Mike Ike and his rods

[kikstand454]

im confused at the remark on the ike rod.

my friend got one and put a revo sx on it and its every bit as light... if not lighter... than my compre/kvd rig.  quite honestly if i were going to buy a rod in that price range and didnt care about the shimano warranty....id get an ike. it felt great.

[steezy]

He does get wild and crazy sometimes.

[.ghoti.]

The guy gets paid to win. He'll use whatever he's most comfortable with, and confident in.

He'll promote what he gets paid to promote. What does it matter what he uses at any given time?

You think Donovan McNabb eats Campbell's Chunky Chicken Chokin Soup for every meal?

Besides, ( and I can't be the only one thinking this ) who cares?

[bmadd]

The guy gets paid to win. He'll use whatever he's most comfortable with, and confident in.

He'll promote what he gets paid to promote. What does it matter what he uses at any given time?

You think Donovan McNabb eats Campbell's Chunky Chicken Chokin Soup for every meal?

Besides, ( and I can't be the only one thinking this ) who cares?

Nope, Donovan only eats it when momma makes it for him. Don't you pay attention to the advertisements  :

[steezy]

The guy gets paid to win. He'll use whatever he's most comfortable with, and confident in.

He'll promote what he gets paid to promote. What does it matter what he uses at any given time?

You think Donovan McNabb eats Campbell's Chunky Chicken Chokin Soup for every meal?

Besides, ( and I can't be the only one thinking this ) who cares?

Nope, Donovan only eats it when momma makes it for him. Don't you pay attention to the advertisements :

Whatever he eats I just hope it heals that broken rib so they can beat the snot out of Dallas when they play'em.

[cart7t]

From what I've seen of Ike on TV shows, he's pretty darn rough on equipment. A lot rougher than many others. I'm not sure a Steez rod would last long laying on the deck beneath his feet.

Why do you think a steez rod would not be as durable as any other nice rod that Ike might use ? Not trying to start a debate/fight but just curious?

Im pretty hard on mine and they seem to be very durable.

Speedbead answered correctly.  While Ike does get his equipment for free,  I still can't imagine there isn't a little bit of respect given the cost of the rods in question.  

[ArcticCat500]

I actually can't verify that his rods are or are not what you can buy off the rack. But there are companies that have completely different rods going to pros and the only similarities are the decals and color schemes. (to make them appear stock)

And some others are customs with only a brand logo on them... that are referred to as "prototypes."

This is the answer your looking for here. The PGA has done it for years,  your not going to Dicks Sporting Goods or the Golfers Warehouse and pic up the same set of irons that Tiger swings every week. They may say Nike on them, but they arnt his.

[Bassnajr]

Light and Tough are Ike's work horse rods....no doubt. Those and the Steez's. KVD does the same "advertising" with his crankin rod. It's a business, don't forget. I am sure they use the rods that have their names on it...and "others".

The rods (reels) with their names on it are mostly meant for "us", not them.

[westpalmfrogpunk]

Fishing is a little different then the PGA ( I am a PGA Professional). Most of the stuff on the PGA tour is custom fitted to the player. Tigers irons are not going to fit most peoples swing speeds and it mostly the shafts that make them not fit the average player . In fishing we could use the same rods and reels as the pros. Advertising is what they are doing. But if its a cranking day KVD has his rods in his hands from what I can see.

[rubba bubba]

But if its a cranking day KVD has his rods in his hands from what I can see.

As Flechero said, it may look like his store rods but it could be something much more custom made to look similar.  We don't know for sure.

[KYntucky Warmouth]

But if its a cranking day KVD has his rods in his hands from what I can see.

As Flechero said, it may look like his store rods but it could be something much more custom made to look similar. We don't know for sure.

KVD has a spinning rod to match his new cranking rods but to my knowledge it's not available to the public

[MarauderYak]

But if its a cranking day KVD has his rods in his hands from what I can see.

As Flechero said, it may look like his store rods but it could be something much more custom made to look similar. We don't know for sure.

KVD has a spinning rod to match his new cranking rods but to my knowledge it's not available to the public

When a pro is fully being utilized (KVD is) they are constantly giving feedback & suggestions for new product & changes to current product.  The manufacturer will take their suggestions & make prototypes for them to test.  These prototypes aren't "souped up" versions of regular productions, they are just different sizes, powers, handles, etc.  This means they aren't coming off a production line, but in the case of rods, they would be made with the same graphite & other components.

The only time I've ever known for sure a pro was using a rod that was radically different than production rods (of the same name) was Boyd & the other very early E21 pros.  That wasn't even intentional.  They made all their early prototypes by hand with a certain process that they were unable to reproduce for mass production.

[Glenn]

Marauder is right.  The pros aren't using any secret, custom equipment or lures, other than prototypes on occasion.  I think that's one of the biggest misconceptions about the pros.

I've had the privilege of being able to look in their boats during the Classic, and it looks just like a club tournament - for the most part, they're all using the same stuff that you'd see on the shelves of your favorite tackle shop.

That's not to say they don't get first crack at the latest equipment or never use prototypes.  They do, but it's minor compared to everything they use.

[KYntucky Warmouth]

But if its a cranking day KVD has his rods in his hands from what I can see.

As Flechero said, it may look like his store rods but it could be something much more custom made to look similar. We don't know for sure.

