MADE IN THE USA

[DomQ]

We make our own canadian maple syrup up here guys, come check it out eh!

[rangerjockey]

10 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

Is this true? I would think they would plaster this all over their website. 
 

All of says is it’s owned by Louie Zhang and headquartered in Port St Lucie FL.

Two different companies. Arkrod in Harrison made the rods for Falcon and I believe Denali and I'm sure others.

I thought they had closed but maybe not.

Ark Fishing in Florida sells the Ark branded rods. They are made off shore. Louie used to be involved with Halo

 

 

[DomQ]

Isnt dobyns made in USA?

[MN Fisher]

16 minutes ago, DomQ said:

Isnt dobyns made in USA?

Nope - depending on the model...China or Korea.

 

Tags on both my Furys say 'Made in China'

[NOC 1]

On 7/17/2020 at 10:42 AM, greentrout said:

I receive a newsletter everyday from Fishing Tackle Retailer. Got one this morning about the growing demand by dealers and even BPS for rods made in the USA.

 

Covid-19 looks like it's going to change the supply chain.

 

Hope to see more folks making fishing equipment once again in the USA... 

 

good fishing ...

What would be even better is if the US makers would start making something other than the narrow range of rods that they offer. I'm sure there are others besides myself who can't buy USA rods because I don't need another 7'+MH/F or a 6'10" M/F.

 

 

20 hours ago, Bankc said:

I've got a feeling we will soon be seeing all kinds of things "made in the USA" that didn't used to be.  The reason... Robots and computers cost the same to run no matter what country they're in.  Even service sector jobs are going fully automated.  I haven't had but probably ten checkout experiences with a human cashier in last 6 months.  It's all been online or self checkout. 

The downside of this is that robots don't buy fishing gear,or anything else...neither do humans who have been put out of work by robots for that matter.

[Vilas15]

7 hours ago, NOC 1 said:

What would be even better is if the US makers would start making something other than the narrow range of rods that they offer. I'm sure there are others besides myself who can't buy USA rods because I don't need another 7'+MH/F or a 6'10" M/F

What exactly are you looking for that you can't find?

[NOC 1]

1 hour ago, Vilas15 said:

What exactly are you looking for that you can't find?

Choices.

Look at the last few rods I've bought: all casting rods

5'10" MH/F

6'3"" M+/F

6'1" ML+/XF with solid carbon stinger tip

6'9" ML/R

 

Right now among a couple of others, I am looking for a 6'6" MH/XF and a 6'6" H/XF. I have these in the Daiwa TD-S series but am looking for better. It's easy to buy American if I want yet another 7' to 7'4" MH/F stick. But I already have a couple of those and I'm just not one of those Tournament kind of guys who buys 6 of the same thing. I usually buy 1 or 2 of each specific size and style I want.

 

St. Croix might come close on one or two of those rods, but the truth is I am underwhelmed by the last two SC rods I've bought (LTB) and really don't want to risk paying $500 just to see if I like the very top of the line stuff better. I am looking for rods in the $200-300 range new or used.

 

In short, I want the same choices as I would have as a fisherman in Japan. I want some BFS rods, some L and UL action casting rods, a selection of rods that are 6'-6'10", stinger tips, and XF tips on more than one M action model.

 

If you don't know what I mean, compare what Megabass USA offers here as opposed to what they offer the rest of the world. Check out the rod selection at places online like the 7seas Pro Shop. I understand that they make what sells best here, but I am buying rods for me not everyone else. I'd be happy to see everybody here buying their 7'4" H/F and MH/F made in the US. I'd gladly buy made in the US too, but they are not selling what I'm buying.

 

 

[Nelson Delaney]

25 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

A good looking rod.  I have yet to see a made in the US rod that didn't look like it was made from Mud Hole parts in someones basement or like it was from 1992.  I ain't paying for that if it is going to come looking like I made it.  I'll just make it.      

So you prefer a rod that “looks good” over one that performs well?  Personally I’ll take a top performer 

[GaterB]

12 hours ago, Nelson Delaney said:

So you prefer a rod that “looks good” over one that performs well?  Personally I’ll take a top performer 

I think the BaitFinesse was simply outlining the fact that when compared to offerings from overseas companies (Megabass, Evergreen, Shimano, Daiwa, etc), the typical American made rod looks pretty plain and many times do not match up with offerings at the same price point. We all want excellent performance from our gear. One thing I see is that in the US, if you go to a custom rod builder the work is usually excellent, and certainly competes with anything available on the market. However, the made in USA big brands have a tendency to have errors in the fit and finish (sloppy epoxy, misaligned guides, poorly secured reel seats to name a few examples) and lack the performance of similarly priced competition. Does this happen to all rod companies at some pint? Yes. But ive observed it less from companies not building in the US. This of course is my personal observation.
 

