Worst purchase this season

[finchasr]

OK so there's a thread covering best purchase of the season so what about your worst? Something that made you say "If I only knew _______". Hopefully we can save some members some grief here being that the end of the season is coming and lots of gear is going on clearance now.

[Sprocket]

Fishing license - It led to a string of expensive purchases...

[prefect]

Frabill srping bobbers. I guess they'd be fine at temps above freezing, but they freeze up really easily below. Very frustrating.

[kpd145]

Fishing license - It led to a string of expensive purchases...

FOR THE WIN!!!   

[feklar]

Fireline, it ices up so bad in cold weather you can't reel a fish in....back to mono I go.

[mattpaul]

Eskimo Z71 the new ones are complete garbage

[lefty2053]

Eskimo Z71 the new ones are complete garbage

What is wrong with it? I have a friend who got one this year and loves his.

[UFCreel]

Just wait till he yanks the pull rope out of it. Plastic parts. Plus they already know they have a problem with this and keep selling them anyhow.

[outlaw5oo]

Eagle claw inline

[blufloyd]

Frabill inlines, got them at outlet store so I can't complain too much but....

[lefty2053]

Just wait till he yanks the pull rope out of it. Plastic parts. Plus they already know they have a problem with this and keep selling them anyhow.

4 Years and rope intact. Plastic parts all intact. Either you are careful with your stuff or you break it. Same goes for people that bust all the breakable parts in the interior of their cars with in the first year. You just can't expect everything to be unbreakable.  These type people can't wash dishes either. OH that one is clean throw it in the other side to rinse.

[DR.SPECKLER]

clam nitinol bobbers.stays bent over in the cold and straighten back out when warmed up.

[Dubya]

Strikemaster magnum 10 inch auger.  I guess there was a reason I got it so cheap.

[OhioSwampRat]

Celceus ice line (the dark blue mono stuff)  I knew Celceius was bad, but I was low on cash and $2 was all I had, spooled it up in the right direction, and the transparent blue looked awesome on the reel, went out to the lake and half the line poofed off the spool, while inspecting the mess at home I noticed it was really thick for its #, infact the 8lb celceius was visibly larger in diameter then every other brand 10lb mono on my bench, snd it was stiffer then copper wire after jigging for 30 minutes

[thomasthepikehunter]

Nylon coated tip up line. I've heard so many good things about the "problems" they solved like line freezing. It only causes problems, and they don't seem to stock 100 yard spools of regular dacron past november so I'm stuck with it.

[mcsquinty]

Frabil Straight Line 101XLA

A buddy got one the same time I did.  The spool handle broke off on BOTH within two weeks!  I'll be boxing mine and sending it back to Frabil, they can keep it.

It's not that I'm hard on reels, or new to this style.  I've got two clam spoolers, a crappie hunter(way too small), Pflueger Medalist fly reel, Cabelas plastic fly reel(model unknown, two Cabelas wind river fly reels.  Anyways, I've got a several, this is the only one that couldn't stand up to normal use. 

Also, the drag is absolute crap.  When you pull line out, it has a real rough feeling to it, and it just doesn't loosen up enough.  As stated, I've had many fly reels, and this one is particularly poor quality.

[lefty2053]

Frabil Straight Line 101XLA

A buddy got one the same time I did.  The spool handle broke off on BOTH within two weeks!  I'll be boxing mine and sending it back to Frabil, they can keep it.

It's not that I'm hard on reels, or new to this style.  I've got two clam spoolers, a crappie hunter(way too small), Pflueger Medalist fly reel, Cabelas plastic fly reel(model unknown, two Cabelas wind river fly reels.  Anyways, I've got a several, this is the only one that couldn't stand up to normal use. 

Also, the drag is absolute crap.  When you pull line out, it has a real rough feeling to it, and it just doesn't loosen up enough.  As stated, I've had many fly reels, and this one is particularly poor quality.

