Rod costs

"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

"Stan Gula" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
SNIP
I remember you telling me that story. The question I have is whether it
was
actualy being shipped to and sold by the 'famous maker' or was intended
for
the knockoff market (like the $10 'Rolex' watches you can buy in any
street
corner in NYC).
--
Stan Gula
http://gula.org/roffswaps



Can´t comment on Frank´s rod, it may well be a "knock-off" as you suggest,
although this is actually unlikely. The rods in my possession, the reels,
etc, and others I have seen, were produced specifically for the
manufacturers whose logo they bear. I know this to be true, and I had quite
a number of interesting discussions and correspondence about it with three
separate "East" manufacturers.

At the time I was still haggling with them about the price of screening my
own logo etc on the rods they were going to produce for me, and also about
the "hardware" type and quality. I wanted fuji cermets single leg
stand-offs, fuji up-lock seats, special corks ( reel seat saddles), and
similar stuff, and they spent a lot of time and effort trying to convince me
otherwise ( the top quality hardware at least doubled, and in a couple of
cases tripled the ex-factory price of the rods). Quite a lot of e-mail,
various photos, and actual samples changed hands. These were not
"knock-offs", but specifically produced for the companies in question.

My final decision to quit, was actually made after it became clear that I
would have to simply give them my mandrels and specs, thus losing virtually
all control over the manufacturing process. The mandrels have since been
destroyed in any case, as the money I was offered for them by a couple of
firms, was little more than a bad joke.

TL
MC

Mike Connor wrote:
Some of you may find this interesting;
http://www.sexyloops.com/sparton/graphiterods.shtml

TL
MC



thought provoking? pantload? who gives a ****?

all i can say is that i'm happy as hell that my sage xp and ross
evolution reel, loaded with sa wet-tip line backed with micron by
cortland, performed flawlessly today with some bruisin cruisin
catawbee imported german browns... ;-)

happy new year all.... my first lovely of the year may well be
talked about for many months... yeah baby!

wally.... petah, the weemer is awesome but wally's blackie slayed
'em!

"Mike Connor" wrote in message
...

The "Far East", irrespective of any facts thereto pertaining, is
traditionally associated by many Europeans, with cheap crap. The USA is
still trying to catch up

TL
MC

Thanks Mike, that clears up some of my confusion, yet there is still a great
deal about which I am confused. I hope you can assist me to clarify
matters, in the future.

Op --less confused--

"Guyz-N-Flyz" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
link.net...
SNIP

Thanks Mike, that clears up some of my confusion, yet there is still a
great
deal about which I am confused. I hope you can assist me to clarify
matters, in the future.

Op --less confused--



Ahhhh! Don´t be such a worrywart!

TL
MC

"Mike Connor" wrote in message
...

Ahhhh! Don´t be such a worrywart!

Warts! How did you know about my wart problems? Now, not only are you a
solutions man, but a psychic.

Op --can you suggest a remove method that doesn't include, conjurin' or
boilin' 'em?--

TL
MC

"Guyz-N-Flyz" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
link.net...

"Mike Connor" wrote in message
...

Ahhhh! Don´t be such a worrywart!

Warts! How did you know about my wart problems? Now, not only are you a
solutions man, but a psychic.

Op --can you suggest a remove method that doesn't include, conjurin' or
boilin' 'em?--

TL
MC





A can of compressed air ( for freezing!) and a sharp knife. Or you can go
"high-tech" here; http://www.warts.e-medicinehealth.co...ving-warts.htm
or here; http://www.prweb.com/releases/2003/5/prweb66817.htm

For other solutions, including duct tape! try ;
http://www.natural-health-treatment....ove-warts.html

You can also remove most warts by putting a piece of damp willow bark or its
extract ( salycylic acid) on the wart, and covering it with a loose plaster.
Repeat as required. Some fall off in a matter of hours, others take a couple
of days.

