When I reviewed Eric’s Epic 480, I knew that thing was different. Different enough to get me into the stupid idea to build a glass rod actually, but that’s a story for another time. But when I read the substantial essay Oliver wrote on his blog about Epic, I’ve just been baffled by the amount of cleverness that went into the whole Swift business model. I mean, look at the name. You can’t even mention the stuff without praising it…
Christian Hörgren, Fine Tackle, Sweden.
http://finetackle.blogspot.com
A fine example of knowing what one is doing.
Can’t find what you look for in graphite? Use fiberglass.
Can’t have the rods built well enough at reasonable costs? Use custom builders’ expertise, and build some network.
What if that’s too expensive or the guys want to do that themselves? Yeah that’s fine, it’s the Swift philosophy. Build your rods, like your tie your flies. Offer them a selection of the very best components there is.
What if the guy never did this? He’ll have to factor in all the extra building stuff in the rod’s cost?
Now this is where Carl McNeil left me flabbergasted (cool word). Watch this thing:
Kickass fiberglass rod tube? Check
The goddam box the building kits comes in transforms into a wrapping station. How cool is that? F.ing cool, that’s how.
I urge you to read Oliver’s whole interview of McNeil. He’s right on so many things, it’s quite an enlightening experience. For my rodbuilding friends, whom I love dearly even though I think they sometimes go way overboard on some issues, let me quote him:
The subject of spining rods has & continues to cause huge debate. The truth is that under the tension of the cast the rod will always bend according to the tension of the fly line against the guides and tiptop, the effect of the spine on a fully loaded rod is negligible. – So truly, it matters little (all respect to the great Don Green)
Do what you feel is best for your build, it’s you rod – follow your bliss.
Amen, Carl.
Sadly, I’m not in the league for an Epic. These blanks cost a lot more than I can afford right now.* But man, I’m really glad you’re in this business.
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* Not complaining though. They aren’t super expensive, and we know why they cost this much (small NZ production).
since you’re asking for english critiques, wtf does this mean ? 😆
“Can’t have find you look for in graphite?”
oh f*ck, this one is ugly.
how does something like that happen ?
I don’t know. either by starting two sentences at the same time or by Alzheimer.
I think this is a grammatical tailing loop.
i’m sure a Swift would cure your ailment.
I doubt santa will be that generous. I’ve been naughty at times.
but I’ve a dirt cheap 6′ glass pole in the building queue. I think it’ll be fun.
or noodly.
or both.
most probably crap.
it’s not what a rod (blank) is made of that matters, it’s how it was made.
look at the other video of the Japanese girl. don’t know what rod that is (maybe a Kabuki ?) but it bends/unbends very well, specially the latter part. Carl’s rods recover from counterflex similarly.
that’s why i got one.
marc
obviously it will be crap!
if one could get a good blank at $10 in the shops, every single top shelf brand would be dead by now.
but I find that very short are much more forgiving. crap 9′ is a disaster, and crap 10′ is just begging for an injury. but bad 5’9 will probably be passable. I think that’s why tadpoles get good press.
I think Kabutos have a thinner butt (this one is huge), but I agree the lack of rebound is impressive. on the Epic 480, even I could tame the wobble in the rod leg.
I was pleased
i guess there’s hope left after all…
ps- actually, i won the blank in a photo contest but that’s another story…
doesn’t suprise me one bit
that’s what you get for spending your life looking at the lanscape instead of crunching numbers in a cubicle.
serves you well
you could always get a periscope or one of those GoPro drones 😉
no.
I hate the fucking stuff and the crap they shoot with it.
like it’s enough to base jump to be a director… 🙄
anyway, will you please shoot all those vids we’re waiting for about your fancy presentation stuff?
no. 😆
c’mon, don’t be like that. maybe you didn’t invent the overhead cast like andersson
but I’m sure you’d do a wonderful demo
man, i was just thinking of that sod. it’s absolutely amazing that someone so boring and full of it can be so popular…
anyhow, i need a camera person to do this but there’s talks going on so it might happen in the spring 🙂
I guess it’s the prestige of the brand…
good news! I loved the limp cobra footage
that is super cool. Had fun building my first rod last year, thinking about another…. so expensive tho
yeah, Epics do not come cheap.
they’re worth every single penny, though, something I wouldn’t say of many expensive blanks.