Why can't Tackle Manufacturers see a basic need .....

[BoldBear]

Why is it that most Tackle manufacturers can't see a basic need in the market or use more thought when designing it???

Nearly all of the top tackle makers are selling good Barbel and Specialist rods which have shorter rod handles (with approx 11" from back of reel to rod butt) ie. Fox, Harrisons, Greys, J.Wilson, Shimano, Berkley etc. However when I was looking for a rod sleeve that my new 12' Greys Prodigy Barbel rod would fit into to protect it when it was bundled into the back of the car, or when carried through the bushes along overgrown banksides; I couldn't find any, because of the short handle.
Yes there are a couple of multi-rod ones that it will fit into like the Chub Triple S Rod Sleeve however they have extra large reel pouches for big pit reels; but none suitable for a single short-handled 12' made-up specimen rod with a normal sized reel (Shimano 5000 size) where the distance between the end of the rod and the start of the reel is only 11" approx.
After a lot of searching I found one which I now use; however it is not ideal because the padding only covers half the reel, and there is no carrying handle or facility to add a shoulder strap. I also found another one (made by Map) but it was a garish bright blue (not ideal if you want to have stealth, or keep your credibility amongst fellow specialists )

Another annoying thing is: Why do most rod sleeves have the zip on the same side as the reel pouch???. you don't have to be a brain surgeon to realise that it is far better to have the zip on the straight side away from the reel pouch so that the line on a made-up rod doesn't get snagged in the zip???
Yes I know that some tackle companies do have the zip on the more sensible side; but most of them don't.

NB. I've just reached the 'Moaning Meldrew' age so you will have to excuse my moaning. But, come-on it doesn't take more than a modicom of sense to get the designs right or realise that there is a real need out there for such basic items as this, Does it???.

On a brighter side; it's nice to see someone thinking about the design of fishing luggage for a change, like the Korum RuckBag which opens on its side, plus the Korum light seat will attatch to it to give a more rigid frame and keep a hand free. Great Idea; except that there is no clip-on strap across the chest to stop the shoulder straps from sliding off your shoulders on long walks; never mind you cant have everything; or can you?.
BB

[Twiddler]

Please please don't mention 'Moaning Meldrew' on here...I hear/read enough of him on the other site.

I agree about the Korum Rugbag and a clip on strap across the chest can be made up easily yourself.

Not to forget that the bag is still small enough to push under you seat out of the way.

I like the idea of the bag open at its side all the way around, that way you can get to everything without needing to rumish through your bag.

The bag is not expensive, £39.99 I think and it will easily hold my double deluxe fox box an more.

[Portland Pirate]

Hi BB.

Have you thought of sending the tackle manufactures an email, or sending an email to some of the angling magazines. You never know you. They are more likely to react if they get less than positive press.

[Greenheart]

Originally Posted by Portland Pirate

Hi BB.

Have you thought of sending the tackle manufactures an email, or sending an email to some of the angling magazines. You never know you. They are more likely to react if they get less than positive press.

I always get the impression that Angling magazines are scared to be critical of tacke form the big manufacturers as they are afraid they will loose their advertising revenue. You often see this or that tackle test advertised on the cover of magazines, but rarely see a critical word said. This is really annoying when you have some cash to spend on a new product, but end up non the wiser after reading the reviews. I bought a top of the range MAP net bag. Both of the zips jammed before I even had a chance to use it. Sadly I'd left it too long to get a refund. I bought the bag in October, but did'nt use it until april....