"Clark Reid" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
Interesting article... however I get a bit cynical when a little research
reveals the author used to sell high profile brands with apparently a
clear
conscience, and only started this accounting exercise when he lost his
agency... go figure.
SNIP

Unless one knows exactly what one is doing, or has the relevant information
( for a while, some very cheap Cabela´s rods ( Three forks? etc) were being
praised a lot on ROFF, from people who obviously are quite happy with them),
then I would generally advise people to buy a good "name" rod. It depends on
what they want it for, and how much they want to pay. My own particular
preference is for some Sage rods. I have a few, and am very pleased with
them. They happen to be very expensive, but that´s just how it is. If you
want top class, then you have to pay top class. I got most of mine ( in fact
all except one),second hand as it happens, for much less than the current
market price, and after I had cast and fished with the same models.

That said, the market is now awash with various "cheapies", and some "not so
cheapies", the vast majority of which are sourced in places like Korea and
Taiwan. Some of these are very good indeed, and cheap, there are a lot of
"mid-stream" models, nothing special, but serviceable, and others again are
awful, and considerably overpriced. For most people, the "quality" of such
rods, either price related or intrinsic, is practically impossible to
determine.

Very few people have the experience or knowledge, or even the opportunity to
use a large variety of equipment, and as a consequence, they are also quite
unable to make any decisions based on such.

Mr.Parton is well known for his blunt honesty, and his often controversial
style. I doubt that the loss of any "agency" would bother him much. It is
quite clear that he is merely relating his knowledge and experience, ( as is
his wont), and certainly not trying to sell anything with this article.
Indeed, I have often heard Mr.Parton trying to dissuade people from buying
various things. Often to no avail, as people tend to believe what they wish
to believe, irrespective of the facts.

What you or I, or Mr.Parton, might personally choose as fishing tools, as a
result of our various knowledge and experience, or merely personal
preference, is largely irrelevant, as this is highly unlikely to be the same
choice that somebody on a limited budget, who wants to start fishing, or who
only goes fishing twice a year, will make.

Given the choice, I would also drive to the river in a Mercedes, but in the
absence of such a choice I would also be grateful for the Lada. As long as I
got to the river.

TL
MC