My Cadence 11ft #2 float rod.

[108831]

Just to say i'm really pleased with this rod,i've caught tench to just over 7lbs,carp to around 10lbs,good crucians,but the rod has a nice action for smaller fish too,all for £119 post free,i've bought far worse for more than double the price....

 

[hague01]

I have been watching the various comments as I am a rod nut. Gone up thro free spirit/hardy etc now mainly concentrating on sportex. Interested in trying anything ,If anyone has a used feeder they don't want, let me know. I have heavies coming out of my ears but 10/11's will be of interest. Am I right that they are from US?

 

[108831]

The company are,tackle will be from the far East I imagine,I know several guys who have the feeder rods and are happy,rods are all a personal choice however,to me the Hardy Marksman 13ft float was absolute garbage and totally unfit for purpose,I got rid very quickly,the Preston Excel I bought instead was a far better rod for less than half the price...

 

[hague01]

Its interesting to me that German rods seem to be from Japanese made blanks rather than Chinese. Cresta,Sportex I am told. Not sure it makes any difference.

 

[108831]

Mmmm,unsure on that,but I can say I've had double figure carp on my Drennan acolyte ultra and my 11ft cadence,the latter is 100% sound under pressure,i.e. 6lb line(rated to 8lb),caught a 12lb common yesterday on it on 4lb line and I play close to the limits of the line....

 

[hague01]

The cresta web site seems happy to state the origin of their blanks as Japan. I am pretty sure I read that sportex were too but cant remember where. I have a few sportex rods, brilliant imho, but there is little following here in the UK, ( other than carp rods)which I think is a pity. I do know that hardy used Juho corporation for their fly rods and thats where J W Young went to build their 1st generation rods launched around 2006, the ones with the wooden reel seat. They were quite expensive, priced between the Hardy marksman and XT also launched around the same time. Juho are Korean but build in China so there does seem some variety out there.

 

[108831]

I believe that if Hardy had rods manufactured in China they would ensure build quality was up to they're standards,likewise with other respected companies,lesser known ones go for lower specs with lower build costs and pay for that in quality,both in materials and spec...

 

[sam vimes]

I believe that if Hardy had rods manufactured in China they would ensure build quality was up to they're standards,likewise with other respected companies,lesser known ones go for lower specs with lower build costs and pay for that in quality,both in materials and spec...

Hardy did have rods manufactured in China. The Marksman Supero certainly were, but there's a strong possibility that the original Marksman range was as well. These days, it's unlikely that anything is being made in Alnwick.

 

[hague01]

I suspect all the marksman coarse rods including the supero's were probably from Juho origin and therefore actually made in China. I also know that the JWT 2nd generation rods produced from around 2010 were not the same quality blanks as the mk 1( wooden reel seat) ,for probably the reason you suggest Sam. They retailed at less than half the price of the 1st versions so that says it all, to me.

 

[108831]

A quality blank,is a quality blank,wherever it is made up and if high end fittings are added its a winner,whether it has a high retail,or a low one....

 

[hague01]

Very true.

 

[Steve King]

The standard of finish wasn’t great on many of the Chinese made Hardy coarse rods. Gaps in the whipping and bubbles in the varnish.

I believe Hardys are intending to make more tackle in the UK in future.

 

[hague01]

That would be a step in the right direction I feel. Not sure how in the vast scope of things it could be economically viable but it's a great positive thought.

 

[mikench]

I cannot criticise any of my Hardy rods either in use or in their build quality. Lovely rods

 

[108831]

Build quality on the two Marksmen I bought was excellent,the float rod was piss poor as a float rod,action wise,my personal opinion,but the Preston Excel I bought in it's place was a superior tool for a fraction of the price,the Avon specialist smuggler I have is a very good rod,which though tempted to sell it when Steve sold his,can't bear to get rid of a decent rod...

 

[hague01]

I had 11 at one time, but can't say I ever found a defect in build quality. Very pretty rods in my view, I particularly liked the striking emerald green the early ones came in before the later olive greens.

 

[hague01]

Ps. I kept looking for the supero twin tip barbel but never even saw one.

 

[108831]

Rod choices are all personal preference as we all know,I got to prefer Harrisons for my relatively small/medium river barbel fishing,but the Hardy is great,just not quite as good imv for me...

 

[hague01]

I have 2 torrix's had made by peregrine. Truly great rods as you say.

 

[mikench]

Get thee behind me Satan.?