Can you trust a review from a sponsored angler?

[Ray Roberts]

Is it possible to remain objective about a bait or item of tackle that you are given for free or even paid to use?

I tend to doubt it. It doesn't mean that the person reviewing the product is necessarily dishonest, but if the product isn't that good then the reviewer is more likely to not mention the product rather than slate it. I think the crux of the matter is; would you dip your hand in your pocket and buy it in preference to something else, or when your sponsor stops paying you or giving the stuff to you for free, would you carry on using it in preference to the next product someone wants to pay you to endorse?

Another reason that you don't see too many negative reviews, is that even if the person buys a piece of kit then a poor review reflects the reviewers poor choice and most people don't want to be regarded as mug punters. An example of this is that; I recently bought a Drennan Floatmaster rod, and it's a great bit of kit to be honest. Maybe I wouldn't be so eager to share my thoughts if I had parted with a substantial amount of cash for a rod that fished like a stick of liquorice, as admitting to a lack of discernment reflects badly on the judgement of the guy who bought the pup.

 

[Bluenose]

I'll treat 'sponsored' reviews and advertorials on the basis that they are biased Ray, however, some will be of use to me so I wouldn't just dismiss them all out of hand.

Bob Roberts submitted an article many years ago about blokes who jump ship from one bait/tackle company to another. Sadly I think it was removed but it was a brilliant piece.

I think you're spot on about whenever we buy things ourselves, especially expensive bits and pieces. They are often going to be 'good' because as you say, few of us are going to spend big money on a rod/reel/pole and then then say it's rubbish for fear of the ridicule.

The user reviews section of this site used to be excellent but I think the new platform after the changeover from magicalia did not support the same format. It would be nice to have the user reviews section back though.

 

[Lord Paul of Sheffield]

Good points Ray and well put

I'm always a bit doubtfull when an angler moves from one company to another and suddenly the new company's products are the must haves

 

[nicepix]

Sadly many reviews and product placements in the comics are also slanted by advertising revenue. But the way that some sponsored anglers go on about the imortance of a particular brand of an insignificant item of tackle, like a method feeder, is annoying.

 

[guest61]

Think of it like this, the sponsored angler is trying to make a living - he's generally self employed (if professional) and moves from one contract to another, as I do.

Fishing tackle at certain price points is pretty much of a muchness (is that a word?) and is largely down to personal tastes. Each manufacturer covering the competitions latest releases with their own product proclaiming to provide an 'edge' or whatever.

If an angler says Shimano is the best one week changes contract and says Drennan is the best the next week so what? As long has he states / declares his interest in the product I have no problem with that - its how the world works.

'I think you're spot on about whenever we buy things ourselves, especially expensive bits and pieces. They are often going to be 'good' because as you say, few of us are going to spend big money on a rod/reel/pole and then then say it's rubbish for fear of the ridicule.' I think that the other issue here is the desire to sell the gear on if it truly sucks.

The reason that you don't see negative reviews in the angling press is that the reviewed product is invariably this issues competition prize - I can't imagine IYCF saying that the latest flagship Preston Innovations Pole is 'cwap' - avoid it. IYCF has bills to pay some of which will be funded by Preston Innovations advertising budget.

 

[chub_on_the_block]

For other products, like Hi Fi, Cameras etc you get magazines like WHat Hi Fi or Hi Fi Choice etc that give detailed, apparently objective reviews - and some products will get only 2 stars and only some will get the 5 stars. Real pity that a leading fishing magazine hasnt got the balls to attempt something similar - truly independent and objective. Even if everything is generally middling and difficult to separate on quality (3-4 stars), it should be working on its readers behalf to identify those items which offer best value or are simply the best at whatever price.

Whenever i read anything in the angling press - or even the features on here - which mentions brands i switch off and regard it as a comedy item - particularly if it is bait.

The logical way to do the reviews would be not to use "names" who are sponsored anglers. Im pretty sure they arent the only people capable of producing a review with valid opinions.

