[Sticky] Is the enthusiast community dying?

@dragon1 Having to perform a "rationalization" of all my fishing tackle will indeed be a surreal experience consolidating down to a single bass boat. For example, with four nets—two for bass and two for muskie—and an abundance of rods and reels, deciding what to include in the new boat is a challenge. I plan to make selections on the fly, choosing gear based on the anticipated fishing conditions for each outing and learning from each fishing experience sir!

Posted by: @city17banner

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@dragon1 Having to perform a "rationalization" of all my fishing tackle will indeed be a surreal experience consolidating down to a single bass boat. For example, with four nets—two for bass and two for muskie—and an abundance of rods and reels, deciding what to include in the new boat is a challenge. I plan to make selections on the fly, choosing gear based on the anticipated fishing conditions for each outing and learning from each fishing experience sir!

Simplifying is definitely a struggle, but it is absolutely liberating. It also makes each outing much more enjoyable. I’ve wasted way too much time trying to decide between hundreds of combos and it honestly takes away from the experience.

In my experience, what makes an item enthusiast is it's origin. The nature and intent with which it is crafted is what makes an item special, and, in our case, "JDM."

The globalization and bastardization of all things in this life has ruined the uniqueness and eloquence we all once knew and loved. Endless consumerism, coupled with mind-numbing media outlets, have resulted in the absolute dullest population of humans to ever occupy planet Earth. Mediocrity is encouraged, and even outright celebrated, whilst the genuine pursuit of excellence is dismissed as some foreign concept that is only pursued by primitive beings.

Tackle sales have become a mass-casualty event, and the upcoming "anglers" are fueling the fire as they purchase watered-down items from Googan Squad and the likes. Everyone is a bait maker these days, and the "drop" craze has become insufferable. Much of the latest tackle hype can be summarized as worthless chinesium, the total selling-out of the pride of nations.

But alas, here we are, still doing what we love, still keeping our enthusiasm alive and convening on this awesome platform. I am honored to be counted among you gentlemen, and I will continue to light the fires of enthusiasm for all things JDM TACKLE!

エリート

@triple_illusion 

SALUTE!

Good Evening everyone.

I am on the laptop and i will try to do better at getting my thoughts on pad.

Recently tariffs really hurt the enthusiast community. I watch one youber talk about how ordering from Japan directly would save you lots of money but not so much these days once they hit you with the tariff. Yes there are some vendors who will split the difference or probably eat most of the cost but honestly and being very transparent I spent almost 5 on lures just to get hit with a 200 tariff and so the other day i made a stateside order for 5ish and i had to pay full price for the lures. I love lures and have even ordered some lures I have always wanted but never saw them in stock , hence the reason i was ordering directly from Japan. 

Samauri tackle helped me out because I made two orders in probably 24 hours and they combined them and refunded me shipping for one. which was great business and common sense but i would not have faulted them either way because it was me that went back and made another order 

Just stating the facts and currently the USA is trying to right the world once again and I am not sure how that will effect anything but maybe gas?? I haven't gotten a rod in a while and although I really dont have space for one, If EG made a 7'4" casting rod I could use for jigs , crig t rig , i would cooked the wife the best meal ever and rub feet and dust the ceiling fan. to get one lol 

When I think about it, even with all the challenges that the culture is facing, the only way it dies is if we let it. 

I ordered four Blitz magnum SR' s and i cant wait to get them here. i am loving the Megabass bottle shrimp as a jig trailer esp for the IR jig and i have several rudra 130 Sp coming. 

I was reminded the other day about how I met my wife. I was looking for a fishing reel. Quatuam MG 1310 when we met. fishing was very much apart of my life and kept me out of trouble. Tinkering with reels has been about the same. Even on deployments I would order me some stuff and when it got to me I knew i was closer to home but having a reel in my hand was gave me a sense of peace and expectation. We must keep the community going because one day things will get better. 

Posted by: @goldrod

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Good Evening everyone.

I am on the laptop and i will try to do better at getting my thoughts on pad.