I think that’s more along the lines of what BaitFinesse was saying, and I tend to agree. I’d love to see an American made company achieve the fit and finish, cosmetics, and performance that I’ve found in my Megabass rods at the same price point. Competition is good for everyone! 

[NOC 1]

13 hours ago, Nelson Delaney said:

So you prefer a rod that “looks good” over one that performs well?  Personally I’ll take a top performer 

Yeah, because we all know that a rod can't be a top performer AND look good.

[Caliyak]

I'm late to this party but, Cashion rods are made in the US. 

[Linewinder]

I think one of the problems with making in USA is never being able to get to "cash cow" level for particular models.  The market demand dries up for that series of rods so the maker needs to develop again, retool perhaps, reformulate, do the marketing sales again and again.  If the manufacturer cuts labor costs here (supposedly minimum wage) the thought is nobody wants those jobs, where in reality it is that nobody can live on that with the standard of living we have in the USA.  Costs have to be contained somehow, so off our shores they go.

 

My Econ 101 professor showed us this is inevitable.  The country's manufacturing and technology is relinquished so the resources can be put to newer industries.  Cameras.  Radios.  Televisions.  Computers.  Gone.  Alternative energy systems -- going.  It becomes a problem when things are relinquished before the resources can be redirected.

[Mobasser]

I think if they could make a rod in the USA that was affordable, and really good qaulity, most of us would buy them. But, with labor cost in the USA compared to overseas it's going to be tough. I hope it happens though, not just with rods and reels but everything else.??

[evilcatfish]

On 7/17/2020 at 3:39 PM, Jig Man said:

A made in the USA company that produces quality is in Harrison AR.  It is called Ark Rods.

I'm not so sure you are correct, every model Tackle Tour has reviewed specifies made in China. Not saying they aren't good rods though

 

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewarkrodslac73mhfc.html

 

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewarkrodssnp70mxc.html

 

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewarkrodsrfc76mhfc.html

 

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewarkrodsvip72mhxc.html

 

 

[PhishLI]

7 hours ago, Linewinder said:

The country's manufacturing and technology is relinquished 

The much bigger issue is that the lineage of basic competence has been relinquished. Up until about 5 years ago I was still consulting for U.S. manufacturing companies taking prototypes to production. I designed and sometimes built production lines and specific equipment. All of it worked well, but without skilled management that had some degree of mechanical aptitude, and a workforce with a modicum of the same and some work ethic, none of that matters. There are still some people with what it takes to do certain jobs, maybe lots of them, but to find them clustered in one area to serve the needs of even one small manufacturer is very difficult these days. They tend to be older, if you can find them. The mindset necessary for quality manufacturing has died off, for the most part, especially where teens and 20-somethings and beyond are concerned. 

 

U.S. manufacturing is possible, but good luck rousting up the necessary teams of old timers from their easy chairs to resurrect it. That's assuming they'd be willing to given the attitudes they'd have to deal with today. They're the last link in a broken chain. Short of that, good luck.

[DogBone_384]

On 7/17/2020 at 4:40 PM, garroyo130 said:

A bigger issue to me is that avg CEO compensation is 361 times avg employee compensation

Funny you picked this up.  I saw GM stock at $19/share while back.  TD Ameritrade listed them as paying 9% dividends, so I bought some.  April, and CV-19 came around I got an email saying GM suspended their dividend payment.  Mary Barra, GM's CEO, made $21.x million in 2019.  Anyone think her package will be lower for 2020?

 

Either way, I doubt I'll lose after buying GM, and hope they bring back their dividends next year.

[Spankey]

On 7/17/2020 at 4:28 PM, flyfisher said:

As long as it is as good of quality and comparable price I would get USA made stuff but we also have to realize we are in a global economy and the days of Made in the USA is really gone the way of the dinosaurs.  To be competitive you need to balance all the aspects of manufacturing to be successful. 

I agree 100%. I won’t get political but recent rhetoric about bringing all this imports back to America is not gonna happen. Political jargon. Fishing rods will be on the bottom of the list. I see a trade agreement settling and current differences lightening up. We (US big business) loves China. And China Loves us. 

[Happybeerbuzz]

1 hour ago, Spankey said:

We (US big business) loves China. And China Loves us. 

