Are you brand loyal ?

[Functional]

reels, it has to fit my hand for the technique I need it for. Throwing any moving or topwater i'm not palming it, anything bottom contact I am. If the profile fits my hand for it then the brand is fair game.

 

Rods, out of about 12-15 I have no more than 2 per brand. 

 

Line, I've been pretty set of Trilene XL, Seguar and PP Slick but been wanting to string up some Armilo to see how it compares. It's just what works, im open to anything though.

 

I'm more about needs/function/fit/price than brand. 

[JMac603]

Not by choice! If I go out with a St Croix and a Daiwa, I can't physically bring myself to take another rod that isn't St Croix paired with Daiwa. If I go out with a TFO and a Lews...the rest are too. They all have to have the same brand line and baits as well. It will make me sick to my stomach if I mismatch. Oddly enough, I could give a d**n about terminal tackle. 

[NavyToad]

I’d say no, but a stranger looking at my gear would probably  wonder why I have so many Lews reels. Rods are more varied, but in the last 5 years all my rods and reels have come from a total of 3 manufacturers.

In my childhood Shimano made bicycle parts - I’ve never got on board with them. I know, I know.

[bulldog1935]

Going with what you know and are comfortable with (again) is acceptable. 

Recognizing what's The Same between different brands is the first step in the right direction. 

Understanding what differences make your choice better for your specific niche is best. 

Being brand loyal is sort of like not trying, being obstinate without reason, or simply doing what marketers tell you to do. 

[Texas Flood]

I was a Shimanohead for the longest time. Within the last couple years Ive tried other brands and really enjoy Lew's reels and St. Croix rods.

[Skunkmaster-k]

I’ll try anything once. Twice if I like it. 

[Bankc]

I'm not loyal to any brand.  However, for the right price, I could be.  

[Randy Price]

I tend to be brand loyal.  I've never had any issues with Shimano and Daiwa Reels and SC rods.  My favorite spinning combo is my SC LE rod with a Stradic (Ci4+) and my favorite BC (not musky) combo is my SC Avid with a Metanium attached.  For musky a SC LT rod and a Tranx 400.

[Deleted account]

No, I'm all over the place with tackle.

[Hulkster]

ya I'm brand loyal. 

 

all my reels are shimanos, my rods are all either G. Loomis or St. Croix. 

 

I use Sufix Siege mono in various pound tests for everything 

[thunderblack]

I am brand loyal for sure. I fish Daiwa, Megabass, Shimano, St. Croix, G. Loomis, Pflueger, and Lamiglas.

[Deleted account]

2 hours ago, Deleted account said:

No, I'm all over the place with tackle.

 

I do stick mostly with Shimano and Daiwa reels though...

[FishTank]

For reels, I look at it two fold..... There are reel brands that I like to use and reels that I have learned to avoid by working on them for the past several years. I try to rely on what I have learned from both of those experiences. So for me I am pretty much like Daiwa and Shimano but I do have one Lew's that I really like so far (BB1 new version) and I have a few from Abu Garcia and Quantum that are just OK.  

 

When comes to rods... G. Loomis, St. Croix and Megabass will see most of my money in the future. I do have one Dobyns that I really like and it may, in the future, steer me towards another. 

 

Line..... I like specific ones from different manufactures but I like to experiment each year and try new ones or some that have been around but I just haven't got to. A lot of lines are really good now a days so I don't mind branching out. As far as brands go that have been the most consistent for me, Sunline and Seaguar. 

 

Lures... Whatever they are biting on. 

[Jrob78]

These days I stick with Shimano and Daiwa reels, leaning more toward Daiwa. I understand how Daiwa braking systems work and they fit my casting style really well. They also palm better for me than any other reels. I've used reels from all the major brands and some of them make really good products so it isn't a knock on them, just that I know what works best for me.

 

As someone else mentioned I know what I'm getting with the big 2 and I respect their innovation. I also like the fact that all their stuff isn't made in the same building as 10 other brands that all share parts. I realize that probably doesn't really mean a whole lot in the grand scheme of things but it works for me.

 

I have rods and baits from all over the place so not much loyalty there for me.

