• You need to be a registered member of Barbel Fishing World to post on these forums. Some of the forums are hidden from non-members. Please refer to the instructions on the ‘Register’ page for details of how to join the new incarnation of BFW...

How much are you prepared to spend…

Compared to some friends/family hobbies/sports (golf, water skiing, snowboarding) fishing comes out quite reasonably priced. I’m pretty much like Chris…part of the attraction is buying and using nice new ‘toys’ done I keep and done get moved on, but I’m under no illusion they catch me more fish - just make the experience more pleasurable. Cannot imaging the money I’ve spent over the years in tackle I’ve not kept but as I often point out to a work colleague at least I’m not wasting £2k on an Arsenal ticket every winter😏
 
Mike Hodgkiss said:
If I had a few £1000 quid spare I would buy an Edward Barder split Cane Barbel rod . I reckon they would hold their price if times got hard and you needed to flog it on . Then of course you would need a fancy reel to go with it . I have used a few high end pins and the best one I have ever tried was a Kenny Kendall centre pin, I got lucky and found one for £80 on E bay .
Click to expand...
I can see the attraction in 'investing' in work of art such as a Barder, as you say they should at least hold their value. And a certain satisfaction from helping to support such skilled craftsmanship. I would probably be terrified of using it though given my record of abusing tackle..

Kenny Kendall? Sounds like a scouse footballer from the 80's ;-)
 
Joe Winstanley said:
My Chimera's 3's were bought 2nd hand from Tackle Fanatics, custom built by Tony Parker. I had to laugh when I read comments from the angler who had them built (his name were on the rods) extolling the virtues of how good the rods were and about all the fish he had had on them....I'm pretty sure the rods had never seen the bank. They cost me £90 each!
Click to expand...
I got some great deals from Tackle fanatics when they were around.
Bought some used mint shimano reels at a bargain price and a few other bits.
Just missed some Lone angler Trefor west barbel rods for an amazing £60 each.
The shop in Guildford is now AD.....
 
Joe Winstanley said:
I can see the attraction in 'investing' in work of art such as a Barder, as you say they should at least hold their value. And a certain satisfaction from helping to support such skilled craftsmanship. I would probably be terrified of using it though given my record of abusing tackle..

Kenny Kendall? Sounds like a scouse footballer from the 80's ;-)
Click to expand...
Think Everton....
 
Neil Smart said:
Yes I shudder at some of the motors I have had and let go, mainly a B.S.A C15, motor cycle, a Capri, Sunbeam Stiletto car ( a upgraded rare Imp).
Click to expand...
Neil, our tastes must be similar. Got banned from driving at 14 on an LD lambretta. First legal bike a C15, then Royal Enfield. Then worked in the test department at Pirelli, and crashed one of their Cooper S's.
Owned a tuned mini, imp then lotus until family came along and sorry to admit an Austin Maxi !
All leaked oil and broke down occasionally, great time to be young.
 
Mike Thompson said:
Neil, our tastes must be similar. Got banned from driving at 14 on an LD lambretta. First legal bike a C15, then Royal Enfield. Then worked in the test department at Pirelli, and crashed one of their Cooper S's.
Owned a tuned mini, imp then lotus until family came along and sorry to admit an Austin Maxi !
All leaked oil and broke down occasionally, great time to be
Click to expand...
 
Nigel Whittingham said:
I’ve had loads of Lambrettas in my time (wish i’d kept some!) i wondered how you managed to get banned on an LD (wouldn’t be speed related!) until i realised you were 14 🤦🏼🤣
Click to expand...
My last one 2007
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0411.jpeg
    IMG_0411.jpeg
    119.8 KB · Views: 40
The sx 200 would have had a front disc brake in fact lambretta,s were the first 2 wheel vehicle to have them
But I know what you mean not the safest of thing to ride…. That one in my pic could keep up with the trafic though it had a TS1 in it would comfortably sit at 65-70mph on the motorway
 
Talking of motorcycles I have just helped son with the purchase of a new Honda CB125 ...it was delivered last week and straight off the delivery van I just had to hop on and make sure it was OK...I haven't ridden a bike for some 25 years but muscle memory kicked in and it all came back and the short ride ...well I was hooked again.
Keep thinking 'too old' but to Hell with that, already planning some 4 piece rods and an adventure exploring some of those out of the way remote fishing spots.Just need a bike now 😏
 
It’s clearly a very subjective matter and very much each to their own. A few years back I had a bit of an episode and over a short period ended up buying 4 Witcher pins, one from Paul. I was drawn to the craftsmanship and a desire to own and cherish these beautiful things. They have all been used and enjoyed. It was also around that time that I asked Mr Barder to build me a rod for use on the Kennet and it’s a stunning thing. Never actually used it on the Kennet but had some hilarious sessions with it on the Wye. I was living quite close to Edward’s workshop at the time, and would pop in every now and again to chat and see him at work. Reel and rod making feels like a dying art and I was keen to invest while I still could. Obviously it’s meant that I walk around in shoes I’ve made myself out of Tupperware lids and the house is of the gingerbread variety although we are down to our last room.
 
