Tasteless Tackle Cosmetics

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Ron Clay

Guest
Have you noticed that fishing tackle, esspecially rods and poles is being painted up in some of the most garish hues. Not only that, some of the names they give to poles are almost beyond belief.

From "Terminator" to "Gladiator" and "Carp Cruncher" to recently: "Grim Reaper"!!!

And then there are those awful cosmetics on the poles. Do the manufacturers HAVE to put their names so large and in colours which are a complete anathema to the piece and tranquility of the English countryside?

I have an excellent float fishing rod. It's a Drennan 13ft 6 inch "Long Distance Float rod". It works a treat except whenever I put the thing up I have to endure the statement "DRENNAN TEAM ENGLAND" in bright puce emblazened above the handle.

All that's needed on a rod, or a pole for that matter is the makers logo and model number in TINY discreet lettering.

We are anglers, not formula 1 racing drivers. Or are we so dumbed down as to be attracted by such tasteless adornments..;o[
 
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Chris Bishop

Guest
Dumbed down... Good point. Years ago rods started off with nice names after birds, rivers etc.

Now they're all ARMAGEDDON CRUNCHIN' BEAST BASHIN' BLITZKREIG FIFTH PANZER DIVISION POWER FEEDER (with twin tops...)
 
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nathan james

Guest
I have been fishing since I was 5 im now 26, im no expert but I have always been under the impression that the best way to fish was to be see and not be seen.
Eg. by wearing darkclothes, and not moving about to much.
Is this wrong?

Where can you catch these fish that look out for people with bright blue holdalls and creels. Theres certainly none in my favourite spots.

I recently went to buy a rod bag, from a sunday market, not being bothered if its drennan or not I had my mind set on one that was green or black that could hold 4 rods. The bags where only ?18 not bad I thought, I looked through the rack there were only Bright red and bright blue with white writing down the side.
These might have been the only ones left but why bother in the first place?

very strange
 
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Ron Clay

Guest
You are dead right Nathan. Maybe if we keep this thread ticking along some of the tackle manufacturers might wake up a bit, or even come and explain why we have to endure such awful colours in what is actually a field sport.
 
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Tony wainwright

Guest
I think that we are suffering from the dandification (good word eh?)of the match fishing equipment. As I remember, the match fishing gear was the first to start with the bright colours, strange names etc. They were certainly the first boxes to go blue, red etc closely followed by their fishing clothing. In fact some of the match fishing guys look more like F1 drivers as they are so plastered in adverts!
The obvious answer is that the manufacturers want their gear to be instantly recognisable (I think its known as a high brand awareness)and hence the garish colours.
Ron, why dont you just tape over that irritating name with some insulating tape?
I know you shouldnt have to but it would solve the problem.
 
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Chris Bishop

Guest
I doubt it. I can still remember the 70s, when suddenly it became ultra cult to have everything painted matt black.
 
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nathan james

Guest
Tom,
I would say that you are bang on about the match fishhing, not into it myself but can imagine the carnage.

Also It may have something to do with the popularity of lake fishing (Fisheries and stocked lakes) where you can not fail to catch fish whatever because they are so full and 20ft deep, whereas a small river you have to work that little bit harder to keep out the way and be discreet.
 
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Shrek

Guest
If you are a small river angler then do you actually buy the garish clothing that tackle manufacturers sell? I don't. I wear dark clothing. As for my rods, they are all dark grey cross weave blanks with, yes, the manufacturers name on them. However this is on the "up" side of the blank so I can see it when I am holding the rod, not glaring down at the fish emblazoning them with colour and spooking them.

People do make me laugh sometimes.

"One mans meat is another mans poison" someone posted in the "Losing the Plot" thread. I'd say the same applies here.

If it's stealth you want then you apply stealth to what you wear, what you use and how you fish. If you're in a match fishing team, it ain't going to matter much as stealth is the last thing on your mind when you are first pegged on a venue and the whole field has to wander past.

I suppose it would be good to be able to choose the finish you had on a rod, bit like you choose the colour of a car when you buy one brand new, but then it hikes up the cost.

