Edwin Evers???

[Captain Obvious]

Does he really use BPS Pro qualifier rods or is that just marketing???

[KYntucky Warmouth]

For the most part, yes he does.  He also uses some Johnny Morris rods and reels for specific purposes.  Being a Pro Qualifier owner, I would have no problem fishing them exclusively.

[Big Tom]

As far as I can tell he really uses them.

Pro Qualifiers are extremely underrated rods.  I have a 6'6" medium and its really tough, pretty light, and very sensitive.

[Rob G.]

Sorry to deviate a bit, I do not know about Edwin Evers but Rick Clunn really does use his line of stuff.  Sounds like he uses basically the same reel and rod for most  every technique too.  I am sure there are exceptions.

[MarauderYak]

Sorry to deviate a bit, I do not know about Edwin Evers but Rick Clunn really does use his line of stuff. Sounds like he uses basically the same reel and rod for most every technique too. I am sure there are exceptions.

I would say every pro uses the rod/reel brand they are sponsered by.  Edwin is sponsered by BPS for both rods & reels, so that's what he'll always use in any tournament.

Rick Clunn on the other hand actually has his own line of both rods & reels that BPS makes.  He is involved in every detail of their design from specifications down to cosmetics.

[shootermcbob]

I emailed Edwin Evers personally this past summer and he stated that he uses the pro qualifier reels and rods. In answer to my question, right off the shelf, same as you and I would buy. He also uses one of the Rick Clunn rods for cranking. Very nice, personable, answered my email promptly and seemed genuinely glad to do it. I root for him on the Elite tour.

[Stasher1]

If you watched any of the coverage of the '09 Bassmaster Classic you would've seen Edwin Evers using PQ rods and reels...and doing quite well with them, I might add. There were even a few closeups of his PQ combos sitting on the deck.

[flechero]

I hope he does since he responded to your email, but even if he doesn't, what would he say... "no, I use something else" and lose his sponsorship?

I would say every pro uses the rod/reel brand they are sponsered by.

That's simply not true. It's been covered many times before... a percentage of the pro's use custom rods (with the factory decals and thread colors) built to match the factory rod. I can build a factory duplicate... good enough that you couldn't tell them apart if I mixed them up. Just about any rod can duplicated easily if the builder knows what he's doing.

Some reels are "super tuned" before being shipped to them. Others are upgraded to the max internally. The list goes on and on. Unquestionably, some guys use the exact product that we can buy but quite often, the looks are the only things that are the same.

[Tin]

He also uses "The Flipstah" if I remember correctly...

[MarauderYak]

I hope he does since he responded to your email, but even if he doesn't, what would he say... "no, I use something else" and lose his sponsorship?

I would say every pro uses the rod/reel brand they are sponsered by.

That's simply not true. It's been covered many times before... a percentage of the pro's use custom rods (with the factory decals and thread colors) built to match the factory rod. I can build a factory duplicate... good enough that you couldn't tell them apart if I mixed them up. Just about any rod can duplicated easily if the builder knows what he's doing.

Some reels are "super tuned" before being shipped to them. Others are upgraded to the max internally. The list goes on and on. Unquestionably, some guys use the exact product that we can buy but quite often, the looks are the only things that are the same.

That's the danger of using words like "always" or "every".  Have there been "upper level" pros that are known to have done these things?  Do you have any links?  I'm not doubting it's happened, but I don't remember seeing it anywhere.

For the pros I know....  they will often use prototypes & sometimes have their sponser change a rod handle (or something similar) for them, but there's no way they would take a completely different product & put their sponser's logo on it.

[mferris]

i met edwin acouple weeks ago,very nice guy,i hope he has a good year...i joked with him about the flipstah commercial....he said bps never sent him one!!!!!!!/also i have seen him on classic patterns and i think he was using pflueger rod and reel...

[curiousangler]

I got to fish with  Edwin awhile back , and I got to check out all his gear he used the pq and a couple of jm rods and reels I asked him why he told me that they had a little different action that the pq didnt have yet , but since then I am willing to bet that has changed , and the other jm spinningr rod he had he borrowed from a friend just to have another in the boat . He is a real nice guy when we were shakey head fishing and I wasn't catching any he offered his rods reels and everything else in the boat to help me get on fish.

[flechero]

That's the danger of using words like "always" or "every". Have there been "upper level" pros that are known to have done these things? Do you have any links? I'm not doubting it's happened, but I don't remember seeing it anywhere.

For the pros I know.... they will often use prototypes & sometimes have their sponser change a rod handle (or something similar) for them, but there's no way they would take a completely different product & put their sponser's logo on it.

For obvious reasons, there are no links.

I have talked with techs from Abu Garcia and been told straight up that a number of guys get the above mentioned work done to reels. Others have posted here with similar info on other brands.

I've seen first hand the rodbuilding room at one of the factories, where the sponsored angler's rods are assembled and it's not the same place or people as the "factory rods" we buy. Through the rodbuilding forums, a number of very credible guys (some who wrap for the US manufacturers) have also mentioned these things.

There are just not that many products that any professional athelete uses that are stock merchandise. Pick your sport or activity. Even stock components that are custom built are not what's available to the public... I don't think that the totally different stuff with "factory" markings is a widespread thing though.

[Captain Obvious]

Thanks guys, the reason I asked is because I'm about to start fishing in tournaments, and I wanted to make sure that I'm using good equipment, I owned a BPS PQ rod and reel and they where great. And if there good enough for Evers then there good enough for me.  

Time to go buy them now

[DeepStructure]

I have talked with techs from Abu Garcia and been told straight up that a number of guys get the above mentioned work done to reels. Others have posted here with similar info on other brands.

I've seen first hand the rodbuilding room at one of the factories, where the sponsored angler's rods are assembled and it's not the same place or people as the "factory rods" we buy. Through the rodbuilding forums, a number of very credible guys (some who wrap for the US manufacturers) have also mentioned these things.

How much do you think a rod from that rodbuilding room costs versus an assembly line factory rod?   Would everyday anglers even be able to request one, or is it a pros-only thing?

[cueball]

Quantum has some super tuned pro rods on their website.

Quantum PT Custom Shop

[flechero]

How much do you think a rod from that rodbuilding room costs versus an assembly line factory rod? Would everyday anglers even be able to request one, or is it a pros-only thing?

Well, you couldn't actually order one from them... but have any rod custom built and that's what it would cost, if you could.  Custom rod costs are pretty variable...  $200-$800 depending on a bunch of things.