Fox Linx Hooklength Material

[DAVE COOPER]

Looks like Kryston's virtual monopoly on specialist hooklengths is over. Will this do the average carp angler any good by getting prices heading downwards do you think?

 

[Carp Angler]

Without doubt all carp/barbel specialist hooklength materials are expensive.

Most of the Kryston stuff is ?12.45 for 20m and the new Fox stuff is about ?12.25 for 25m.
For an average 8" hooklength you use about 12", for the Kryston this works out at about 20p per hooklength and for the Fox about 17p.

How much is your confidence worth?

When I run out of something I may try the Fox equivalent, but I'm certainly not rushing out to stock up now.

 

[GrahamM]

Your confidence need not falter, it's sourced from the same manufacturer.

 

[Andy Davis]

In this case I think the competition is good, might help keep the prices down a bit !!

 

[Rob Brownfield]

Specialist hook links...what are they..lol.

I have a cunning plan...I am going to go to a kite shop and buy some of the special dyneema thread they use to make kite strings...then repackage it in 20 metre spools for a tenner a pop..and make a huge profit...

D'oh..its already been done..lol

Does anyone believe that these were designed purely for fishing? it does not take too long to find the same product elsewhere.

 

[GrahamM]

I have been informed that the new Fox braids and Kryston are NOT sourced from the same manufacturer, and the technology in many instances is not identical. More details about this issue soon.

 

[DAVE COOPER]

The plot thickens! Some serious testing will need to be done then.

 

[David Will]

Have Fox dropped the habit of using paying customers as field testers yet or have these been field tested properly ?

 

[Rob Brownfield]

Graham...and u believe that?..hehe

You will be telling me that fox rigging wire is not the same as the stuff u buy in B&Q for hanging pictures next..lol

Still, I guess we anglers like to pay for convenience and packaging...such is life :O)

 

[GrahamM]

I'm reporting what I've been told. That's all until I do a user review.

 

[Rob Brownfield]

Graham..it weren't a dig at u...just at advertising..(i have worked in that industry for years) and its amazing what some companies get away with (Supermarkets and "Organic" food spring to mind)!

As always, I will wait for a genuine review from a non Fox employee before spending my money.

Any news on the Fox lures that are ment to be comming out in March..i believe they are being used by Mr Brown just now.

 

[GrahamM]

The new Fox lures looked good to me, and Mick was enthusing about them as he showed them to me, but what I know about lure fishing you can write on the back of a postage stamp with a broad felt tip pen.

 

[Rob Brownfield]

So...we can look forward to an article then Graham

When Fox send you the lures for review, i can think of someone in Aberdeen that would love to do a report on them on your behalf...you know where to get me..hehe

And i believe they are away to produce a Pike Fly Rod..blimey...I should have shut up about fly fishing for ol' Esox :O)

 

[Graham Hepworth]

Can't see prices going down myself.
As far as specialist hooklinks are concerned we've gone from monopoloy to duopoly (ignoring the smaller bit players).
Price cuts equals less revenue for suppliers and given an all out price war (unlikely) there'd only be one winner and then we'd be back to a monoploy.

Having looked at some of the Fox hooklinks they appear to be exactly the same as the Kryston ones. Check out Supanova against whatever Fox call their version.
If they are indeed the same material what's the betting that some form of agreement exists between the parties regarding pricing ?
I've always bought Kyston and will continue to do so and I don't like the thought of the nasty little cutter on the Fox container near a hooklink material.

In general many specialist items of tackle are overpriced for what they are , but we pay up out of convenience !

 

[Rob Brownfield]

Has Kryston really got a monopoly? I have used hooklink materials from Nash, Mainline, Hutchy, Drennen etc. There is a lot of it out there....if u look.

Infact, I would say that Nash braid is probably the best I have used.

I once bought some "multi-strand" from The Norwhich Angling Centre (I think) that was half the price of Krystons, much stronger and a subtle brown colour...great stuff.

 

[DAVE COOPER]

Rob, you are probably right, maybe 'brand leader' would be a better description. There are other makes out there but not the broad range that Kryston do. I think when most people think about specialist hooklengths they think Kryston. Now, with their powerful brand image and customer loyalty, I think Fox will be a serious threat to them.

 

[Jake Lewis]

The Armadillo snag/shock leader is actually tougher than Quicksilver. Hard to believe but true.Great stuff but when will someone make a snag leader that sinks?

 

[Rob Brownfield]

Jake...Maddocks used to use wire as a shock/snag leader...now that would sink!

 

[Jake Lewis]

Mmmm... Sounds a bit iffy to me. I mean how would you tie the leader knot for starters?...More trouble than it's worth I reckon, but I'd be interested to find out how he used it and in what situation... Nah, doesn't seem right. Maddocks is a nutter anyway.