Details
By Jeffrey D. Wagner
At a recent show, I was approached by a shopper who
was somewhat bewildered after noticing that there were
cane rods offered for sale at vastly different prices. Essentially,
he wanted to know what separates an $800 cane rod from
one selling for much more. I wish I could have offered a
quick and pithy response, but the reality
is the answer can be very complex.
First, he noticed there are vintage cane rods by
the past masters that sometimes fetch almost unbelievable
prices. In my opinion, this can lead people to believe that
all vintage cane rods are worth a lot of money or that
collectible rod prices are in and among themselves a
reflection of quality. This is not always true because
vintage rod prices are based to some degree upon the
relative rarity of a particular maker's work and not strictly
on quality. Like artwork, prices demanded for a rodbuilder's
work can climb steeply upon their death. Too bad
they are not around to see the windfall.
Leaving aside the work of makers not fortunate
enough to still be with us, that leads us to discuss contemporary
builders. In general, prices for rods reflect the old adage:
There's no such thing as a free lunch. In most cases
what you are paying for is the sum total of the maker's
skill, experience, time and materials. From time to time
you may be able to find a maker's work that is vastly
underpriced considering the above factors, as well as
some that might be considered overpriced given these
guidelines. Generally the makers who have been at it
the longest and who have trained for years to reach
the pinnacle of the craft, price their work accordingly and
justifiably so. Even the highest priced of these rods still
represent an extraordinary value given the amount of
time it takes to make a fine rod, the cost of materials
and maintaining a shop, and the years of experience
invested in dedication to the craft.
As an aside, some part time builders can and
do produce good work. Their pricing philosophy may
reflect the fact that building rods can be an enjoyable
way to spend their free time. Because they may not be subject to the
same economic pressures that a full time builder has,
they may be able to set their prices a bit lower. On the
other hand, experience is gained by doing the work over
and over again on a regular basis with an eye toward
constant improvement. Practice makes perfect.
Many people who believe that cane rod prices
are too high have no comprehension of the costs associated
with building rods as a profession. In addition, people
may have a mental picture of the cane rodbuilder as a
lone craftsman, laboring quietly in their shop and living
the life of a solitary artisan. The reality is that rodbuilding
is subject to all the economic laws of any business. It is
just as likely when visiting a rodbuilder to find them
attending to mundane chores or filling out tax forms
then working at the bench.
Few fishermen realize that 10% of the wholesale
cost of any piece of their fishing equipment goes directly to
the Federal government. This excise tax is collected and
reallocated back to the states for conservation. In
addition there are all the other typical taxes: Federal,
State and Local Income taxes; Federal and State
Unemployment taxes; Corporate Income taxes; Social
Security and Medicare taxes; State Worker's
Compensation taxes; Personal Property taxes; and
State Sales taxes. When one takes into account all
of the other costs associated with running a rodbuilding
business(advertising, materials and equipment, shop
overhead, etc.) it is a wonder that contemporary cane
rodbuilders even exist! Cane rodbuilders who have
survived these economic realities have not only paid
their share of taxes, they have paid their dues.
Time and materials are money! It is simply not
possible to make a high quality rod cheaply or quickly. Notice
that I didn't say that a functional cane fishing tool can not
be made at a reasonable price. Many people are of
the school that a fishing rod is a fishing rod, and they
get no argument from me. After all, before cane rods
became elevated into an art form, they were first and
foremost a tool to fish with.
Painstaking attention to details and careful
workmanship takes time. And time is money. Our
philosophy is this: if we are going to spend forty or
more hours of our lives building a rod, why not do
the best we can with the finest materials we can find?
We believe this guiding philosophy helps us to build
an outstanding product.
~ Jeff Wagner
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