Hey Gents,
I just got back from a surf fishing trip to Mexico. I was looking on Ali-express for some cheap jigs as the locals did even better than I did with those vs the more expensive ones I was using. I don't think the jig itself was a difference maker, but I had two bad premade leaders, one FG knot let go after I got frustrated with the leaders, and three jigs lost to the auto bail on my reel when I was shooting for max casting distance. I'd rather lose a $2 jig than a $10 one.
I was poking around a "store" on there looking to get enough for my free shipping limit and ran across budget two piece and three piece popping rods made by "Hunt House". They seem to be relatively new products, I couldn't find much for reviews, but they're about 1/3 of the price of a Shimano Grappler and they claim to have all Fuji Hardware. I pulled the trigger on the 3 piece 2.5m rod. They had a 2.7 m rod as well, but it had the same specs and number of guides so I figured the 2.5 m would be a bit more durable. They also had a 2.3 m option with one less guide.
I'm not sure I'd trust one for a expensive once in a lifetime trip, but as a backup rod or a budget option to take along on a non-fishing centered vacation, I thought it was worth a look. In Mexico I was talking to the owner of a well known brand down there. He said margins on fishing rods are ridiculous high, especially coming from China. You can get a lot of rod for not a lot of money. So, since it's in the ballpark of the Noeby jigging rods which I happen to like, it might be legit. The only concerning thing is, he said the manufacturer's over there tell him that their rods have about a 8% failure rate, but it usually shows up fairly quick. I don't know how that compares to rods from other origins.
I'll probably take the rod to the lake for a casting session and load it up a few times to vet it.
Tight Lines,
TFJ
I just got back from a surf fishing trip to Mexico. I was looking on Ali-express for some cheap jigs as the locals did even better than I did with those vs the more expensive ones I was using. I don't think the jig itself was a difference maker, but I had two bad premade leaders, one FG knot let go after I got frustrated with the leaders, and three jigs lost to the auto bail on my reel when I was shooting for max casting distance. I'd rather lose a $2 jig than a $10 one.
I was poking around a "store" on there looking to get enough for my free shipping limit and ran across budget two piece and three piece popping rods made by "Hunt House". They seem to be relatively new products, I couldn't find much for reviews, but they're about 1/3 of the price of a Shimano Grappler and they claim to have all Fuji Hardware. I pulled the trigger on the 3 piece 2.5m rod. They had a 2.7 m rod as well, but it had the same specs and number of guides so I figured the 2.5 m would be a bit more durable. They also had a 2.3 m option with one less guide.
I'm not sure I'd trust one for a expensive once in a lifetime trip, but as a backup rod or a budget option to take along on a non-fishing centered vacation, I thought it was worth a look. In Mexico I was talking to the owner of a well known brand down there. He said margins on fishing rods are ridiculous high, especially coming from China. You can get a lot of rod for not a lot of money. So, since it's in the ballpark of the Noeby jigging rods which I happen to like, it might be legit. The only concerning thing is, he said the manufacturer's over there tell him that their rods have about a 8% failure rate, but it usually shows up fairly quick. I don't know how that compares to rods from other origins.
I'll probably take the rod to the lake for a casting session and load it up a few times to vet it.
Tight Lines,
TFJ