 

[Jeff Woodhouse]

There is a danger if you are not a 'sponsored' angler, but merely an editor or other writer and you submit a negative review of a product, that you will damn the magazine or site with that company and they will never ever get another item for review.

A pity they can't take the constructive elements and improve the product if it is bad, but they don't. I think one of my reviews had this effect , as we never got a single thing afterwards even though I'd highly praised their landing nets and other gear. Kevin Perkins also reviewed it and came to similar conclusions...

It's a delicate path you tread when reviewing products when later you wish hno:..

 

[Lord Paul of Sheffield]

The "ordinary" angler on here that praises a product is worth noting

I'm a big fan of Korum products, Shimano reels, Preston line, but I buy all more stuff so if I saw something is good or bad then that's my honest opinion, which might be right or wrong, but totally truthful

 

[sam vimes]

Yes, no, maybe.
I don't particularly care who does a review as long as I know their status with regards the product that they are reviewing. There are anglers out there, sponsored or not, that I take note of when they review something. I have a good idea that they have similar taste in tackle to me. The same has applied to music and hi-fi over the years.

I tend not to listen too much to anyone with a vested interest. That might be as little as free samples of bait or as much as a full blown tackle sponsorship deal. While the stuff that is being positively written up may well be very good, it's too easy to extol the virtues of something if you aren't having to pay for it yourself. Would the reviewer really choose that particular product over an alternative if they were paying?

When it comes to media reviews it gets even more difficult. The magazines (and this applies to other specialist publications too) are between a rock and a hard place, they really can't win. Too negative and they don't get advertising revenue or future review items. A really good reviewer can slate a product without it being remotely obvious, usually by what's not said. The reader will often have to do a fair bit of reading between the lines too.

The point made earlier about individuals rarely giving bad reviews of gear they've bought is quite valid. It definitely happens and particularly at the more expensive end of the scale. You also find buyers talking stuff up before they've really spent enough time with it, only to change their mind in the longer term. That's before you get into the whole prospect of folks buying pups and then talking them up to sell them. It's staggering how a good bit of chatter on the forums about a specific rod can influence the prices of said rod on ebay. There are plenty of forum traders that know this only too well.

I wouldn't dream of going as far as to suggest that people are lying in reviews. However, readers need exercise some judgement over what they are reading. When it comes to reviews, it pays to retain a large dollop of scepticism.

 

[guest61]

The "ordinary" angler on here that praises a product is worth noting

I'm a big fan of Korum products, Shimano reels, Preston line, but I buy all more stuff so if I saw something is good or bad then that's my honest opinion, which might be right or wrong, but totally truthful

I agree with you. But tackle manufacturers like a 'name' ex-World Champions, TV show presenters and Errrm former Decathletes mg: to add gravitas to their product range.

One has to be careful though with well intentioned 'honest' reviews - the single worst item of tackle that I've ever owned had was a Okuma Epic Pro reel; I had three of them, they all went back and I bought Shimano second hand, if asked to review them I'd give them a proper slagging off. But there are too many satisfied owners around to give any credence to my experience(s)

 

[Terry D]

Many years ago our team had some coaching on the Trent by a 'sponsored' angler who swore by Kamasan B520s in every fishing article he wrote. When on the bank, he told us he used Browning C370s, one of the best roach hooks going he said! However, he did admit that he had to say he liked those hooks whenever he did do an article.
Nowadays I stick to things I like regardless of which 'star' promotes them.

 

[Merv Harrison]

How many 'genuine' rod blank/pole manufacturers are there, 'genuine' line manufacturers, 'genuine' hook manufacturers. I'll wager not too many. So yes, personal choice it has to be, but that's not withstanding I may have been able to buy the self same item cheaper, or dearer under a different brand name.

My son worked for a company that manufactured a well known gardening product, one company they supplied, with the companies own brand bags, charged £16.50 per bag. Another company, bottom end of the market, sold it, in their own brand marked bags for £4.50 per bag. Out of the same hopper, same mix, same product. The dearer bags far outsold the bottom end one.

How often do we fall for the same trick.

