there just seems to be an obsession with the most expensive and best known fishing brands, within the sport....i understand that theres a reason these brands have great reputations and they make finest quality tackle, however, i've seen many beginners come in and decide that they have to spend a fortune on certain brands, as they've been instructed to by their friends or whoever introduced them to the sport...the same thing doesnt work for everyone.

my first fly rod was made by some unknown company and came in a beginner set, including reels, flies and tackle bag etc...fair enough i soon realised that i needed to alter certain things but that rod accounted for many good fish

of course, now i do own some expensive tackle but i also own tackle that i paid next to nothing for, which can do the job just as well.....its just so disappointing to see people spending huge amounts in the false hope it will result in more fish, fair enough, in some casees this may be true but if you took the time to research and maybe try them out, you could end up saving hundreds on your ideal rod, reel...or anything else!

sorry, had to get that off my chest haha!

A beginner is in no position to judge the quality of a rod or what will ultimately suit him. It is scarcely surprising that, in the face of the plethora of rods on offer they play safe, as they see it by relying on the principle of you get what you pay for.

Personally, I couldn't ever see myself paying £600 for a rod or £200 for a reel, but then I'm a sad, tight fisted old f@rt on a totally inadequate pension.

__________________
"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.

I'm not sure that's really the case, I think a lot of people buy a flashy rod/reel for the same reason they buy a flashy car, they know it won't do the job any better, but they just want one.

First rod I bought when I went back to fishing was a £40 flextec off ebay. Wasn't long before I bought myself a sage based on the fact that I liked the look of the metal tube. Didn't assume for one second that it would improve my fishing - and it didn't.

Don't agree with that,most people buy a flashy rod to start with thinking it will make them a better fisherman and then find its not suitable

Neil

I had a lesson before I bought any kit and was pushed towards the more expensive kit (greys) and told I needed to buy that kit as a beginner. It was only in the tackle shop I was given more cost effective options (as it was i bought a greys anyway, but not what was recomended to me as I bought an old model much cheaper. I'd be happy with any brand of kit as long as it works for me! Am about to buy a second rod that is going to be a shakespear trion.
Fishing yesterday saw a guy with a G Loomis rod - i didn't think wow, look at that must aspire to having one - I just thought how many extra days fishing I could have with my rod than buying one of them!

I'm a begginer and i definately lust after some of the more expensive brands, but not because they may cast better, but because i like the aesthetics. yes its shallow, but i like the detail, especially a nicely shaped handle and a tidy looking reel seat not a plasticy looking thing.

i can understand if its more about how it looks, at the end of the day...each to their own but i do believe the majority of people go out and buy top end gear in the belief it will make them better at casting, or any other aspect of fishing

... i play golf, off a 3 handicap and the entire cost for my clubs is around £200 and i play with people off double figure handicaps with thousands of pounds worth of clubs, fishing is the same, its all about what you can use and whats more comfortable for you

Each to there own i suppose,i admit i own a sage and the cosmetics are faultless but i can assure you that isn't always the case.Take Loomis for example great blanks sh1t cosmetics


Neil

The best true definition of quality--and the one that is certainly most relevant to fly rods--is, "fitness for the intended use".

Becasue most beginners don't understand the intended use, they tend to believe higher cost = better and buy accordingly. There is also an obsession many beginners have with casting distance. Again, I think a lot of beginners buy into the hype around super-fast actions being better for "distance" casting and so they spend a fortune without understanding that the rod doesn't make the distance.

Also, I think many beginners especially want to be seen as being "serious about the sport" so they buy labels, not rods.

The only test of a rod is how well its characteristics match a given fishing situation. The rod needs to suit the fishing conditions and the angler needs to be able to fish effectively with a variety of rods.

Grouse

IMO ther is nothing wrong with going out and buying a second hand good rod and afull ron thompson set up. which is very cheap as fishing equipment goes.

I myself use a hiking coat for fishing as it is just as good as the best fishing ones but only cost £40.

My waistcoat is a greys which i got second hand, my waders are second hand. all my rods are second hand. IMO whats the point in spending a fortune on stuff when good second hand rods are half the price and just as good.

Andy