trigg
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I have the 2011. Got it for Christmas and haven’t had it on the river yet, but it looks *very* promising for when you don’t need to haul the full catastrophe.
The new model is gray, with a subdued blue panel on the front of the small outside pocket. Layout-wise, it has the small pocket (on the outside of the main compartment) which is about 9 x 5 x 2. It’s a single compartment and contains a foam fly patch. The large compartment has a set of interior pockets along one side that will work for tippet, spare leader, etc. There is also a little “holster” and some securing points on the front of the strap for hemostat, zinger, etc. You don’t have to turn the thing around to access those tools.
My biggest problem with all the smaller solutions is that you have to decide not to carry a rain jacket, lunch or water bottle.
Nice article, Roger. Hits home for me. I grew up in Crowley and Lafayette. Cut my fishing teeth in the basin, with spinning rod, of course.
This is where I don’t know the answer, because manufacturers don’t typically release their profit margins and all we can do is guess. If the manufacturer makes the same profit margin as a dealer (i.e. 40-60%), then their original (i.e. manufacturing) cost on that $240 to $360 product would be $96 (60% margin on smaller figure) to $216 (40% margin on the higher figure).
That’s probably in the ball park. Fly rod manufacturers don’t tend to be public companies, so their financials are not publicly available. But if you look at the financial reports for typical manufacturing companies, the “cost of sales”–which represents the direct labor and materials cost to manufacture the product–tends to run about 50% of revenue.
Trigg (White)
The long and short of it is that we have all been getting a free ride. If you actually read the warranty card that comes with every rod, it says “warranted against manufacturer defects” except in a very few no-questions-asked policies (like with TFO).
ZachZach…
You seem to be suggesting that the manufacturers never intended to replace rods that were accidentally broken and that consumers have somehow been exploiting a loophole in fly rod warranties.
In fact, since Orvis’ “25 year Guarantee to repair or replace no matter the reason” (from their current catalog) which started before 1990, the manufacturers have offered and promoted “no fault” warranties. Winston’s web site says their rods are covered by their original owner “Unconditional Lifetime Guarantee against breakage or manufacturer’s defects.” TFO, as you noted, describes their warranty as “no fault.” Sage is not quite so ebulient, but they list specific conditions that are excluded from their warranty–fire, theft, loss intentional breakage, etc. Accidental breakage is not excluded. Scott specifically says their warranty protects you if you “accidentally break a rod.”
My personal observation is that this built-in insurance (which is really what it is) enabled them to escalate rod prices above the $300 – $350 range where they were in 1990 to what they are today by taking some of the pain out of accidentally breaking a $500 – $600 – now approaching $800, somewhat fragile item.
And there are some features of most of these warranties that are decidedly consumer unfriendly. For example, they typically charge the consumer the same service fee (copay) to repair/replace a $150 rod as they do for a $700 rod. And they charge the same fee for repair of “defects in materials and workmanship” as for accidental breakage. The worst warranty I’m currently aware of is Fly Logic. They cover their rods only for “defects in materials or workmanship” (fair enough), but then they charge $75 to fix the fault in their own product.
There have no doubt been abuses by consumers. Rods are routinely repaired/replaced for other than the original owner, but primarily because manufacturers have not put in place the business controls needed to properly enforce this provision. We tend to applaud that as “outstanding customer service,” but it’s actually a disservice to all their customers.
In every other industry, extended warranties are a money maker–even when they are optional and sold separately rather than bundled in. If fly rod manufacturers are losing money on them, it indicates to me that they simply lack the business acumen to design and administer a profitable extended warranty program that covers their costs, minimizes abuse and provides for profit.
I do see some value in the changes Loomis is making. It’s reasonable to replace a rod only one time–especially if they replace it for free rather than a $60 – $100 fee. And it makes sense not to cover a rod for the purchaser’s lifetime. (Although limiting to rods currently in production leaves the purchaser holding the bag when the manufacturer discontinues the rod.) A warranty under those terms probably reduces purchase objections for an expensive rod enough to get the sale without taking on an open-ended liability, which is where the manufacturers have put themselves.
