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Post Info TOPIC: Albright Rods and Reels


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Albright Rods and Reels
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Good Morning everyone.

I am off to the slopes today, but wishing I was fishing!!

Is anyone out there familiar with Albright?  I would like to add to my expanding collection of rods and reels, but I object to paying the high prices demanded by the premium brands.

Take care and thanks for the input,
DJ


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DJ,
I agree with you about the prices. Most of the upscale equipment is made in China and Korea, just as Albright is. I have 2 Albright rods and I enjoy they a lot, and I recently got my son a steelhead rod for Christmas. They may not be as fast action as some but they do very well under a variety of conditions. I have a GP 9089 -4 that I use for stripers and is my backup steelhead rod: a GP 9006 - 4 that is one of my trout rods. Recently I bought my son the GPX 10078-4 that he can use as a steelhead rod and for trout on really big water. I was casting his GPX the other day with a weigh forward 8 line and it casts like a dream. Oh, the line I purchased from Albright too for around $25. I also purchased their Trinity waders that are very nice and have been very durable. Last year I purchased one of their Bugatti reels for steelhead which they are not offering this year and it was so good I ordered extra spools and a smaller Bugatti for the 6 weight. Oh, I also have a pair of their wading shoes which are now well into the third season and are still going strong. Albright rods may not be a good as the best Sage rods, etc. but at under $100 to well over $600 I have no problem with them and recommend them highly. I got all of them at the end of the each year when they have their sale (70% off). The sale may be going on now by the way.
East Bay Ed

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DJ,

I know more than a few people who have had issues with the warranty services of Albright. Some has to deal with costs.  Some has to deal with warranties being refused because they were bought on closeout.  Make sure that you understand its policies.  If those work for you, then order away.

If anyone asks me to recommend gear from an outfit with great values, I will usually recommend TFO or Redington.  Both companies have clear cut warranty policies just in case you have issues, and their products are darn good for the money.  Best of all, these products are mostly sold through brick and mortar fly shops.

I hope that you had a good time on the slopes.  The snow has been great this year.

AB

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Ed and Abel,

Thank you both for your thoughtful replies; I appreciate the range of opinions.  I will take a close look at Albright's warranty and return policies.  As for the annual sale, they do appear to have some significant mark-downs currently.

As for the skiing, who would have thought that it would be warmer in the Sierras than the East Bay?  Conditions are definitely more like Spring-like that Winter.  If I could get through Ebbetts Pass, I would hop over to the EC and go fishing, though I expect my wife would kill me.  On second thought, better to go skiing with the family.

Take Care all and thanks again,
DJ

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So here is the skinny on SAGE, REDINGTON, ALBRIGHT RODS. Sage was founded in 1980 by legendary rod designer Don Green, and Bruce Kirschner (formerly of K2 Skis). Redington was founded in 1992 by Jim Murphy, this company was known as Bristol Bay rod and fly rod before it became Redington. In the summer of 2003 Sage bought Redington and immediatly fired Jim Murphy. Then Jim Murphy had a plan up his sleeve and Albright Rods was founded in the Sept of 2004. Funny thing is that the same company that Jim Murphy had for making his Redington blanks overseas is now making his albright rod blanks. Same Design too. When Albright first started the Albright EXS was the same rod as the Redington NTIQ (NTI Quarts) this was in 2004/2005, except that the EXS was cosmetically better looking, and less expensive.

One more thing Farbanks owns Sage and Redington, operated as seperate companys. the blanks are completely different, Sage blanks are made in Bainbridge WA, and Redington rods are made in China, also fyi Redington reels are made in Korea. Korea produces some great quality reels, best metals you can get, not USA made, but great quality reels. Albright rods and reels are the same as Redington, rods in china reels in korea.

Also during the time frame that Redington was owned my Jim, Jim sold Redington to Orvis, this is how Orvis got its start overseas.

Jim is no longer affiliated with Albright. He is a distributor for Hardy USA. Since Sage has taken over Redington, they have done a lot of tweaking to Redington to make them nothing like the ones Jim Murphy owned. Also Farbanks owns Sage, Redington and Rio.

Jim Murphy no longer has anything to do with Albright either. He is now the distibutor for Hardy usa. Sage has done alot of tweaking to the redington rods and I dont think they are anything like the rods were when Jim Murphy owned the company. So even though Farbanks owns Sage,Redington and Rio they are operated as separate companies.


-- Edited by brian clemens on Monday 17th of January 2011 10:34:41 AM

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Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.



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If you want to watch your cost but have a great rod with great warranty program. Look at Redington Classic Trout as well as TFO's Professional Series Rods, this is where I would start, but TFO Signature (entry level 2pc rods) and Finesse series are great as well.

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Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.



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Brian,

Thanks for the all of the background on Sage, Redington and Albright - very interesting stuff - as well as the recommendations.  I trust you slayed the steel this past weekend.

DJ

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I did some steelhead fishing this weekend. Weather was perfect, the fog didnt burn off which was perfect, and there was no wind. Only thing missing was some rain. Now is the time to get out and slay the steel.

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Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.



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Oh ya and now Jim is President of Hardy USA and Greys.

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Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.

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