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Opinions please - fly fishing outfits


Newt

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Yup. This is a UK forum and almost all the members are UK based. Most of the others are ex-pats.

 

I think right now there are only about 5 of us who are active and not UK or ex-pats with lots of years in the UK.

" My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!" - Harry Truman, 33rd US President

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Newt

One range of American rods which are not as well known or popular here as they should be is St Croix. Fantastic quality without the ridiculous price tag.

TBH the Chinese / Korean makers have saturated the lower end market and you just can't compete with them. St Croix have a growing reputation in the mid to high end market. A lot of serious fly anglers are looking to import them from the States themselves, but many are reluctant to do so. A couple were sold on a fly fishing forum recently and attracted a lot of interest, selling very quickly.

As a guide there is a guy selling the Avid range on Ebay UK for £199.00 plus £7.50 postage. I don't know what you could get them for but might be worth a punt.

They also do cheap starter kits but IMO you are better off with the higher quality.

The other thing is the length. Under 9' is considered short in the UK, most folk opting for 9' 6" as an all round rod and up to 10' 6" for a boat fishing rod.

Edited by Sportsman

Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be.

 

 

Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity

 

 

 

http://www.safetypublishing.co.uk/
http://www.safetypublishing.ie/

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One range of American rods which are not as well known or popular here as they should be is St Croix.

Funnily enough, I was going to mention St Croix as one of the US brands I think people would be keen to see more of over here.

 

The other thing is the length. Under 9' is considered short in the UK, most folk opting for 9' 6" as an all round rod and up to 10' 6" for a boat fishing rod.

I don't know whether you meant that as a warning not to try and sell short rods to the UK, or were pointing out just how hard it can be to find shorter rods! I was looking for something 7' or less last year and the choice was pretty much between a £15 Shakey and a £200 Orvis, with next to nothing in-between. Maybe most people in the UK fish stillwaters where a rod that small probably wouldn't be that much use, but I suspect there's still a substantial minority who fish overgrown rivers and streams for small brownies, who'd appreciate a bit more choice. Well, I would anyway!

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Funnily enough, I was going to mention St Croix as one of the US brands I think people would be keen to see more of over here.

 

 

I don't know whether you meant that as a warning not to try and sell short rods to the UK, or were pointing out just how hard it can be to find shorter rods! I was looking for something 7' or less last year and the choice was pretty much between a £15 Shakey and a £200 Orvis, with next to nothing in-between. Maybe most people in the UK fish stillwaters where a rod that small probably wouldn't be that much use, but I suspect there's still a substantial minority who fish overgrown rivers and streams for small brownies, who'd appreciate a bit more choice. Well, I would anyway!

 

 

I agree Yorkio. I was thinking of the mainstream anglers.

Most anglers keen enough to want a very short rod for specialist purposes are more likely to spend a bit more for quality

 

So did you get yourself a short rod?

I built myself a 7' 6" 3wt on a St Croix SCIII blank and it is a lovely little rod. It works too, I caught a 16lb rainbow on it from a float tube :)

Edited by Sportsman

Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be.

 

 

Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity

 

 

 

http://www.safetypublishing.co.uk/
http://www.safetypublishing.ie/

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So did you get yourself a short rod?

I built myself a 7' 6" 3wt on a St Croix SCIII blank and it is a lovely little rod. It works too, I caught a 16lb rainbow on it from a float tube :)

 

I got an Orvis Clearwater 6' 6" 4wt in the end, but I picked it up in the sale so it sort of ended up sort of mid-priced. Funnily enough, I've just been out using it this afternoon!

 

Did you get that St Croix blank over here or did you order it from the States?

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I buy all of my fly rod blanks from the States. never had a problem either with quality or delivery. I have a St Croix 10' SC IV for a 6wt waiting to be made up. That will make a fabulous rod when I get around to it.

These days I like to build on split cane. I have a one piece 6' 6" for a 4 wt built on a Chapmans blank. I love the lazy action and it has landed several double figure trout.

Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be.

 

 

Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity

 

 

 

http://www.safetypublishing.co.uk/
http://www.safetypublishing.ie/

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Funnily enough, I was going to mention St Croix as one of the US brands I think people would be keen to see more of over here.

I just checked ebay for the past 90 days. 1 new St. Croix fly rod sold at about $70 below the best US retail price I could find online and about $100 below the average price. Several excellent condition used ones also sold but for very little money.

 

The rest never reached their reserve price - whatever that was - and the bidding ended fairly low.

 

There certainly could come a time when they were worth selling but now is not it unless you have a really cheap source and I don't sell enough volume of tackle to get the huge discounts.

" My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!" - Harry Truman, 33rd US President

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Yes UK based Newt I am also in the UK

 

Good luck

 

Dave

 

HI NEWT..Get some Loomis Rods on at the right price...otherwise its hard work,we have shops selling rods at £10 and they are good stuff,so trying to sell is hard work..I make my own range of Rigs for beach or boat but you will all ways get some one come in cheaper...over at the mo there is big shops/site selling stuff for peanuts,so how does the small man do..cheers Graham

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