"Clark Reid" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
Well it's taken us three years but we have found something we agree on,
virtually in the entirety.

I have no basis on which to judge Mr. Parton and it seems you know of him
to
a much greater degree than I do. I was only basing my comments on his
comments from his website...

"LOOMIS , SAGE , OTHER AMERICANS
You may be interested to know that we , along with all the other smaller
Dealers got struck out by Sage a few seasons ago . We were very annoyed
and
it did take some effort to even get a thanks for your efforts letter out
of
them .

SNIP

I don´t necessarily agree with anything Mr.Parton has to say. In point of
fact, I find such insulting polemic in regard to Americans, or indeed
anybody else, distasteful, and unnecessary. He has however a long standing
and well deserved reputation for bluff honesty, often coupled with rather
rough humour.

Although the facts of the matter do get rather lost as a result of the
anti-American haranguing, ( which he does however do "tongue in cheek"),
those he mentions are in actual fact pretty accurate.

Very many American rods are ( and more especially "were") more or less
completely unsuitable for use on the British stillwater fishing scene. This
is merely a case of "horses for courses". As it happens, I have always been
amazed at the enthusiasm which the boom in stillwater fishing generated in
England. It began when I still lived there, and has increased exponentially
ever since.

Personally, I abhor fishing in concrete bowls for plastic fish, and would
not do it, neither have I any time for "competition fishing", but these are
the mainstays of modern day British fishing. Rather a tragedy in my opinion,
but understandable, as there is very little fishing otherwise available to
the general public. Excepting at astronomical cost, which few can afford
anyway.

Given this, it is no surprise to learn that rather different tackle and
methods are required than those currently in use in America. There were a
number of dealers building rods specifically for stillwater fishing, on
various blanks. Most of these have disappeared in the meantime,
manufacturers like Daiwa and a few others have now been producing suitable
equipment for some time, at reasonable prices, and there are not all that
many people who will pay a long way over the odds for a "custom" rod,
especially as the marginal ( if even perceptible) increase in quality or
suitability thus ostensibly obtained often causes a massive jump in the
price. Even ignoring extras like special cosmetics etc.

It seems that some of the manufacturers were not satisfied with the
arrangements as they were, and simply pulled their blanks out. This is not
quite the same thing as "losing an agency".

Mr.Parton´s business operations are none of my affair, but he is without
doubt one of the most knowledgeable anglers ( and dealers) extant, and he
shares that knowledge freely. I for one am more than willing to forgive him
the occasional quirk, as a result. Even though I may well not always like
what he says, or how he says it.

TL
MC