mikench
Well-known member
I stand chastised Kev but unrepentant. I’m glad you like it and wish you success.
I would recommend a couple of high end shimanos, plus a couple of Daiwa from that era. Even the mid priced shimanos from then are as good as similar priced poles of today,I feel some explanation is necessary for my comment to dispel the view that I was implicitly impugning pole fishing. I wasn't by the way. Kev you know that having only commenced fishing less than 6 years ago I bought a few new rods but tried a few older models such as your very own Amorphous Whisker rod with the armalock handle which I had never seen before. I liked it and then embarked on a voyage of discovery buying 2 like it plus a variety of other high end and admired rods from the last 30 years or so. I like my rods and am glad I bought them. In truth many are as good as current rods if not better.
You gave an interesting insight into some of your early poles which by your own admission were heavy and difficult to master. My comment meant to convey that I would not be embarking on a voyage of discovery for old school poles. There was no implied or intended put down of the method. I suspect if I decided to buy a pole you would not recommend one from the 80's or 90's in any event save for the Diaflash. I trust I have now put the record straight.??
Not a journey I wish to undertake in the name of nostalgia Kev. It sounds ponderous and laborious sadly.
I feel some explanation is necessary for my comment to dispel the view that I was implicitly impugning pole fishing. I wasn't by the way. Kev you know that having only commenced fishing less than 6 years ago I bought a few new rods but tried a few older models such as your very own Amorphous Whisker rod with the armalock handle which I had never seen before. I liked it and then embarked on a voyage of discovery buying 2 like it plus a variety of other high end and admired rods from the last 30 years or so. I like my rods and am glad I bought them. In truth many are as good as current rods if not better.
You gave an interesting insight into some of your early poles which by your own admission were heavy and difficult to master. My comment meant to convey that I would not be embarking on a voyage of discovery for old school poles. There was no implied or intended put down of the method. I suspect if I decided to buy a pole you would not recommend one from the 80's or 90's in any event save for the Diaflash. I trust I have now put the record straight.??
I concur totally with this. I'd had nearly all the top-end Shimano poles and rods during this period, and the improvement from one model to the next was always noticeable, culminating in the step-up from the Diaflash to the Ultegra (red butt section) pole and also the Ultegra 390 Response match rod.I would recommend a couple of high end shimanos, plus a couple of Daiwa from that era. Even the mid priced shimanos from then are as good as similar priced poles of today,
My last shimano pole I had was the Aernos, is was discounted from £1300 or thereabouts to £550, this was due to it being discontinued,I concur totally with this. I'd had nearly all the top-end Shimano poles and rods during this period, and the improvement from one model to the next was always noticeable, culminating in the step-up from the Diaflash to the Ultegra (red butt section) pole and also the Ultegra 390 Response match rod.
I don't know whether Shimano subsequently decided that the UK market returns weren't worth the R&D they'd previously invested, or if they took the decision to manufacture down to a price point to suit the then rapidly expanding commercial fishery market, but their gear declined markedly from then on and I never bought any again.
Duly noted Kev. I plead the 5th. I accept what you say about your pole and your undoubted skill with it. I admired your net full and said as much. I will add comments on poles to comments on , inter alia politics etc as matters likely to cause offence and best left unsaid.
Try looking on auction sites for late high end shimano poles, they are none existent. People must be hanging onto them
As I was heavily involved in canal matches at the time the slight weight, balance and rigidity improvement of the Ultegra over the Diaflash was a definite bonus when trying to chase squatt roach up the far shelf or laying on caster for the bigger samples. I was able to catch with the Diaflash (which was probably a better all-rounder?) but the Ultegra was superior for those partiicular tasks.
Another thing about the the Ultegra was that it came supplied with two slightly different top-twos, one being a little shorter and faster tapered than the other and so suited to the heavier 6-8 elastic compared to the 2-5 of the standard. A small example of the innovation Shimano were noted for back then.
Interestingly Shimano also introduced the 15.5m Super Ultegra model at the same time, geared more to the demands of the commercial carpers, an indication of the way things were moving.