Rod and/or Reel Bias?

[Brett's_daddy]

This thought just occurred to me out of the blue...not really sure why but it would make for an interesting online social experiment . How many of you are biased to the point where you'd never think about putting brand "x" reel on a brand "y" rod? For example, I am not biased towards a particular brand, I own Shimano, Daiwa, Lews, 13 Fishing and Abu Garcia rods and reels but for some odd reason there is no way I'd put a Shimano reel on a Daiwa rod and vice versa. Now, here's where it gets weird...I totally wouldn't mind putting a Lews reel on a Shimano or Daiwa rod or a Shimano or Daiwa reel on a Lews rod. I know it sounds strange but how many of you out there think similarly?

[MN Fisher]

No preference - what ever reel/rod combo gives me the speed/power/action I want - brand doesn't matter.

[new2BC4bass]

11 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

No preference - what ever reel/rod combo gives me the speed/power/action I want - brand doesn't matter.

Same here.

[Brett's_daddy]

13 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

No preference - what ever reel/rod combo gives me the speed/power/action I want - brand doesn't matter.

You know I always thought I was the same and I was when I started seriously fishing but at some point it changed unbeknownst to me...lol. I’m sure it’s just a mental thing, my mind playing tricks on me ?.

[Mike L]

This is like some folks who make it a priority to match the color of the reel with the rod!

Or those who refuse to buy a rod or reel just because of what color it is!

 

Sorry, I just don’t get it

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[garroyo130]

Just now, Mike L said:

This is like some folks who make it a priority to match the color of the reel with the rod!

Or those who refuse to buy a rod or reel just because of what color it is!

 

Can we make the SLX the exception here? That jumbo lettering ... I couldn't. Then again that wasn't the only reason but it may have been what sealed the deal on me not getting one.

[TheBasslayer]

I don't really have any brand loyalties, probably because I've been fishing for 4 years. I own anything from an Abu on a Fenwick(Baitcaster) to a Shimano on an Okuma(Ultralight). Whatever works for my action and for my price point and feels good, I'll buy.

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, Brett's_daddy said:

This thought just occurred to me out of the blue...not really sure why but it would make for an interesting online social experiment . How many of you are biased to the point where you'd never think about putting brand "x" reel on a brand "y" rod? For example, I am not biased towards a particular brand, I own Shimano, Daiwa, Lews, 13 Fishing and Abu Garcia rods and reels but for some odd reason there is no way I'd put a Shimano reel on a Daiwa rod and vice versa. Now, here's where it gets weird...I totally wouldn't mind putting a Lews reel on a Shimano or Daiwa rod or a Shimano or Daiwa reel on a Lews rod. I know it sounds strange but how many of you out there think similarly?

Not at all biased, I own a lot of brands of rods and reels, and mix as required. 

I do put Daiwa reels on Shimano rods and vise versa when I fish with folks that I know it bothers, and I say something like "imagine how many more I'd be catching if my rod and reel matched" each time I swing one in.

[Bankc]

Brand names mean nothing to me.  I'll even buy a rod or reel that I hate the looks of if it fishes well and the price is right.  All I care about is function.  

 

I don't have a problem with people who feel differently.  I've got a background that's pretty heavily steeped in the arts, so I understand the importance of aesthetics.  A lot of stuff that I own, like furniture, appliances, clothes, and cars, aesthetics are a very high priority, if not the most important feature.  But fishing stuff, to me, is all about function and price.  

[Teal]

I ain't gonna lie, the thought passed through my mind that it would be a sin to put a daiwa on a loomis/shimano conquest rod, but I ended up putting a daiwa zillion 8:1  on it anyway because it was a steal and I came to my senses

[Deleted account]

5 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

No preference - what ever reel/rod combo gives me the speed/power/action I want - brand doesn't matter.

Good, cause that Incredible Hulk green on the Furies would be hard to coordinate with....  

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

Good, cause that Incredible Hulk green on the Furies would be hard to coordinate with....  

I like to think of it more like Slytherin Green - sneaky so I can sneak up on the bass with those rods. ?

[galyonj]

I won't buy anything else that Abu makes. Dunno if that works towards the topic. I don't mind mixing and matching, though.

[NavyVet1204]

Most of my rigs are mounted on Abu rods And I only own one Abu bc. I just prefer the Abu Vendetta rods for their price point.

[Mobasser]

5 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

No preference - what ever reel/rod combo gives me the speed/power/action I want - brand doesn't matter.

Yea me too. I have different makes I swap as I need too. Most all work fine. No real brand preference.

[Happybeerbuzz]

Matching manufacturers?  No.  Matching colors?  No.  However, I think I would color coordinate rod and reels to the color of the line I wanted to use if money were no consideration.  That is completely speculative though because money is very much a consideration.  

[InfantryMP]

I try to find a series of rods that I like and use those. I have used Lews, Shimano, Favorite, BPS, Duckett, and St Croix.

 

I think the rod is my starting point because if it has the feel and action I want, then I can put the reels that I know work for me well on them. For example, I am a huge fan of the SLX DC's...probably my favorite reel ever. 

 

I guess I would never say I wouldn't put X reel on X rod because I only have two matching rods / reels a Mach II, and SLX Heavy with SLX Reel. I think people miss out on opportunities if they do that, or just use on the shelf "combos" all the time.  

 

I will say this, and you can call me a fanboy if you want too. The Jacob Wheeler signature series Duckett rods are hands down my favorite rods ever. They have a great bend, but stout enough to get the job done. I will put any reel that I am comfortable with on them and I think it will be a solid setup. 

[WRB]

I have a strong bias against anything made in China.

Looking at a new spinning rod my local shop had Shimano Zodias rods and liked the feel, balance then noticed stamp on the handle was made in China. 

Tom

 

[newapti5]

I am a big fan of Daiwa, but I bought a lot of Shimano reels as well. And Abu and Lew's. And some Quantum to try out. And a few 13 fishing as well. And several Okumas gems. And a couple of BPS qualifier.  And even some oddball looking but solid Tica reels.  So I screw around when it comes to reels I guess, rods as well, and almost none of them matches. 

[thunderblack]

Daiwa on a Shimano will not catch fish

Shimano on a Daiwa will not catch fish

only Daiwa or JDM Shimano on a Megabass 

Orvis on a Sage will not catch fish on the fly

Pflueger will catch fish on any rod

 

 

[Big Hands]

It stands to reason that it should be a priority for a brand's rods to pair nicely with their own reels, but the reality is not always that simple.

[MAN]

29 minutes ago, Big Hands said:

It stands to reason that it should be a priority for a brand's rods to pair nicely with their own reels.

I think a lot of them are finally catching on to this ?

[Mat_ski]

I almost exclusively put

daiwas on my shimanos and shimanos on my daiwas. 

[fishwizzard]

I am for sure biased when it comes to reels, I have so much time on Daiwa reels and am so used to their braking system(s) that it's hard to really look at other reel brands.

 

Rods I am far more open, but most of my lineup is Loomis or Megabass and I am much much more willing to take a chance on a rod from either of them then other brands I have less experience with. 

 

[Happybeerbuzz]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

I have a strong bias against anything made in China.

Looking at a new spinning rod my local shop had Shimano Zodias rods and liked the feel, balance then noticed stamp on the handle was made in China. 

Tom

 

 

Yeah, now that you mention it, I have this bias as well.  I actively avoid products made in China, but they are difficult to avoid.  I get disappointed when I discover that I had bought something online that was manufactured in China or something catches my eye only to find out later that it is manufactured there.  There is also an element of guilt when I end up buying something because there is only so much one can do to avoid buying something made there.