Perceived Value
- This topic has 15 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated Nov 21, 2006 at 1:56 pm by
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While putting my Dancraft together yesterday I noticed a very significant scratch on the last section just above the ferrule. I have no idea how it got there.
Mike that is an interesting situation and one I am quite familiar with. I have a good buddy that I fish with that is so cheap that he could make copper wire out of a penny from holding on to it so tight. He too has purchased one of these cheap wal-mart rods. I was fishing with him this summer and he was giving me a hard time about spending so much money on my Sage XP and finally convinced me to try out his cheapo rod. I ain’t going to lie either, I was impressed. That said I never let my buddy know it.
I think we all reach a point in our lives when we reach a certain level in our jobs, our recreation, or even a relationship we began to add something that shows others we have made it to that level. An expensive rod, a nice suit, a fancy car, are they things that we really need? No, but sometimes they just make us feel good about where we are in life.
Ok, that said, I would also say that these cheapo rods have come a very long way. I use to fish cheapo rods and was spending 50 bucks every year for the same cheap rod that was falling apart from the year before. I finally bought a nicer St. Croix when I realized that I had probably spent more than that on all the cheapo rods that I bought year after year. And I think deep down inside I will always remember this when ever I am purchasing a new rod.
So your right it is perceived value. It’s just a matter of where your perception comes from.
My next rod is from a Winston Boron IIx blank that I am currently building….. 🙂
Good posts guys. I’m not knocking high end rods at all, I own a few myself. I evolved just as many have done. I started out with an entry level rod and when I couldn’t cast it very well I assumed a more expensive rod would solve my casting problems. That’s what the magazine ads say and in a way they did. They let me know my casting error couldn’t be my rod because it was the best money could buy. The faster actions helped me become a well rounded caster able to switch rod actions without missing a beat.
The confidence factor has alot to do with many aspects of fishing and in fly fishing confidence in your gear is very important. Owning a name like Winston or Sage or Orivs is owning a piece of fly fishing history. I see nothing wrong with it and I’ll continue to support these companies no matter how senseless it might seem sometime.
Had to post this photo. It makes me laugh everytime. Some customers just have all the toys.
I’ve been blessed with a lot of good equipment over the years, but like everybody, there was a time I had nothing, and there will be a time when I have nothing again.
Scott
Nice discussion here!
Although I have always thought different, I know think that beginners are better off with a fastish (not as fast like a Sage TCR) rod. These fastish rods enable to make the acceleration and especially the sudden stop much better than a softer rod. A softer rod will not stop if not exceuted well.
But as soon as they know how to cast, I’d say the personal preference will take you where you want. Although I love casting with fast rods, I prefer fishing with a medium actioned rod.
Jay
Thanks Zach. This is the new boat I finished in August.
The Walmart SA rods are very good blanks. So are some of the Martin rods. Zebco and SA have both donated a bunch of these rods to my son’s scout troop and some of the area school fly fishing clubs. They make a fine entry level rod and backup rod. The older graphite technology such as is in an IM6 blank is durable for knock around rods and they cast pretty good too. Orvis clearwater rods are great for the same reason. On the other hand, I had a first time fly fishing customer show up with new Walmart Shakespeare combo kit. The pressed on handle came off of the reel before he even got to use it. I’d recommend folks going the economy route buy the rod only and then a Pflueger Medalist reel and a decent line and backing.
What some of the more expensive rods offer are either super fast or finesse tapers that cast like a dream. On the White River, a finesse rod is very important when you hook up a large fish on 6x. I have customers that come with TFO 6 weights, and I usually cringe when I see one because they will be popping average size fish off left and right. The tips are too stiff, although they cast a lot of line nicely. The faster the rod, the smaller the weight rod you need for finesse fishing.
It is amazing, however, like Mike pointed out, how much marketing affects our perception of value.
Being on a college budget is tough, especially when you want all the latest and greatest gadgets, rods, reels, gear, and guns out there. Â
One rod that I have purchased as a back up to my Scott and TFO is the Eagle Claw Granger. Â It’s a 3/4 wt., and it casts exceptionally well for a $30 investment. Â If you do a search over at NGTO.org you will find that others have found them to be a great casting rod especially for the money. Â It’s IM7, and has decent quality components. Â The reel seat is woven graphite like that of the TFOs. Â Check one out if you haven’t yet. Â I’ve overlined mine with 4 wt line to slow it down a little, and I love throwing dries on it.
I’ll put a slightly different perspective on it since most of you guys are coldwater trout anglers. Â In salt, there is a premium on quick, distance casts with accuracy. Â I have found that higher priced rods tend to meet this requirement better than low end rods. Â I’ve fished a Scott SAS for years. Â It is noticeably better to me than anything else under $300. Â My recently acquired Heliply is the second best rod I have ever cast, for saltwater. Â If I could find an good used STS for a good price, I would be all over it.
I’m not generally a high end guy. Â I drive a Subaru Outback, though I could afford something much higher status. Â I just picked up a Lamson Lightspeed and a Redington Breakwater for deep discounts, neither of which I would have bought for full retail. Â I won’t pay over $300 for any rod, even if I could hit the moon with it. Â I do like to have the best equipment for the job though, even it I have to buy a high end rod used. Â That being said, however, there seems to be less and less difference between high end and value rods. Â In the long run, that could be a bad thing. Â If Sage, Scott, etc. can’t sell there high end rods for enough to finance R & D, the advancement in fly rod technology will come to a halt.
Dunfly I agree that saltwater is a whole other ballgame. I wouldn’t go gunning for Striper with a wal Mart rod either.
I hear ya on the Lamson I just bought 2 of the LS2’s for $119 each + 20% off. I couldn’t pass that one up.
The trickle down effect of composite construction has played itself out in many arenas besides fishing rods. Golf shafts, bicycle parts, etc…
Perceived value is strictly that, perceived.
You might perceive someone paid too much for a rod, others see it as too little. Neither really matters except the perception of the owner!
When I get a rod that doesn’t deliver the mojo, it’s a goner… no matter what the price. What I know for 100% fact is my perception of the rods I own is that as long as I don’t worry about the price because the rod isn’t performing to my expectations, the price I paid is fair.
The way I measure the advantage of the rods I own is when they seemingly dissapear in use and become an extention of my arm and eye.
Some rods got the mojo, some don’t! I’m glad everyone’s needs are different. If we all liked and needed the same thing shopping around would be extremely boring.
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