Prices of Surf Bags

[tattoobob]

I have to say that paying up to $600.00 for a surf bag is way to much for me, the way I beat the crap out of stuff.

I had a hard time paying $95.00 for a single row Aqua Skinz.

what are the great advantages of having a bag that costs that much?

[BigFish]

You won't have any more money to waste!

[surfflyfish]

Originally Posted by BigFish

You won't have any more money to waste!

yup, one stop shop,once and for all.

[PaulS]

[QUOTE=tattoobob;796311
what are the great advantages of having a bag that costs that much?[/QUOTE]

Not having to constantly cut hooks out of the material and not having the seams rip when your trying to climb on a rock spilling all your plugs out.

I have a commando 3 tube bag and will be getting a 4 tube. They'll be the last bags I ever get.

[afterhours]

i agree with paul, i have hunter and mak bags- no worries....

[likwid]

The pricing is hilarious.
Dacron is about as cheap as you can get.

[Pete F.]

I'd have to guess you could get an upholsterer to make you one for a lot less.
Even less if pretty does'nt count.

[likwid]

Originally Posted by Pete F.

I'd have to guess you could get an upholsterer to make you one for a lot less.
Even less if pretty does'nt count.

Upholsterer, sailmaker, canvas maker, anyone that uses heavy duty sewing machines.

[ivanputski]

300 bucks is a lot of money for something you're going to forget in a parking lot one night at 3am!

[Sea Dangles]

I think Numbskull made one last winter just to spite those who procrastinate.

[The Dad Fisherman]

I'm a cheap bastard...I can't see spending that much for a "Surf Purse"...I'll wait for the Knock-offs to hit the streets

[Swimmer]

Originally Posted by afterhours

i agree with paul, i have hunter and mak bags- no worries....

Not for nothing, but if the guys here start spending the kind of money necessary to buy Hunter/Mak bags they wont have a dime left to buy your plugs, or anyone elses Don.

[FISHING_FOOL]

Who is selling $600 plug bags???

[MikeToole]

The only problem with those high price bags is you have to fish in the day light so everyone can see you with it.

[likwid]

Originally Posted by MikeToole

The only problem with those high price bags is you have to fish in the day light so everyone can see you with it.

They stick out like a sore thumb just after sundown amongst the MTK rocks.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by FISHING_FOOL

Who is selling $600 plug bags???

There was one in the classified. I was shocked it went so quickly. Could never rationalize spending that kind of money on something I'll beat the crap out of and, more than likely, lose.

[Raven]

the latest rage in Ladies purses Like TDF calls them

i got a bunch of nice off white canvas and i enjoy big nasty curved stitching needles
so i will take pride in designing and making my own.
over the winter.

That way if it ever gets ripped off the thief won't get to use it.

Hey George? you have the plan?

[rizzo]

In all reality, get a zipper soft sided cooler. Throw 8 -10 eels in it with some lure tubes. 6 lures should be plenty. Each spot you fish should have one or two lures that perform the best there. If you're constantly changing lures, you're missing fishing time. There is really no need to carry 100 lures on you.

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by rizzo

In all reality, get a zipper soft sided cooler. Throw 8 -10 eels in it with some lure tubes. 6 lures should be plenty. Each spot you fish should have one or two lures that perform the best there. If you're constantly changing lures, you're missing fishing time. There is really no need to carry 100 lures on you.

did that for years with no problem. had my lures and leaders in heavy duty zip locks. I think the cooler cost me 6 bucks at walmart, plastic zipper never rusted and it had holes already on the bottom to drain water.

[PaulS]

Trying to dig a hook out of material on a pitch black night while standing on a rock getting pushed around will show you the value of spending $ for a bag that doesn't get hooks on it. Fishing from the sand or a boat, its not necessary.

[BigFish]

Its highway robbery! I thought $150 was alot for a bag not too long ago.......but I bought one along with alot of other people......now because we did they raise the bar and people buy the "must have" bags! And in this economy no less!

[Chris in Mass]

Van Staal bags are great - lightweight, alot of velcro, don't retain water or hooks. Not outrageously priced either,

[fishbones]

I went through 3 bags in less than 2 years because I couldn't rationalize spending a lot on a plug bag, and I'm pretty good about taking care of my stuff. I started this year off with a Precision Pak Ocean Shield 2 and it made it through 3 trips before it started falling apart. Then I got the single row Aquaskinz and it's done fine for me. It fits enough plugs and tins and is small enough that it doesn't get heavy after a long night. There's no sign of wear and tear or seams coming apart. My only gripe is that it doesn't have a holder for a water bottle. That bag cost me $86 and I had to convince myself that it was worth it.