KVD has a spinning rod to match his new cranking rods but to my knowledge it's not available to the public

When a pro is fully being utilized (KVD is) they are constantly giving feedback & suggestions for new product & changes to current product. The manufacturer will take their suggestions & make prototypes for them to test. These prototypes aren't "souped up" versions of regular productions, they are just different sizes, powers, handles, etc. This means they aren't coming off a production line, but in the case of rods, they would be made with the same graphite & other components.

The only time I've ever known for sure a pro was using a rod that was radically different than production rods (of the same name) was Boyd & the other very early E21 pros. That wasn't even intentional. They made all their early prototypes by hand with a certain process that they were unable to reproduce for mass production.

I would just like to know if they are bringing a spinning rod out, it looks like a nice rod.

[flechero]

some of them are not using what you can buy off the rack...   I wasn't supposing in my previous post.   No clue how widespread it is or is not.  And remember, looks can be deceiving...  Even I can match a factory rod with no trouble.  

[.RM.]

The guy gets paid to win. He'll use whatever he's most comfortable with, and confident in.

He'll promote what he gets paid to promote. What does it matter what he uses at any given time?

You think Donovan McNabb eats Campbell's Chunky Chicken Chokin Soup for every meal?

Besides, ( and I can't be the only one thinking this ) who cares?

.......

[westpalmfrogpunk]

Big Rick here is the KVD spinning rod I think you were looking for

http://www.quantumfishing.com/products/1908/Tour-Kevin-VanDam.aspx

[flechero]

The guy gets paid to win. He'll use whatever he's most comfortable with, and confident in.

He'll promote what he gets paid to promote. What does it matter what he uses at any given time?

You think Donovan McNabb eats Campbell's Chunky Chicken Chokin Soup for every meal?

Besides, ( and I can't be the only one thinking this ) who cares?

.......

Just remember that for every thread on these boards, there is a percentage of the membership that could care less about that particular thread or topic... I'm not sure that voicing a lack of interest in every thread would be a wise use of bandwidth and memory. :-?

[fishn hard]

Ike fished a tournament on Raystown 3 years ago and i took my daughter down to meat Ike.he was very nice to her she was 8 at the time he spent about 15 minuets talking to her about how she liked to catch bass we walked back to my truck to go home and he said hay Shelby you forgot something and he gave her a 6ft6 spinning rod with a team daiwa reel.she was so happy that day and she loves Mr Ike i cant say that they are special built rods but the guy that gave the rod to her makes it the best rod in the world in her eyes

[Simp]

Ike fished a tournament on Raystown 3 years ago and i took my daughter down to meat Ike.he was very nice to her she was 8 at the time he spent about 15 minuets talking to her about how she liked to catch bass we walked back to my truck to go home and he said hay Shelby you forgot something and he gave her a 6ft6 spinning rod with a team daiwa reel.she was so happy that day and she loves Mr Ike i cant say that they are special built rods but the guy that gave the rod to her makes it the best rod in the world in her eyes

No doubt Ikes a stand up guy who is great with kids. He also seems to be a bigger gear hand than many others on tour. Anytime I see him on his show or on the Elite series he seems to have double the rods out then anybody else. He certainly supports his sponsors who support him and we shouldn't hold that against him. It's not like Roland Martin trying to sell us evreything under the sun (sorry Megastrike sponsors). We as anglers should find the right tool for the job. I have no doubt that if the right tool for job is a light a tough rod for IKE instead of one that his name on it. Then he's going to use the right tool. It doesn't mean he doesn't stand behind his products. Just that he's not so egotistical that he has to use only his signature gear. On the other hand as much as I do like about him. He's got to control that anger some. I could care less about him screaming but I didn't like it when he beat the crap out of some nice gear on Guntersville.

[BASS2THEMAX]

It probably fall under they use what they need to get the job done and if ike knows hows a light and tuff rod feels with a certin lure then he is going to use it . with that as busy as he is and with the need to do well in every tournament maybe he hasn't had time to get used to his rods . I remember talking to rick clunn at the empire chase event in new york and he said he still uses mono on his rods because he knows what it will take how it casts and how much stretch he is going to get on a hook set i think it all comes down to comfort and with comfort comes the confidence they need to win tournaments . I don't think ike or kvd or any other pro is out to pull one over on everyday anglers with their signature series rods . Just because they don't use it doesn't mean its a piece of junk .

JUST MY THOUGHTS

[rubba bubba]

Ike fished a tournament on Raystown 3 years ago and i took my daughter down to meat Ike.he was very nice to her she was 8 at the time he spent about 15 minuets talking to her about how she liked to catch bass we walked back to my truck to go home and he said hay Shelby you forgot something and he gave her a 6ft6 spinning rod with a team daiwa reel.she was so happy that day and she loves Mr Ike i cant say that they are special built rods but the guy that gave the rod to her makes it the best rod in the world in her eyes

What a great story and what a toad she caught in your avatar!!

Roland pushes his gear a bit much, but Shaw Grigsby is the worst.  I can't even watch his show; the pimping is unbearable.

[TheHammer84]

Looked like he had all Steez's on deck during the AOY finale on ESPN2 this weekend.

[catchbig0bass]

Looked like he had all Steez's on deck during the AOY finale on ESPN2 this weekend.

What did he place over the weekend. I know KVD was in 1st with skeet and Ike tied for 2nd. Did he beat skeet?

[TheHammer84]

he placed 4th, skeet placed 6th