Buzz Bryson
Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Years ago, SA produced a bunch of fly fishing videos. Without getting into innovativeness of them, they were about as professionally produced as could be, involving multiple cameras, aerial work (at least on some, like the Billy Pate tarpon tapes), underwater work, top personnel (including anglers and guides). Locations were world class too, including Keys, Paradise Valley, etc. And they had to deal with the on-location issues: wind, rain, fish not biting. So, factor in cost of personnel, travel, lodging, guides, production, post processing, marketing, etc. – – – I’d suspect they took a bath financially, although some were really great, and other than gear being a bit dated, they have stood time well.
The five minute clips the Drake sponsored for the trade show this fall were great. But to do a professional shoot (far short of “Hollywood standards”), even with no animation, special effects, etc, is very expensive, especially considering the size of the fly fishing market.
Thus, had not Robert Redford personally wanted to film A River Runs Through It, and been able to pull it off very successfully by most all accounts, we’d have exactly, what, zero “fly fishing” movies?
Would that we did.
Buzz
It’s a buyer’s market. Cane rods are expensive primarily because of the “collectability” – – – association with an individual builder, low numbers produced, no longer available, condition, etc. Conversely, virtually all graphite rods are “without heritage”, being built in a factory (however well designed, built and performing they might be). The analogy might be a “best gun” double shotgun vs. a Remington 1100. Both work equally well, perhaps the 1100 even better. But there is a couple of orders of magnitude difference in price.
Plus there is the warranty thing, and wide availability of fine-casting $100 rods on the market today.
Unless you really want it, or owner is really proud of it, $100. $150 tops. And then only with everything in pristine condition – – – primarily no sign of any dings or nicks on blank that might lead to a fracture.
Or unless that heritage is there, e.g., the rod was personally owned, built by, inscribed to [insert famous personality here].
But I have an old 490LL 4-piece that has many memories associated with it. You couldn’t touch it for $300. OK, it’s usually a buyer’s market.
Good luck
Buzz
Saying reviewing takes a lot of time, I don’t agree.
People who review items are obviously folks who know what the industry has to offer. It’s not hard to see if there’s something wrong/itchy/etc. with a product.E.g. too much space between the reel spool and reel house means that line will get caught. If you have to use a lot of pressure to hold a hook, the vice will be a dog to do production tying. Need I go further?
We can agree to disagree. Some issues are obvious, some not. What about a new line that wears out prematurely (weeks instead of months or a couple of years), boots that fail after too-little use (felt soles wear excessively, come loose, eyelets pull out, etc), or that look great, feel great on your feet, but kill your feet after a few hours on the water?
Can a rod be evaluated on a casting pool at a show? Maybe for some gross design flaw. But having cast a few thousand rods over the years, one thing that has become obvious to me is that rods that apparently cast fine on a pool don’t always do so on the water. Add a fly, a specific distance, wind, and many rods just don’t end up behaving the way they seemed to at a trade show pool.
A bluewater rod, one that’s intended for lifting. Can it be evaluated realistically be bending it indoors? By lifting a bucket of sand? Or just by pulling on a big fish?
Some reviews can be done relatively quickly, some can’t. Tough to generalize. I’ve seen the Henry’s Fork be as dead as a hammer. Had a description of the river been based on an experience like that, the reviewer wouldn’t be given much credibility by those who have fished the river when it’s “on”. Done that too, which is one reason my son is named Andrew.
Buzz
I do some of the gear reviews for Fly Rod & Reel, so I’ll give this a shot. The magazines have considerable lead time, often several months from when copy is received until the magazine is printed and delivered. So rarely is there time for any prolonged review. Those things that show up after considerable usage (seams splitting, soles separating, lines cracking/sinking, etc) usually don’t have time to reveal their nasty selves.
Rod reviews? Well, how a rod casts is pretty personal. Some like slow, some like fast. Some want to chunk beadheads, some midges. And lines make a big difference.
There’s a lot of subjectivity, limited time, variables, etc.
And, yes, most reviewers do give manufacturers the benefit of any doubt. Years ago, when Down East (FR&R’s parent company) ran the FTD trade show, we (staffers, there were 8-10 of us, very strong minded) each picked out products we liked, independent of the others. We met on the second day of the show, compared notes, pared down the list, and then went back out to try any items we hadn’t seen yet. In the end, we did a Best-of-Show and Top Ten new items. Emphasis was on new – – – stuff we’d not seen, was new and had zero benefit of field testing (except in rare cases when some of us might have had an early prototype). Similarly, FR&R does the Kudo awards annually. The difference is that those items have been out, have proven themselves over at least a season, and have been nominated by multiple individuals on the review team. Even so, there is some disagreement there.
The point being, a quick review of a new product can’t cover everything. And over the long haul, many disagree on merits of a particular product. So don’t be surprised there.
As for only “good” reviews, I can personally attest that FR&R has not run reviews on some products that weren’t up to snuff. We do call manufacturers if we feel something is amiss, and they usually appreciate that. Ferrules don’t always fit, lines have “bumps” in the coating, a stitch is dropped – – – stuff happens.
Dealers, and really manufacturers, can’t afford to sell sorry gear.
aDepends on how much stuff you want to carry other than body and attached lens. Lots of options, big/small, soft/hard
Look at http://www.lowepro.com, http://www.sagebrushdrygoods.com, www.pelican.com, http://www.drybags.com.
I have, or have tried, examples from above and others. Just depends on whether you’re looking for waistpack, backpack, hard case or other. Prefer different ones for different thing.
For minimal set-up, say D-70 and one lens, I’d get smallest shoulder bag that holds gear. Backpack for more. Hard case for boat fishing.
Buzz
No experience with the D40.
In large part, the difference in price for same-capacity SD or CF cards is related to the write speed, or speed which the digital image is transferred to the card from the camera when the photo is taken.
Thanks for posting. Had not seen this article before. Agree that ratings are opinions, but so are virtually all such ratings.
George is an expert angler, and has fished all over the place. He’s right up there at the top as far as skill, focus on the job at hand, and fish-catching and fighting ability.
And having been in the business for several decades, yes, he probably is a bit biased by past experiences, both fishing and dealing with various manufacturers.
Livingston, with its back door access to spring creeks, “full-size” rivers, and all sorts of stillwater, is a perfect 5-weight location.
So, whether one agrees with him or not (and note that his team doesn’t always agree), article is serious food for thought.
I’m going fishing (sole criterion is that air and water temps are above freezing). That, and it’s a heck of a lot better than shopping!
Trout in Chapel Hill. Don’t get to do that every day.
Best to all
Buzz
