Well obviously Ron Kusse is one of them 
…who do you think are the other nine?
“GET THE DRIFT?”
Mike Clark without question.
At least in my opinion.
Jim Beasley (sp) is another one.
At least in my opinion.
Ken
Probably a very difficult question to answer because there are so many doing a great job. I would definitley say that Ron has found a home in infamy amongst the legends. I wouldn’t even beging to try to classify the top ten but I can witness the work of several that I have dealt with. Thramer, Bacon, Zietak, the beautiful work of “Denver Dave”, Jim Beasley, Mark Fitch, and a South American Marcello Calveillo (sp), and many many more that have taken the works of the old masters and value added to their teachings to create some of the best on earth.
can you JUST imagine what the old makers would have done with the technology that is available today in technique, adhesives, finishes? WOW
My vote is for a little known builder Jerry Drake—of course years ago Bill Edwards gave me “Quad”
Bill
Not in any order
Kusse
Darrell Whitehead
John Bradford
Bob Summers
Per Brandon
Thramer
Dave Colyer (Denver Dave)
Wayne Cattenach
chuckle
This top 10 limited for North American builders? I guess no split bamboo rods gut built elsewhere 
Here are my two additional candidates:
Tom Moran (England)
Guenther Henseler (Germany)
Cheers,
Hans W
=== You have a friend in Low Places ===
http://www.danica.com/flytier
Here are my top 10 in no particular order:
Ron Kusse
Marc Arnor
R. D. Taylor
Per Brandin
Bob Summers
Jeff Wagner
John Zimny
Glenn Brackett
John Bradford
Walt Carpenter
I have no clue who the top 10 are. I’ll use Ray’s list, he seems to know quite a bit.
Getting on anybodys top 10 list would be an accomplishment. You would have to spend years working in a dusty shop, build a few hundred (or even thousand) rods and not make one mistake on any of them. Make tapers that a lot of people like to cast and fish and certaintly not be in it to make a top 10 list.
I have met a few rod makers and I will say I like every one of them. They are special prople, skilled, patient and true artists.
I don’t own very many cane rods but the ones I do have I know personelly the maker. Evertime I fish one of these rods I feel a kinship to them.
[This message has been edited by Buzz (edited 25 June 2005).]
Hmmm…
Another vote for Zietak, I’ve one of his quads … an absolute joy to fish.
Mike D. [url=http://battenkill.tripod.com:3d21b]http://battenkill.tripod.com[/url:3d21b]
[This message has been edited by Mike_D (edited 25 June 2005).]
Hans…you know I love the Europeans…also where in my post did I mention only North American builders
“GET THE DRIFT?”
I haven’t had the opportunity to check out the rods of 10 different builders, but I do know from personal excperience that Charles Jenkins of Denver and George Maurer in Kutztown, Pa. make absolutely superb rods. The Jenkins are Garrison Tapers and Maurer’s are eclectic. Maurer was previously a luthier and a cabinet maker.
Do they have to be living?
Steve Weiss
Ron Kusse
Alan Kube
Jeff Wagner
Glenn Brackett
Gary Lacey
Mike Clark
Jeff Hatton
John G.
Albuquerque, NM
It’s neat to see everyones choices and how they are different by where in the country they live. I quess we all like the guys closest to us.
John Channer…Durango, Colorado
“…so many fish, so many flies…do I have enough time?”
Mike,
Hans…you know I love the Europeans…also where in my post did I mention only North American builders
You did not limit your question to North American builders. I was commenting on the responses
Fine, even great, split bamboo rods and rodmakers an come from anywhere. Quality knows nought of manmade bounderies.
Cheers,
Hans W
=== You have a friend in Low Places ===
http://www.danica.com/flytier
And being of limited cane opportunities, I’ll have to mention one Joe Perrigo who I guess is no longer in business.
And this spring time I had the chance to cast a Homer Jennings rod that impressed me enought to plunk down some “moolah”…
Jeremy.