 

[Sean Meeghan]

An interesting comment Merv. I fished with a well known angler just over a week ago and he was keen to show me a new rod he'd just acquired. it was the Avanti RDX3 waggler from Used Tackle and it cost him the princely sum of £30. On putting it together and having a good look at it I'd say it was very little different from similar rods from name manufacturers at more than 3 times the price. In fact I'd say it was the same blank that several of the big names were selling a few years ago.

On the subject of sponsorship, you've got to recognise that most rods and reels at a price point are pretty much interchangable and that there are very few lemons out there. Descriptions of methods and techniques which place the sponsors products should be taken as general guides. One coated braid, for example, will perfom much the same as another (except for Uncle Dave's products of course which are the best), but at least you'll be reasonably sure that the product mentioned will do the job as described.

 

[terry m]

Ask yourself when was the last time a sponsored angler gave a bad, or even moderately poor rview of a product from his sponsor. We know the answer!

I treat reviews from sponsored (or stakeholders such as Nash) with a huge pinch of salt.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

 

[johnnyfby]

As soon as I see an articles first picture and all the kit looks new. ie rods, box etc. I very quickly turn off and turn the page over. Big fan of Tony Miles(Pallatrax) and Stef Horak in CAT.

 

[Ray Roberts]

Big fan of Tony Miles(Pallatrax) and Stef Horak in CAT.

Me too, I am reading Tony Miles new book on Chub at the moment. Both anglers emphasise that location and method are more important than bait and that's my take as well.

 

[Lee Swords]

I would never give false representation to anything I was given to trial, I would also never jump contract mid-term.

I have raved on about Kryston Incognito for years...however I am not sponsored by Kryston.

I rate Drennan hooks and use them a lot...I am not sponsored by them.

I own almost all the Korum range of luggage and clothing....I am not sponsored by them either

I use an amount of Pallatrax end gear such as the stonze and I did win £150 of gear from them via Angling Mail much of which I subbed out to my family to use as I did not want to have a bait confict. However I did use one of the sausage sticks and rated it highly just as I rate Dynamite Source boilies and pellets


but at the end of the day I am sponsored by Teme Severn and promote their products without reservation because I feel confident using them, my catch rates support this confidence.

 

[guest61]

..at the end of the day I am sponsored by Teme Severn and promote their products without reservation because I feel confident using them, my catch rates support this confidence.

I enjoyed you contribution to Barbel fishing Days and Ways...

Question: Did sponsorship allow you to develop and refine the 'Shock and Awe' method, or was this fully refined prior to the deal?

 

[Lee Swords]

Hello,

The "Shock and Awe" tactics I favour developed organically in the 80's over several seasons and they evolved on my part without the input of sponsors, initially, it started off with hemp and casters but as pellets and boilies came into fashion I began to purchase bulk packs from feed merchants and experiment with specialist bait suppliers.

Rivers like the Trent cannot be overfed and fish like carp barbel and bream will generally respond in a positive manner to "laying out a good table"

This positive reaction will in time if reported in a correct manner with suitable photographic evidence attract the attention of sponsors and media alike. Angling is a multi-billion pound industry and it needs names and faces to process on a weekly basis, columns need to be filled with news and advertisers need to be attracted to spend their budgets.

Some may baulk at this and snub advertorials but they are what pay the bills...look at the headers and borders of this webpage for instance...adverts.

All that matters is that the media and their flavour of the month face/star show integrity and do not lie, I have been given stuff to try and I haven't liked it. I did not give it a bad report, I simply did not endorse it would not endorse it nor would ever take money to give false endorsement.

Because that would be totally wrong, I am a chef, I go fishing just for fun and relaxation but I can on occasion write a decent story and I do get paid to do that from time to time but I am not a liar or a mercenary and I would never try to cheat a bloke out of money on a substandard bit of kit.

I hope this helps


regards

Lee "Trent Guru/ Trent Machine/ Handsworth Horse" Swords

Sponsored Angler, Freelance Angling Writer and Occasional Idiot

 

[guest61]

Lee - Many thanks for you reply