Searching for the right fishing rods for your needs can probably seem overwhelming at times. There are tons of elements you have to consider and lots of options on the market which can make narrowing down your choices seem impossible. Plus, the market is densely packed with competition. How are you going to even decide which possible models to look at more closely?

When it comes to fishing rods, one way to narrow the field is by focusing on certain manufacturers. One of the best names in fishing rods happens to be Shimano. Let's look at some of the reasons why they are such a force to be reckoned with in the world of fishing.

History of Shimano

The Shimano Corporation was first founded back in 1921 in Sakai - a city located in the Osaka area of Japan. They have a long history of excellence and, in fact, in most of the world their name is the first one on the lips of fishers who are interested in the highest quality equipment possible. It makes sense that a company from Japan - a country known for doing a lot of fishing - would be the ones to create some of the best fishing rods on the market.

Of course, fishing rods are only part of what they do. The largest part of their business is in cycling where they are known for outstanding innovations that have led to some of the best cycles on the market and have earned them a reputation unparalleled by anyone else in the field. That's because the company's main focus has always been on precision engineering - a must for cycling and for creating the best fishing equipment possible.

Fishing Rods & Shimano

With their success over the last eight decades, Shimano has managed to expand by leaps and bounds. Today, they have headquarters around the world. In fact, it's their Irvine, California headquarters which is responsible for most of the work on the fishing equipment. They currently employ more than 75 people who are dedicated to doing nothing except creating improvements to the current line of exceptional fishing rods. As a result they have produced some impressive technology, including High Efficiency Gearing.

Shimano Success in Fishing Rods

Don't be surprised if Shimano isn't a manufacturer you've come to know for fishing rods because the North American market actually represents only about one-fifth of their entire market in this industry. However, over 40% of their sales come from Europe, and they dominate the Asian markets, including China and Singapore, with their top-of-the-line fishing rods and other products.

Of course, the proof is in the money. In 2005, Shimano earned $1.4 billion in sales. About one-fourth of that total came from the sale of their fishing rods. Those numbers are steadily increasing as more of the world begins to embrace Shimano as the only name in fishing rods.

Purchasing Shimano Fishing Rods

If you have a hard time finding Shimano fishing rods, look for an online dealer, such as Sea Isle Tackle. They have a good supply of their equipment.