I have been asked the following question by a fishing friend and thought maybe some of you on here might like to provide your expertise to help me answer it.
I am keen to purchase a surf casting rod and would appreciate any advice you could give me.I have looked at the okuma axeon 14-6 rod & the abu garcia veritas 14-6 rod.but I am open to suggestions. I have a shimano spheros 14000fb reel that belonged to my son if that will fit.Also which is better braid or nylon.
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by Hangler on 1/7/2013, 10:54 am, in reply to "Which Rod ?"
ABU Man, I have a matched pair of Veritas rods, I use them with Shimano bait runners, and I do hold concerns about them. The eyes are very delicate, especially the larger lower eyes, and can be easily damaged in the most simple of beach mishaps. I also fault them for not coming with a rod case, this has been mentioned on site before. I believe this to be a serious omission by the manufacturers. I also find the joints are prone to wear and after a few casts this can encourage the eyes to twist out of alignment, whilst this hasn't become a serious problem, it is a nuisance.
This is honest critique. I know there are many others on this site who use Veritas rods and they may disagree with what I have written. However, those are my findings based on about a year's experience.
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by ABU Man on 1/7/2013, 11:00 am, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?"
Thanks Hangler, I will pass on your comments.
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by AndyG on 1/7/2013, 5:27 pm, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?"
Mine do the same however I believe a lot of the earlier problems with the veritas rods have been fixed / improved with the newer models that are out now.
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by James HB on 1/7/2013, 7:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?"
Hangler and AndyG, add some rod wax to the male side of the join and that should fix your problem No excuses, just get out there!!
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by Hangler on 1/7/2013, 8:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?"
I don't wish to enter any controversy on the subject of a fishing rod, but I will add one comment: on an item in the price range of the Veritas rod I don't believe there should be problems to fix.
But thanks for the advice, James, your comment is appreciated.
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by Panser on 1/7/2013, 8:11 pm, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?"
A member on the forum has a Veritas and the rubber cap at the bottom came off not long after he bought it, have seen the inners of the guides pop out as well, Hagler is right for the price the quality should be better. Born to fish. Forced to work.
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by Phill on 1/7/2013, 9:46 pm, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?" Tackle Tactics
The Veritas is basically a good rod , the best bang for the buck so far this century. The quality control on these rods let them down badly and it's sad to say the distributors did not take the problem seriously at the start. The problems with the joints were solved with the on going shipments . The guides are of light weight construction and large shock leader knots can be hard on them . When buying a rod and it doesnt matter which brand you purchase always check the guides and how well they fit together in the ferals , Tackle Tactics puts every rod together before despatch unfortunately not all retailers do so. I find it easier to solve a problem before it becomes a problem. I wouldn't recommend rod wax on a graphite rod graphite powder can work . If the problem is excessive send the rod to me as I have a process to save the rod. The Veritas is still my favourite fish rod in my collection and it can cast 200m plus.
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by AndyG on 1/7/2013, 9:48 pm, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?"
They used the same rubber cap on the bottom of the solaris and surfline rods too, both of which when I owned them came off as well after a few outings, same with the veritas rods I own.
Thanks James, have used the wax occasionally, however my partner is joining the club this Wednesday and those rods will be donated to her after I've bought some new ones, so it's her problem now
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by James HB on 1/7/2013, 9:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?"
The veritas for what it is, a middle of the road fishing rod, is a good rod for its price. I've had inners pop out of SIC guides (top of the range which start at about $20 a pop) and I've had a cheap rod with even cheaper guides handle a bashing on some knarley rocks. Is the rod a good one?? My son has one and he loves it. Hes broke 1 guide in the year hes had it but hes a rough little bugger. Its handled sharks up to 30kg and snapper to 13.5kg. Easy rod to cast and nice and forgiving to the fisher on a big fish. Its a step up from most rods but unless you got a bit of coin to spend ($350+) for one of the higher end rods then this rod is the best of the midrange. Better than a solaris, slimline, slammer, predator, axeon and the like in the $200-300 range. If you don't like the guides, put better ones on them, I do if I don't like the guides. No excuses, just get out there!!
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by Rex HB on 2/7/2013, 11:27 am, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?"
Its good value for what it is. And it does handle big fish well. Anything mass manufactured in China (or anywhere) is never going to be perfect. My SLX snapped in half and Kilwell couldnt/wouldnt fix it as I had no reciept.
At the end of the day what do you do. Buy an expensive one with a lifetime guarantee that is worth nothing or get the best value for money and accept things go wrong. I'm leaning towards the latter these days. What about the Penn Prevail. That was hot a while ago.
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by GaryK on 2/7/2013, 12:38 pm, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?"
The latest Veritas Surf rods are fitted with Fuji K guides. The best available in that range.The snapper don't know where the car park is! Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by Hangler on 2/7/2013, 8:26 pm, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?"
Rex, I understand your dilemma. Walk into any tackle shop and there are a host of surfcasting rods from $60.00. Okay you may get a season out of them or two if you are lucky, but you know you are buying crap and you get what you pay for. However, when you put a further $200.00 on the purchase price and you are now paying $260.00 for a rod, I think you are entitled to get a rod where the basics are right, not just a rod that looks pretty. Eyes, ferrules and butt caps are basic fundamentals, they should be up to standard.
For users to read the manufacturers have now decided to put quality eyes on the latest model I feel is an insult to those who believed they were getting quality for their hard earned money. If they now admit the early eyes were of an inferior quality, how about putting the better eyes on the rods of those people who patronised their products in the first place.
