Tackle reviews

[J Francho]

@TOXIC The difference is that you are not self promoting, or using this site for self gain.  You are welcome, as are your posts, because you are transparent, and you genuinely want to help others catch fish.  If it's with a GYCB baits, then so be it.  Your take on fishing what you like is spot on.  I never pursued sponsorship, I was approached by companies that took an interest in my fishing, both successes on the water, and what I had written.  Do I think it's a little close minded to say one bait is better than the rest?  Maybe.  But maybe also I would have said the same thing before my associations with this site.  I used to be pretty stuck on my preferred products.   There's a lot stuff out there, and testing and trying new gear has taught me what an old friend always says: "The fish are where you find them."

 

13 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

Normally, I'll only talk about my sponsors when the subject is brought up on the baits themselves.

 

This is perfect.  Nothing is more valuable than integrity.  If the product is good, it sells itself.  All I have to do is tell a good fishing story. 

[Mobasser]

39 minutes ago, J Francho said:

@TOXIC The difference is that you are not self promoting, or using this site for self gain.  You are welcome, as are your posts, because you are transparent, and you genuinely want to help others catch fish.  If it's with a GYCB baits, then so be it.  Your take on fishing what you like is spot on.  I never pursued sponsorship, I was approached by companies that took an interest in my fishing, both successes on the water, and what I had written.  Do I think it's a little close minded to say one bait is better than the rest?  Maybe.  But maybe also I would have said the same thing before my associations with this site.  I used to be pretty stuck on my preferred products.   There's a lot stuff out there, and testing and trying new gear has taught me what an old friend always says: "The fish are where you find them."

 

 

This is perfect.  Nothing is more valuable than integrity.  If the product is good, it sells itself.  All I have to do is tell a good fishing story. 

Exactly! Nothing is more valuable than honest integrity! I would respect a review of a product by either of you guys- because you know your stuff! We'll said!

[J Francho]

If you type "John Franchot" into the search on the articles home page, you'll find some of mine.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Key words.. ,"pole"  "line thingy"  

[blckshirt98]

I'm pretty wary of most reviews, everyone is looking to sell something nowadays, and everything catches fish.  One guy I really like is KeepinItReelFishing because his reviews are the most thorough I've seen, though he hasn't posted much recently.  I also like the TackleTour guys though they do seem to be pretty favorable most of the time where they seem reluctant to be overly critical.

[Buffdaddy54]

On 10/14/2018 at 5:14 PM, LionHeart said:

Nothing I enjoy more than reading (better yet watching) a thorough, objective review.  I find it interesting to see what the reviewer likes or dislikes and why.  A YouTube channel I love watching is "KeepingitReelFishing."

 

This guy gives some of the most honest and complete video reviews I've ever seen.

 

I get what you're saying though, about getting so many conflicting reviews on a product.  Try reading reviews about a dang washing machine.  It'll make you afraid to buy any of them.

Also checkout Tackle Advisor

[Preytorien]

On a similar note, I generally fall pretty skeptical of rod reviews. I believe that higher quality rods are certainly more sensitive, but when talking about sensitivity of one rod versus another it seems to be to be very subjective. I mean, how do you quantify or measure sensitivity? Clearly actually using one over another at the same time is a way to tell, but that also comes down to what you yourself can feel and sense, and that changes from person to person. 

 

Case in point, I have switched over to Shimano Zodias rods. I personally love them, but I feel they're not as sensitive as the E6X, along the same pricepoint. There are forum threads about one over the other, but people who have likely never given good time to fish both are making claims that the Shimano is more sensitive, or the E6X is more sensitive. I've never used both in an arena where I can make a good claim, they were isolated uses from each other and I never got a good idea of which I preferred. For me it came down to how the rod felt in my hand, and how I felt casting it over and over and over each time I went out. I feel that both rods are sensitive enough to catch fish, but I can't easily say one is more than the other. 

 

Tackle reviews for me are also subjective. For me a lure might seem like junk, but the minute I catch a decent fish my judgement is changed. I don't believe necessarily in the power of a lure based on a couple fish. Now, give it a good season's worth of work and tell me it's consistent and I'll give it another look, but those Tackle Warehouse user reviews at the bottom of the page "I went out and caught 3 bass in 4 hours" - that's not helpful. I like to hear about castability, durability, and availability too. 

 

Reel reviews have a lot of moving components, and like others have said I don't generally fall for the casting distance or freespooling hype. I tend to look at comfortability and durability. I also don't like the reel feeling "cheap" when I pick it up in the store and fiddle with it. I like a good solid feel, even if it means it weighs a bit more. 

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

Yeah, I know ... old thread.  But, still a valuable tool when considering new purchases.  I’m looking for a new reel (won’t bore you with the details) and found this thread to be thought-provoking.  Living in western Massachusetts, I can take a left from my driveway, go two blocks, and fall off the edge of the earth. There is no way I can play touchy-feely with any higher-end products so I am relying on the members of this organization to relay their objective views on the products in which I am interested.

 

Thanks to all who take the time and make the effort to help folks in my position. In my mind, it beats the heck out of most of the YouTube “reviews”!!!

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, GrumpyOlPhartte said:

so I am relying on the members of this organization to relay their objective views on the products

I think we're a much more discriminating bunch than the average angler.

[Mobasser]

1 hour ago, GrumpyOlPhartte said:

Yeah, I know ... old thread.  But, still a valuable tool when considering new purchases.  I’m looking for a new reel (won’t bore you with the details) and found this thread to be thought-provoking.  Living in western Massachusetts, I can take a left from my driveway, go two blocks, and fall off the edge of the earth. There is no way I can play touchy-feely with any higher-end products so I am relying on the members of this organization to relay their objective views on the products in which I am interested.

 

Thanks to all who take the time and make the effort to help folks in my position. In my mind, it beats the heck out of most of the YouTube “reviews”!!!

Check out some reviews NY J Francho. He writes them with fisherman in mind.

8 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

Check out some reviews NY J Francho. He writes them with fisherman in mind.

By J Francho I meant to say!