If anyone reading this is a pro staff member for a rod/reel, bait or line manufacturer, I have a question:

Do you only use that companies equipment, or do you have other brands in you arsenal?

For example, if you are a pro staffer for "Brand A" rods, do you ever use or more importantly purchase another brand's rods ever? Is that frowned upon?

Follow-up question:

What if the competitor rod you buy is your sponsor's biggest competitor, and you buy it to use and analyze the differences to help you compare to two? Is it less frowned upon then?

Thanks all! Can't wait to hear the responses!

I am sponsored by a rod company, I use only that company's rods. I am a pro staffer with them because I like them. Discounted or not, it wouldnt serve any purpose otherwise. Same goes with reels, sunglasses, outdoor clothing.

Baits are a little different, I have a couple tackle sponsors, one, for example is a tube company. I only use said company's tubes. Not to say I don't get other plastics elsewhere, I just don't bite the hand that feeds me. Not that I would anyway, in my opinion, best tubes on the market.

I have rods from just about every company under the sun. I did find one brand that stuck out to me and I feel in love with them! This brand had no dealers within 150 miles of me, so I contacted the company about the possibilities of hooking up with a dealer here in central LA. Well, to make a long story short, I was put on their "pro staff". I get a small dicount off of their rods, which are my favorite, but they knew going into it that I had a ton of different brands and I dont think that they expected me to throw all my rods away and purchase 20 rods from them for the small discount they gave me. Matter of fact, I have been on "pro staff" for about a month and a half and have not ordered one rod because I just dont need another right now. My purpose of getting on the pro staff wasnt for the perks, but was to try and find a dealer in the area to start carrying them.

So my answer is, no, I dont think its a big deal to use other brands. Now obviously when I look into a new rod, this company is going to get my business, but they may have to wait until Christmas.