The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

I think your question has many parts but I will start with shopping and testing. These days news about new fly rods travels fast. I go to fly shops and shows and cast rods to get an idea how they cast. It’s hard to judge a rod this because the quality and condition of the demo lines can alter you perception of the rod. Rods fish different than they cast in a parking lot. I think Sage will win the parking lot contest where Scott performs well on the water. I think some of the new rods are nice but I don't feel they are worth the $$$ or that much better than what I have purchased over the years. We have a problem with how the prices have jumped over the past few years for rods and lines.

Over the last 5 years I have only purchased 2 rods at full price. One was in 2005 for my first Alaska trip and the other was this year for a Spey rod for my 13yr old son. I used to wait for rods lines to close out and buy them when they are 30-50% off. What’s the rush to get the new stuff hot off the press? Any rod out there will get the job done it's just a matter of how much effort you need to make it work and how much pleasure you get out of it.

With the current pricing schemes on rods 30% off will not even get me interested. I have been using e-bay to buy older models in mint condition for 1/4th the price of a current model. I have always liked the Sage Sp and recently have been picking them up on e-bay. I was in the market for a 8 wt and was able to get one for ~$200.

I think what you need to do is think back to the time when you when you had a rod that made your heart sing. For PT it was the Scott G-series and for me it's the Sage SP. Then go search e-bay and classifieds for deals on great classic rods. Old Bamboo rods never go out of style and the same should be true for graphite. Times are tough right now and that’s why we can't justify throwing down the big bucks for a rod. Unfortunately some are letting go of their treasures to make ends meet. At some point the rod manufacturers have to get the message that they have gone to far.

Sage once sent me a survey asking how much less a rod should cost with out the lifetime warranty. I was disappointed since the highest choice I could pick was like 11-12% which I felt was way out of the ballpark (too low). I have no plans to purchase new rods at the current pricing when I can get 4 to 1 by other means.

Good Luck,

Jet

I thought guides get pro discounting on rods? Even at 50% off you it's still not an easy decision!