Buying tackle because of the name!

mark brailsford 2 · Nov 24, 2012

Hi folk,
I have just been thinking about some of the tackle that I own and what made me go for certain brands. Was it the name or was it for practicality? Well, the reason I buy into ''brands'' is because I like the security of knowing that the goods I buy are of top quality and most importantly, covered by a comprehensive warranty. But, they must be fit for purpose as I don't buy gear on a whim just because of some fancy name.
Do you buy gear just for the name, or, do you buy certain brands, because like me you like the idea of the proven quality and/or the good guarantee and because they actually hold their value.

binka · Nov 24, 2012

Some years ago I felt quite loyal to the Daiwa brand and tried to stay within it, probably just because it was something I had grown up with and trusted. I brought a Whisker pole when they first came out and it gave me a couple of seasons of great use and still returned around two thirds of the cost when I sold it through Ebay.

This year I replaced many of my rods, after much asking and looking around I went for the Hardy Specialist Float and really wasn't convinced at the time, i've now added the Specimen Float and the Extreme Feeder on the merits of the first rod and each has out performed anything i've ever used.

I will try and stay within a brand if i've proven it is good, but not just for the names sake.

sam vimes · Nov 24, 2012

It's my form of tackle OCD. I have a nasty habit of finding something of a certain brand and then wanting, where reasonably practical, to have matching gear.

Once upon a long ago it was Daiwa gear, a brief flirtation with Fox and Greys and now onto Shimano, mainly because I got a cracking discount on one particular rod which I took a punt on and found to be excellent. It doesn't take much to switch my focus from one brand to another but I am a sucker for matching sets.
I'm left with far too many rods from Korum, Fox, Daiwa, Shimano and Greys. I doubt that there'll be more to come, I've run out of space.
I'm not especially brand loyal, I just get bees in my bonnet when I come across something I like.

noknot · Nov 24, 2012

Well as a Carp angler, I have tried Shimano and more, however for close to med range, I have the superb ABU Cardinal 55's!
Matched to my 30 year old Fibretube 2lbs TC rods.
For longer casts, 60 Yards+ I have the awesome Daiwa Crosscast X, matched with 2.5TC Chub rods.

All this tackle will be used, and It is a pure Joy to own this tackle!

Judas Priest · Nov 24, 2012

Personaly I buy gear if it is right for purpose, the name doesn't come into it.

Having the tackle trade mags delivered to work means I see where various things are made and more importantly I get to see the "trade price" that the shops get to buy them in for (before bulk discounts etc),let alone the individual importers prices.

Not sure if folks realise how few rod/blank/tackle manufacturers there are in the Far East. Quite a few of the major players have rods/blanks/tackle manufactured by the same factories, so in reality one companies gear is the same as the next.

I have more problems passing certain tackle shops. Pop in for a few pints of maggots and out comes the credit card :-(

mark brailsford 2 · Nov 24, 2012

Judas Priest said:
I have more problems passing certain tackle shops. Pop in for a few pints of maggots and out comes the credit card :-(

Same here JP...So, so wrong

Lord Paul of Sheffield · Nov 24, 2012

I'm a fan of shinano reels and have changed all my line to Preston line

For rods I'll buy different ones but I've just bought a Preston c series float rod and it may it may not be the last

geoffmaynard · Nov 24, 2012

If its made by John Roberts I know it's going to be an excellent well-thought-out product. Everything else is treated with suspicion no matter who made it.

Berty · Nov 24, 2012

geoffmaynard said:
If its made by John Roberts I know it's going to be an excellent well-thought-out product. Everything else is treated with suspicion no matter who made it.

I can go with that........when did JR first appear on the scene?

maceo · Nov 24, 2012

There are certain names which, for me, mean that I'm pretty sure the kit I'm buying will be decent.

I've never had a problem with Maver's rods. Found them excellent in fact and the price is reasonable too.

I've only got the one Shimano Aspire reel, but that's pretty fine too. Mind you, for what I paid for it, even at the 'reduced to clear' half price I paid, it bloody well ought to be good!

Korum is another name I'd look out for. Never had a problem and not too bad price.

Oh and Drennan floats. In my (limited) experience. Can't go too far wrong with them.

barbelboi · Nov 24, 2012

maceo said:
Oh and Drennan floats. In my (limited) experience. Can't go too far wrong with them.

