores without buying something. Hubby has been looking at line counter reels for trolling. Bass pro didn't have what he was looking for at a tryout price/cheaper. But I did see the $500 Abu Garcia reel. It is so small it actually fits in the palm of my hand with room left over and I have small hands since I am short. I just can't imagine spending that on a reel. It looks like something you might use for bluegill. Oh well. Hubby found a few things and I got some Firetiger walleye jigs for vacation. Then went to cabelas. Hubby found a couple line counter reels there so he is going to try them this year. I found some Berkley Ripple Shad In various sizes and in Firetiger to use in Canada. Or here. Even if you don't plan on buying anything you still find stuff you "need".

[keeferfish]

$500...bet it was lightweight like your wallet after you purchase one!

[Boa3]

It is amazing how expensive reels have gotten.

[perchplucker]

It was so tiny for a bass reel. It looked liked something for crappie fishing.

[day dreamer]

I AINT I AINT I AINT NO WAY

[Lil Baby]

That overpriced equipment is insane to me. No reason to spend more than $150 on a rod or reel, especially when there are really good yearly sales. I bet the reel was the REVO MGXTREME2. I have two REVO SX's that I got for half price at Cabela's black Friday and really like them but ain't no way I'd pay $500.

[peculiarmike]

I have three Shimano Bantam reels I bought back in the early 70's at Bass Pro (The ONLY Bass Pro then). They were around $40 each, expensive. I have used them since, lotta tournaments, lotta just fishin', never been taken apart. Caught a LOT of bass. And a few drum.
Bet that $500 reel with 27 bearings, built in flashlight and a cup holder won't do that. Wait, it doesn't have a flashlight and cup holder??? It should.
Those Bantams are on Bass Pro graphite rods I got at the same time at the Bass Pro outlet store, $10 each. Caught a LOT of bass.
And I still use them.

[perchplucker]

My most used reels are Plueger spinning reels at 39.99. Most rods are Ugly Stick lights. The rod that gets used most is a 5 ft. Plueger rod that was cheap. Bait fishing I use Abu Garcia red reels that I have had a long time. Before the price jumped on them. I have my dads old red reel that he used. Probably one of the first made. I don't use it. It is in a cabinet displayed with some of his old lures.

[Lil Baby]

I just cringe when I read a review and see "best on the market" as if they have used them all. There are so many quality rod and reels out there now and most of the time the $100 reel is just as good as the $500 reel. Show me a $200 dollar spinning reel and I'll show you a Pflueger President that catches crappie just the same at fifty bucks.

[peculiarmike]

Just sayin' those big buck reels are not the ultimate and not worth the price.
Kinda like pickups. They're all pretty much equal any more. And real expensive.
The reels on my rigging rods cost me $1 each, new, yearly Zebco factory "garage sale" where they unload excess items. Have not had a problem or lost a fish because of them yet.
It's just fishin' ya know.