On Jan 11, 6:27*pm, Giles wrote:


Seriously, how many of you think that you could accurately identify
even your favorite component or combination consistently by feel and/
or results alone when interspersed among others?



Although I agree that WAY too much interest is shown in 'brand' and
the hype that goes with it, and I do NOT think I could pick out my
favorite rod/reel/line combo blind, from a large array of similar
rods,
I DO think I could eliminate a great many combos in such a test as
certainly NOT being my pet one.

An experience jumps to mind: last season my wife was given a new 4
wt Scott of moderate action by, ah, me. One day she got all tangled
up and I handed her my 4 wt Sage XP saying "here use this and I'll re-
rig yours" About 6 false cast tries later she brought the fast
action Sage back saying " I can't get this thing to cast at all, I
HATE it" I was surprised because I think both rods are pretty darn
nice, but prefer the Sage for most use. My point, NO way my
beginner wife could have picked her Scott out a group of rods with
'similar' action, but she clearly could tell a difference between
sticks of the same wt, even as a newbie.