For some info on the acid, see here;
http://www.skincarerx.com/salicylicrx.html

TL
MC

On Sat, 3 Jan 2004 19:06:46 +0100, "Mike Connor"
wrote:

Some of you may find this interesting;
http://www.sexyloops.com/sparton/graphiterods.shtml

TL
MC

another perspective . . .

http://www.harrisonrods.co.uk/production.htm

Peter

turn mailhot into hotmail to reply

Visit The Streamer Page at http://www.mountaincable.net/~pcharl...ers/index.html

"Peter Charles" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
SNIP
another perspective . . .

http://www.harrisonrods.co.uk/production.htm

Peter

turn mailhot into hotmail to reply

Visit The Streamer Page at
http://www.mountaincable.net/~pcharl...ers/index.html

Indeed, one of the best sites on the net. They also make absolutely first
class gear!

TL
MC

Then why bother contradicting tjem?
SNIP
Oh it´s quite simple really. Up until a while ago, when other pressing
considerations affected and altered my life more than somewhat, I was not
merely enthusiastic about angling, I was completely obsessed by it, and
still am to a considerable extent, even though I have not been fishing very
often recently, and indeed for quite some time.

Just talking about it with like minded people, most especially people who
really know what they are talking about, is enjoyable for me. One may leran
something from practically every angler, tyro or expert, and many prove to
be most congenial companions to boot! Of course not all are congenial
companions, but the real anglers almost always are. It is something
intrinsic, which can not be explained unless you belong to the "clan of the
elite". Sounds awfully pompous I know, but I can not express it otherwise.
I can´t even tell you what a "real angler" is, although I know one when I
meet him, and often don´t even need to meet him.

One also learns a great deal oneself as well, either through study, copious
reading ( also an abiding pleasure, and not just about angling of
course),deep thought, research and conjecture, or experience.

It is not at all difficult to learn a lot about something you love, indeed
quite the reverse. Of course such an obsession precludes many other things,
and one must accept this. I never found it a problem, and my wife, although
by no means as enthusiastic as I was, did it as well, simply because she
loved me at first, but after a very short time, she also enjoyed it
immensely. She even tied a few flies now and again, presumably to see why I
was so fascinated by it? I can not in all truth even begin to fathom her
motivations in this regard, although we knew and loved each other so well
that we were very nearly ( but unfortunately not quite) telepathic in many
respects.

Angling can indeed be "all things to all men". At least I believe so. For
some it is merely a means of spending a pleasant sunny Saturday afternoon
twice a year, having a beer, dangling their feet in the water, and watching
a "bobber". Others fish in excess of a hundred days a year, intensively ,
with an incredible array of knowledge and equipment, constantly giving great
thought to the matter ( as I did for a very long time), every day brings new
revelations and pleasures, and a "kind of peace". My apologies, but my
meagre powers of expression are dwarfed by the extent of the emotions and
complexities involved.

Of course one must think about it, all the time really, and to "outsiders",
one may appear to be a completely obsessive nutcase. I was never much
interested in doing things that pleased or impressed others, although of
course I have done some of that as well, I was more interested in spending
my time in what I thought to be a sensible and pleasurable manner,
regardless of what others said, and often completely regardless of the
consequences. Now even more so! I soent more than two thirds of my early
life playing truant, and fishing. Would I advise anybody else to do this?
Certainly not, but it was right for me, amd even if it was not, I did it
anyway, and am now unable to change it. One´s greatest enemy is time, and of
course eventually death. How am I going to spend the rest of my life? I
don´t know, but I imagine that fishing and related subjects will once again
play a large part in it, if for no other reason than that I basically have
nothing else. I may be lucky, and meet another nice lady ( ridiculous
expression "nice lady") but I am not banking on it. I might die tomorrow, or
next week, or thirty or more years from now. Who knows?

Whether angling as such, is intrinsically sensible or not, is quite
another matter. I can not really explain to you why I do it, or why I love
it. It is something you have to experience. Either you are an angler, or
you are not. If you are, then you require no explanations, amd if you
aren´t, there are none that will convince you, even assuming somebody wished
to convince you in the first place!

