Daiwa and Ike?

[BigBassin144]

Anyone heard anything about Daiwa and Mike Iaconelli?

I've heard Daiwa is dropping him. Don't know if its just rumors or what, anyone know?

BB

[cassidyta]

I heard yesterday that he signed on with Abu Garcia. I have seen it on other boards and it was a topic as my club meeting last night, but I have not seen any press release from either company or Ike.

[nofearengineer]

Hmmmm.....I guess I used to like Abu-Garcia.

Just kidding hehe. I'm not selling my Revos any time soon.

[TN_Bassin]

Wow, now the reel I've been waiting for, one that starts screaming when you set the hook.

[CMorg]

Originally Posted by TN_Bassin

Wow, now the reel I've been waiting for, one that starts screaming when you set the hook.

Wouldnt that be awsome ?!!!

[nofearengineer]

Originally Posted by TN_Bassin

Wow, now the reel I've been waiting for, one that starts screaming when you set the hook.

LOL....no, it needs to say "it's a giant.....it's a giant...." over and over when you hook a 2-pounder.

[CMorg]

Originally Posted by nofearengineer

LOL....no, it needs to say "it's a giant.....it's a giant...." over and over when you hook a 2-pounder.

Yeah , but hey , Ike is pretty much Bad A$*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvdQYnnr1s4

O , ah. I forgot to mention Bryce , he meant to do that , and he didnt lose his glasses !! haha , take note.

[Jrob78]

Ike exclusive with Pure 1/7/2010


Mike Iaconelli and Pure Fishing today announced an exclusive agreement under which Ike will fish Abu Garcia rods and reels, Berkley and Spiderwire line and Berkley PowerBait and Gulp!.

Ike spent the bulk of his career fishing Daiwa rods and reels, so the switch to Abu is very significant and certainly represents somewhat of a coup for Abu and Pure Fishing as a whole.

“We’re very excited to have Mike join our Abu Garcia and Spiderwire teams,” said brand manager Chris Derrick. “He’s one of the best athletes in the sport and this partnership will help us develop new and innovative products while helping Mike elevate his game.”

Ike noted: “This partnership is huge. It’s a privilege to be working with Abu Garcia, Spiderwire and Berkley. When you think about fishing these are the big names that everyone recognizes. The partnership with these major fishing brands is one that holds a lot of promise. Their technologically advanced products will be a tremendous asset to me on the competitive circuits. I look forward to continuing a very successful relationship with the folks at Pure Fishing.”

This is the only "official" quote I could find.

[BigBassin144]

Originally Posted by Jrob78

This is the only "official" quote I could find.

Nice info, where'd you find this?

Now the only question is did he leave Daiwa or did Daiwa drop him?

BB

[TN_Bassin]

I doubt Diawa just up and dropped him. More than likely Ike's suggestions went unnoticed and he wanted a change. This is just speculation on my part.

[Jrob78]

http://http://www.bassfan.com/docktalk.asp?id=6881

I read on another forum that Daiwa dropped him, something about downsizing. Don't know if there is any truth to that though. Apparently Jimmy Houston left Shimano, who he's been with for like 30 years for the same reasons. He signed with U.S Reels.

[TN_Bassin]

With the economy down like it is, that is a likely scenario also. I haven't seen reel sales for last year but I can't imagine that they broke any records as far as sales. I wouldn't be suprised if this is true that a lot of endorsements and sponsers will drop a lot.


BTW: Your link is not working Jrob.

[bassinbob]

Wonder if he'll have both rods and a reel? Guess his series of Diawa rods didn't go over to well.

[Jrob78]

http://http://www.bassfan.com/docktalk.asp

Try this one, about half way down the page.

Well crap! Go to Bassfan.com and go to dock talk under the news section.

[nofearengineer]

www.bassfan.com/docktalk.asp?id=6881

[cassidyta]

I am just waiting for tacklewarehouse to clearance all of his diawa stuff.

[rodnreel]

Originally Posted by cassidyta

I am just waiting for tacklewarehouse to clearance all of his diawa stuff.

Right on cue. They have his signature series rods on clearance for $100. I've heard these are pretty solid rods and would consider getting one myself, but I'm trying to save every penny for a new boat. They have his finesse jigs on sale as well if anyone is interested.

[nmanley]

Nothing like a good bargin over a name huh. Yeah baby!!

[Bassboss]

I thought it was odd too. Ike really stepped down in in quality IMO. Not only in his rod and reels, but line and lures.

And since he was using daiwa RODS too, does that mean he'll be using Garcia's rods too? Will Ike really be fishing with a Vendetta?! I'm curious too see if Garcia makes him his own signature like they did with reese.

[Bassboss]

I got some info Viva facebook!

Here's what he had to say.

