I've got rods at both the higher and more moderate price points, and I've cast a lot more. My observation is that the top-of-the-line rods are better. To me they feel lighter, crisper, and have a lighter swing weight. They're just a little more pleasurable to cast. But they're not twice as good. If the best fly rod in the world cost $800 and is a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10, then most $500 rods are a 9, and $250 rods are about a 7-8. The point is, you start to pay a lot for a very minor improvement.

It's all part of the tackle manufacturers' strategy not to leave any money on the table. There are those among us for whom money is no object, and they want to spend it on their passion. So the manufacturers have to offer them the opportunity to do that. The good news is that today's mid-price rods are so great.