Penn BOGOFF / Others

[tommy a]

Jules / Smoothy / Boat Fishers,

Could you give me your opinions on the Penn BOGOFF deal for rods - I got my old man the 15 -20 lb class rod and obviously got one free but just wandered if they are any good ? I know Penn is a good make for reels but wot about rods ?

If you have any suggestions on other rods Id apprecaite it - I know the shakespeare is meant to be good but Smoothy can you suggest a Daiwa boat rod as my Sandstorm for shore fishing has been great. Looking for general fishing - both inshore wrecks and rocks and a bass rod !

Any views would be greatly appreciate.

Tommy

[Old Smoothound]

Mmmmm, If Blackbeard was around he would give you an unbiased opinion


For my general wreck drifting and downtiding I use a 20lb class Shakespeare Ugly Stick Gold. For Braid fishing I use an Abu Suveran 12lb class, and for Uptiding an Abu Conolon 8-10 oz. Coupled with an Abu 7000 Red original.

I don't use Penn rods from a boat.....but have a few shore rods and Bass rods.

I hope this helps.

[Drew]

Hi Tommy,

Ask yourself the question "What do you get free?" This is a market ploy that Penn uses so that they can dispose of their rubbish. They have been doing it for years and getting away with it.

In this day and age nobody is giving away goods, you are paying through the nose for them. They use the same system with "Buy the rod and get the reel free" who is kidding who?

The quicker the public catch on and refuse to buy their rubbish the better.

Cheers

[tommy a]

Point taken lads !

Not really knowing that much about fishing I have got a RT boat rod and have had it for a few years - pretty useful with a nice reel.

Having sorted my beach rods out and got the Sandstorm my next investment will be a decent bass rod followed by a decent boat rod - thanks for the advice.

Cheers

[duncan]

some rather cynical words here - there are some deals to be had from time to time and Penn's approach to the UK market is not a mirror on DFS/Courts discounting practices at all.
Penn's low price offerings are marketed as Jarvis Walker I believe but they do discount 'yesterday's models' on the UK market consistently. This doesn't make them bad value at all. A bigger issue is that what suits the US style of fishing doesn't always suit ours.

Much much more important is to match the charteristics of the rod you are looking for to whats on offer from all the manufacturers - we have more variation available now than ever before with materials being used in ever more interesting combinations. This has resulted in a few new dilema's too - for example if you got a lovely new solid - c Fladden 20-50 what reel do you put on it? Abu 10000, Penn 114 / Formula 15 etc are all the right 'rating' but just don't seem right as they are heavy and bulky items making the rod seem like a toy! What youneed is a small but v strong reel with a good drag - braid lets you get all you need onto the spool without problem.

I have 3 Penn rods on board, all older styles, and find they do the job set well enough. The old one piece blue Med Tuna Stand-ups (10/16 and 20/30) have a great progressive set and have solidly made fixtures and fittings - well suited to rays; and a Med Reef (White blank) in 6/16lb class is real sweety for the 40 quid asked, again the fittings are excellent. Contrast this (and it's not a critism) to a couple of Shakspear rods bought and used over the same time period (Hurricane Uptider and the ubiquitous 1841 8'6"15lb ugly stick) and the fittings and whippings show a lot more deterioration.

Oh and yes, both the stand ups came free with their reels - a 310gti and 25GLS which are going strong and still command the same sort of money today.

Work out what you really want the rod to do - then go out and see what available. It may be a Penn that suits, it may not.

[Drew]

Hi Duncan,

Someone somewhere has to build a rod from manufactured parts. That person has to be payed for the job that they are doing. The parts have to be payed for as well as all the little extras. There has to be a profit margin somewhere along the line, probably more than one. It therefore stands to reason that Penn cannot give away a rod that they have payed someone to manufacture, unless they have added that cost to some of their other products. That product then must be well overpriced, it is a vicious circle that we the buyers are in. I personally won't take part in it and refuse to buy anything with the Penn name on it.

They produce an International Dynabraid "Outfit", an International 20 - 30lb Rod + a 975 lever drag reel at a recommended price of £486, however you can purchase it for £380, a discount of £106. If you want to by the rod without the reel you have to pay the full RRP. No discount. This is just an example of their marketing techniques, forcing you to purchase two of their products.

As I always say "This is my opinion, others might differ", I am always willing to listen.

Cheers

[duncan]

Firstly I think I understand where you are coming from but don't necessarily agree with your conclusions because I believe margins, markets and marketing budgets all are a significant factor for Penn in Europe.

I definitely agree that not al that we have marketed here is necessarily right for our general fishing - however this applies increasingly to all manufactures and we are also increasingly specialising our fishing styles! Once upon a time you made do with a single 'rod and reel' - and it wasn't that long ago!!!

Coincidently I bought my 975LD from Veals on one of their offers for a substantial discount (but it really was a one off) as was the Formula 15KG reel - I paid around 160 a piece and am extremely happy with them. I did not however fancy (or need) the rods at the time.

Sorry for the delay in coming back - I have been away in South Africa for the last 3 weeks.

[flounder_al]

Originally Posted by Tasmanian Jim

I personally won't take part in it and refuse to buy anything with the Penn name on it.

I have mostly Penn kit and love the stuff. At the end of the day it is down to personal choice. Penn do make some fantsatic kit (535mag, 525mag, Extreme and PTT rod shore rods, Tidecutter boat rods). Yes they may be over priced on some things but there again people are buying them so they cannot be that bad eh?

As i said above it is personal choice at the end of the day and the best thing to do is if possible try the equipment out before you part with your cash. If it is going free then even better :)

I use a Penn Long Beach boat rod and although it is years old i have found it has stood up to the test of time and still fights with the best of them.

Tommy. Best thing to do is give the rod a try. If you don't like it then give it back to your father or sell it. I'd have it if you don't want it ..... seriously!