"In all honesty Daiwa cut 2 of its pro staff and I was one of them. Don't really know why?
I'll be using Abu rods and reels this year and working on some new prototype Ike rods!!!!!!
Thanks,

Mike"

[BigBassin144]

Originally Posted by TN_Bassin

I doubt Diawa just up and dropped him. More than likely Ike's suggestions went unnoticed and he wanted a change. This is just speculation on my part.

Originally Posted by bassinbob

Wonder if he'll have both rods and a reel? Guess his series of Diawa rods didn't go over to well.

Another rumor I've heard was Daiwa is dropping him because he didn't use his signature series rods and preferred the L&T series.

Originally Posted by Bassboss

I thought it was odd too. Ike really stepped down in in quality IMO. Not only in his rod and reels, but line and lures.

And since he was using daiwa RODS too, does that mean he'll be using Garcia's rods too? Will Ike really be fishing with a Vendetta?! I'm curious too see if Garcia makes him his own signature like they did with reese.

I wouldn't say he stepped down in quality. The quality of the big three (Daiwa, Shimano, and Abu) should all be on par with each other. Performance wise, he may have stepped down a bit with rods and reels (from steez rods and reels), but maybe not if it's true he mainly the used Daiwa's L&T series. As for reel, I do like Daiwas a bit better, but Abu makes some great reels.

As for line and lures, I know he was already signed on to pure fishing companies for lures, and I think he was for line also. That's why I didn't surprise me that after he left Daiwa (or whatever happened) that he is moving to Abu. I'm assuming he'll still have his sponsorship from Tru Tungsten as well.

BB

[jasonfish320]

I think there's a lot of speculation floating around, personally I believe it's money related. These guys are self promoters and business men, sure they got where they are with plenty of hard work and now that they are there they want to make the most out of the opportunity. I have read Ike's book and it's pretty self evident that after he won the classic in '03 that he became a lot more about the money.

In this current economic situation (which is getting worse before it gets better) almost every private sector business is cutting back and if you pay attention to boat sales and fishing license sales you can see the writing on the wall. The fishing related companies must make cuts to survive. My guess is Daiwa wanted to re-negotiate some term that would impact some benefit for Ike, whether it was pay or otherwise and Ike didn't like it.

[Bassboss]

Originally Posted by BigBassin144

Another rumor I've heard was Daiwa is dropping him because he didn't use his signature series rods and preferred the L&T series.



I wouldn't say he stepped down in quality. The quality of the big three (Daiwa, Shimano, and Abu) should all be on par with each other. Performance wise, he may have stepped down a bit with rods and reels (from steez rods and reels), but maybe not if it's true he mainly the used Daiwa's L&T series. As for reel, I do like Daiwas a bit better, but Abu makes some great reels.

As for line and lures, I know he was already signed on to pure fishing companies for lures, and I think he was for line also. That's why I didn't surprise me that after he left Daiwa (or whatever happened) that he is moving to Abu. I'm assuming he'll still have his sponsorship from Tru Tungsten as well.

BB

True, the Big three are pretty much on par with each other. But I really don't think that a Skeet Reese revo can compare to a Daiwa steez (what he was using mostly). The price range variances are just to great. They probably have about par quality as far as price range reels are (a 200 dollar Garcia will probably be about on par with a 200 dollar Daiwa).

Originally Posted by Jrob78

Abu makes great reels but they don't have anything that can touch a Steez, which is Ike's primary reel.

Exactly.

[carolina-rig-01]

Originally Posted by Bassboss

True, the Big three are pretty much on par with each other. But I really don't think that a Skeet Reese revo can compare to a Daiwa steez (what he was using mostly). The price range variances are just to great.

So because Diawa charges more for a reel that makes it better than the Revo? If that's the case then you should buy gas at the station that has the highest price because it must be better gas lol. Granted I think when comparing 2 products that are very similar we tend to assume that the highest priced product must be the better choice, but that kind of thinking can lead you astray and I still say that is mainly why there is so much hype over the Steez. If someone says they have the most expensive reel on the market your first thought is that it must be the best reel on the market but that isn't the case.

[Bassboss]

Originally Posted by carolina-rig-01

So because Diawa charges more for a reel that makes it better than the Revo? If that's the case then you should buy gas at the station that has the highest price because it must be better gas lol. Granted I think when comparing 2 products that are very similar we tend to assume that the highest priced product must be the better choice, but that kind of thinking can lead you astray and I still say that is mainly why there is so much hype over the Steez. If someone says they have the most expensive reel on the market your first thought is that it must be the best reel on the market but that isn't the case.

I see what you're saying, but as a general rule, a reel that's 100 dollars more than another is probably gonna be better.

Look at it this way, if you had an unlimited amount of money, and if you where gonna buy two reels one 100$ one and one 200$. But you knew nothing and could know nothing about these two reels, which would you get if preference was your goal.

btw, I would never buy a Calais DC.