[FrnkNsteen]

I'm really not brand loyal on casting reels. I've got Abu, BPS, Daiwa, Lews, Shimano, and even a couple 13 Inception reels. I have to say that I have been leaning towards Daiwa SV (Zillion and Alphas) and Shimano MGLs (SLX, Curado, Bantam) lately. For spinning reels I prefer Daiwa., ranging from Revros, Regal to Fuego.

 

For rods, I'm not as picky and will use anything that is light, comfortable and well balanced. Fenwick, St Croix and Dobyns make up the majority of my current rods.

 

[newapti5]

IMO there is nothing wrong with being casual with reel selections - although I have favorites, there're just too many temptations out there for me to stay loyal to one or two brands.  Doubly so with rods. But I understand why serious tournament anglers being brand loyal as a means to have better control and stability.

[Jig Man]

Yes

[Bankbeater]

Nope.  I have used a lot of different brands of rods and reels over the years. 

[LonnieP]

I only use Daiwa and Shimano reels. Have many brands of rods.

[new2BC4bass]

28 brands of rods, 11 reel brands, so I guess the answer is 'No'.

[bowhunter63]

Zoom and Rage Tail. Everything else i look for sales 

[PhishLI]

23 hours ago, Bird said:

Today I serviced a Shimano, Lew's, Okuma, kast King, pflueger, Abu and not 2 of anything. Lol

Is this acceptable?

Hellz yeah. Why not?

 

When I was still in my teens I was out somewhere with my uncle one day. He pointed out a girl that he found to be attractive. I was un-moved and dismissively told him that she wasn't my type, because I was dumb. I was still in my Italian/Spanish chic only phase, and this one was blonde. He acted surprised, then said "Buddy, they all feel the same in the dark". I was a kid, so I argued a little. I'm way older now, and when I replay my greatest hits film reel, he was pretty much right. Yes, there were differences in fineness, but huge differences, not really. I usually fish in the dark, and I don't observe much in the way of large margins in performance between quality models of different manufacturers. Definitely not enough to make hyperbolic statements about one "blowing" another away, even if I ultimately have a preference. 

 

Occasionally I'm struck by how good my "lesser" brands perform when I'm zoned out and not analyzing, but just fishing. The gap between what's good and great is in the eye of the beholder, but is much smaller than some pretend it actually is, IMO.

11 hours ago, JMac603 said:

If I go out with a St Croix and a Daiwa, I can't physically bring myself to take another rod that isn't St Croix paired with Daiwa. If I go out with a TFO and a Lews...the rest are too. They all have to have the same brand line and baits as well. It will make me sick to my stomach if I mismatch.

Definitely wacky. I usually have four brands of bait casters with me on any given trip, and no antacids needed. However, occasionally I'll do an all Daiwa trip, or an all Quantum trip, or an all Lew's trip, or an all Shimano trip. I suppose that's a tad nutty too.

[WRB]

I never bought a lot of different brands and tend to use what works for me. 

I am prejudice about buying anything from China based on experience with counterfeit aerospace parts and the current drugs flooding out country. 

My original rods and reels were Connolin and Langley, both made in SoCal. Switched to Abu Swiss made Ambassador reels in the 60’s to early 90’s with Lamiglas rods, about 35 years. Changed to Daiwa reels when TD HTIA’s came out mid 90’s and still used my custom Lamiglas rods.

Changes again to Daiwa Tatula X100HX for 8:1 ratio and ALX custom rods around 2012 to current.

Spinning only used 2 brands a Swiss made Cardinal followed by Shimano Stadic, with Fenwuck and Phenix rods made in SoCal. Now Shimano Vanford reel with St Croix rod.

So yes I am brand loyal to some degree.

Tom

 

[LrgmouthShad]

11 hours ago, Deleted account said:

 

I do stick mostly with Shimano and Daiwa reels though...

Are you a scaredy cat?

[Deleted account]

7 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Are you a scaredy cat?

Cowering in the corner with my tail between my legs...

 

22 hours ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

I’ll try anything once. Twice if I like it. 

I think I hear a banjo, but it's hard to tell cause the waterfall is drowning it out...