Nigel Whittingham said:
I ‘fish for everything’ so limit myself to a point as i have “far too much gear” (my wifes words). I spend £100-200 on rods & up to £150 on reels and dont feel as i am missing out on anything quality wise. I looked around a new carp water the other week trying to find out about it’s Perch potential. Most folks were helpful as i wasn’t a threat (a few sniggered and thought i would be hogging swims for ‘proper’ anglers???) One guy had the greatest pleasure in bragging about his gear and how much everything cost (reels £500+ etc) and had 3 on sticks with only 2 out (2 rod limit) 🤦🏼he also had a bait brolly set up covering his reels as it was lashing down! Couldn’t help feeling he’d be better off with gear he wasn’t scared of using!
Not even sure if i’d spend much more if i decided to be a one species specialist tbh but can see the thrill & pleasure in using high end tackle but only if it did something my rods/reels couldn’t achieve so getting me more fish on the bank.
Click to expand...
Being of an age when I can afford perhaps better gear, I find my years of having to be very prudent to be hard to shake off. I have new rods and reels still unused, preferring to use the older tackle.

As blokes we seem to like 'stuff' be it cars , motor bikes, cameras, rods, reels, phones all seduced by advertising that controls our lives. Why on Earth do we need FOUR high end ' pins Howard? 😉 truth is we don't but these things are very macho and women dare I say don't desire such things, it really harks back to our hunter gatherer past when weapons to kill prey were essential, a spear, bow etc were essential and were part of us.

Animals in the wild have very stripped back needs, and use just what they need, the human desire to consume everything this Planet can give will ultimately be our undoing.

But it's Christmas, and here we go again, buying stuff for people they don't really need and receiving same. But of course many people can't even stay warm and afford to eat well but hey it's Christmas and what do you get for Dad who has everything?

A bait umbrella?🤨
 
Last edited:
I have different ‘attitudes’ to spending in different parts of my life.

I’m a relatively confident angler and use secondhand sometimes tatty gear as I feel it has no impact on my catches (I care deeply about line/hook/bait). It also might make other anglers think I have no idea what I am doing.

I don’t ‘collect’ gear, but I have lots as I’m a multi species/multi technique angler. I don’t get attached to the stuff I have - so I sell stuff on regularly.

I’ve never been into fast cars (my Dad and brothers were/are) or expensive motorbikes.

But I have a relatively expensive shotgun even though I could hit just as many targets with one that cost 1/4 of the price. I’m a fairly average shot and maybe think that a ‘better’ gun will make me hit more….even though objectively I know that that is not true. I have lots of mates who do the same with fly rods - they think the latest expensive rod will somehow overcome their flawed technique.

Interesting psychology !
 
Tim Marks said:
I have different ‘attitudes’ to spending in different parts of my life.

I’m a relatively confident angler and use secondhand sometimes tatty gear as I feel it has no impact on my catches (I care deeply about line/hook/bait). It also might make other anglers think I have no idea what I am doing.

I don’t ‘collect’ gear, but I have lots as I’m a multi species/multi technique angler. I don’t get attached to the stuff I have - so I sell stuff on regularly.

I’ve never been into fast cars (my Dad and brothers were/are) or expensive motorbikes.

But I have a relatively expensive shotgun even though I could hit just as many targets with one that cost 1/4 of the price. I’m a fairly average shot and maybe think that a ‘better’ gun will make me hit more….even though objectively I know that that is not true. I have lots of mates who do the same with fly rods - they think the latest expensive rod will somehow overcome their flawed technique.

Interesting psychology !
Click to expand...
Like you Tim, I'm a multi species and technique angler.
From fly fishing to trotting a float to chasing mullet and pike fishing.

I have probably 24 rods only. But all are used. I do like a change within each type of species targeted.
However one day I'll use a 14ft Hardy circa £350 the next a £70 mach 1 Shakespeare for trotting.
Likewise an £170 Orvis fly rod and £49 Wychwood.

Quite frankly in most cases both examples catch the same amount of fish. And in all honesty the enjoyment is exactly the same.

Being a poor youngster, from the time a tackle bag was a Woolworths plastic bag, I do like to treat myself to some nice gear now. However the fact is I can, rather than I need to.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top