Yesterday I visited an Outdoor Provision store near my hometown. I was looking at several different rods from different companies in an attempt to cast the rod that I wanted to purchase if they had that particular rod. As usually, here comes the salesman as one is holding the rod and trying to see how it feels in your casting stroke. You can see the “dollar signs” in his eyes as he approaches his prey, which was me. He asked me what I was looking for exactly. I was looking at a 5 weight RS3 which happened to be a four piece rod. I have always had a biase like our dear friend, Al Campbell who we all loved so much that neither I or Al were fans of multi-piece rods. I like the 4-piece RS3 5 weight rod, but I asked the salesman if he had the same rod in a two-piece. Or maybe even a four weight RS3 in a two piece. His response was "we do not order anything but multi-piece rods here at this store. I felt as a consumer that I had suddenly been “slammed” very hard. He went on “his salesman jag” that the problems with multi-piece rods were no longer any problems like they once were. I quietly left the store disenfranchised with the only fly fsihing store near me had discounted a customer based on their wishes of what they were comfortable with. I personally love 2 piece rods. 4 piece rods are more heavier in feel than 2 piece. Is the salesman’s statement true, are 2 piece rods “dying” or are stopres just buying 4 or 5 piece rods because they are little more expensive than 2 piece rods. Please tell share with me dear friends if my bias is not well founded in construction of fly rods. I personally think the multi-piece rods is a little heavier. Is the slighty heavier rod a good trade-off for ease of transport. I would appreciate anyone’ help on this issue of 2-piece vs. four piece.
He should’ve offered to order the rod you wanted. I had a fly shop here in Ohio order me a four-piece in the model I wanted, because they only had a two-piece.
Two vs. four piece shouldn’t matter if you’re buying a quality rod. In my opinion, the portability of a four-piece outweighs any drawbacks.
Well… He was somewhat right.
Just as an example, the Sage 590 weighs 3.25 oz and the Sage 590-4 weighs 3.5 oz. That’s only 1/4 oz, but it is something.
I prefer 3 or 4 piece rods myself because I have to drive a good bit to get to fly water and the multi-piece rods fit in the car better. 
But, yes, he should have done what you wanted…
Just the view from here…
This is just a guess but I’d bet that not only are multi-piece rods a better mark-up but they are also cheaper to ship.
I like 2 piece rods better myself
Less pieces that can break :roll:
Dear wcu boy,
Speaking only for myself, I will never purchase a 2 piece rod again unless it meets one of the following two criteria, 1) It is a vintage rod, bammboo, fiberglass, or graphite that is no longer made that I want to add to my collection, 2) It is an inexpensive rod that I want to purchase primarily for use as a back-up.
If I am buying a modern rod for more than $ 100.00 it will definitely be of a 3 or more piece design. In my opinion the bias towards multi-piece rods should have expired at the same time the aluminum ferrule expired. Even back then the portability and storage advantage was often worth whatever compromises one imagined a multi-piece rod had.
You and everyone else are of course entitled to your own opinions on this, but no one will change my mind. I have sold every 2 piece rod I ever owned and replaced it with a comparable 3 to 5 piece rod except for some rare rods that are not available in multi-piece versions.
Best Wishes,
Avalon
I have both and will probably never go back to two piece rods, but I can understand where you are coming from. You might consider a multi-piece rod for your next rod just so you have the option of increased portability. They are great when you want to hike in or take it on a plane. Or even just toss it in with a bunch of other stuff for “just in case” moments. I think you would likely appreciate having a rod that is so portable. I don’t find that the multiple ferrules bother me and as to weight, well my rod has a hard wood handle so the multipiece means nothing to me.
Adam
P.S. The sales guy should have been much more helpful, sorry that happened to you.
I have enough 3-4 pc rods to cover most situations. I also have plenty of 2 pc rods. If I like a rod the number of pcs it has is my last consideration.
As Avalon suggested some rods just are not available in more than 2 pcs. I could not imagine not buying a Orvis Far and Fine (my favorite trout rod) cuz its not available in 3-4 pc…that would be idiotic.
I agree that the problems with multi piece rods seems to have disappeared. I love all of mine and would not go back. They fit anywhere and are great for travel. Only exception is a 7’ piece of 'boo that is a 2 pc. rod.
Other than that comment its too bad they would not consider ordering one for you if you were committed to buying it.
jed
I own one 4 piece 6 weight rod and the other 5 rods are all 2 piece. My personal preference is a 2 piece rod. I just like them better. I do not feel, with a quality rod, that there is any difference in the rod action between 2 piece and multi-piece rods. If I should live long enough to actually retire and have enough income to do any traveling to fly fish, I will probably own more multi-piece rods. As it is now, my fly fishing is limited to here at home with 2 rivers and 4 lakes within 20 miles of my home.
Whether 2 piece or multi-piece is for you will need to be your choice. There are just as many pros and cons for both, so, you do what best fits you. Somewhere down the road you will own many more rods! I am sorry that the salesman that you had did not know more about customer service.
The salesman should order one for you. I would shop elsewhere.
I also prefer two piece rods. I do not fly to fish, a two piece fits nicely in my truck, and it is easier to assemble/disassemble.
Unfortunately in this post 9/11 world of ours I think two piece rods will slowly disappear due to carry on luggage restrictions.
