Phil Lambert
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- Joined
- Oct 20, 2006
- Messages
- 7
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You know how it is, the fishing starts to slow down a bit when the sun gets up and you start ruminating about things in general anf fishing in particular. I was waggler fishing a local water last week after silvers and tench and had some nice tench to over 6lb. Up comes the sun, off go the tench. A chap on the next peg was fishjing a pellet waggler up in the water and catching some nice carp, some close to double figures. I watched him and was seriously impressed by the parabolic curve his rod took as he fought these carp. Carbonactive or Greys, I thought. Couldn't resist so went for a quick chat and mentioned the action of his rod. Do you know what? It wasn't an expensive bit of kit but a Leeda Carp Waggler which cost him £35. He'd teamed that with a Leeda Carp Match reel (which he probably bought as a combo).
Back at my peg, I looked down at my two hundred quid Daiwa Spectron Waggler and just wondered whether my rod was 5 times better than his. It had cost 5 times more after all. The answer, of course, is no it isn't. The Daiwa is a lovely bit of kit. Well made, well finished and with top notch fittings and a lovely tip action. But did I really need to spend £200? If not, why did I buy it. I won't catch any more fish with this rod than I would with a cheaper one. Is it pride of ownership? Perhaps, but that doesn't catch fish. Am I showing off? I'd like to think not. Would I cry if I broke a £35 rod? No. Why I cry if I broke the Spectron. Too right I would.
Then I thought about my rods and reels. Daiwa, Drennan, JW Masterlines, Shimano ... and the most surprising rod in my armoury - the Shakespeare Mach 1 Power Feeder costing all of £40 (see my review on this rod) which I instinctively reach for if I need a heavy feeder or light method rod.
Sure, there's some rubbish kitout there, but there's also some surprisingly good gear at modest prices. The current economic climate might well see increased sales of this type of gear - I hope so because theres some realgems available which introduce good kit to occasional or new anglers without breaking the bank. And why did I buy the Daiwa? Still don't know. I suppose if I hadn't spent the money on this rod her indoors would have bought even more shoes and handbags. I hate it when the sun shines and the fishing slows down ...........................
Back at my peg, I looked down at my two hundred quid Daiwa Spectron Waggler and just wondered whether my rod was 5 times better than his. It had cost 5 times more after all. The answer, of course, is no it isn't. The Daiwa is a lovely bit of kit. Well made, well finished and with top notch fittings and a lovely tip action. But did I really need to spend £200? If not, why did I buy it. I won't catch any more fish with this rod than I would with a cheaper one. Is it pride of ownership? Perhaps, but that doesn't catch fish. Am I showing off? I'd like to think not. Would I cry if I broke a £35 rod? No. Why I cry if I broke the Spectron. Too right I would.
Then I thought about my rods and reels. Daiwa, Drennan, JW Masterlines, Shimano ... and the most surprising rod in my armoury - the Shakespeare Mach 1 Power Feeder costing all of £40 (see my review on this rod) which I instinctively reach for if I need a heavy feeder or light method rod.
Sure, there's some rubbish kitout there, but there's also some surprisingly good gear at modest prices. The current economic climate might well see increased sales of this type of gear - I hope so because theres some realgems available which introduce good kit to occasional or new anglers without breaking the bank. And why did I buy the Daiwa? Still don't know. I suppose if I hadn't spent the money on this rod her indoors would have bought even more shoes and handbags. I hate it when the sun shines and the fishing slows down ...........................