Dragon Carp - does it have its place in fishing?

Lord Paul of Sheffield · Oct 15, 2012

Ok firstly I know some won't touch Dragon Carp at any price - but it the price there are the odd bargain rods and it's a way in for beginners or those on a budget.

But for me it's the price of some of the accessories that appeal, such as a rod pod for a £10 when I bought mine about 5 years back, ok it's basic but as I only use it occasionally it does the job. I looked at Dragon Carp for cooking gear and they do a 2 plate, 2 knife and fork, 2 cup set in a holdall for £10 - compare that to other companies and you'll see the saving.

sam vimes · Oct 15, 2012

Of course it has a place, if it didn't the business, rather than being sold for a fortune, would have gone to the wall.

If I were under financial restrictions I'd have no qualms about buying DC stuff. If my research leads me to believe that DC are chucking out the same item as others for much less (the MC centrepin being a recent example), I'd have no qualms in buying from them.

Sean Meeghan · Oct 15, 2012

Some of their stuff is pretty good and they buy from many of the same factories as othermore expensive brands so that shoud tell you something about tackle pricing in the UK. A good example is the RDX 3 long float rod. Phil Smith showed me the one he'd just bought and I had a good look at it. It's perfectly useable as a trotting rod at 15 and 17 ft and Phil intends to use it as a barbel trotting rod. An absolute bargain at around £35.

If you are thinking of buying any Used Tackle/Dragon Carp gear then you might be best visiting one of their shops where you can try it before you buy but don't write it off as cheapo beginners gear because some of it certainly isn't.

guest61 · Oct 15, 2012

The Marco Cortesi centrepin is a good example of perfectly usable gear which will provide hours of entertainment while you go though the 'frigmarole' of centrepin use.

I've never seen any of the rods, I'd happily use one if it suited the application.

chub_on_the_block · Oct 15, 2012

Where did they get the brand name from?

I generally stick with Tyranosaurus Tackle

beerweasel · Oct 15, 2012

Fishing tackle is like wedding tackle, it's not what you've got it's what you do with it.

barbelboi · Oct 15, 2012

Could have called themselves Dragoon Carp, or am I on the wrong thread as well:wh
Jerry

rubio · Oct 15, 2012

I bought the MC centrepin and thoroughly enjoyed using it. Even if it drew sneers from some as not even being a 'proper' pin.
Then the cog dropped out from the ratchet/ anti reverse type mechanism. Typical of low quality cheap gear some might be keen to point out. They may be right but I can't afford 5 or 10 times the price for a named item.
What was really appreciated is the customer service response to my report of it's failing. They took my details, promised to get back to me and......
New reel arrived by courier. Try getting that from the middle men that peddle and mark up Shimano , Daiwa et al

barbelboi · Oct 15, 2012

rubio said:
I bought the MC centrepin and thoroughly enjoyed using it. Even if it drew sneers from some as not even being a 'proper' pin.
Then the cog dropped out from the ratchet/ anti reverse type mechanism. Typical of low quality cheap gear some might be keen to point out. They may be right but I can't afford 5 or 10 times the price for a named item.
What was really appreciated is the customer service response to my report of it's failing. They took my details, promised to get back to me and......
New reel arrived by courier. Try getting that from the middle men that peddle and mark up Shimano , Daiwa et al

I've only once had a problem (in it's reasonable lifetime) with a Shimano reel since I first started to use them in the 70's. The bale arm broke on a mid 00's stradic that was slightly over two years old - Shimano not only replaced the arm but also replaced most of the reel FOC and returned it that same week.
Jerry

Simon K · Oct 15, 2012

Yes, why not. I have the MC pin which I've rarely used (yet), but it does the job for me.

I also got the 2.75lb carp rod for a tenner (with a Shimano reel) and it was that rod that played and landed 4 of the 5 big carp I had from my Big Pit campaign this summer.

Very happy with it.

chav professor · Oct 15, 2012

Do they not make tackle under the 'CK' banner? i've got one of their bed chairs - brilliant for the price.

terry m · Oct 15, 2012

Of course they have a place.

They fill a gap at the low end of the market. I have not purchased any of their kit, but if money was tight then I would probably give it a go.

As I have said many times on this site, you generally get what you pay for.

itsfishingnotcatching · Oct 18, 2012

Sports Direct obviously think so.

laguna · Oct 18, 2012

chav professor said:
Do they not make tackle under the 'CK' banner? i've got one of their bed chairs - brilliant for the price.

Sports Direct International has acquired leading specialist fishing retailer Used Tackle, which trades as Dragon Carp. The purchase sees Sports Direct acquire all of Dragon Carp’s assets, including Dragon Carp Direct stores, its online and mail-order business and well-known brands Carp Kinetics, Avanti and Barbus.
Sports Direct will retain the expertise of Dragon Carp’s managing director Roger Surgay and all of his staff.

904_cannon · Oct 18, 2012

If your looking for 'tacky' but not that cheap, my Fox 1.5tc Barbel twin tip will come out close to the top of the pile. Never seen any of the Dragon gear but it cant be any worse than the one and only Fox rod Ive ever owned. The Fox Soft Steel line I bought at the same time wasn't much better either.
Would make excellent clock spring material though

But Sports Direct, it's getting a reputation for buying up tack

cg74 · Oct 18, 2012

No matter how rubbish their tackle may or may not be, I'll bet it's more usable than the Woolworths crud I started with........... Who else started with Woolworths or Argos tackle?

Just had a quick browse at their site and I might buy a few of these: Barbus Pellet Feeders - Dragon Carp Direct

barbelboi · Oct 18, 2012

cg74 said:
No matter how rubbish their tackle may or may not be, I'll bet it's more usable than the Woolworths crud I started with........... Who else started with Woolworths or Argos tackle?

Just had a quick browse at their site and I might buy a few of these: Barbus Pellet Feeders - Dragon Carp Direct

Nope, started out with B James stuff in the 50's

Jerry

Mark Wintle · Oct 18, 2012

I started with two different Woolworth's rods. The second one (7ft spinning rod) had loose corks on the handle but I caught plenty of fish with it in the couple of years I used it.

Philip · Oct 18, 2012

The black 6 foot Woolwoths rod that came as a starter kit in a blister back with a reel, a spool of line and a few shot, floats and hooks was one of my first rods as well.

Once I started to get longer rods I started to use the woolworths ones for spinning for Perch. I still have one of those rods tucked away in a shed somewere.

Jeff Woodhouse · Oct 19, 2012

There's not a lot wrong with Dragon Carp stuff, it will catch fish, but may not be quite as light as quality stuff. Don't believe the retail prices they put on it either, I doubt any fool would buy them at those prices, but newcomers may well get a good start to their fishing adventures.
I miss the old Badger brand.

Dragon Carp - does it have its place in fishing?

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