The Iconic rod range is set to appear back in shops probably in July and here is the back story to the modern Legacy rods from Daryl Hodges at Rapala VMC UK.
It’s hard to believe that 44 years ago the first carbon match rods were brought to market by Normark® Sport Ltd. What followed during the 80’s and 90’s fundamentally changed UK match fishing with many of those rods still very fondly remembered and sought after today.
Those exceptional rods are in the main, testimony to Omri Thomas and Geoff Salisbury, who are both well remembered in the fishing world and I am proud that I had a part to play as the Normark® Sales Director and later as MD during the Microlite, Titan and Avenger days. Sadly Team Normark® rods were discontinued in the very late 1990’s when UK distribution and development of Normark brands were the brief responsibility of Masterline.
Fast forward many years and imagine how excited I was to be approached by Rapala VMC UK (Previously named Normark® UK) to see if we could possibly repeat the very same research and development principles with the aim of making the best match rods possible, yet again.
Of course the Daimaru Kogyo Kaisha factory based in Oita Province in Japan is no longer trading - but the quality Torayca (Toray) carbon pre-peg they used is still available and benefits from another 30 years of development. Sadly, Omri passed away in 2015, and we lost Geoff in 2020, but their legacy definitely lives on in these new Normark® Legacy rods. They have been a long time coming but we had to ‘get it just right’ if we were ever going to bring them to market.
I am very proud to have been a member of Team Normark® back in the 80’s and 90’s, and it has been an honour and pleasure to have played a part in developing the new Normark® Legacy rod range.
Whichever one you choose I hope that you enjoy fishing with your new Normark® Legacy rod, and you can rest assured that it has been crafted with the same passion and skill as we dedicated to those famous rods 30 or 40 years ago.
We’re extremely proud and excited to introduce a specially designed and select range of Normark® Legacy match rods. Our aim back in 2019 when we launched this project was not just to copy, what are still widely acclaimed as some of the best float rods ever made, but to produce a modern-day version - incorporating many similar characteristics that Normark® fans will remember and love. However, at the same time we knew that we had to take advantage of modern developments in carbon fibre and importantly also consider the changes that have taken place in fishing in the UK in the last 30 or so years .
With John’s help and all of the previous rod plans and drawings, following the same thought processes, analysis and testing, we have been able to carefully craft what we believe are very special rods that are worthy of carrying the Normark® name. Of course, you would think that modern materials and production methods would make this a relatively straightforward task, but trust me, to emulate the classic Microlite, Titan and Avenger actions and feel has been a great challenge that myself, John and the rest of the team have risen to and one that I have personally thoroughly enjoyed.
The rods that you see today have evolved beautifully, but seasoned users of previous Team Normark® rods will recognise many similarities - maybe the action or the balance will bring back fond memories, but the Toray carbon and other materials used are as new as the Fuji fittings and guides.
Normark® Legacy range of rods are testimony to some incredible engineering and design plus a huge injection of passion, and I’m very excited to see and hear how you enjoy them. If their legacy lasts half as long as their predecessors, then we can be very proud that we achieved our objective to produce modern day Normark® rods that will maybe continue the legacy of Team Normark® for years to come.
I wish you the best times on the bank with your new Normark® Legacy Microlite, Titan or Avenger or maybe all three.
