I never meant to offend anyone or start a "Rod War" thread here.
I set it up for Shimano fans to defend the rods, but it didnt happen. Shimano is looked at as being under rated, but not because they suck....... because the rod in question is made with more emphasis on the jig, rather than the lifting power. Many brands place spotlight the lifting power, not the jig ratings. If we look at the model mentioned, I assume its rated for 110-200g jigs..... ? Being rated for jigs of this size, you cant compare it a rod rated for 200-400g jigs. They are 2 different animals.
Shimano was one of the first manufacturers to introduce the US fisherman to the jigging & popping world. The emphasis was, and still is on the action of the jig, the ability to swim that jig. There are other brands out there that are the opposite. Offering you more in the way of lifting power, but not as good with the action on the lighter jigs. My comments earlier in this thread are not intended to say Shimano is bad, just that your not going to get that lifting power from the model mentioned. But, thats by design, not by lack of quality.
This also plays into my comments on getting more for your money with a custom, for those who do not see the justification in spending the money. The rod mentioned is made to swim the rated jigs, but is not giving you the power of other brands. Now, lets look at the custom rod option.....
We have a 6'6" blank rated 125-225g that we use. We build it with 8 guides + tip and this holds true. We take that same rod blank and use another lay out, 10 guides + tip, we now have a rod that will fall into the rating of 150g - 400g, while also increasing the lifting power by 25-25%. Aside from the obvious benefits of a custom rod, ( made to fit you, proper guide alignment on the blank, personalized ) this is what I was talking about. This rod starts at $179, in the same price range if you look at it. ( $119-$219 depending on the model.) By talking to a builder, you can often find yourself with one rod that will replace 2 or 3 of your rods, saving you money.
I never intended to offend anyone. I especially didnt intend for anyone to think I was putting Shimano down. We sell Shimano Rods, we are just not a "large dealer" and do not show up on their map. If you asked me to pick a brand other than a custom rod, truth is, it would be Shimano 9 out of 10 times.
Just to clear it up...... not saying Shimano is crap. Saying that your not getting the extra lifting power, they are designed for the jigs before the dead lift. Thats actually a compliment to them, for those who want that action.
But, I still say you should talk to a builder when ever your looking to spend that much money. They may, or may not be able to help you save a few bucks. Theres more to a custom rod than just the colors and looks. Anyone who says otherwise...... has no idea what a custom rod is.
