Different Brand Or Sticking With What You Know, Suggestions? 2025

Superdumper reply :

I have three combos i use, all different rods and reels. I am looking into a new combo.

Would you suggest trying new brands/models or sticking to which ever is my favorite of the ones i have?

Im not looking for rod/reel suggestions just your thoughts on whether trying a bunch then picking ur fav brand is worth it. Or just sticking to what you already have experience with. Keep in mind for me its only been 3 quality combos

Just looking for your thoughts or past experiences

Thanks

PourMyOwn reply :

My reels annually go on a different rod, with only two exceptions-reels I prefer to crank with. I have five or six brands represented in my "aresenal." A couple of Johnny Morris, Pflueger, Daiwa, Abu, Quantum, Shimano...I like the variety.

QUAKEnSHAKE reply :

I like variety. If any brand has what Im looking for in that product I'll try it. Ive bought 9 different brands of rods/reels and 6 lines the past 2 years.

new2BC4bass reply :

Some people like to stick with one brand so that they know what to expect when they pick up another rod or reel. They want the feel to be the same. Personally I like trying different gear. Switching between different rods and reels doesn't bother me. Sure it may take a cast of two to get in sync. Going from a long handle to a short one takes a grab or two before it becomes automatic. I don't fish for money so it's no problem if I lose 2 seconds adjusting my grip on the end of the handle for a couple casts. New reels get tested and set up. After that it is a simple matter of tightening the drag and start casting.

You may find another rod or reel that you like better than your current favorites. Or ones that work equally as well but at a better price.

I don't really know what to say about past experiences. I usually buy sight unseen...other than posted pictures. I have bought before without those. Only been disappointed with two rods. Didn't like one upon taking it out of the tube. Fishing it didn't change my mind. The other fishes okay, but looks like it survived the Civil War. On the other hand I bought a Redbone at the suggestion of a forum member, and was very pleased with it. Purchased some Fenwicks at the suggestion of another member, and have been extremely pleased with them.

I like buying used...especially reels...because I save a lot. I'd read good things about the older gold colored Carbonlites, so when a pair came up for sale as a package deal, I bought them. Very good reels that handle lures such as a #5 Shad Rap really well. Had wanted to try some small round reels, and had the opportunity to buy a package deal of 3 Black Max 1600s. Got to be one of my best buys. People seldom give a second thought to Pinnacle, but my Primmus quickly became one of my favorite reels.

I wouldn't have discovered any of this if I had stuck with one brand of rods and one brand of reels.

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

Experimenting with tackle and techniques can be half the fun. It really just depends where you're at any given moment.

Jrob78 reply :

When you're starting out I think it's good to try different things. How are you really going to know what you like if you don't try different brands?

kickerfish1 reply :

It is hard to establish a personal preference unless you have fished multiple brands and styles. There are far less reel companies than rod companies. I have found that over many years of trying dozens of rods and reels I have came to the conclusion that there are many companies that make a rod that fits my needs but only 2 reel manufactures that do.

flyfisher reply :

i have 4 different rod brands represented in my 7 combos and 2 different reels but only one is different than the others. When i find something i like, I prefer to keep using that until i find a reason to switch as far as reels go. For rods, i am much more inclined to try something new as the differences between various manufacturers can make them more suitable for different presentations even if they are the sam power and action as others. I have 2 MHF rods that are more in the M range so i use them with different techniques than I would my other MHF rods. One thing I do try and do is get a new to me brand used so the expense isn't as high should i not like the rod.

tomustang reply :

On 10/16/2015 at 6:43 AM, Superdumper said:
Would you suggest trying new brands/models or sticking to which ever is my favorite of the ones i have?

I think having only 3 combos and choosing your favorite out of the 3 is limiting your options. There's a lot of brands out there that offer variety.

68camaro reply :

I have three rod set-up as well, rods are all different manufacturers but reels are all same except for gearing. I like trying different manufacturers on rods but for reel I am keeping the same maker. I think this will help me understand the brakes and nuances better plus make repairs easier.

My two cents

buzzed bait reply :

I have a variety of rods and reels. Lew's, shimano, daiwa, pflueger, ***, st croix, berkley, dobyns.

bigbill reply :

I have a variety of different setups from the trigger casting rods, with Shakespeare reels to some newer setups.

The same with spinning setups. I change constantly.

Right now it's LEWS rods, no8 tackle rods. Us reels, fin-nor, OKUMA reels. This is probably my last go around with fishing equipment.

EvanT123 reply :

I like to keep it simple. Give me cork on a rod and a metal framed reel. If a company can meet those two requirements; they have my interest and maybe a few of my dollars.

