Alpha Fly Rod company makes domestic graphite fly rods, and they are dandy rods. One of their top of the line freshwater rods sells for $440. That price range is within the budget of several serious fly fishing enthusiasts, but considerably out of the budget parameters of the serious but frugal fly fisher. Myself included. Still it is a most effective rod. Along comes Beta Fly Rod company. They also make domestic graphite fly rods. Their comparable rods also do a most effective job of performing for the fly fisher. However, their sale price is $745. Here’s the rub with me;
Is the rod produced by the Beta Fly Rod Company so much better than the rod produced by the Alpha Fly Rod Company, that they can charge $305 more? These are not bamboo, they are mass produced graphite rods. Neither rod is bionic (lighter, faster, stronger, we have the technology), they are fishing tools. Is the main reason people buy the Beta rod that they get more oooh’s and aaah’s, or is it really worth that much more? What say all?
I think if you mentioned to some of the employees at a premium rod builder like Sage that their rods are “mass produced graphite rods” in a tone I think I hear in your post you might get an unfriendly argument back. I have toured the Sage facilities and their rods aren’t what I would classify as mass produced. Are they good enough to warrant a price tag of over 700 dollars? Apparently they are. I own several and so do many other people. Sage has been getting top dollar for their rods for sometime now. I would say they must be doing something correct whether that be producing a product deserving seven to eight hundred dollar per piece or good marketing. Something is working for them.
I knew I used the wrong words when I said mass produced. My point I guess is that a fly rod company can build a hundred graphite rods in the same amount of time it takes to make one bamboo. I know that Sage makes as perfect a rod as is possible. I just know that their rods will never be in my budget or in the budget of many more, and that makes me sad.
Who cares who’s name is on a rod? I never got caught up in the I have to have a (insert the latest trendy brand here) rod because it is the “best brand”. You should worry about how the rod casts in YOUR hands, not the name on the rod or what some marketing genius claims you need. Latley, I have been fishing rods that I have assembled or built myself, but I do own a few factory rods. I try to cast all of the latest factory rods at the shows that I attend and most of the time I am not impressed. Most feel like casting the late Caswell’s broomstick. One of my favorite factory rods is a Cabelas Three Forks…go figure.
Brad
So. Say you are standing up on a hill over a trout stream and you see two people fishing the stream. Both are seasoned fishermen. One has a $200 Cabellas rod and one has a $700 Sage. Can you tell which rod is which?
You come back the next day. Two new fishermen. One is an expert and one is a novice. Both are casting $400 middle of the line graphites. Can you tell which is the expert?
There is no right answer here. But how you answer these questions may be an indicator of which rod you own or would like to own. It’s your money. Spend it however you want. But Brad is right. Cast it first.
Beta Rod Company is closing out several rod series this year and many of those rods will be below the four hundred dollar mark, maybe you can afford one after all.
Sigma Fly Rod Companies 2013 Lineup and 2012 Close Outs: http://www.tridentflyfishing.com/blog/new-sage-2013-fly-rod-lineup-response-approach-circa
Don’t be sad, B^)
Dave
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If you’re a good caster, you can make anything with snake guides and a half-wells grip sing and dance; this person could realize the difference between Alpha and Beta and determine if the cost is worth it. If you’re a poor caster (my hand is raised here), you hope and pray the extra money spent on that fancy assemblage of carbon fibers suddenly turns those tailing loops and wind knots into 80 footers with a single false cast; better off spending the money on casting lessons.
Regards,
Scott
Honestly I dont know and dont care.
The beauty of a free market - build the item you want to build and sell if for the price you want to sell it. As long as it sells for that price then the company will remain in business. It doesn’t have to be special or better or unique or different.
You as the consumer have the choice to buy the expensive item or the cheaper item. You dont need to have any particular reason other than that is the one you want.
I dont get the point of trying to justify fly rod prices or purchases. i will never condemn a company for selling a rod at whatever price they want to sell it for. It is their business and their choice. But I also reserve the right to choose not to buy that particular rod. I also will never condemn (or envy) another person for their purchase of any rod no matter why they choose to purchase it. Heck if you think the color of the blank brings out the flecks in your eyes and that is enough justification for you to pay the price then good for you, glad you found something to make you happy.