Think you're on to a no win situation Ron.

Hey ho, that's my ten penneth.
 
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Chris Betts

Guest
I think it comes down to manufactures applying the bright shinny thing idea, after all most rods have high gloss finish now, and reels have started to go the same way, some are even gold or silver coloured now. It appeals to the kid in us really and is not very flattering.

Manufactures seem to think we see it and think "OOOh bright, shinny, I want, I want".
means they think we are all Homer Simpson.
 
GrahamM

GrahamM

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Ron said, "......... some of the names they give to poles are almost beyond belief. From "Terminator" to "Gladiator" and "Carp Cruncher" to recently: "Grim Reaper!"

I 'designed' a two piece and three piece pike rod for Shakespeare some years ago which I called the 'Equaliser'. It became one of their best-selling specialist rods.

More recently I did a range for Harrisons I called the 'Interceptor'. This is one of Harrison's top sellers.

Maybe they are just good rods.

But would they have sold as many if I'd called one of them, say, 'Percy' and the other 'Rupert'?
 
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Ron Clay

Guest
And what is wrong, I say, with Percy or Rupert. I have two Uncles (rest their souls) who where named such.

Mind you, we shouldn't say too much. since seeing Graham with that bloody great snake on his chest.... ;o)
 
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Chris Bishop

Guest
Rupert. Maybe not. Can't see that making Angling Times review of the week...

"...I looked both ways before I got it out of the bag and phew, the lake was empty.
"I fitted the two pink sections together, but just as I was about to cast two blokes appeared behind me and fell about laughing.
"Rupert - did you see what his rod was called..?"
 
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Colyn Nelson

Guest
just a thought each time I display a manufactures name in day glo or ultra large letters at a venue will they PAY me for advertising : NO, cheap answer cover their logo with duct tape'
tight lines
 
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andrew jackson

Guest
I think you guys are missing the point. Did you not know, that the more money you spend on tackle, the better it makes you as an angler. If you can broadcast to all the other anglers, that you have spent a kings ransome, this gives you a phycological advantage over your less wealthy fellow anglers. :eek:)
 
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Laurie Harper

Guest
I'm with you on this one, Ron. How long before someone markets the "Serial Killer" rod? Anyone remember the Jasper Carrot monologue, "Why don't they give cars names which accurately reflect what they're like ?"- like the "Morris Boring" or the "Vauxhall Insipid" and so on. Maybe we should have rods and poles called the "Fat Geezer", or the "Bloody Liar". Any other suggestions?
 
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Birds Nest

Guest
I 'designed' a two piece and three piece pike rod for Shakespeare some years ago which I called the 'Equaliser'... got 2 of them somewhere...
 
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Wayne Cappleman

Guest
I've just returned to angling after a 10 year abscence, and although things have changed tremendously in that time, others are still the same. Colours for one.

I seem to remember a magazine article which described all fish as colour-blind, and all they see are dark shapes. It was also about this time that match teams started to kit themselves out in red, and it never had an effect on thier performance.

It would appear that the manufacturers are having a field day with this now, splashing their wares with all colours. You'll never stop this, as long as people are prepared to buy it. I wanted a startet rod for my son, what choice did I have??? Red, orange, luminous green and yellow. Nice sight to hang out over the water :)
 
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Ron Clay

Guest
I don't think fish are colour blind at all. A great deal of work has been done on this in the past to prove so.

The eyes of predatory fish are very complex. Trout especially I am sure can see colours we cannot. Certain colour combinations and exaggeration of key colours can attract trout. Largemouth Bass are very partial to lime green.

However whether fish can see bright colours or not, I would not wish to inflict primary colours on the English countryside.

Have you noticed some of the carp anglers these days. Bivvies in olive green or camo, the same with rod hold-alls and rucksacks.

Then they wear the most incredibly bright tee shirts with "Nutrabaits", "Mainline", "Hutchy" etc etc on them.

Defeats the whole object if you ask me.
 
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