Dave

What? You don't like rods made from plants, as in cane?

Boron IMO is a great rod material, but not in a trout rod. Glass these days in a good rod is pricey. The Classic Trout Carbon rod is hard to pass up.

The Classic Trout Redington comes in an 8'6" or 9' (4) pc

The 9 footer packs into a 30 inch rod tube (included) which should be no issue as carry on.

The M60 would make a good partner for the rod.

My friend out in Washington State swears by Temple Fork rods, and I like them as well, they're good rods for the $

Between TF and the CT, I'd rather the CT as IMHO it's a prettier rod.

I found you one on "Evil Bay", Brand new 9' 4 weight $149.95 delivered to your door!  That's where I get mine. The reel I have in stock $75 for you. Need line and backing? WF4F & backing $25

There, that was easy

Dave

Myself, given a choice, I'd go for the CT, but both rods are good rods.  In quality I'd give the vote to Redington. Sage owns the name and as you know, they do it one way, right.  If the $25 really does go to the DAV that carries a lot of weight. But, all to often I find that $5 goes to the cause and $20 goes for administrative fees. Not saying it's the case here, but I always get nervous about that stuff.

Cane rods. Every man that fly fishes should have at least one. In the 5 years I studied cane rods all the builders here and abroad have managed to build in a mystique that can boggle the mind. I believe that comes under the heading of salesmanship.

Make no mistake about it, a man who builds from the culm up is going to put a lot of time and energy into making a great rod. Does it warrant the price?  Will the rod fish and cast better than say a $600 rod? Only the user of the rod can answer that question once he owns it and uses it.

I have a lot of customers that own cane rods in the $2400 to $4000 range, the big names. And 99.99% of them don't fish with them for fear of breaking them, or getting them stolen. PA seems to be famous for that.  Seems if you stop to take a leak, when you get back to your truck your gear is gone.  I know of a lovely deterrent to that, but that's another story.

I deal in cane rods, some beautiful and wonderful casting rods that most can't put down once they flip line with one.  If you went and pulled out all the stops and added all the exotic bling that's available I still don't see it going over $600.  On average $400 to $475.

You can pretty much spec a rod from Andy in as far as taper, length, cork grade, reel seat, and wood. Agate stripper, NS ferrules and on and on. Standard rod comes with two tips which you do want.

I just sold this one, a 7' Dickerson Taper in a 4 weight to a gent in PA, a Clergyman as a matter of fact, and he has called already three time in complete bliss. Guy has a similar one in CO and he loves his as much. Oh, this one sold for $395

Great cane rods can be had for sensible money, you just have to do business with the right people

Quote by: Dave V

Now did you say these rods were made from scratch or were they a blank someone put the hardware on.  I would like a 4wt Sir  7 1/2  footer  if they are from scratch Would you say mid flex or full flex would be best ?

 

Lord Dave, if Andy ever heard that he would have an out of body experience   He does em from the ground up with the best Tonkin cane in the world that comes out of that one single province in China. Takes right about 4 months  for him to make a rod. He will not rush anything through.

He does swelled butts on his rods, something I really really like. It gives the rod a nice feel in the hand and looks just pissa.

As to the taper and flex, the tapers are pretty much the ones that have stood the test of time. The Dickerson, Payne 100, Orvis, Winston, Hardy, and the list goes on and on.

That's going to be the hard part for you, picking a taper and action. Depends on your casting style and what you want the rod to do.  Have to see if I can come up with some descriptions on the tapers, maybe that will help.