Pros:

Maybe a little longer reach than extendable retrievers

Takes up very little space in bag

Cons:

Can be difficult to get discs that are at a weird angle in a creek or under rocks/sticks/etc.

An extendable retriever would be better for discs stuck in trees

I picked one up at a local tournament. I have only used it once so far and it as actually not for the water, but for a disc up on the roof of a barn. I was able to get it down, but it took like 30 minutes. However, I have been in several situations where I wish I had one. Now I do, and the next time my disc goes in the creek at some of my local courses, I now won't have to take my shoes/socks off to get it back!

Great too for sure. 

Is it worth the cash? Totally, especially when you had a favorite disc take a dunk!

Rope I believe is 30+ feet. sinks fast and gets you dredging in no time. 

A must have in the bag if near water indeed.

WASTE OF MONEY. Sorry, I know others have had success with this but my experience has been terrible. The string constantly tangles. The disc never stays in. After about 15-20 minutes of attempts, I said screw it and just jumped in. I'll keep trying to use it a couple more times and will def update this review if my opinion changes, but overall, as of now, its a WASTE OF MONEY.

Absolute disc saver. This is something everybody should have in their bag at all times. It seems a little pricey but if you can save two discs with it then it will pay for its self. I had one of these at a tournament with lots of water and little rivers running through the fairways and I probably used it 20 times and didn't lose a single disc. It takes a little practice but once you figure out how to pull the string back and pull the disc out of the water it is super easy. Definitely pick one of these up and save your discs from the drink.

This is one accessory I must have anytime there is water on a course. My discs seem to be water magnets. This retriever has saved me from climbing into some pretty nasty water more time than I want to count. 

A must have to save you money on lost discs.  Works great on bodies of water with soft/ dirt bottoms.  Where this retriever falls short is if you are trying to get a disc back from a very rocky bottomed body of water.  This makes it tough to get right on the edge of the disc where you are aiming, but I cant really blame the retriever for that.  

All in all, this will pay for itself in a few uses if you play regularly near any water!

Great for clear bodies of water without overgrowth - precisely the kind I have no qualms about walking into. As for the swamps I would actually like to use it on, it consistently snags weeds instead of discs, and if you can't see the disc, there really is no better retriever than your foot.

Great tool to have in the bag if you are ever around water. The retreiver has saved more discs than what it is worth, it pays itself off very quickly. The real advantage of the Golden Retriever over a disc gator is that it can go further, but it also can be used to blindly throw out in an attempt to get a disc. Sometimes the water can get murky, so a gator isn't the best option from the lack of seeing the disc. Its a simple, straightforward tool to use and I think everybody should have one just in case 

Awesome!  Pulled my Star Valkyrie out of a lake that has been a graveyard of discs.  Won't be long before it pays for itself with recovered discs, and takes the fear of that lake (and other water bodies) out of my game.  Cannot say enough good things about this product!

I can't possibly say enough good about this amazing device!  I play a course with a creek running through it that is fairly wide and discs have a tendency to get pulled into it.  This retriever has paid for itself more times than I could count with the numerous discs we have pulled from water with it that would have otherwise been lost or found by someone else at a later time.  I would recommend if you play around any bodies of water that this is a must for your bag!  It is very easy to use, collapses down and is very portable!