On Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:53:38 -0400, D. LaCourse wrote:
On 2010-10-27 18:53:02 -0400, said:
I take it from the above that you've not done much, if any, flats/bonefishing?
If so, why the Abel?
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I have several Abels and they impress me in a number of ways -
workmanship, drag, ruggedness (I fall alot d;o) ), but not price.
When I buy a new outfit (steelhead, salmon, etc), I usually look at the
available Abels. Don't always buy them, but they are my usual first
look. I was unaware of the Madoff connection. I will take a look at
your suggestion. I've heard good things about the Tibor/Billy Pate.
Thanks.
Dave
Again, nothing _against_ Abel as a product (assuming they haven't changed along
with the ownership), but now, considering the circumstances, I'd not spend
500.00-plus USD on one at the current time. I have no idea how serious the
Feds, creditors, etc. are about pursuing Madoff money, but considering they were
selling off pretty much everything they could, and the son's spending was
brought into question, combined with the fact that Abel (the company) would be a
larger asset, and I'd be cautious within reason. Long story short, for a number
of reasons, I'd not buy an Abel right now even if I preferred them over
Tibor/Pates (which I don't).
And not that it should matter much, but most of the _serious_ sal****er FFers I
know (famous, moderately so, and unknown to most) use Tibor/Pate over Abel. And
also FWIW, and strictly as a matter of personal preferences, I'd at least look
at a 'glass rod, esp. if traveling via, um, less-than-ideal means.
And finally, I'd remind all that pretty much before most of us were born (and
certainly before any of us were FFing as adults), folks were fishing SW with
bamboo and Medalists, and not much later, with 'glass and Medalists, and caught
and brought to hand plenty of fish. If you saw what gear was used, even as late
as the mid 70s, by _serious_ S. Florida fishers, it might put Abels, Pates,
600-800.00USD rods, etc. into perspective - things like pine sapling poles (and
then, pole-vaulting poles), cut-up tuna/cobia towers over motors as poling
platforms, etc.
TC,
R