Reflections here - had to reregister as my email was not found for something. Anyway..
Thank you Chris for taking the time to come to this site and for introducing yourself. Also a big thanks for Philip Light for going the extra mile in getting some answers for me !
Okay, since I did not find anything regarding this Wright & Mcgill Plunge Essentials combo 9' 5 wt product, I thought I would kick it off myself in case others are interested so here it goes:
Remember this review is based from someone just getting into fly fishing so please take criticism as constructive:
Packaging - The whole kit is encased in a plastic covering with a hard cardboard backing. This differed in the other combo packages at Bass Pro Shops (BPS) (Yes don't kill me as I know many of you may be local fly fish shop fans) which were in sturdy boxes. BUT they did not include the pliers, nippers, DVD, flies, fly box, shots and floats. So a plastic case may be good to highlight those products but again, I think I may prefer the hard box for that quality feel. Just something about being fresh to a sport like fly fishing and holding a solid package versus a wobbly plastic case gets the endorphins going ya know. You hold it in your hands and you know something special is inside.
DVD - The dvd was informative but I wish they clarified the difference between a leader and tippet more. The narrator used the terms interchangebly and it was confusing to me but I searched and in laymans terms it is basically the term used to describe the section of line that connects the reel line to the fly. The leader is made up of the butt, tapered section and the tippet. The tippet can be part of the original butt, taper and tippet or one can make the various parts using different diameter lines to make their own leader. Also, the DVD did not go over the roll cast and it they did I missed it but the narrator talks about it later without a demo. Otherwise, a good DVD of the basics.
Accessories - All the accessories were adequate but would have preferred a better quality nippers. Even if one moves on to a different rod or reel as is the case most of the time, things like pliers and nippers (I assume) rarely change so a high quality nippers would have been nice. Like the package said, Essentials right?
Case - This is one aspect I was not satisfied with. As they say, the devil is in the details. On opening the case, I was met with a tangle of loose threads from the sleeve section. This did not resonate well with me as it sent a signal in my mind that W&M did not care about details. Some may say well, it is a beginners package and you get what you pay for. BUT I say remember, I am new to fly fishing and the impact of my first equipment will carry over to my next purchase when (not if) I get future equipment. The sleeves inside were not well constructed and in comparing to other cases at BPS the following day, I saw other combo/introductory cases had a better construction and a wool like padding to protect the reel which the W&M case did not have. Again, the case is something that can be used for future rod/reels so I think that is something that needs to be addressed. The fish design on the outside was nice but the inside ...
Reel - The reel as best as I can see is the same as the Plunge Large Arbor (retail $69) . The reel felt solid yet light and smooth. Compared to other BPS combo reels this was nice since it was a center based gear set up versus an off-set gear setup (more complicated). I found no fault with this reel. While I am sure other reels may be smoother, this was a good bang for the buck. The fact it is aluminium versus plastic or steel also makes it nice against corrosion. I did not open up the reel to see the material inside. If the gears are non-stainless steel or has plastic pieces then I would change my assessment.
Rod - Unfortunately, the tip of my rod broke after putting the rod into the case. Whether this was my fault in not knowing how to put the 4 piece sections into the case (maybe a good thing to put into the DVD - simple thing I know but I am beginner right?), design of the case or quality of rod, I don't know. At any rate, I did not get to actually use the rod. As far as I could tell though, the rod was VERY light and stiff. I like the fact it was light as I want to feel the action of the line and not the rod. It does worry me that the tip broke so easily. I was careful in putting the rod into the case and I treated everything easy as this was my first fly fishing setup and I was excited. The rod being so light, I am wondering it the material used made it to be too brittle. Again, I don't know but that is what happened to me. A minor aspect is also the looks of the rod. The handle has a reflective blue design. I preferred the wood as in the temple fork and white river designs at BPS but again minor and a matter of taste. I think I would have liked the rod but the ease in which the tip broke with the case quality has me skittish.
Warranty - Like most companies, this setup had a 1 year warranty. I know company reps will say but we are like everyone else but I think it goes a long way when a company offers a warranty that is better than the status quo. It tells me they look to be better than their competitors. The temple fork from BPS had a lifetime warranty and even though the rod and reel may be lower quality, that lifetime sure goes a long way. Even a 5 year warranty is a good bet for a company to ensure brand loyalty in future sales. So, this is one aspect I was disappointed about.
Summary:
I went into this with no prior knowledge but purchased based on the opinion of the BPS clerk (Who btw seemed like he could care less about this fly fish newbie - I think his recent trip to some grand river somewhere paled in comparison to my recent small mouth bass adventure which he replied "I am happy for you" elitist tone). I give this product a 3 out of 5 based on my experience and overall FEELING of the product. I emphasize feeling as that is what a company is selling. The packaging, with case construction and MY experience with the tip breaking left an overall average feel. Again, I know you get what you paid for but I was hoping (and I am not talking about accessories) that the Wright & Mcgill was going to be a setup for a long period of my fly fishing future. And for what it is worth, I would have paid more but didn't know what to get. I am looking for a solid, for the long haul piece of equipment. Also, to be fair to Wright & Mcgill, the BPS clerk experience may have a slight bias toward my FEELING but I think based on my experience with the product alone, a 3 out of 5 (average) is fair. Otherwise, with the BPS clerk it would have been a 2 out of 5
. I ended up returning the product and will research a bit more to finally purchase my first fly fishing setup.
In a nutshell, I found this product to be average yet not remarkable or nothing seemed to stand out to make me feel like this introductory/combo package was special. i wanted to feel like I just purchased my first Red Ryder BB gun if you know what I mean.
I hope this review helps others but more importantly I hope it also helps Wright & Mcgill get an understanding in the psychology behind the purchase of a combo or introductory sale of this one individual. I really wanted this to be the right piece of equipment but the lack of reviews, the emphasis on looking good on the Wright & Mcgill website, 1 year warranty, and quality of the package and case along with my tip breaking did not help.
If there are others brands I should look at for a solid piece of equipment then I am all ears. I want the best bang for the buck obviously and I am looking to spend no more than $300 but more importantly, I want to look back 5-10 years from now and say, wow that xxxx rod and reel may not have been the best but it sure was a solid piece of equipment and that is why I bought their 3 wt and 7 wt equipment because this dog has got bite.
Thank you.