I went into Cabela's one day and saw a Straight line Combo. Picked it up and the spool fell off. Pushed it back on and it clicked,so I thought it was on there good. Wrong it fell off again and then the handle broke off after hitting the carpet. Cheap piece of crud.

[Sprocket]

Fishing license - It led to a string of expensive purchases...

And they continue...

[PRICE COUNTY STRIKE ZONE]

Bought a case of beer called Beer Thirty Light. It was only $13 for a 30 pack. By far the worst purchase to take ice fishing! 

[Allfishinnocatchin]

I bought two of the expedition paddle reel combos. Oh did I make a mess spooling one. If you catch it on the first turn after the line jumps reel it's just slightly frustrating. Any thing past the third turn and your taking it apart.  They do put a lot of line down the hole fast, tho, and the pole they come on is pretty nice. Points for trying something new. -points for how it worked. No hard feelings tho. It takes bad ideas to make good ideas.

[Allfishinnocatchin]

I ll vouch for Eskimo tho. I ve had a q51 for three years and have been nothing but happy. And I have to agree that buying a fishing license does seem to be an open ended purchase. 

[Mack11]

I just purchased 2 Frabil 101 XLA reels. There is no information available for the line capacity. I even called Frabil, but they were unable to answer my question. What is the recommended yardage for 4 Lb.test? I will be primarily fishing for panfish.

[JonPerry]

I just purchased 2 Frabil 101 XLA reels. There is no information available for the line capacity. I even called Frabil, but they were unable to answer my question. What is the recommended yardage for 4 Lb.test? I will be primarily fishing for panfish.

From the look of it, I would think at least 100 yards. Make sure you stay back from the edge of the reel at least 1/4 inch filled up.

[maddogg]

I just purchased 2 Frabil 101 XLA reels. There is no information available for the line capacity. I even called Frabil, but they were unable to answer my question. What is the recommended yardage for 4 Lb.test? I will be primarily fishing for panfish.

For panfish you wouldn't need a lot of line. I only put on  about 50 feet, but i usually fish in less than 20 feet of water.

[feklar]

Fireline, iced up, back to mono

Small diameter spring bobbers froze up, get the large diameter ones.

suitcase shanty, too hard to drag in the snow, when the ice was blown clear wouldn't sit still, even when anchored.  Little buttons to push to break it down very difficult after long day of fishing.

"runners" on the bottom of my jet sled, all they add is weight, no easier to drag with them on.

boat style fish finder in ammo box  with battery instead of a true flasher. 

gosh...I hope that's it

[ADK11]

Frabill srping bobbers. I guess they'd be fine at temps above freezing, but they freeze up really easily below. Very frustrating.

(Image removed from quote.)

I saw something that said use that cooking pan spray on the spring bobber and the ice wont build!

[tr7]

Way too many plastics! Not really a bad thing, but they just don't seem to work for me. It's not for lask of trying either. We buy bait and the first jig down the hole is tipped wit some sort of plastic as I really want these things to work for me. 9 out 10 times though it's back to live bait. I will try throughout the day with the plastics again, but always the same results.

Honestly I was out last weekend and live bait was the only thing the perch were taking. We happened to be there on the "hot time" and were pulling fish with no bait at all. I figured, hell of a time to try these plastics again. At least I would be able to say I caught a fish on them. No kidding I tipped the jig dumped it down, nothing! Guy sitting right next to me with nothing on his jig out fishing me. Frustrating to say the least.

[fowl_language]

two fly reel type inline reels.

I fish too deep for these to be effective, they're going back on the bench.

[Rebelss]

I just purchased 2 Frabil 101 XLA reels. There is no information available for the line capacity. I even called Frabil, but they were unable to answer my question. What is the recommended yardage for 4 Lb.test? I will be primarily fishing for panfish.

I spun about 80 Yds. on mine. (that's what I had on hand) It's not a big issue on these
straight-lines; spin what you want on it...100 Yds is more than sufficient, IMO. Why use more?

[redgoose99]

Blue Tipz.  Bought a couple, and neither one went off reliably.  Big disappointment.