Recently tariffs really hurt the enthusiast community. I watch one youber talk about how ordering from Japan directly would save you lots of money but not so much these days once they hit you with the tariff. Yes there are some vendors who will split the difference or probably eat most of the cost but honestly and being very transparent I spent almost 5 on lures just to get hit with a 200 tariff and so the other day i made a stateside order for 5ish and i had to pay full price for the lures. I love lures and have even ordered some lures I have always wanted but never saw them in stock , hence the reason i was ordering directly from Japan. 

Samauri tackle helped me out because I made two orders in probably 24 hours and they combined them and refunded me shipping for one. which was great business and common sense but i would not have faulted them either way because it was me that went back and made another order 

Just stating the facts and currently the USA is trying to right the world once again and I am not sure how that will effect anything but maybe gas?? I haven't gotten a rod in a while and although I really dont have space for one, If EG made a 7'4" casting rod I could use for jigs , crig t rig , i would cooked the wife the best meal ever and rub feet and dust the ceiling fan. to get one lol 

When I think about it, even with all the challenges that the culture is facing, the only way it dies is if we let it. 

 

I ordered four Blitz magnum SR' s and i cant wait to get them here. i am loving the Megabass bottle shrimp as a jig trailer esp for the IR jig and i have several rudra 130 Sp coming. 

I was reminded the other day about how I met my wife. I was looking for a fishing reel. Quatuam MG 1310 when we met. fishing was very much apart of my life and kept me out of trouble. Tinkering with reels has been about the same. Even on deployments I would order me some stuff and when it got to me I knew i was closer to home but having a reel in my hand was gave me a sense of peace and expectation. We must keep the community going because one day things will get better. 

Beautifully said and I agree completely. It will only die if we let it. I know wholeheartedly that all of us here will not let that happen. I’ve had a lot going on these past couple years (much of which I haven’t shared) and I’ve definitely fallen off pace, but I can assure you and everyone else, that will change in the near future. I will open up more in the coming months.

In my eyes, we are crucial in keeping this community strong and moving in the right direction. Let’s make sure that happens. 

Posted by: @saoulons

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Lots of great points and I agree with most. I also feel like the market has changed quite a bit. I remember the days of yearly Megabass releases of Monoblocks and Lins and whatever else black magic Yuki Ito would dream up. Now it’s adding a Pop-X stick to the P5 lineup of 25 existing rod models, the 20th version of the griffon re-marketed as BFS and “limited color” #215 for the Vision 110. I am being facetious but I am so so so less excited about the market now than I was 7+ years ago. Maybe that’s what getting old is, looking back on the good ol’ days… lol. Maybe innovation has plateaued, maybe I’ve become a bit saturated and a bit jaded.

For me, the mail calls are few and far between, as are the outings, my Monoblocks have been through the mod ringer and most of my stuff has been through Ian’s magic shop.

I have less to say overall and less time / energy to say it. So I’ve become more of an occasional spectator than a contributor unfortunately and that’s really lame…

But I still love fishing and I still love enthusiast tackle. I’ve definitely focused more on enjoying what I have than chasing the next thing. And I still really enjoy seeing mail calls, outing reports, discussions about mods and tunes, etc.

Maybe I’ll make a New Year resolution to be more active 😎

 

 

Change can be good and life happens. Having a healthy work / life/ balance is important. Since things have grown to "Epic" proportions, my focus "Fury" has shifted in a major way. I can agree with you about change, but everything is changing, has changed or will change. The teachers had to worry about us brining in watch calculators now ever kid in the 9th grade and below knows how to use ChatGpt or that other thing to write papers and I have even heard of adults having AI write them a resume. Boats are a heck of a lot more expensive and the fuel as well. At the end of the day, getting away from it all with a unique and specialized rod and reel will always be therapeutic!

Of the current offerings I am not too impressed and I have not been on the water in great while.

i am pleased to see people modding their reels. I get some ideas from them and when the time comes and hopefully the tariffs ease up, i have some parts to get. For now its about getting more OSP Blitz Max Plus Dr and getting them wet..

God bless you all.