I've picked up quite a few cane rods from garage sales and swap meets, places like that.

I'm only interested in fishable rods, or rods that can be restored to fishable condition, so collectors value means nothing to me.

Some of them fish really well, others are not so good. But all of them were cheap (most I paid was $5). I enjoyed the search, and the ones I won't ever fish will still be used for other things. Cane, even from 'junk' rods, makes a great handle for tools that turn into gifts for other fly fishermen friends, things like that.

Also, if you want to learn how to restore a rod that you are going to fish with, practicing on a junk one is a good way to keep from making the bigger mistakes on a rod you really want to use.

Like I said, though, I'm not a collector. I'm sure the collectors would be crying over what I do to the good rods I find.

Buddy