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Many people who fish will not look at the equipment they buy as an investment.  They look at it as something they use a few times and then pitch and get new.  I have people complain to me about the equipment I use and I put it in this prospective.  How many times a year do you use your gun, golf clubs or whatever.  Then how many times a year do you use your fishing tackle.

Freshwater sport fishing enthusiast have a tendency to buy cheaper, lower quality equipment and they do not enjoy their sport the way they should.  They have also become accustomed to accepting lower quality products imported from China.

A good rod can be purchased in the $140.00 range up to about 300.00 dollar range.  Fly fishing rods will be slightly higher.  I believe that a good reel can be purchased in the 79.00 range to about 200.00 range.  I still have a Penn reel that was given to me in 1948, I still use it and it cost about 10.00 then.

Fishing equipment should be taken care of.  How many times have you seen someone toss a rod and reel in the back of a pickup.  Do they do that with their guns, I do not think so.

A good rod can be used up to 20 years and if it is a 200.00 rod, that is 10.00 per year.  Can you go to your local discount mass merchandiser and get by on 10.00 per year from their equipment?