To quote Tui: Yeah ... Right!!!
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by Panser on 2/7/2013, 9:11 pm, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?"
Well said Hangler. I have rods that are 20 plus years old, they cost a weeks wages back then but the quality still stand till this day, why should we except a lower quality product today. Born to fish. Forced to work.
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by AndyG on 2/7/2013, 9:47 pm, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?"
Posted by Phill on 2/7/2013, 11:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?" Tackle Tactics
Yes , in my opinion it's a floppy strong rod .
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by GaryK on 5/7/2013, 5:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?"
Disclaimer... Sales manager and designer of Veritas Surf rod for Pure Fishing New Zealand Ltd.
Hangler I find your statement re Veritas rods unfounded and poorly thought out. The new guides are sturdier than the original guides but that does not make the original guides inferior just different. We are constantly trying to improve our products and an upgrade in guides is such a move.
As Phill said you can always change guides if YOU dont like them. No one else is whinging about them.The price you paid for that rod is really good value in todays market. You could pay more for a similar blank with no guides. Over the last few years the quality of imported quality fishing gear has been outstanding.
There are more rods on the way and if we can see a way to improve them we will.
The new guides are Fuji K guides if you want to refit your Veritas.
Gary Kemsley.The snapper don't know where the car park is! Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by Hangler on 5/7/2013, 8:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?"
My thoughts on the rods are from the user's point of view, not those of someone involved in sales.
My original comment: the eyes are delicate, this is fact. Another comment the ferrules (rod joins) are not secure allowing the rod to twist, this is also fact, this was seconded by another member. I commented the rod was not sold with a rod case, this is also fact.
None of those comments are poorly thought out, they are easily substantiated with the two rods I own. If on later models the eyes have been upgraded (strengthened) then it shows the manufacturers held concerns for the original eyes, they would not change something just for fun.
As for your assertion this is a whinge as nobody else is complaining about the eyes, may I suggest you read the post by Panser dated 1/7/2013 timed at 8:11. There he mentions he has seen the inner of the eyes pop out plus a butt cap drop off. I also recall on another thread a rod snapped for no apparent reason.
I would respectfully suggest it's from comments such as the concerns made in this thread that a reputable company will read and learn. These remarks are from the coal face: the anglers who have patronised their products.
This sort of freedom to critique should never bring condemnation but a note to take on board what anglers are saying and then deciding whether the criticism is justified or not.
James, who I believe may be involved in the trade has suggested a way to stop the rod from twisting, for this he was thanked. However, it doesn't alter the fact on new rods they shouldn't twist.
In a previous thread, Phill has agreed the rods should come with a rod case, he was going to get some in for the rod's protection.
As sales manager I would suggest it would have been far more constructive to make a post noting the concerns had been taken on board, and future rods would be upgraded accordingly. Also suitable rod bags were to be made available from the manufacturer to anglers who had purchased their company's product.
Those I my thoughts, and I believe them to be constructive.
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by GaryK on 5/7/2013, 9:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?"
In a perfect world maybe Hangler.
The snapper don't know where the car park is! Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by Neil on 5/7/2013, 11:31 pm, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?"
ALL rods break given enough abuse .
They are hollow thin tubes and often the breakages have little to with he quality of the rod but more to do with how it was treated . My personal broken rod list is quite long most of which were my own fault .
Guides well they are getting lighter and lighter all the time so a knock will see the liner get damaged . I have had guides broken when rods have fallen over ... who hasn't?.
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by Hangler on 6/7/2013, 9:06 am, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?"
Couldn't agree with you more, Neil, but they shouldn't break when they are looked after. I purchased rod cases with the rods (from Hamills of Hastings) and they are kept in a condition that after one year of use, most anglers would consider them 'as new'.
With regard to your last question: I must raise my hand and say I have never experienced such a happening. Well not since the days of agate inner rings, and that was forty-five ... fifty years ago. Ouch!!!
This thread was started with a simple question of which rod? The topic invited feedback as to personal experience, this has been given. In as much as there are comments regarding issues with the Veritas rod, apart from Phill's feedback regarding the rod's casting ability, there have been few positive comments. That is what ABU man asked for, and that is exactly what he has got, therefore I contend the thread has been a success.
Should I break one of my rods, or worse still have them stolen, would I be happy to replace them with the same make? The answer to that question would be the signature as to the rod's worth, especially with a year's experience to draw on. The same question could be asked about all our fishing equipment. We then have the ability to compare sales jargon with experience, in many cases the two don't necessarily go together.
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by Stevo on 7/7/2013, 9:16 am, in reply to "Which Rod ?"
Hi there, I use the axeon rod along with the axeon reel. The rod itself feels strong although i wouldn't want to knock it around too much and like the others the rubber cap on the butt came off with the first weekends use but have remedied that with a larger rubber cap the covers the entire aluminium end to the rod. it casts very well but using the same technique as with a heavier fibreglass rod left me disappointed. The guides are reasonable but require vigilant maintenance to stop corrosion and the tip guide is after 3 years moderate use is showing signs of wear from mono so i don't think using braid would be good for the longevity of the rod. All in all it's a good rod but not great. hope that helps some.
Re: Which Rod ?
Posted by Rex HB on 7/7/2013, 12:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Which Rod ?"
I can also say that I can cast almost the same distance with both rods (veritas and slx) using a 4oz or less sinker with pretty much the same effort. Given the improvements gary as outlined it should be a pretty mean rod for the money.
on 1/7/2013, 9:18 am
