If you were to recently inhired cash, say $3500 range, and could purchase a lasting investment dream boo rod, that you would pass down to your son, in a 7-7'6 4/5 wgth with a medium type action(Winston WT or Scott G-2 more or less); which builder would you buy from???? I am really seeking serious help, not an easy question as it may be tough to test cast rods, would want an understanding craftsman willing to work with a rookie, as it would be an once in a lifetime purchase.

This is the rod I chose for the purposes you discribe.
It is a quad (4 sides instead of 6) built by Ron Kusse of Washingtonville NY
Mr Kusse was VP of Leonard for many years.
A master craftman, his work is flawless. This rod casts like a dream. It is a 7 1/2' for a 5.
It is made of nearly perfect pre-embargo cane.

The last I heard delivery on a Kusse rod was 2 years.

I think rods made by the likes of Orvis are overpriced and will probably decrease in value at least in the short term.

The reel is a pre Vision San Miguel

There are tons of great bamboo rod makers out there, and you don't need to spend $3500 for most of them.

For any custom rod, you are going to wait between 6 months and 5 years, with an average wait between 12 and 18 months. Some of the makers with really long waiting lists are 5 years out.

If you really have a budget of $3500, I would suggest that you buy a nice bamboo rod that is already made, and then commission another one.

If you haven't already seen his web shop, Len Codella has a nice range of bamboo rods available. I'd look for a brand new rod in the $1500 price range.

Here is his web page with his bamboo inventory. http://www.codella.com/binventory.htm

There are some really nice rods there from guys like Tom Nigro (who specializes in quads), George Maurer, Ted Simroe, Nick Taransky, and A.J. Thramer.

Buy ione of these, and you can fish with it right now.

Then take the other $2000 and commission another rod from another maker. Have him make it just the way you want it. That way, you can be fishing a beautiful bamboo rod while you are waiting for your commissioned rod to be finished.

Regarding commissioned rods, you could commission a rod from any of these folks and be happy. Out of all of them, Mike Clark at South Creek is by far the most expensive, and also has the the longest wait time for a custom rod, so you'd have plenty of time to save up the extra $$ required for one of his rods, if that's what you really want.

J.E. Arguello http://www.jea-bamboo-flyrods.com/ (beautiful rods, wait time of under 12months.)

"Denver" Dave Collyer http://www.denverdave.net/ (wait time of under 12 months, with mortised butt rods that are uniquely beautiful)

Tom Nigro/Spring Creek http://www.springcreekrods.com/ (wait time of under 12 months, specializes in quads and rectangle quads)

Wayne Maca/Beaverhead Rods http://www.beaverheadrods.com/ (wait time of 18 months; creates a uniquely "high tech" monocoque bamboo rod)

Chris Raine/Dunsmuir http://www.dunsmuirrodcompany.com/ (12-18 month wait, specializes in quads)

James Reams http://www.reamsbamboorods.com/ (3 year wait)

Mike Clark/South Creek http://www.southcreekltd.com/ (5 year waiting list; top end price too)

Nick Taransky http://www.taranskybamboo.com.au/ (12 month wait, beautiful, unique rods from an Australian craftsman at a reasonable price)

Tom Morgan. http://www.troutrods.com/

You don't need to look much further.

Oyster! Attention to detail is awesome on the Oyster Rods (he has a special price for guides also) I personally don't agree with the Orvis being over priced and resale value dropping. Ron White and Wes Jordan build beautiful and have been doing it for years.
Ron Kuss are fantastic also. Good luck on your choice.


Hey Bucko, I heard someone say that SHE felt that her Elkhorn was lighter than her New Ron Kuss. I almost choked on my coffee. Can we say Apples and LEMONS (meaning Elkhorn)
I can't help but wonder how Ron would feel about that comment considering he probably made the rod for her at a good price.