That being said, I have lots of 3+ multi section rods that I travel with and a plenty of two piece rods I fish locally with. One of my favorite rods is the 8’0" 4wt 2 piece Winston Tom Morgan Favorite. I’d buy it again in a heartbeat if I had to.
As far as the action being affected, I don’t notice it. As far as the weight difference, when a half an ounce or so makes a difference to me, I’ll worry about it.
The biggest advantage of two piece rods is the usual lower cost versus a 3-5 piece rod. Hey, if you like the rod, like the price, and the broken-down length isn’t an issue; buy what you want!
Generally speaking, Orvis rods are my go to choice in graphite. There are a number of reasons for this, no need to get into the pro-Orvis or anti-Orvis thing.
Given this fact, I find it interesting that I have never broken an Orvis two-piece rod while fishing (car doors and minor rod repairs gone wrong are a different matter).
I have never NOT broken an Orvis 4 piece rod within two hours of the very first time using it. They have always broken in the butt section while actually fishing.
Go figure.
I’ve got 2 and 4 piece rods, but I like the convinence of only putting 2 pieces together. Easy to line up the eyes, quick to do.
Why have to deal with more parts unless you need to travel with the rod on a plane?
Less pieces mean less to lose, less to break, less to come apart, less to get stuck… its simple!
I like my two piece rods better than my 4 piece rods… they have a better “feel”… but then again, my newest rod is almost 10 years old.
I love my 4 piece rods because they work much better with a backpack on a hike in. They are also easier to get through the airport - as mentioned above. However, if I’m driving or only have short walk in to the stream, I prefer my 2 piece rods… some help I am, huh?
WCU
IMHO it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. I know, you ask for an opinion on the subject. But to me it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. If you prefer a 2 piece then buy 2 piece rods. I really don’t see a question here. I don’t care what anyone else thinks. If I like the wine I drink it. If I don’t, I don’t care if it is $75 a bottle, I don’t drink it. I do understand the question though. Is a two piece better than a four or vice versa. I just don’t think it matters.
Meangst while…I also prefer 2 piece rods and won’t buy anything else. But I only travel in my truck, or truck with 30’ toy hauler. So the 2 piece is not an inconvience for me. The 4 piece rods I have I leave two sections connected and put them in a rod case long enough for the two sections.
Two piece blanks better NOT go away or I will be one mad guy.
Just an opinion. One man’s feast is another man’s fodder.
OOOPS, I forgot to say something. You said you “quietly” left the store disenchanted. This I would not have done. I would have politely told him what “I” thought about the issue and his store before I left. Perhaps too many people “leave quietly” and perhaps a lot of salesmen THINK they are making a positive influence toward a sale. Perhaps they deserve, have a right to know, what you really think, and then they have better knowledge to draw on in their data bank.
Gemrod
If you prefer a 2-piece rod then the salesperson should have offered to order one up for you instead of blowing you off. Being a hook manufacturer I see this all the time . . . the shops sell what they have and not what the consumer wants. Obviously a shop simply cannot stock and sell everything but that is where the distributors come in.
If a customer walks into a shop and wants a specific item the shop does not stock most shops will not take the time to listen to the customer and make an attempt to get them what they need.
Case in point . . . we get calls and emails all the time from consumers and they usually read like this . . .“Hello, I went into my local fly shop to pick up some Mustad XYZ hooks and the shop told me they could not get the hooks and wanted to sell me ABC brand instead.” 99.99% of the time that shop buys their supplies from Rumpf or Wapsi Fly, both large fly-fishing distributors who stock a full selection of Mustad and Partridge. This means that a quick email or phone call and the product the customer wanted would be in the shop in a few days and the customer would be happy. Instead, the shop employee is actually telling the customer, “You are not important to us, buy what we have or go away.” That’s it in a nut shell.
Customer service has been on a downward spiral for years now. Certainly there are exceptions (thankfully) but there simply aren’t enough of those exceptions around. The sad thing is that with all the mass merchants out there now, the smaller specialty shops truly need to step it up and offer stellar customer care to keep their customer base. I know that many anglers have no problem paying a bit more as long as they know they are getting treated well.
Excuse me while I carefully step off my soap box now . . . : )
I’m a multi-piece guy myself and I’ve found the rods perfectly acceptable (to me) and flying over 100,000 miles per year I need rods that are easy to travel with.
Ain’t it the truth! I’ve lived with this issue for years.
I am lucky enough to live 30 minutes from Rumpf. Now when a fly shop doesn’t have what I want, I ask them if they deal with Rumpf and I pay them and pick it up at Rumpf myself. It works well for me when they are willing.
Sorry to hijack the thread.
I think that shpping goes on weight also (besides size) therefore I don’t believe that a 4 piece would be cheaper to ship (in fact I know it isn’t from working in a fly fishing store)
As far as less pieces to break…what difference does it make? it is still broke whether 2 or 7. 8)
onceI am on the water I give no thought whatsoever to the configuration of my rod. I just want to fish. Can’t say I prefer 2 over 4 or 3. I just feel fortunate to be able to own them all.
Paul
A few years back I built myself a four piece 9wt.
Broke it the first day out, butt section near the ferrule.
Got myself another blank and rebuilt the rod. Busted first day out again. Second section at the same ferrule
Third try…third section broke :evil:
Same rod (sort of) three different sections broken.
I now have a Frankenstein rod (different sections, different colors) that works just fine, but I can’t help but think that a two piece rod would have been less trouble