Sorry for the long post, but I believe your sympathy for the manufacturers is misplaced. They designed, promoted and sold these programs. If they haven’t been a business benefit for them, it’s because they did it poorly.
Trigg (White)
I believe they have also upped the price on their Xpeditor service and now exclude out-of-production rods. They aren’t specific, but your NRX Wild Card probably goes by the wayside when the NRX goes out of production also.
All in all, I think it a good thing for manufacturers to get better control of these programs. Too many used rods “with warranty card” floating around the internet. Too many rods replaced with no questions asked outside the terms of the warranty. That ups the price for everyone. (But don’t hold your breath for a price decrease.)
I think a one-time replacement is a fair deal. But if they expect you to spend $700 for a rod, then the built-in insurance (which is really what it is) is a factor. Even if the rod goes out of production the next year. And with the copays (aka handling fees) getting to be $60 – $100 anyway, I can’t think it cost them much more to replace a tip section which is bound to be the majority of repairs.
Trigg (White)
Is Rocky Mtn Nat’l Park a fishing good destination for 3-7 day backpack trip, say in May or June?
Rich…
I live within a stone’s throw of RMNP (well, if you can throw a stone a quarter of a mile). It’s a great place to backpack and fish, but May or June is too early. The high lakes will be frozen over and the trails covered in snow in May and even into June. There’s some stream fishing lower down during that time, but the best fishing in RMNP starts in July when the water comes down and runs through early Sept. The weather is also more stable with less chance of waking up covered with snow. Check with the park on backcountry camping. You have to have a permit for a specific campsite.
Good luck,
Trigg (White)Thanks for the advice Trigg. Am I looking at only ‘Bows and Browns, or is there any chance of Cutts or Brookies?
D.Wrt RMNP, plenty of cutts and brookies (more than plenty brookies).
Do you know if the part of the Big Thompson you fished is frozen in December? I ask b/c I will be spending Christmas in Silverthorne, and I guess I could make the drive if the fishing was worth it. Any guides you recommend to use or avoid?
D.Dusty…
None of the streams in the park are fishable at Christmas. (The snowshoeing and cross country skiing can be great though!)
Shane…
I’m not completely sure on this (i.e., verify independently), but I think it’s on the upper Frying Pan well above Ruidi Reservoir.
So you object to mail from some of the industry’s superstars? Why is that — because you know it all?
Yes, personally, I object to unsolicited e-mail trying to sell me something, but if you don’t, or if it wasn’t unsolicited, that’s fine with me. Wasn’t trying to be offensive. Mostly it was a comment that the e-mail was just that–trying to sell you something.
I’m actually somewhat symphathetic to the efforts of the guys trying to make a living in the guiding/flyfishing business. I suspect the difference between making it and not can be finding ways to reach into all the corners and make a few bucks here and there–guiding, classes, articles, shows, appearances, etc. “Superstardom” is hard work.
I think the price tag on this thing is pretty hefty considering that you could book Mayer or Ed Engle as a guide for a full week of one-on-one for much less than the price of the class. But I think there are a lot of things in flyfishing that are overpriced just because there are those who want it and have the money. If you’re in that category and you like structured activities like that, then go for it. 🙂
Just finished The English Major. I highly recommend it, at least for those who, like me, are on the up side of middle age. It’s the story of a 60 year old man whose wife leaves him. He sets off on a driving trip to “find himself” (my words, not Harrison’s) and figure out what to do with the rest of his life. The book maintains the running interior monologue of Harrison’s other books, but I find the character more sympathetic and more likeable, and the book somewhat easier to read. (Although I also liked Returning to Earth very much.) There’s even some trout fishing.
Again, it may be the character and his situation that appeal to me, but I enjoyed the book and believe it would appeal to anyone else who reads Harrison and many others as well.
You let a client use your Z-Axis?
That I did, why if you don’t mind me asking?
Just a tongue-in-cheek comment that you’re pretty generous with expensive gear. The guide outfits I’m familiar with let clients use FLis or something similar.
