Kai,
Talk this over with the builder(Mike).Let him know exactly what your going to use the rod for.He is considered one of the best in the country. You describe what you wan’t he’ll make suggestions together you’ll build a great rod.
If I had to choose only 1 rod for small to med streams. It would have to be a 7 to 7’6" 4-5 wt.
Hope this helps
Tom
You obviously haven’t seen one of Mike’s rods. Kai, whichever rod you choose, it will be WELL worth the wait. They very seldom show on the used market(which should tell you something!!)
test a couple is a great tidbit of advice - actually should be done with any rod one purchases.
Bamboo seems to have a misnomer of wimpy, fragile, etc … well … sure - for the price one pays, they’re the Shelby Mustang of rods.
But yes, you will get hooked on bamboo (like all things fly fishing once you look). I started down the bamboo road just over 6 months ago, and am now into making my first.
Don’t wait - there’s lots of bamboo rods out there waiting for you …
Some of you have warned me that one bamboo rod may not be enough. This looks like it may be true already, even though I don’t yet own a single bamboo rod.
Thinking that 4-5 years is a long time to wait for my first bamboo rod, I found another local rod maker, a guy named Joe Arguello. I heard he makes nice rods, and the wait time is only 6 months or so. I paid him a visit, and tried out some of his rods. I fell in love with a beautiful 7 foot 2 piece 3-weight rod that seems perfect for small streams. I’m having Joe build me a rod just like that one. The good news is that I will have it in time for next spring’s fishing. The other good news is that Joe was truly a very nice guy, and visiting with him was fun. He clearly takes his rod building very seriously, and the rods I saw were things of beauty. He gave me pointers on my casting technique too.
http://jea-bamboo-flyrods.com/
I am still going to order a rod from Mike Clark at South Creek Ltd. With the smaller, 3 weight Arguello rod on the way, I’m now leaning toward a somewhat heavier “all rounder” for the Clark rod that I can use for backpacking trips, where I fish both big and small waters.
Edit:
I visited Clark’s shop this morning. He recommended an 8 foot 3 piece 5 weight. After casting a couple of rods, I chose the stiffer/faster of the two 8 foot rods I tested. We then went back to the shop, and filled out the specification chart. I got to pick out the exact piece of burled rosewood for the spacer. It’s got lots of character to it. It will be a long wait, but I now will have something to look forward to as I get 5 years older.
Thanks everyone for all the advice.
Thanks for the advice. I’m going by his shop next week to stream cast some rods to help me make up my mind. (His shop backs to a creek.)
I wanted to have things narrowed down a bit before I try out the rods, however.
I’m leaning toward a 7 1/2 foot or 8 foot in a 4 weight.[/quote]
I also fish the area - I live in Boulder. You cannot go wrong with 7 1/2 4wt. Excellent rod for the Big T, and not so overpowered for the small streams and creeks that crisscross our area. It’s a very versatile size that is great for basically every river in our state. I have used mine on everything from the Colorado, to the Pan, to the Blue to the South Platte, and around a hundred smaller waters in Colorado. No one rod can do everything, but you seem to be on the right track to getting a rod that will be great for our area. As for MC and South Creek Ltd, I have bought a reel or two from him, and some time when I have a bit more disposable income I hope to own one of his rods. To me, they look like really great casting machines, and unique pieces of art. I’m sure yours will be awesome.
But FOUR YEARS? Hell, place an order, and then buy three or four less expensive rods of different tapers - then by the time Mike is ready to start work building yours, you will have a better idea of the kind of rod you want him to build for you. Believe me - no need to wait four years to get into cane, especially in CO, where there are a lot of good makers and dealers of used rods. And hell, think of all the fishing days between now and then that you could be enjoying with a nice cane rod in hand!
My definite favorite for small to midsize streams (most of what I fish) is a three piece 7’9" 4wt. A good maker should still be able to keep this rod very light in the hand while avoiding the noodly tendencies found in some long / light line wt. rods. As you get into cane you’ll notice two major factors determining price 1)quality and 2)collectability - sometimes they overlap. You don’t have to wait five or seven years to get a quality rod although if that’s the rod you want, then that’s what’s important. You’re doing right by looking around and seeing for yourself what you like. I’m sure Joe will have a five year waiting listing one day and then you will have made a really good investment!
Bill O.
Kai,
Just to add to your interest. I have a handful of very good cane built by some experienced craftsmen and have another one or two in the build now. I’ve discovered my prefs. for cane actions etc.
After attending a little local cane get-together ths weekend I bumped into a Granger Special, courtesy of a couple of friends. Never before would I have considered an old rascal like the one I bought.
All-metal reel seat, production rod, yada…yada. But when I put the line on her I found as fine an action as any of my other rods…just right!
She’s no beauty and she’s refinished (better than new) and I had trouble with those lime green wraps initially (I DID!!) but man, does she feel nice to cast. That’s what’s most important.
Amazing Kai. Look around and talk around. You’ll come to finding some nice fishing rods!
Jeremy.
Well, I have three bamboos on order now. The 7 foot 3 weight from Joe Arguello due in 6 months; the Mike Clark South Creek rod due in 4-5 years; and I just ordered a 7 foot 10 inch 5 weight from Wayne Maca of Beaverhead Rods in Montana, due in 12-18 months.
So, I’ll have my first bamboo this coming spring, the next one about a year afterward, and the Clark rod quite a while afterward. That’s not a bad thing, really, as the Clark rod requires the biggest investment in time and money, and when he finally comes to building my rod, I will have a better idea of what I want in a bamboo, and can adjust the specifications if necessary.
Just as a car company thinks they build the best car, a bamboo rod maker will think his is the best rod. Nothing wrong with that. You need to have the opportunity, try out the rod of your dreams before you pay for it. Yes, Tonkin is good for fly rods, but it is also good for rug rods. Good luck, Jonezee
I second the Elkhorn. If you ever put a used Elkhorn bamboo rod for sale here, it would be gone in a New York minute.
In the mean time, get an Elkhorn. You will have a very nice cane rod to fish with and something to compare those ‘fancy’ rods with when/if they show up. And just think, you will not have taken any chance that you fell for any hype; there isn’t any with Elkhorn. 
I found an Elkhorn rod leaning against a tree at the Mi FI (I found out later it belonged to Jack Hise)…I picked it up and cast it. Very nice casting rod.