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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