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Pricing Philosophy

   Making bamboo fly rods is an enjoyable passion for me. Each rod requires 50 - 80 hours of my time. I might easily spend that time in more economically profitable pursuits, but none would be quite so satisfying. Only faith and family are more important to me. Every rod is made to the highest standards I can attain.

   From start to finish, no shortcuts are taken.  The demand for precision and quality means a limited number of rods leave the shop each year. I strictly limit the demands on my time so that the temptation to cut corners never arises. 

   Quality work demands that no compromises are made in materials. Tonkin cane is carefully selected for each individual rod. Only the finest nickel silver hardware and ferrules I can make are used. Select hardwoods are used for reel seat fillers, each individually turned in my shop. Cork grips are hand-formed from the finest cork rings and custom shaped for each rod. Only the finest silks are used to wrap the best guides available. 

   My rod making specialty is three-fold. First, powerful, medium to medium-fast rods that fit today's casting styles and fishing requirements. Second, very light line bamboo rods in two and three weight formats. The tips are so fine on these rods that many modern makers are
reluctant to attempt making them. Third, hollow built rods have become so popular that about 1/3 of my rods are built hollow.

   The heart of a good rod is its taper.  Though I have developed my own tasts in rods and build only on my own tapers, much is owed to the classic tapers of Payne, Leonard, Young and Dickerson. I know my rods well; let me help you choose one you will enjoy. 

   I'm accepting orders for 2012.  Custom rods have been my forte' since the beginning in 1995.  Rods are available from six feet to eight and a half feet for lines two through eight.  The input of each client is sought in every design aspect of each rod, from cane and wrap colors to hardwood fillers to grip sizes and shapes. 
   Rods smaller than eight foot six weights feature shop made nickel silver downsliding reel seat hardware.  Rods eight feet in length and for line weights six and heavier offer the option of downlocking threaded seats as well.  Stripping guides are banded agate or other semi-precious stones.  Wraps are chosen to coordinate the color scheme of the entire package. 
 
  Two piece rods are $1695.  Three piece rods are $1995.

   Hollow building offers lighter weight without sacrificing strength for 7' 6" 4 weight and larger rods.  I hollow each section from butt to tip, and use internal tapers to make these rods great casters.  Hollow building your rod decreases the weight from 20-35%.  Charges for hollow building vary according to length, line weight, and number of sections.

Every rod I make comes with my complete guarantee of satisfaction. Though I can't offer the marketing gimmick of a lifetime warranty, I promise to stand behind my rods. If you break your rod, I'll repair it.  Repair charges are determined case by case, and I will try to keep them as low as possible.  As of Winter 2011 I have made over 350 rods and had only three repairs.  Each of those were due to rod owner's mishaps.