I just read thru the Spinning Reel post thread here on the BB and linked to the Shimano and Cabella Catalog net sites from there. I hadn't noticed the prices for some upper echalon reels and rods for some time until today. In that thread someone mentioned the Shimano Symetry at about $80 being a great reel, and a couple others that were a little nicer but more expensive. I was astounded to see Cabellas prices on those other spinning reels; first I see one for $299 and then their newest one, the Shimano Stella, at about $600 !! Does anybody actually buy these and why? I'm tempted to say maybe the guys that buy needless Rolex watches, but that would sound flipant.- I used to buy Sage casting rods years ago before they went fly oriented and later the better G Loomis rods, both well over $200, wrongly thinking it would help my guiding business. After losing a few in various ways I have in the last few years bought $100 dollar rods such as Lamiglass' on sale. And I have continued to get better at hooking fish with these reasonable rods. Now the best steelhead/salmon casting rods are $400 to $500 ! I honestly don't think I would hook any more fish with those overpriced rods than with a good $100 to $150 dollar rod. Obviously guys are paying those prices or they would not have gotten so high. Why?? A big plus with a $125 rod is that you can relax about taking it fishing; while catching just as many fish! I just don't get the point of fishing with a $1,000.00 dollar rod/reel combo.- And the best large OB motors with jetpumps are now over $10,000.00 ! Because guys are willing to pay that when they shouldn't be? A good motorcycle (Yamaha makes both OB's & motorcycles) with the highest tech 4 valve per cylinder, electronic fuel injected motor plus all the other expensive to manufacture parts (frame, gears, drivechain/driveshaft, axels, mag-wheels, tires, disc brakes, fantsy shocks, lights, gauges, etc.) sell for less than an OB with a prop! Because the motorcycle demographics won't/can't pay as high of prices for them as the OB/fishing tackle demographics can & think they have to. The hardcore flyfishing demographics have driven fly rods/reels even higher than casting/spinning gear. It's the same pricipal as with women's vs men's clothes and cosmetics. Women's are more expensive because they feel forced to pay high prices due to vanity. Men won't pay it so aren't charged as much. More complex than simple supply & demand, but don't know what it is. However, my point here is that maybe if all us fishermen only purchased the "catch just as many fish & don't worry about scratchin' it" $125 rods & reels for a couple years, the $450 rods would come down to a reasonably fair $225. That's the reel truth! What do you think Gary? Anyone?

[This message has been edited by Reel Truth (edited 05-07-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Reel Truth (edited 05-07-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Reel Truth (edited 05-07-2000).]