https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/07/09/1880298/0/en/RAPALA-VMC-CORPORATION-RAPALA-ACQUIRES-49-OF-DQC-INTERNATIONAL-CORP-OWNER-OF-13-FISHING-ROD-AND-REEL-BRAND-INVESTS-IN-THE-COMPANY-AND-CONCLUDES-A-PERPETUAL-WORLDWIDE-LICENCE-AND-EX.html

Whoa. Also, why isn't 13 bleeped out anymore? 

They haven't been bleeped out in months.

That's weird. If Rapala was going to buy into a rod/reel company you think they would have gone for Favorite

Sounds like a beneficial agreement for both companies. Rapala group gets more softbaits and adds quality rods and reels to their hardbaits, softbaits, fishing line, etc. And 13 Fishing gets more help with marketing and distribution of its products.

I noticed 13 Fishing has been trying to break into the high end rod market. I think it's going to take more than a few slick social media campaigns to convince anyone to drop $300+ on one of their rods.

7 minutes ago, The Maestro said:

I noticed 13 Fishing has been trying to break into the high end rod market. I think it's going to take more than a few slick social media campaigns to convince anyone to drop $300+ on one of their rods.

id buy a $300 13 fishing rod over a $300 favorite rod any day. at least they have that going for them haha

6 minutes ago, EWREX said:

id buy a $300 13 fishing rod over a $300 favorite rod any day. at least they have that going for them haha

For $300, Megabass Orochi all day!

12 minutes ago, EWREX said:

id buy a $300 13 fishing rod over a $300 favorite rod any day. at least they have that going for them haha

I saw on TW that they've released a $450 rod. Who's buying these rods with so many options from established brands?  Their gimmicky marketing seems to be aimed at a younger demographic who typically don't have that kind of money to spend on just a rod.

I don't know who would spend that kind of money on a rod unless it's your livelihood, but that's even debatable. Shoot,  Brent Chapman is fishing with Kastking now.

2 minutes ago, boostr said:

Shoot,  Brent Chapman is fishing with Kastking now.

Fishing with KastKing is his livelihood.  He gets paid for it.

1 hour ago, Junger said:

For $300, Megabass Orochi all day!

I read they are coming out with a new frog rod guaranteed to improve hook up ratio...

1 hour ago, Junger said:

For $300, Megabass Orochi all day!

I have a three of the new $350 envy black 2s that I think are nice. 

39 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Fishing with KastKing is his livelihood.  He gets paid for it.

Obviously yeah, but they're not known for $400 fishing rods. What I'm trying to get at is I'm pretty sure Brent Chapman will do just as good with Kastking brand rods as if he would with GLoomis brand rods.

I wanna say that 13 already tried to sell a $600 range rod a few years ago, *** maybe?

1 minute ago, fishwizzard said:

I wanna say that 13 already tried to sell a $600 range rod a few years ago, *** maybe?

Hah, that must be it as it’s still on the naughty list.  

2 hours ago, boostr said:

Obviously yeah, but they're not known for $400 fishing rods. What I'm trying to get at is I'm pretty sure Brent Chapman will do just as good with Kastking brand rods as if he would with GLoomis brand rods.

Probably.  My point is that he'll figure out how to make them work, while putting money in the bank, rather than spend $400 on a high end rod.  I think in some cases, the highest bidder gets the sponsorship deal.  In other cases, they are already using the gear, and it was a natural fit.  I couldn't say about that specific case.  In our case, it's a mix.  I probably wouldn't have tried the KastKing gear on my own.  I like the reels pretty well, and they perform great at great price.  I already love and use Siebert, Ragetail, Seaguar, Plano, Yum, etc, so they're a natural fit.  AT any rate, these hyper exotic rods in those price points aren't really for professionals.  They're for gear enthusiasts with the means to afford them.  I think that's cool, too.  I in fact just bought a JDM Zillion that 40+ IPT for a premium.  I didn't need it, but I had to have it.  It cost me.  Now, if I could just convince someone to pay me to fish it!

Promotional bass fishing.

Tom

I have half a dozen 13 rods at various price points and they have all outfished their price tag.  Love me some Rapala also!

52 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Probably.  My point is that he'll figure out how to make them work, while putting money in the bank, rather than spend $400 on a high end rod.  I think in some cases, the highest bidder gets the sponsorship deal.  In other cases, they are already using the gear, and it was a natural fit.  I couldn't say about that specific case.  In our case, it's a mix.  I probably wouldn't have tried the KastKing gear on my own.  I like the reels pretty well, and they perform great at great price.  I already love and use Siebert, Ragetail, Seaguar, Plano, Yum, etc, so they're a natural fit.  AT any rate, these hyper exotic rods in those price points aren't really for professionals.  They're for gear enthusiasts with the means to afford them.  I think that's cool, too.  I in fact just bought a JDM Zillion that 40+ IPT for a premium.  I didn't need it, but I had to have it.  It cost me.  Now, if I could just convince someone to pay me to fish it!

LOL. When we were fishing tournaments, one guy on our team was in charge of coordinating sponsorships and endorsements. We'd usually get together a few weeks before the first event, and he'd have the uniforms, rods, reels, tackle that we'd be using for the season. The mantra was then "XXX is the best XXX on the market". In the case where the rods didn't work for me, and we were going to have cameras or folks in the boat, I'd just have some of mine redone with the sponsors graphics.

5 hours ago, Junger said:

For $300, Megabass Orochi all day!

as would i lol, i was just comparing those two as new age brands that haven't totally established themselves