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Just because I'm Castwell doesn't mean I'm right,
that's for sure. But, I do get to have an opinion,
just like everyone else. I do think that each year
or so, when the rod makers say their new line is
better in some way, I believe it. I do have the
opportunity to cast, and often fish with, the new
ones, sometimes even before they are on the market.
It is only my opinion, but I feel that the rod makers
are able to make improvements on successive models.
They pay good bucks to pretty smart guys to do just
that. Make a better rod than the last one. Sometimes
it may not be so much a better rod, but rather a different
'family' of characteristics. Those can be welcome too.
I know several people who can cast as pretty a loop
with a cheap rod as an expensive one, but the cheap
one is heavier, more work, not as much enjoyment, more
tiring and you will fish it less on any given day than
a higher quality rod. "Less time on the water = less fish."
Well, there you have it. That is a post I put on the
bulletin board on November 7th, this year. My point
for repeating it here is this. It seems like there are
always those who delight in saying negative things.
Always against everything. No matter what, it is they
think they know better and are smarter and their opinion
is of far more value than anybody else's.
The bulletin board subject was, 'no matter how much the
companies claim it, there is no way they can have
improvements each year on their rods and other gear.'
It is an often stated, or implied notion. And it is
not true. The products do get better, in many ways.
Fly rods benefit especially from new developments in
especially the 'space age' whatever that is. Better,
stronger, lighter, more flexible, resistant to who
knows what. These new materials are then incorporated
into differing tapers for new purposes. Perhaps faster,
or stronger with a more sensitive tip or more flexible
in some other area. Thousands of combinations are
available with just the single development of a new
graphite product.
These are what it takes to create a whole new line of
rods. A totally new family of characteristics. A new
series to fill a neglected slice of the fly fishing
world. Market driven innovation. It's what makes the
world go around. We help out by deciding that we can't
get a good night's sleep if we don't have one.
What does a high priced rod give you? Mostly one that
is more pleasurable to fish. For any given rod length
and line size it will likely be lighter in hand. It
just may make your day nicer. And it is true, not all
can afford some of them but that does not mean that
any of the other rods, in any price range, will not
give us a grand time astream. They will, some just a
little easier than others. ~ JC
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