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Well, okay, there aren't any bad ones. Oh sure, there are
some that may seem bad to you, terrible even, but remember,
somewhere/someplace somebody made that rod and expected to
sell it. How bad could it really be?
I will agree that some fly rods look kind of yucky, wobble
in the middle when you wiggle them and really don't cast
worth a hoot. There are definitely better rods out there,
but to say a rod is bad is probably an overstatement. Some
fly rods are just a whole lot better than others.
This topic just came up on the bulletin board last week and
two posts, one right below the other, did not agree on a
certain rod. Not at all. One liked the rod. The other guy
thought it might have been the worst rod he had ever seen.
I agreed with both of them. Still do. I think they may both
have been correct.
Several years ago, not saying how many, I owned maybe the best
fly rod in the whole wide world. At least anyone coming to my
house who knew anything about fly fishing would have thought
so. Actually it was an Orvis cane rod. The price at the time
was pretty high, I spent eighty bucks for it, new. It had the
most absolutely gorgeous luster of any rod ever made. It was
impregnated. I loved it. Like I said, this was a long time back.
Did I know much about fly rods? Cane rods? Nope, didn't have
to. I had a wonderful fly rod and that was that. Mind you,
this was after owning a telescoping collapsible steel fly
rod, a used Granger and an H&I that I bought at a Montgomery
Ward store myself, new for three bucks. So, now I had a good
rod. How did it cast? That was not the point. That didn't
matter. Not at all. It was my first really good rod.
All sorts of emotions can get involved when that 'new fly rod'
thought process takes over one's judgement. Rationalization
is a chief culprit along with silliness, ego, false and real
pride, self importance and general common sense. To say it
really didn't matter how well the rod cast or 'fished' is
true. It didn't matter, at least not to me. Would it be my
choice to fish with these days. No. Was it a good rod? You
darn right it was and still is, where ever it has ended up.
I sold it with in a few years. Moved up to a rod that
actually did cast better. Some things do change.
My ability to cast did. I learned a few more things and got
better at it. I became able to get more out of a fly rod. My
fly fishing changed, widened to include different waters and
fly sizes and types. I needed more rods. I needed several
sizes. I liked the feel of the newer rods on the market. A
few years later I bought twin Orvis Madison's, one for me
and one for my wife, but that's a separate story. Different
(casting) strokes for different folks I guess.
There is one company that makes graphite rods, high priced,
extremely well fitted out but many on here would not be
caught dead fishing one. Way too soft and wimpy. Tailing
loops, can't cast in the wind and will not heave a big fly.
Others on here will swear that those rods are the sweetest
delivery system ever produced. Both opinions are most
likely right. One guys treasure is another's trash.
Another company makes a series of rods that some find nearly
impossible to load. Horrid things, way too stiff. But not for
the guys who want a very crisp dry fly presentation and the
ability to pitch a fly into a hurricane.
So, when your fishing buddy says he really likes a certain
company and the rods they make, especially the 'abc' ones
and the guru at your fly shop says the 'xyz' rods are the
only way to go, they probably are both right. The real
question is, which rod is right for you, and right where
you are now.
Now, as in how long have you been fly fishing. What kind
and size of flies do you use at this time? How much can
you really get out of a fly rod? Can you do the double-haul?
Do you need to? Any and all of the other questions and
perimeters that might effect your needs right now. Remember,
those needs will not remain the same. Things change. Your
requirements will change. Get used to it. You will change.
It is the way of fly fishing. It's what fly fishing is all
about. You grow into it. You grow with it. You grow old
living it.
And of all the fly rods you ever buy, have bought, or may
yet buy, there are still no bad rods. Just some better
than others. You got to love them all. The day you quit
believing that, you're on your way back to worms. ~ JC
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