I know that as time goes on different brands come along and some that are way ahead fall behind and others come to the front. but I really want to be brand specific with my reels and my rods.. for reels that has not seemed difficult as I have loved lews and find no other needs than what they provide.. but for rods.. not the same luck

 

Currently, I use skeet reese rods for moving bait because they are cheap (I get the 39.99) and suck at sensitivity. ( I will eventually phase them out I think)

 

Second I have 1 Duckett rod.. that I absolutely love for bottom contact and sensitivity. My two dislikes are (weak guides) and (long handle for frogging)

 

so

 

My newest edition is a *** *** 7'3mH for frogging.. I love the short handle (grip takes getting used to) and (sensitivity for bottom contact was good but not duckett) 

 

I think at this point I would eventually do either all *** or all duckett.. (leaning to duckett) but that will take awhile due to price..

 

anyways.. do you guys have this desire?.. or do any of you actually stay brand specific?.. I just didnt know if this was realistic.

 

Thanks

No! My rods and reels are application specific selected by performance, warranty and customer servive.

I use Ardent, Daiwa and Shimano reels. Lamiglas, Loomis and ALX rods.

I believe Dobyn's has a good line of rods today, with both excellent warranty and customer service. St. Croix gets a lot of support on the site for the same reasons.

Tom

I do but its very hard. i have a 13 ***, 3 Dobyns Champion Extreme, 2 Omens, a Shimano Crucial, and a Okuma Helios but i also want to try the new Powell TiMax

 

its hard to be brand specific when all the rods are good!  If i had the money to go brand specific, i would in a heartbeat.  

 

Reels I'm brand specific to, i love me some Lews

Yep, same "problem". All Shimano reels and each reel is on a different brand of rod. After acquiring a Savvy, I have a desire to go all-Dobyns, but then I couldn't have Cumaras, LTB's, or ***'s. 

I agree with WRB in the fact that I like my outfits to be application specific so I pursue rods, reels, and lines that offer the greatest performance for what I am willing to spend on them. Most of what I own is very technique specific. My reels are all shimano, Daiwa, with some JDM shimano and Daiwa reels in the mix as well. Also have a few BPS, okuma, and Lews that are in the rotation. Rods are more varying... Loomis, Dobyns, BPS, Phenix, Megabass, Shimano, Powell, Fenwick and Daiwa.

For reels I've pretty much settled down on Shimanos and Daiwas... As for rods I'm all over the place. I have loomis, phenix, shimano, daiwa, and will have a megabass in a few weeks.

I do but its very hard. i have a 13 ***, 3 Dobyns Champion Extreme, 2 Omens, a Shimano Crucial, and a Okuma Helios but i also want to try the new Powell TiMax

 

its hard to be brand specific when all the rods are good!  If i had the money to go brand specific, i would in a heartbeat.  

 

Reels I'm brand specific to, i love me some Lews

Have you ever used Duckett? for comparison to the dobyns stuff and the ***??

 Do you think the *** is better than Champs and Champ Extremes.. I have heard someone say they were...

Right now im completely shimano for reels, and thats what i prefer. But im always considering throwing in another daiwa or even a megabass reel.

 

When it comes to rods, my collection is 90% shimano, with one fenwick and i just recently picked up a dobyns extreme.

 

In the past ive tried dobyns, st croix, phenix, Abu, kistler, and powell. For now im sticking with Shimano, Dobyns, and i hope to try out a megabass rod in the future...

 

If it came down to it though, i would be more then happy to be 100% Shimano for rods & reels.

I feel like I am on board with what most guys are saying. I have reel loyalty, and rod loyalty to St. Croix, but how can you have true loyalty to a company if you don't try what everyone else has to offer. If you never go out and "test the waters" you'll never know. 

Not I, I like variety as long as the product and customer service is reputable. I may not be happy with all purchases but Im happy with most of the products I have from various brands.

No desire whatever.  Too many good rods and reels out there to limit yourself to one brand.  I've got reels from Abu, BPS, Lews, Pflueger, Shimano and Daiwa.  Rods from Airrus, Daiwa, Abu, Falcon, Shimano, Field & Stream, Berkley, Quantum, Fenwick and a couple custom made.

I am reel specific - Abu Garcia

but not rod specfic

I have Dobyns, Kistler, Abu Garcia

Right tool for the right job is what's important.  IF you can find the right tools from one/two companies then that's great.  For myself I am a Daiwa/Shimano Reel guy.  I have and regularly use rods from Phenix, Shimano, Daiwa, Lamiglas, BPS, St. Croix, and Powell.

The only reels I refuse to use are gen 3 revos. Other than that I have reels from Shimano, Lews, Daiwa, Ardent, and a couple others. Rods- almost entirely Loomis/Shimano. There are exceptions, but very few. Of those, the vast majority are Dobyns and a couple ***, with the oddball Megabass and evergreen thrown in.

Star and Hurricane Redbone are the majority of my line up, both are over the counter warranty, which I have never had to use.

Probably list them this way, my 2 cabos at the top of the list, then my 4 abu sorons, 5 pfluegers, 1 Daiwa tierra, 2 stradics, 2 spheros and Penn conquer bringing up the rear.  None of them are bad.

Have you ever used Duckett? for comparison to the dobyns stuff and the ***??

 Do you think the *** is better than Champs and Champ Extremes.. I have heard someone say they were...

 never used a duckett, the *** is pretty much the same as dobyns as far as sensitivty and weight and balance. very similar to dobyns champ 744

Its very hard to be brand specific . I am in the automotive industry my tool box is full of snap on , matco , mac tools. Every tool has a certain job as your fishing equipment should be . Certain brands offer higher quality products than others . For me I have been a zoom plastics guy since. I was knee high to a grass hopper . Within saying that yum , berkley and other brands are now taking up residence in my box for one reason they work . A good fisherman will have a variety of baits and equipment. Thats not to say you have to shell out big bucks , to offer for a greater chance of success . Hope that helps anyways.