Made In Usa Gear?

[BrettD]

Kistler rods are NOT MADE IN AMERICA.  The only exception to this is their KLX rods which are only available through their website.  The resf of their rods are Made in China.

 

I will agree on the lack of USA made reels.  Ardent is the only one and I'm not a fan.  However,  I'm willing to buy a reel Made in Japan due to them being a major ally of ours.  I actually would not hesitate to buy something made elsewhere as long as it is not China.  The only chinese made products that I buy are tungsten sinkers because no one makes them in any other country which is a shame. 

China has the largest deposit of tungsten in the world almost 90% of all tungsten comes from one mine in china. There is only one place in north america thats in Canada that has a tungsten mine.

[Fishes in trees]

Some of the rods that say "made is USA" are actually assembled from components that weren't necessarily made in USA.

 

This is one area of my life where I try to be politically correct, but I don't try all that hard.  I do look at labels.  I prefer to buy made in USA if I have a choice.   Reels, you don't have alot of choices.   Rods, you have a few more choices, but still not a lot, especially in the low to mid-range price points where many of us shop for rods.   Lines, not many readily available choices.  Baits you have considerably more choices.

 

Fishing tackle is a good example of how the global economy works.

 

Here's another story.  The Japanese Domestic fishing market is huge.  I met a pro at Rogers Lures once who was sponsored by Hildebrandt.  They make quality spinnerbaits and other baits, they were wondering why their share of the Japanese market was nearly nonexistent.  So the guy went over there and spend a month, fished around Japan, fished a few tournaments, met quite a few different fishing companies representatives.

 

These guys told him that, for the most part that USA stuff didn't go over well in Japan because it wasn't 

"pretty enough".   From average looking packaging, to lures with the mold slightly mis-aligned, plastic baits that weren't trimmed or were packaged funny so that they were bent coming out of the package and so forth.

 

Hildebrandt took that message to heart and upgraded their packaging and quality control and now they have modest JDM sales, where before their sales were minimal.

 

JDM anglers are very discerning about quality control.  An adage in the fishing tackle industry is that packaging sells the lure as often as the lure sells itself.  It is something to think about the next time you walk up and down the aisles of your local tackle store.

 

Oh, and while we're on the subject the guy told me an exception to this rule, i.e. that many Japanese fishermen thought  that Charlie Brewer tackle looked "rustic" and that is why they bought it.   Go figger

Brewer quality control is questionable.  Find out for yourself.  Buy a 20 pack of 1/4 ounce slider heads and weigh them.  Never mind how many of them actually weigh a quarter ounce, you will be amazed at how many of them will weigh out the same.   Being off a gram or two either way is common.  Mis-aligned molds are common.  Brewer stuff sells in Japan because they are really into finesse fishing.

[fishking247]

Zoom baits, falcon rods, st croix (except mojo and triumph)

[Teal]

I try to buy usa when i can from varoius house hold items to fishing equipment. I also try to shop locally owned shores when i can, but i do value Quality products. I like that Powell is an american owned company and do not mind that their rods are made over seas. I feel like i get a good value for those rods. QUALITY is a big deal to me and it is my HARD EARNED money that buys it. Id rather buy something once than several times. Im not sure about the ownership of Lews but i know their reels are made in Asia. But the value for the reels is great so i go for them.

I hope one day im at a point financially able to buy the highend St. Croix or Loomis rods and more tackle that is all made in USA.

I didnt want to post this and come off as a sell out ...because i do realize the value of buying American made products and supporting industry in our country.

And after reading alot of the names that are USA im glad i own of a few of those products.

[WRB]

There is a difference between made in the USA and assembled in the USA. With the exception of a few rod blanks being laid up and fabricated in the USA, most of the made in USA rods are assembled from components made off shore.

Lamiglas still manufactures rod blanks the USA, reel seats, guides are off shore products, assembled in the USA. Not sure where St. Croix builds their rod blanks, at one time they were a USA rod blank. Loomis is owned by Shimano.

Ardent reels are made in the USA, US reels are not.

Excellent small business custom rod builder is ALX and the site sponsor DVT builds custom rods.

Hand poured soft plastics and most custom jigs are small USA business.

Most fishing lines are made off shore, Vicuos bought the old DuPond line plant and produce monofilament line in the USA.

