Mid price and up

[Bamboozle]

I haven't bought a graphite rod since 1995, at that time it was a low-end GLoomis Venture. Nice 8' 5wt handled everything I needed it to do, paid the princely sum of $195. Rod design was the same taper as the upper models but with less expensive hardware. The fish didn't care. On a few guide trips I've fished the guides low end Orvis rods, they were fine as well throwing dries and droppers on a medium sized creek.

Between it and a few other Orvis rods I doubt highly I'll ever buy another graphite rod for trout or bass.

Now BAMBOO....that's a whole different addiction! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Rediscovering graphite and later "discovering" fiberglass after decades of fishing nothing BUT bamboo is how I hit the lottery in regards to former "high end" graphite & glass rods.

My trip back fortunately started at my buddy's fly shop where I tried out and immediately purchased a Winston Tom Morgan Favorite. That led to the Winston DL4 series, probably the absolute sweetest rods, I ever cast or fished that HAPPEN to be graphite and later the Winston Retro fiberglass rods.

All were discontinued after only a few years, but they still command prices on the used market well in excess of what I paid in the early 2000's which makes me feel like a (lucky-a$$) genius... 😉

However, I much prefer graphite for warmwater, conventional & fly fishing. However, in the last several years I have bought and started fishing with bamboo spinning & casting rods which is whole other kick...

 

[dudemanspecial]

I haven't bought a graphite rod since 1995, at that time it was a low-end GLoomis Venture. Nice 8' 5wt handled everything I needed it to do, paid the princely sum of $195. Rod design was the same taper as the upper models but with less expensive hardware. The fish didn't care. On a few guide trips I've fished the guides low end Orvis rods, they were fine as well throwing dries and droppers on a medium sized creek.

Between it and a few other Orvis rods I doubt highly I'll ever buy another graphite rod for trout or bass.

Now BAMBOO....that's a whole different addiction! 🙂 🙂 🙂

I picked up a W&M Grainger Aristocrat 8642 over the winter that I am pumped about using this season. It's my second bamboo rod, my first is a 8.6" Heddon #14.

 

[Bamboozle]

If you go a bit older there are many good rods for not much $$. Over the past year I’ve picked up a raft of barely used, late 60s and early 70s, 6 to 8.5ft, fenwick and browning/silaflex fiberglass rods for around or under (some well under) $100 each. These weren’t top dogs, but they’re very nice and not so dear that I’d be too upset if I wrecked or lost one.

Fenwick & Silaflex fiberglass WERE pretty top dog in their day and @ $100 each, they appreciated in value which goes to prove their value.

If you love them and wreck one, you may end up being more upset than you think... 😉

 

[nymphingmaniac]

As I said, I am going to be picking up a new rod soon. Does FFP still allow lawn casting? I haven't been in there as much as I used to be, and I have always like Dennis, but I don't like the shop as much as I used to, either, when Steven ran it.

I can't see why they would say no. They don't carry as many brands as they used to. Orris and TFO.
they stopped carrying SAGE because I believe that SAGE (and others companies started) a "preferred vendor" program that make it hard for small shops to carry them. Also, when they change out models so frequently shops have to sell at a steep discount really cut into profit margins.

 

[wildtrout2]

Fenwick & Silaflex fiberglass WERE pretty top dog in their day and @ $100 each, they appreciated in value which goes to prove their value.

If you love them and wreck one, you may end up being more upset than you think... 😉

I still have a 1974ish Browning Silaflex 2pc 8.5' 5wt. Only fished it a couple times.

 

[Bamboozle]

I still have a 1974ish Browning Silaflex 2pc 8.5' 5wt. Only fished it a couple times.

I had a behemoth of Silaflex (9'0" 8wt) I bought for a song a gazillion years ago as NOS (from Eyler's) that I pared with a big-a$$ Medalist to fish in the salt.

My total catches were one snapper bluefish caught off a fishing pier in Virginia Beach (the locals wanted to kill me) and one seagull accidentally snagged on a forward cast because my buddies were pissing me off by feeding them bread...

Realizing my ineptitude as a saltwater fly fisherman, years later I sold the combo...

AT a profit...!!

 

[wildtrout2]

I had a behemoth of Silaflex (9'0" 8wt) I bought for a song a gazillion years ago as NOS (from Eyler's)...

That's where I got mine from too.

 

[CRB]

If the economy shits the bed a lot of the current fly rods/fly fishing goods will be on sale for at least 25-30% off. Look at the Great Recession boy there was some great deals to be found then.