"Better than sex?". I think not, but there is little point in such
comparisons. They may well both be instinctive drives, but angling is far
more complex. Pleasure is also a relative thing. Do you want instant
gratification, or do you prefer to savour things? One can not compare an
orgasm with catching a fish, at least I don´t think so! Orgasms are also
relative, it depends on where, and who with. Mostly in the mind I suppose,
but the effects are nevertheless dramatic. With someone you love, it is
almost a cataclysmic experience, or it may just be casual sex, where you
might just as well have masturbated.

God? I don´t know. I don´t believe in anything at all of such a nature.
Humans are merely relatively advanced animals, some of whom are blessed with
a modicum of intelligence, and when they die, then they simply die, just
like any other animal. I don´t require any "spiritual" crutches, and am less
than comfortable in the company of those who do, especialy those who feel
obliged to tell me all about their "truths", although I have no objections
to them beliveing whatever they like, as long as it does not materially
damage anybody else. It would surprise me to learn that God had anything at
all to do with fishing, or indeed anything else. I don´t consider
fly-fishing ( and I don´t exclusively fly-fish anyway) to be a religion.
Merely an intensely absorbing amd enjoyable pastime.

Unfortunate that most people seem to spend very unhappy lives. They are
discontented with just about everything. I never was. I can not abide liars
and cheats, among a number of other things, but otherwise I am happy to live
and let live. If I died at this instant, I would have no cause for complaint
( assuming I got the opportunity!) Whicb of course I consider unlikely in
the extreme!

Basically, it is impossible to know what an idiot thinks, unless you are an
idiot, in which case it would do you no good anyway, although you might be
less affected . It is equally impossible to know the motivations of others,
indeed you may well not be able to know your own. This is part of the "human
condition", and there is no help for it.

My only real regrets in life, are that my wonderful wife died far too soon,
and that I am still completely ignorant of so many wonderful things. I am
nevertheless garteful that I was lucky enough to experience at least some of
them.

Lastly, it does not really matter what you fish with, the main purpose of
the exercise is to enjoy yourself. What others think or say is immaterial.

You are not the first to ask, and doubtless you will not be the last, but I
really have no interest in publishing a book. Although at one time I did,
doubtless blinded by my own perceived brilliance, or the unwarranted praise
of others. Indeed, I have a couple finished, but writing, for me, is more
or less the same compulsive disorder as fishing, and I rather doubt that I
have anything new to say. I am not, and never was interested in earning
money, as long as I can survive reasonably well, I am content. More money
would not
necessarily improve matters.

There are already so many awful books on the market, and the number
is increasing daily! Unless I could add to, or somehow consolidate or
clarify existing knowledge, I can see no point in such an exercise. Apart
from which, learning things on your own is very important. It is an integral
part
of the experience, and the resulting pleasure. Just doing what somebody else
tells you to do is largely boring, however "successful" it might be. Success
of course
is also relative!

Yes, the extract you quoted is indeed one of my more recent articles, you
can find the original here;
http://www.ruhrpott-flyfishers.de/fl...bindetisch.htm

I speak four languages, but only feel really competent to write in two of
them, (mainly in English of course ), but I have written a few in German,
and a very few in French, although these have to be corrected by a
native speaker! My wife spoke six , four fluently, something I was always
envious of!

Most interesting to hear such questions, but very difficult indeed to give
any adequate answers. One is obliged to branch off into all sorts of
conjecture and philosophy. I was extremyl lucky, in that I began angling at
a very early age.
Of course it is more difficult for someone of your age, but the virus is the
same!

You are more than welcome to visit, should you be in the area. Just drop me
a mail. I can no longer offer any "exclusive" fishing on local waters, as I
have resigned from nearly all the clubs I belonged to, mainly due to
financial considerations, but that is also a rather odd thing, anglers don´t
even really need either fish or water. A bottle of single malt is however
more or less mandatory.

Apart from which, we could be in Denmark from my place in about three hours!

Best wishes, regards, and tight lines!

Mike