Alpha Fly Rod company makes domestic graphite fly rods, and they are dandy rods. One of their top of the line freshwater rods sells for $440. That price range is within the budget of several serious fly fishing enthusiasts, but considerably out of the budget parameters of the serious but frugal fly fisher. Myself included. Still it is a most effective rod. Along comes Beta Fly Rod company. They also make domestic graphite fly rods. Their comparable rods also do a most effective job of performing for the fly fisher. However, their sale price is $745. Here's the rub with me;
Is the rod produced by the Beta Fly Rod Company so much better than the rod produced by the Alpha Fly Rod Company, that they can charge $305 more? These are not bamboo, they are mass produced graphite rods. Neither rod is bionic (lighter, faster, stronger, we have the technology), they are fishing tools. Is the main reason people buy the Beta rod that they get more oooh's and aaah's, or is it really worth that much more? What say all?