Missourifishin reply :

If you really love 1 of the 3 brands of reels you have, or 1 of the 3 brands of rods you have, then I wouldn't blame you for looking to those brands first next time you shop for gear. On the other hand, if you try different things you could possibly find one you like more. I've done a mix of buying brands I already enjoy and trying new things. For example, I really liked my first Lews baitcaster, so I bought a second. I really liked my first St Croix rod, so I bought a second. Several other companies are represented in my arsenal though. My last reel purchase was a Pleuger baitcaster. I had only used their spinning reels previously. But I'm glad I tried something new, and it's very smooth.

d-camarena reply :

For reels i like to have variety. But for rods i awalys buy the same brand. That way i have all my techniques covered because some companies see power and action differently than others. For example my falcon MH feels more like a medium compares to my shimano MH. I bought a falcon medium heavy and a shimano medium. They ended up being pretty much the same.

bowhunter63 reply :

I use 3 brands mostly ABU,Lews and H20

UKCATSBASSER reply :

When I got back into fishing I had a wide variety to see what I wanted etc. at one time had lews, pfluger, Abu and Shimano reels. Had duckett, st. Croix, Abu, g Loomis and daiwa rods.

Now I'm down to all Shimano reels, 6 g Loomis Rod a daiwa and a st Croix lol

gulfcaptain reply :

Most of my rods are ***, Quantum, and Falcon with a couple BPS rods mixed in. Reels, 13 Fishiing, Quantum, and a couple Johnny Morris Carbonlites. But that has been through trying out a few different companies, but those are ones I like the most and decided to stick with.

Jaw1 reply :

Starting out with limited gear I also suggest you try different manufacturers of rods and reels. My opinion is once you really feel what is right for you in both you will gravitate towards a certain manufacturer of both. I have owned gloomis, st croix, duckett, shimano, diawa phluegar, lews you name it but it takes trying out different ones to know which certain one is best for you. That being said it's still hard to narrow it down to just one. I haven't done it yet so good luck

Molay1292 reply :

In my experience all paths lead to Daiwa or Shimano for reels. Rods are much different.

Jrob78 reply :

On 10/18/2015 at 8:07 AM, Molay1292 said:
In my experience all paths lead to Daiwa or Shimano for reels. Rods are much different.

This is my experience as well. It did take eliminating those other reel brands to get here though.

Dwight Hottle reply :

I have tried probably six different manufactures of rods but have mostly two favorites. Once you find a rod manufacture that you really like and if they have an extensive lineup I would stick with one. That way once you find what you like you can get the same rod in a better blank as you progress. I'm talking about rod manufactures that have an extensive lineup from $100 to $400 or $500.

blckshirt98 reply :

When I started buying rods and reels I usually bought what was on sale/clearance. I've read some pros recommend trying to stick to the same brand of rod or reel since each manufacturer has different actions/mechanics/feel etc.

Big Bait Fishing reply :

for me it's all about finding a a company with great products and great customer service ! i switched from Abu Garcia reels ( still have them and use them on other rods that i use once in awhile) to Lew's reels . daiwa reels never once considered . shimano's customer service made me never want to own anything they sell . as far as rods - it's all about what companies sells blanks , as i will never buy a factory rod ! Phenix and St. Croix are the only 2 blank manufactures i will ever buy as their blanks are fantastic with fantastic customer service !!!

HoosierHawgs reply :

Find something you like, stick to it. Build a relationship with those few brands. For me that's Lew's, 13, and BPS. It makes things simpler and enjoyable.

Raul reply :

You´ll never know until you try.

My first "good" gear was Silstar ( rods and reel ); one day I tried something different and for years I was a Berkley rods ( Lightning, Bionix, Series One ) + Abu reels customer ( XLT Plus, Cardinal, Black Max ), one day I purchased a Torno and that was the day I no longer purchased Abu; I tried Shimano ( reels and rods ), Daiwa ( reels ) and GLoomis and that´s where I´m at. I´m not going to say that I won´t purchase something different again, actually I did, I tried Olympic/GraphiteLeader, Kistler and St.Croix, the only one I´ve kept from those was Graphite/Leader.

The only problem about trying something else is that you may end up with something you don´t like.

Missourifishin reply :

On 10/20/2015 at 12:13 AM, Raul said:

You´ll never know until you try.

The only problem about trying something else is that you may end up with something you don´t like

.These 2 sentences basically sum it up the whole topic in my opinion. You can play it safe and buy something you know you like. Or you can gamble on something new. Gambling on something new could be a letdown or you could find something you like better. The choice is yours.

5fishlimit reply :

If you are able to do so I would suggest you try out the demo program through TW. It helped me make some decisions that lead to more satisfaction than disappointments.

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Different Brand Or Sticking With What You Know, Suggestions? 2025

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