Rod/Reel Brand Loyalty...Why???

[The Rooster]

I've tried a lot of different stuff over the few years I've been fishing.  Quantum, Shimano, Abu Garcia, and many more.  Mostly once I find a particular reel or rod that i like then I stick with that until they change the design and I don't like it anymore.  Right now it's Shimano for rods, Pflueger for spinning reels and Bass Pro Shops for baitcasters (which are made by Pflueger currently).  Once they change their current designs, if I don't like the new ones then I'll go on the hunt again, but otherwise I'm totally satisfied so I won't be looking for anything different for a while.  

So I'd say I'm not brand loyal, I just like what I like and that's all.  I have no problem switching brands if something better comes along.  Just at the current time, there's nothing better than a Pflueger reel or Shimano rod.....for me anyway.  

[Hawghead]

For reels I am really leaning towards Shimano.  Performed well for me and my needs and have had great customer service when I have needed it.  

Rods I am all over the place....look for value first.  Been using BPS rods, couple of lower end Shimano, and last year I got a couple of Berkeley Tactix rods, they do just fine for me.

[flechero]

To those that say being loyal is just closed minded, I have to disagree. To ignore the specific reasons why loyalty exists is only looking at part of the story.

Take Loomis rods for example. Until pretty recently I was a Loomis IMX guy, had a stable full of them. Why? I like the blanks action better than any other rod I had used. No one else had a rod with that delicate tip that would lock up as tight and stout. It didn't hurt that I felt it was a great value- price vs. performance. I knew that any IMX rod I bought would be liked. No risk.

I'm not a Shimano die hard but I do have more shimano reels than any other... why? Each reel was purchased with a specific set of requirements and "needs" on my end. It just so happened that Shimano made the reels that best fit the criteria and my hand. But the fact that Shimano offered a great performing reel at a fair price and has a great reputation doesn't hurt either.

Being comfortable with a particular brand or series is a good thing... it shows (usually) that someone has had good products and paid seemingly fair prices. It only makes sense to give them a first look or the benefit of the doubt over an unknown brand when looking for new purchases.

Many brands have a following (loyalty) that's based on service... even some for lots of product failures that have been replaced.

For any that are loyal, there are reasons... for those with none, also reasons. If we all though the same, there would be one brand of each item.

[Big Tom]

then u haven't fished a johnny morris rod yet.

I have fished a 6'6" medium Johnny Morris Elite rod and thought highly of it.  

I haven't tried the longer, more powerful models but I wouldn't mind picking one up on sale sometime to try.

[Grey Wolf]

I am opened minded about my fishing gear. All of the companies have quality gear if you want to spend the money.

[Big Tom]

I am opened minded about my fishing gear. All of the companies have quality gear if you want to spend the money.

This is how I think too.  After a certain price range, it seems just about everyone makes high quality stuff.

[ghost]

Thanks for all the replies, this has been most informative & entertaining.  As I said, I completely undstand why one would be brand loyal & that's great.  But for someone like me, it would eventually become boring, but that's me.  Now if I was in your shoes for tourney fishing, then yes matching rods & reels would be the way to go cuz the consistency is there & "no" surprises.

In regards to Pflueger, I would love to try out their reels, especially the new ones, the Summit, Patriarch & the new President.  But alas, they don't make left hand versions of those reels.  Which makes me wonder if certain or most BPS branded reels are Pflueger, why does BPS they have similar Pflueger reels & offer them in left hand???  While Pflueger only offers their newer reels in right hand.  Also I'm sure Pflueger if they wanted to can incorporate the swept handle & star drag like the BPS brand b/c reels have.  I even asked a Pflueger rep that I ran across in a fishing store why they don't have any of the new b/c reels in left hand.  The previous President had a left hand verision b/c reel, now in 2009 they don't.  I would think that was a pretty good seller for them.  The rep didn't give me an answer & just said that "yes, they need to come out w/ left hand b/c reels."  I know the Trion b/c reel is a very good reel & it seems that alot of you guys own them,  But I'm talking about now, 2009 models that the left hand user if not part of the batting line up.

Again, thanks to all who respond to this post, it's just interesting on your guy's take on brand loyalty...it would be an honor of mine to one day have a chance to fish w/ any of you guys here on this board.  You guys are very well educated & well versed on what you prefer for fishing equipment & don't mind sharing here, even though you'll get kudos for saying or get slammed.  But most of you guys stick to your guns why you would use this or that brand & for this or that reason.

Lets all have a great 2009 fishing season...it's starting...NOW!

[burleytog]

Because I prefer to buy only once.

[hawgchaser]

I used to be a shimano/all star only guy. I knew these combos were what I liked and thats all I needed to know. However, there is so much good gear out there, I started trying other stuff. I found that BPS offered the best value for me.  Then they changed their reels to magnetic brakes and I was out.

I very reluctantly bought a Quantum rod/reel combo last year. I shockingly loved it and now have 4 Quantum PT reels and 3 PT Energy rods. They are the easiest reels to adjust, are super smooth, and the rods are the most underrated rods around. I enjoy fishing with these combos more than my curados and citicas. In fact, my fishing buddy uses my 3 curados and 6 citicas. I still love the chronarch though. IMO Quantum has made leaps and bounds in the quality control department and offer some of the best gear around right now.

So basically I stick with what I like but what I like changes as new equipment is introduced.

