Rods. It doesn't matter.

[Stores]

Thanks Ross on a very interesting thread. Whilst I would be the first to admit that I know nothing about modern rods I was interested in the golf analogy, having played for a number of years and this may include something not previously mentioned.

Top of the range golf clubs tend to be blades. Without being technical they are more expensive but also more difficult to be consistent with. The sweet spot on them is smaller. Middle of the range clubs are cavity backed with a bigger sweet spot, and are more forgiving if you hit a poor shot. The professionals and low handicappers use blades as their techniques are so consistently good. Club golfers tend to use cavity backed. Is this the same with rods? Are the tournament rods and the top of the range rods simply too difficult for the middle of the road angler to handle and they show up poor technique?

Then add in the fact that most middle of the road anglers fish in spots where you don't need extremes of techniques (a bit like me not having to play at Augusta every day) and you get a balance of need against cost.

If you think I'm talking tosh put it down to having got, almost, to 60 without ever buying a rod or a reel lol.

[RossW]

I don't think that's tosh at all, Mr Storey. Good point. Your book was one of the things that cured me of "cast-itus" - thinking that a big whack to the horizon would mean more fish, by the way. Great read that.
Maybe, if you've got the technique and the conditions, then an amazing rod will get you to the fish but so often, it seems to me, it's just not like that on NE coast. I'm no expert, like!

[hound hunter]

Intresting post that stores,I was simply refering to golf as an example of another sport where ppl like to buy expensive gear,I know lads that spend 1000's on mountain biking,shooting etc.Buy the way didn't understand a lot of the explanation on the golf scene lol

[Dilbertd]

I use the best gear money could buy ... in the late 70s . I have a collection of the classic ABU 484 derivatives. They were the best rods in their day and the first to cast 222 yards. Still great to fish with today capable of 100 yard casts with bait from a simple overhead lob with great bite detection, and they can be picked up around 40 quid on EBay. They don't get the distances that modern carbon gear does but do everything else with better bite detection in my opinion.