Been using Peter Drennan's floats since they were being turned out from his mothers garage in the late 60's.......not much wrong with them.
Jerry

mark brailsford 2 · Nov 25, 2012

maceo said:
There are certain names which, for me, mean that I'm pretty sure the kit I'm buying will be decent.

I've never had a problem with Maver's rods. Found them excellent in fact and the price is reasonable too.

I've only got the one Shimano Aspire reel, but that's pretty fine too. Mind you, for what I paid for it, even at the 'reduced to clear' half price I paid, it bloody well ought to be good!

Korum is another name I'd look out for. Never had a problem and not too bad price.

Oh and Drennan floats. In my (limited) experience. Can't go too far wrong with them.

The Maver Reactolite float rods are superb tools and the reason you don't hear much about them is because they are shadowed by the Preston rods which at the end of the day have the same none-lock parabolic action. The maver rods are a little bit cheaper too!

noknot · Nov 25, 2012

geoffmaynard said:
If its made by John Roberts I know it's going to be an excellent well-thought-out product. Everything else is treated with suspicion no matter who made it.

---------- Post added at 15:23 ---------- Previous post was at 15:09 ----------

geoffmaynard said:
If its made by John Roberts I know it's going to be an excellent well-thought-out product. Everything else is treated with suspicion no matter who made it.

Hi Geoff, do you know John? Years back before I went to live in Hong Kong, John was a good friend of mine, I remember one day I was on a 48hrs Carp sesh, and John wandered along, he had come to get me to photograph a 25+ Pike he had caught on another lake, Pics done he dropped my back off at my water.

We have not meet for 25 years, but that will change in the new year, I will meet John with Richard Gardner and myself for a pub lunch and old skool chat, I can't wait!
I still have original products from both Gardner & Roberts, lets hope they have some goodies in a bag!

x

terry m · Nov 25, 2012

My approach i a little more pragmatic, I buy kit because I need it, but I confess that I do try to buy tackle from the top end rather than the low end because :-
a. I can normally afford it
b. I have faith in it (misplaced perhaps, but faith all the same)
c. Generally it is better and more pleasant to use.

But I do not slavishly follow a single brand, for example I would always look at Shimano reels first, but would rarely even consider a Shimano rod. I would check out Korum luggage, but not their clothing etc etc.

geoffmaynard · Nov 25, 2012

noknot said:
Hi Geoff, do you know John? Years back before I went to live in Hong Kong, John was a good friend of mine, I remember one day I was on a 48hrs Carp sesh, and John wandered along, he had come to get me to photograph a 25+ Pike he had caught on another lake, Pics done he dropped my back off at my water.

I do know him. Lovely bloke. But that's beside the point of this discussion - I would say the same of his products even if I'd never met him. Haven't seen him for years but we used to have a regular trout opening day session on Bewl ressie 20 years ago.

noknot · Nov 25, 2012

Ahhhhhhhhh Bewl water, what a fantastic lake that was, Geoff, if you are around at the time, can I invite you for the Day?

tigger · Nov 25, 2012

I think most companies at some time or other make something that's a cut above the rest. For that reason I buy tackle from any brand if it fits the bill.

john step · Nov 26, 2012

Just had a Shakespeare rod delivered from Mullarkeys. It is descibed as a ledger rod for lines up to 6Lb. The beauty of it is it has a top ring with screw thread for swing tips.( I still do use a swingtip a lot). It is carbon and has a great action AND cost less than 16 quid. How good is that? Shakespeare was a lot more prominent in years gone by and I have never had a duff product from them

mark brailsford 2 · Nov 26, 2012

john step said:
Just had a Shakespeare rod delivered from Mullarkeys. It is descibed as a ledger rod for lines up to 6Lb. The beauty of it is it has a top ring with screw thread for swing tips.( I still do use a swingtip a lot). It is carbon and has a great action AND cost less than 16 quid. How good is that? Shakespeare was a lot more prominent in years gone by and I have never had a duff product from them

I still can't believe the quality of shaky rods for the price they sell for! I had a look at a few of the Mach 3 rods and they are very good indeed.

geoffmaynard · Nov 26, 2012

noknot said:
Ahhhhhhhhh Bewl water, what a fantastic lake that was, Geoff, if you are around at the time, can I invite you for the Day?

Or - if you would like to try something different Kev, how about a day on a proper river. I'll PM you

Buying tackle because of the name!

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