Huddleston swimbaits are made in the USA, Basstrix and Roboworms are small business USA products.

Higher volume production tackle is usually made off shore due to cost and regulation to manufacture in the USA.

It's difficult to locate tackle made in the USA, easier to find products assembled in the USA.

Avoid products made in China!

Tom

[SDoolittle]

 Berkley fishing lines (except fluorocarbon where every brand is either made in Japan or Germany.)

McCoy fluorocarbon is made in USA.

[Bluebasser86]

All the jigs I fish are hand poured, painted, and tied in the USA, by me

[Shane J]

Rage Tail baits are made in the U.S.A.  I have to admit, though, that's not why I fish 'em!

[slonezp]

Hawgtech Hawg Handle

[The Next KVD]

McCoy fluorocarbon is made in USA.

 

I don't know about that one... from what I have read and heard there are only two factories in the world that have the ability to use fluorocarbon resin and produce fluorocarbon line,  the main one in Japan where the VAST majority of them are made from and the other in Germany.

 

Not saying that its not possible McCoy isn't making it here, just that it has not been confirmed.  I know it says so on the package but they may just put that on their product to make it seem that way.  If someone was making it here in America, why wouldn't Berkley or Vicious (2 well known companies that make their other lines here) make it here?

[ColdSVT]

to expand on st croix...

the rage, mojo, eyecon and triumph are all made in mexico

most stike king is made in costa rica.

I hate that my shimanos and abus are made in asia but d**n I love those reels lol

[mtaag3]

I hate that my shimanos and abus are made in asia but d**n I love those reels lol

 

I thought Abu's were made in Europe? (Sweden?)

[ColdSVT]

I thought Abu's were made in Europe? (Sweden?)

my gen 2 and gen 3 stx were made in korea

[*Hootie]

I thought Abu's were made in Europe? (Sweden?)

One of my customers at BPS was looking at an STX, and noticed on the box, "Swedish Engineered". He asked me what that meant. I told him that means it's "Made in China",....lol...

Hootie

[5fishlimit]

I thought Abu's were made in Europe? (Sweden?)

Abu Garcia is a Swedish company, but all made in China.

[SDoolittle]

I don't know about that one... from what I have read and heard there are only two factories in the world that have the ability to use fluorocarbon resin and produce fluorocarbon line, the main one in Japan where the VAST majority of them are made from and the other in Germany. Not saying that its not possible McCoy isn't making it here, just that it has not been confirmed. I know it says so on the package but they may just put that on their product to make it seem that way. If someone was making it here in America, why wouldn't Berkley or Vicious (2 well known companies that make their other lines here) make it here?

You are partially correct. PVDF, the raw form of the resin from which fluorocarbon is produced, comes from overseas. McCoy (and perhaps others) turns it into fishing line right here the USA with American workers.

[tholmes]

Abu Garcia is a Swedish company, but all made in China.

 

The C3 and C4 round reels are still made in Sweden, along with the Record  series. the Kalex, BCX, and all low-profile reels are made in Asia.

 

Tom

[Primus]

 There are lot of swimbaits that are made in the USA but many of these are niche boutique type of products and because of the size & price of  these baits appeal to a small part of the overall bass fishing tackle market. That said some of these items like the 316 Wake Jr & Matt lures Hard Gill are terrific lures if you are willing to spend the coin.

 

 One thing I  try to do is by local when possible, for example the local tackle shops in my area have a good selection of soft plastics from Zoom , Rage, Yamamoto etc. so I buy the majority of these products from these stores. The online retailers are utilized for hard to find colors & products. 

 

 I will try to buy made in the USA when possible, that said the baits need to be high quality & perform.

[0119]

Coming soon Penn's reissue of the 704 and 706 to be made from the old toolings in the old Philly Pa. factory.  Ardent is a questionable American made entity. The Edge series is made here but the new series they are pushing on T.V. shows is made in China.

[rcr1959]

Falcon rods, some ardent reels, Most mono lines, Gene larew plastic lures, Bill Norman Crank baits. Just of the top of my head.

[rcr1959]

Coming soon Penn's reissue of the 704 and 706 to be made from the old toolings in the old Philly Pa. factory.  Ardent is a questionable American made entity. The Edge series is made here but the new series they are pushing on T.V. shows is made in China.

Edge, F500 and F700 series.