Seems to be a lot of interest in lower coast but good performing rods right now, so I will ask an opinion and share a story about Gander Mountain. Last fall some good old boys ?non-fly fishers? were going on an outing and needed fly rods ASAP for the weekend. The first thing that came to my mind was G.M. had some St. Croix on close out. Well two guys show up on the trip with Gander Mountain IM7 rods. of course I just had to test cast them, IMHO not as good as my sage or orvis but every bit as good as the older TFO I have! Any one else have feed back on these rods?
My tournament casting experience gave me the ability to see there is a definite difference between high-end and low-end rods. However I do not believe the beginning caster has the ability to take advantage of the differences. After a few years of experience this changes.
I once built a low-end blank to look exactly like one of the high-end rods and put it in with a group of the high-end rods during a fishing show. Nobody said anything about the difference of the one rod from the others but I did have one customer swear he wanted to purchase that rod (even though it did not have a label on it!) at the high-end price. I was able to feel the difference in the rods ? the high-end rods were definitely better rods but the customers at a show like that are generally beginning casters.
My personal opinion is that sometimes I enjoy the action of the low-end rods better than the high-end rods for fishing. If I were to get back into tournament casting that would be a completely different story. Actually one of my favorite fishing rods is one I built from cutting up some scrap graphite to make a full blank. In fact I built three rods from this pile of scrap I paid 10 bucks for! The rod is quite a slow action but it feels about the closest to bamboo than any other non-bamboo rod I have ever cast. It?s not specifically a distance or target-casting rod ? it is simply just wonderfully comfortable to cast.
In short a person should enjoy/use the rod that works or feels best for the task at hand. That says absolutely nothing about price.
Let No One Walk Alone
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Bill
I would be interested to hear what you felt were some of the differences. Also, what are the skills that the more accomplished caster acquires that allow one to tell the difference. Basically what I am trying to find out is when in my casting progression will it be time for me to start considering the higher end rods?
Fish more, work less!
Hey Rick,
I've found over the years that if I
refrain from test driving the Maserati’s
and Ferrari’s, that my Ford gets the job
done quite well.G No, not the Pinto, I
went with the Crown Victoria.G Mileage
may vary between drivers. Warm regards, Jim
Jim pretty much summed it up.
It?s hard to put into words. It kind of goes to experience but the lighter weights of the high-end rods do require less muscle to control the rod and line. Being from a tournament casting background I usually find them to be a bit faster action making it easier to cast a tighter loop. Distance and accuracy become easily attainable.
I?d almost have to say the higher-end rods are just easier to cast but then again I don?t always find them the most comfortable to cast. I do find some lower-end rods not necessarily as easy to cast but more comfortable to cast (I know just try explaining that one!). I really enjoy the 8 ?? 4wt I built from scrap graphite but I would never use it in a competition for accuracy or distance. It is a much slower action but delivers very smooth enjoyable casting stroke. It forces me to slow down and enjoy what I am doing. I find that desirable when I?m fishing.
Again every thing I just said is all opinion and with experience others find different traits in a rod more desirable than what I find desirable. I think my point is If you find a rod you really enjoy that is the rod to keep no matter the price high or low. Lately I really like building the Forecast blanks. Not expensive but they do make a great fishing rod.
Let No One Walk Alone
><))))‘>------<’((((><
Bill
Jim and Bill
I certainly am no tournament caster but after 45+ years of fly-fishing I totally agree with both of your responses. But the truth is I can?t even build one for the price these things are going for. That?s why I was wondering about the blanks used or more user feedback on that gander mountain rod.
Dave