[ChiCityBasser]

I'm pretty new as far as fishing goes and only been doing it a 2-3yrs and started off fishing cheaper rods and reels purchased off ebay. I didn't know much about reel size or fiberglass vs graphite rods or anything. I started fishing with my brothers in our 3 man yearly tournament and the first year I caught a total of 10 fish for a season. After reading and learning more about the sport I stepped upto a Cabelas Fish Eagle II rod on sale and really noticed a difference in feel and sensitivity over what I was fishing with as far as rods. Last season that total was up to 56 fish for the season. From there I purchased a Cabelas XML again on sale and really liked the feel of the rod. I experimented with Daiwa, Okuma, Quantum, Mitchell and a off brand spinning reel called a Rainbow. Of all the reels I have pretty much stuck with Quantum for spinning and for baitcasting it was Daiwa til the recent purchase of a Quantum Accurist PT.

For me I like the feel of the Cabelas rods and they are pretty much what I have from the Tourney Trail thru the XMLti for both spinning and baitcast setups. I like the feel and sensitivity, the price and warranty with me catching them all on sale. I could purchase others but sticking with what I know or like and whats been working for me so far.

[retiredbosn]

I have been all over the board with my purchases, due to being a newbie to baitcasters, just started baitcasting five years ago.  I have owned Shakespeare, Pinnacle, BPS, Abu Garcia, Quatum,  all low profile, my rods are equally divided between BPS and Quantum, mainly due to availability.   Recently my wife purchased me an Abu-Garcia EXT Pro, my first round reel, and I am really impressed with that reel.  So impressed that I have sold a couple of BPS baitcasters and replaced them with the EXTs.  So now my set ups include 1 quantum accurist pt, one bps extreme finesse, and 3 exts.  If I like the reel I buy it.

[David P]

If it ain't broke, dont' fix it. Stick with what you like instead of looking for the next best thing. You'll save money, and save yourself a headache.

[Muddy]

If it ain't broke, dont' fix it. Stick with what you like instead of looking for the next best thing. You'll save money, and save yourself a headache.

 Truer words never have been spoken> I went around the block and have the same rigs I started out with in the first place

[cbreeze22]

Great thread question. 50 yrs owned and used the same two rods one 6' fiberglass spin very wispy tip and one bait cast Quantim.Have gone thru a number of Shimano Spin reels over the yrs. Caught tons of fish with this out of a 12' Sea Nymph and off the bank. Never thought twice about if I needed other set ups for different techniques etc. Retired got the bass boat fishin more and now have two Revo STX two Shimano Symetres a Gloomis,Avid Shimano Crucial crank rod and two Powells. I selected my tackle based on whichever brand I thought would suit my applications . If I needed another all purpose reel Id go with Revo solely because I like them . Thikin maybe getting a Shimano Curado E5 for Crucial crank rod. Reason cuz of the gear ratio and just feels balanced on the rod so not adverse to changing brands.  :-?

[rfrazier]

I have g.loomis, all star, e21, daiwa, airrus, croix rods... As I'm starting to fish more tourneys, I do feel having such a broad range is not ideal. The feel of the rods is all over the place. Considering selling off the majority and going with daiwa/ zillions. But yet again, I don't want to part with my MBR844c GLX.  :-?

Reels, all daiwa except for one Curado E7. Got comfortable with the extremely low weights of the Daiwa LP's.

[Cravin]

RODS = Not brand loyal at all! I have had nice rods I've hated and cheap rods I've loved made by a bunch of different brands and vise-versa.

REELS = I like to try to stick with what I know and like, I have returned a few and also gave some away when I've concluded they weren't what I would consider up to snuff. Nothing like buying a new reel and finding yourself fishing with your old ones. >  

[Red]

i am pretty brand loyal for reels, i have two revo's, one black max, one cardinal 802 and a daiwa.  i plan to replace the daiwa with another abu reel.  i have had good luck with AG and i like their stuff, like somone said, if it aint broke, dont fix it.  

as for rods, mine are all custom, three are on allstar blanks the other is a shikari blank.  i have one more to build and i will buy what i think will work and has the right price tag.

[SWMIBASSER]

My reel brand loyalty stemmed from growing up ONLY Musky fishing. An Abu was simply the only thing that would hold up.

Because of that, up until this year I've only used Abu reels. Revo's were out of my price range, and I've never had a problem with the round reels. So I've been using either 4600c3's or c4's depending on what I'm doing.

I do want a revo, but based on the feel of those vs BPS reels, (also taking into consideration price-obviously) I've decided to go with a few BPS reels. Simply because I want a lower profile/lighter weight for some things.

I'm not brand loyal on rods. Loomis are nice, and they have a good warranty but are overrated IMO. What you gain with a Loomis is availability of a model with a very specific application.

With that said I do have a Loomis rod and plan to pick up the 7'6" Bronzeback spinning rod.

But when simply comparing price, my Rogue, and BPS Johnny Morris ELITE, are just as good if not better and much cheaper. The BPS rod wasn't much cheaper, but it is also comparable to a higher end Loomis than my 6'10" SHR

I've also had a couple Falcon rods, and still have one. For my money they offer the best bang for the buck.

[Calcutta]

I used to be all over the map on all my purchases and still am except for my reels. My shimano calcuttas are barr none, hands down, with out a doubt, the best longest lasting reels made.Period. On my rod prefrences well, Im kinda rough on rods so I dont have many exspensive ones . I do think its hard to beat berkleys lightin rod. Its my favorite.

[Bassn Blvd]

I'm brand loyal to rods and reels.  Shimano and G-Loomis. And that's how it will stay until you can show me something better.  Actually I do have 2 non Shimano reels.  A Daiwa Sol which is the closest reel I have found to be nearly as perfect as Shimano.  The 2nd is a Revo Premier which I will put for sale here in the flea Market after Abu sends the replacement.

I was also brand loyal when I drank beer.  Budweiser...