China is evil, like really evil, and regardless of how we might feel about China, China does not love us.  People can decide for themselves how much difference there is between the CCP and the culture, but Xi Jinping and the CCP are popular in China.  I am not going to tell anybody who to love or not love, buy from or not buy from.  However, I personally will go through great lengths to not buy stuff made in China if at all possible which it is frequently not. 

[Spankey]

1 hour ago, Happybeerbuzz said:

China is evil, like really evil, and regardless of how we might feel about China, China does not love us.  People can decide for themselves how much difference there is between the CCP and the culture, but Xi Jinping and the CCP are popular in China.  I am not going to tell anybody who to love or not love, buy from or not buy from.  However, I personally will go through great lengths to not buy stuff made in China if at all possible which it is frequently not. 

I’m not in the “we”. I certainly have no love for China. Political and Big Business greed behind all of it. Basically you as a consumer can’t control much of that. I can’t do a political rant on this site. I won’t do it because I love bass fishing too much in life. And don’t want to get tossed off of this site. I’ve long long boycotted Wally World and a few others like them. They WW are the Chinese turned inside out. This nation loves the Chinese. In a poor economy brought on by a pandemic the WW parking lot is probably packed right now. But y’all buy what you want from whoever you want. My last words on this because I don’t know who in bed with who on this. 

[cheezyridr]

3 hours ago, Spankey said:

I agree 100%. I won’t get political but recent rhetoric about bringing all this imports back to America is not gonna happen. Political jargon. Fishing rods will be on the bottom of the list. I see a trade agreement settling and current differences lightening up. We (US big business) loves China. And China Loves us. 

no offence meant towards you, but the part of your quote i bolded is uninformed.  we're not supposed to talk politics here, so i wont take the risk and go into the whys of it.

 

my own personal experience as a sheetmetal worker is mostly in the shop.  it's a production environment, and i've been doing it over 3 decades, and for 2 of them, i have been  either lead man, or forman/supervisor.  hiring isn't easy, but it's not for any field.  this problem is not specific to manufacturing.  kids want to start at the top and work their way up.  lots of them get discouraged and quit.  in my experience, we keep maybe 1 in 5 new hires.  the ones we do keep though, are great guys. smart, motivated, on time, dependable.  it seems like there is no middle ground. they either suck, or they're great.  i think manufacturing can be done here for things that were sent off shore,  but it's going to require an investment  most people aren't willing to make.  you're going to struggle in  the beginning, and there wont be any profit in the early stages. these days, people with money to invest want profits right away.  the idea of investing in your community seems to be a dead concept

[Spankey]

22 minutes ago, cheezyridr said:

no offence meant towards you, but the part of your quote i bolded is uninformed.  we're not supposed to talk politics here, so i wont take the risk and go into the whys of it.

 

my own personal experience as a sheetmetal worker is mostly in the shop.  it's a production environment, and i've been doing it over 3 decades, and for 2 of them, i have been  either lead man, or forman/supervisor.  hiring isn't easy, but it's not for any field.  this problem is not specific to manufacturing.  kids want to start at the top and work their way up.  lots of them get discouraged and quit.  in my experience, we keep maybe 1 in 5 new hires.  the ones we do keep though, are great guys. smart, motivated, on time, dependable.  it seems like there is no middle ground. they either suck, or they're great.  i think manufacturing can be done here for things that were sent off shore,  but it's going to require an investment  most people aren't willing to make.  you're going to struggle in  the beginning, and there wont be any profit in the early stages. these days, people with money to invest want profits right away.  the idea of investing in your community seems to be a dead concept

We are about the same Work back ground. 40 yrs. in the heavy industrial equipment repair trade. See the same things. Not many want to work like that.  Maybe you guys are not getting my point. My point is China loves selling/shipping that stuff (goods) here. I really have no idea how big the rod market there is there. Huge I imagine. 

[Diggy]

I can find plenty of rod companies and own a few (Lamiglas, Kistler, NFC/Edge, Leviathan, custom, etc).

Which reels are made here specifically, of great quality?

[cheezyridr]

the one thing that is...not so much a plus, but not entirely a negative is, the best reels are japanese, and we're very friendly with them. they dont behave like china does.  arigato nihon! sore wa yoidesu!  (thanks japan, it's good!)

[Spankey]

Daiwa Tournament SS. Made in Japan. 80’s and still fish it on the river. Love it. Bought a spare one from eBay Cheap and rebuilt it with upgraded bearing kit. Not sure where or if they are still made. 

[garroyo130]

23 hours ago, Diggy said:

Which reels are made here specifically, of great quality?

What low profile baitcasters are made here regardless of quality???

 

Does Ardent still have some models?