Well said…
What he said:!:
Agreed, that is well said…but, I for one, will never spend that kind of dough for a stick of graphite.
Well here is a Sage I won’t even consider buying.
http://www.pitchengine.com/sage/sage-ups-the-ante-with-the-one-elite
Price: $1295
Wow Kerry, That’s like paying 64 cents for every year since Jesus was born.
Stepping on my soap box…
The cost of innovation:
It amazes me that folks will complain about the cost of an item that they will never buy. Especially when the complaint is based purely on price.
The reality is that most of the time, after some years have passed, the very technology that was funded by the first adopters now becomes inexpensive enough for those same individuals (who initially complained) to now afford the very same technology.
We see that happen repeatedly in automobiles, in flat screen TVs, household appliances, and, yes, in fly fishing. Butt over tip ferrules, multi-piece fly rods, sealed disc drags, machined and anodized reels, high modulus graphite, etc, etc. All were very expensive at first and now are affordable.
So if you complain or say that “you” would never buy an item, remember and thank those that will because they are ones that eventually pay down the cost of research and innovation that eventually makes the same item cheap enough for you to afford it.
Stepping off my soap box…
I don’t care if the price of a new, once was very expensive graphite rod, comes down to bargain level prices, I still wouldn’t buy it!
Just “me”. Multi-piece fly rods?? is that a new innovation??
I hope I can say this without offense…I don’t understand starting threads like this. There are all kinds of reasons people own things, and why does it really matter to anyone else? If you like the inexpensive gear and it does the job for you, why do you care if someone else is willing to spend $700+ for a rod? Conversely, if you own expensive gear, and someone else gets just as much pleasure fishing with his $100 oufit, isn’t that OK? If you prefer bamboo is it really necessary to act superior to those who don’t? Own and use what you like and/or what you can afford, and what makes you happy, and don’t worry about anyone else.
There; soapbox dismounted. C’mon everybody, group hug :D!
I’m going to jump in here again. Why, because there is a conversation about the cost of rods, reels, waders, pickup trucks or anything else some feel as if the conversation is contentious? I have enjoyed most of this thread and some of my contributions could be considered antagonistic, they weren’t meant that way. It is simply my opinion. I don’t consider them correct or superior just simple views from a fisherman. I hope others don’t completely agree and also encourage them to voice thier opinions. The world would be truly boring without diversity and discussions where all engaged have the same opinion would not be discussions at all. Just a bumch of people sitting around nodding thier heads in agreement which doesn’t work well on the internet.
Well, you’re right of course. But IMHO similar threads usually turn into the cheap equipment guys saying it’s dumb to pay that much for a rod, and the expensive guys (or gals) saying something like “if you understood the difference you’d understand.” But as you say, we’re all entitled to our opinion. I was just giving mine based on my history with these types of threads.
Kerry, not for a minute did I take any offense at your remarks. I once had the opportunity to cast a Sage Z-Axis. It performed better for me and my casting style than any other rod I’ve ever cast. The problem for me was that at $700 it was and still is completely out of my budget. Especially now that I’m no longer working. What I own now, is what I fish with and will continue to fish with. And yes, if I could find a Z-Axis for less that $100, I’d sell something and buy it. For now, I’m perfectly happy with my 8 1/2’, 4 piece, 5 weight, Ross Essence FW. No I didn’t pay the $220 they were asking for it. It was given to me by my daughter. My only question is and was, is that new $700+ rod 3 times as good as my $220 dollar rod? I really don’t think so.
Same here Kerry, I intend no offense to any other opinion.
I have some expensive rods (Scott and Winston) and some inexpensive rods (Cabela’s and Reddington). I’ve caught fish with all of them.
The Scotts (G2) are a joy to cast as is the Winston (BIIt). However, the inexpensive rods Reddington R2 I believe and Cabelas Traditional II are also a joy to cast.
Guess I’m one of those guys who likes a fine wine and a glass of beer just about the same.
Jeff