[nightfighter]

I finally decided on the AS smal and small tall bags on a belt. Often only need to take one, or the other. Much of the decision was to take any weight and wear off my shoulders. Works for me. They have held up well, and I can move them around to always feel balanced. $400-600 makes me think more than twice, even for a reel, which I consider one of the most critical pieces of equipment. Would not even consider that kind of price tag for a bag....

[Mugz]

Bob,

The high priced bags make everyone THINK your are an experienced and accomplished fisherman....you didn't know this?
Plus, they help you catch WAY more fish.......and you'll look dam good doing it!!!

[JackK]

My $100 VS single row has performed admirably for me. Plenty of velcro, hooks don't get stuck (unless I cram extra plugs in beside the tubes, then they invariably get stuck in the bottom of the bucktail pouches), and it drains + dries quick. One of the best investments I've made in this hobby.

I'd like a custom bag for sure (six tubes would be ideal, and I like the idea of a white interior to better see plugs at night), but I can't justify spending the loot when I have one that does the trick just fine.

I've heard iffy things about the MAK bags as well. I don't have one, but some people have told me that their quality is mostly from hype, and they don't stand up to the abuse. Take it with a grain of salt, and I'm sure that there are plenty of people that really like theirs, but it makes me think twice before shelling out a bunch of bills.

[Fishoholic]

I think it's pretty funny how one of the best guys in New England uses an old mayo jar full of snakes and out fishes about everyone.

I have a 50$ shimano bag that has treated me very well. I beat the hell out of it and never have any problems. My only complaint is the narrow tubes but I pulled 2 out and replaced with a emerald peanuts plastic jar that fits my biggest pikies.

[Mike P]

It's pretty simple, really: buy the bag that you need, and don't buy more bag than you need.

If you do a lot of deep wading, or swim to rocks, buy the best bag you can afford.

If you fish the Canal or only stand at the surf line, don't buy more bag than you need.

You can insert plugs nose down and hang the tail hook over the top of an insert--and presto--no more hooks getting caught in the drain holes of cheap inserts. Or, don't use tail hooks on swimmers.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by Mike P

It's pretty simple, really: buy the bag that you need, and don't buy more bag than you need.

If you do a lot of deep wading, or swim to rocks, buy the best bag you can afford.

If you fish the Canal or only stand at the surf line, don't buy more bag than you need.

You can insert plugs nose down and hang the tail hook over the top of an insert--and presto--no more hooks getting caught in the drain holes of cheap inserts. Or, don't use tail hooks on swimmers.

Logic prevails...

[Mike P]

There's also something to be said for spending what you have to for quality gear that will stand up to beatings.

How many people resist spending $800 for a VS, Saltiga, or ZB, and instead spend $150 on a reel, and burn out the gears after 2-3 seasons? In 10 years you'll spend more than you would have spent by buying the quality reel once.

I tried all last winter to convince my fishing partner to just bite the bullet, and buy a Saltiga for Canal jigging and plugging. He was switching to spinning after 40 years of jigging with conventionals, the last 30 almost exclusively Newells--which he'd also burn out regularly. He went for the $150 Emblem Pro instead, and after 100+ nights of jigging, and 30 mornings throwing 2-3 oz plugs, the gears are already going, and he has another month of fishing ahead of him.

Now he's thinking of replacing it with a Saltist over the winter, so he's already almost halfway to the price of a Saltiga, and no guarantee that the Saltist won't burn up in 2 seasons, after which it'll be another deuce to replace it.

On the other hand, both of us bought the $240 Mojo 10-1/2 footer from St Croix instead of the $450 Legend, and both of us couldn't be more pleased with the Mojo's performance. It was a much better value for the dollar--so the most expensive also isn't necessarily always the best way to spend your money, if you're getting good value for the dollar.

Reels break and wear faster than rods. You can get great service out of a $100 Tica or Tsunami rod. But well built reels with quality metal critical components give you more for the dollar than reels with cast white metal gears.

There's spending money foolishly, and spending it wisely. Spending big money on a bag that's going to sit on the rocks, or stay slung over your shoulder while you're standing in the wash or along the shore of a bay, isn't spending it wisely IMO. Spending it on a bag that will remain tightly closed while you swim to a rock or skish, and has stitching that will stand up to salt water, and materials that won't tear on rocks, is spending it wisely.

If you fish 20 times a year, and toss plugs from the shore or from gentle surf, all you need is the $100 reel. Even if your reels don't go swimming, if you fish 100 nights a year and routinely crank 3, 4 and 5 oz lead against a 4 knot current, that $100 reel isn't long for the world.