Gary Howard Native "Stalker"

[dannydownunder]

Had a look at one of these, liked the feel, the look and that its Aussie Made... Cant help but like this rod. So guys, whats wrong with them :-)? anyone fished one or another in the series.

[FTP]

Gary Howard makes great rods, his surf rods are classics here in Qld. Definitely buy it if you like it!

[dannydownunder]

Yeah, sounds like a plan. Just seems too cheap, years of tackle acquisition makes me wary of well priced tackle these days.

[Slazmo]

Don't forget that Gary Howard sold out to Jarvis Walker. For $149 something has to be lacking somewhere for ot to be at that price point and made in Australia by EBA paid workers. You don't get change out of $150 for a Pflueger Trion (made in China) and they're considered one of the best starters or bashing rods available with excellent components on them. Still love using my 4 Trion's regardless of their age.

[Joely]

New trions have k guides too.

[dannydownunder]

Have 2 trions 2-4kg 6'6 with the k guides, prob wouldnt have bought anything else in that bream class until I picked up the new raider 732L love the action.
By rule though spend more on my medium rods az they do more fishing big dusky, jewie, snapper, kingies, banjos :-)
Just love that GH is aussie built. So I'll grab one and give it a crack, will probably be picking up a similar weighted nitro as soon as I can get one in my hand and wave it around so if the GH is no good it can go in a snapper rack come october :-)

[dannydownunder]

So bought it, very basic wrapping etc. Now have a look at the tag as I cut it off and guess what in the tiniest writing MADE IN VIETNAM!!! Cheeky F@#Ks!! Especially since I called Jarvis Walker in Dandenong to confirm its made here and was told if I didn't believe them call Gary himself. I honestly hadn't seen this little sticker on the ones I had previously picked up.

[FTP]

Disappointing result
His rods WERE excellent, clearly that is no longer the case...

[HARTE]

Wow, that is very disappointing

[laddercat]

Made in australia hardly carries the quality assurance it once did... I wouldnt worry too much.

Very concerning they lied to you though, absolutely in breach of consumer regulations.

[dannydownunder]

Can't speak to the performance may still fish alright. The "Native " series have very basic wrapping and no frills so it seemed plausible to be assembled here at least from imported materials. Just know that I wouldn't have bought it if the ones I seen had the below tag and if JW hadn't confirmed that a 149 buck rod was indeed made here. Bit deflated that I wont be sporting an Aussie made rod. Anyone know if any of GH's range is still made here?

[Slazmo]

Come to mind, years ago I bought a Gary Howard rod for my Alvey 500C5 - was a bream special or something along those lines. A caramel coloured single piece glass blank and about 5 Fuji Alu Ox guides and I believe that rod was made in Australia - yet was too noodly and hard to control during casting. Yet the 2pc Live Fibre rod I swapped that for was terribly made, constantly flew apart and the top piece wasnt rolled / built on the spine and the rod would flex terribly under load. That rod made its way back to the shop also ASAP quick smart...

Really does detract that they somehow falsely sell you a once made in Australia rod still under the same name - and they have to near hide the whereabouts it was made either in tiny writing. But so many rod manufacturers seem to proudly show off where their rods are made?

Mind you Made in China, Thailand, Vietnam or Malaysia these days doesn't really mean terrible quality or even near bad or passable - thats really governed by the company overseeing operations of the process & their QA system internally.

Most Shimano reels are made in Malaysia, Daiwa either China or Thailand (Even some Megabass reels...), the rods of either brand come mostly from China even the Destroyers / Battlers etc upto the $600 price range... What do you think a AGS or Fuji Ti Sic costs when purchased in the hundreds / if not thousands and or over a number of years - even with handshake deals made between a supplier and a manufacturer?
All about the mark up's, some of these low qty in house / custom made rods from the snowy highlands of Japan, whom was made from the hand rolled carbon fibre and other finely selected parts etc and made in limited numbers per annum can attract highest prices but thats what you get for what you pay. A lot of the Japanese manufacturers that mass produce still manage to make a excellent rod in all aspects regards to price, but these rods are chinese made again under a Japanese quality ethos.

Heard a story a few moons ago about Shimano rods and how cheaply they're made for and the mark up made on them - really makes you see red when you pay retail for one of their say Terez rods.

Anyhow if the rod performs thats all that matters, and how long it lasts and how well the company looks after you in the event that something unfortunately goes wrong.

Keep us posted with your results / findings.