Rod Making Philosophy
I thought I would take this space to tell you a little more about my philosophy towards certain topics of rod making, so that you can perhaps get a better understanding of how I approach the making of fly rods.
Price: People sometimes ask me how I can offer custom, hand made fly rods at the prices I offer them at. Well, I work hard all the time to find the best components (reel seats, ferrules, etc) at the best prices. This doesn't mean "cheap" as these components are still pricey. No, what I mean is that I look for the best value among the components that are, in my mind, among the best available. In rod making, the cost of making a rod can add up very quickly. By looking for the components that are top quality & the best value, I can pass those small savings onto you. By offering some levels of rods at a lower price, I do two things. First, I encourage those who are new to my custom fly rods a chance to purchase one without as large of an investment as perhaps other rod makers. Second, I make custom rods available to more people. I can accommodate those that want a hand made fly rod, but don't have the money to buy one someplace else. Of course, that's not always the case. Many folks want a fly rod with more expensive components & more embellishments, which naturally makes the rod more expensive. I try to offer rods at every possible price level to accommodate as many anglers as possible.
Made in the USA: As much as possible, & without compromising quality, I will make my fly rods from components that are made in the U.S.A. This is not always easy or possible. Sometimes the best rod making components are not made in America. For example, the best cork in the world comes from Portugal. The bamboo that all modern bamboo fly rods are made from grows only in a small region of China. You cannot get it from any other place. Japan & Britain dominate the market of silk thread that all my rods are wrapped in. However, all the reel seats, ferrules, winding checks, etc I use are made in America. Whenever, among the best components, I can choose American made components I will. The pipe in the rod tubes I use as well as the cotton flannel of my rod bags are also made in the U.S.A. I do this to support American companies that choose to manufacture in America & so you know that by buying a rod made from me you are doing the same. I have lived my entire life in the "rust belt" region & I am well aware of the consequences (both economic & social) of jobs leaving the United States.
Trust: Purchasing a rod and / or having one made for you are personal decisions. You might at first feel a little apprehensive about it, especially if you're buying a rod from someone you've never met face to face. If you've ever felt that way, I completely understand. That's why I've tried to eliminate as much doubt as possible from my clients when it comes time for them to lay down their hard earned money. I give everybody a period of five days to return a rod to me if they're not happy with it for any reason. That gives you plenty of time to look the rod over, put a reel on it, & lawn cast it for a while. Should the rod not be at all what you wanted & you hate the thing, you've got five days to tell me you're sending it back to me. When I get the rod back & see that you haven't abused it or used it as a fly swatter, I give you you're money back. The only money you stand to lose is the cost of shipping the rod. If I made a mistake on your rod (misspelled your name, for example), you let me know and I'll make it right. My payment policy is usually half when you order, half when the rod's done. I understand things happen & sometimes people need time to get the money together, that's why I work with clients individually to meet their needs. I want my clients to trust me. I never sell or share your contact information with anybody, no matter what. Your dealings with me remain between you & me. I like to look at my relationships with my clients as a sacred trust.
Every rod maker has their strengths & weaknesses. There are some things they do better than others. To tell you otherwise would be a lie. That's why there is so much variety in the custom rod market. I make rods primarily for trout, bass, & pan fish. If you ask me to make you a rod that I feel is not within my field of knowledge or expertise, I will point you to a rod maker that can make the rod you want. I would much rather have you get the rod you want than to disappoint you. I want you to have a good experience interacting with me so that, even if you don't buy a rod from me, you might be inclined to recommend me to other anglers.
Some rod makers have long waiting times for delivery of a rod. It could take two years or more for you to get your rod from the time you ordered it. Now, some rod makers are truly just that busy that they have long wait times. However, some makers wait & let their orders pile up before they start making any rods. Then they knock them all out at once, sending out many rods at the same time. I don't do that. I make rods on a 'first come, first served' basis. I'm always working on rods, not sitting around waiting for orders. This means that you get your rod sooner. That's good because I make these rods all by hand & it takes a while (9 to 12 months). If I make a mistake, it might take longer. Rather than leaving you hanging, I'll let you know.
Giving Back: I am always inspired by the folks who donate their time & expertise to help others. There are many people out there who selflessly give of themselves to do good work through the sport of fly fishing. I’m grateful for whatever abilities I might have as a rod maker. Many kind people have helped me out when I needed it & I feel an obligation to pass that good will along to others. That’s why I donate, on average, at least one rod a year to a group or charity I feel uses fly fishing to help other people. I’m also very willing to help any aspiring rod maker or angler when I can. I answer all my email, letters, etc. If you have a question & I can answer it, I will. I encourage all anglers and/or rod makers to contact me anytime.
I have always made my living with my hands. Rod making is no different. I have been fishing with a fly rod my entire life & am in love with the sport. I have the same feelings about making rods. The way time seems to pass gently when I’m standing in a stream with fly rod in hand is also experienced when I’m making a rod. That feeling inspires a spirit of calm goodwill that I want to share with other anglers. Rod making, for me, is how I do that.
Price: People sometimes ask me how I can offer custom, hand made fly rods at the prices I offer them at. Well, I work hard all the time to find the best components (reel seats, ferrules, etc) at the best prices. This doesn't mean "cheap" as these components are still pricey. No, what I mean is that I look for the best value among the components that are, in my mind, among the best available. In rod making, the cost of making a rod can add up very quickly. By looking for the components that are top quality & the best value, I can pass those small savings onto you. By offering some levels of rods at a lower price, I do two things. First, I encourage those who are new to my custom fly rods a chance to purchase one without as large of an investment as perhaps other rod makers. Second, I make custom rods available to more people. I can accommodate those that want a hand made fly rod, but don't have the money to buy one someplace else. Of course, that's not always the case. Many folks want a fly rod with more expensive components & more embellishments, which naturally makes the rod more expensive. I try to offer rods at every possible price level to accommodate as many anglers as possible.
Made in the USA: As much as possible, & without compromising quality, I will make my fly rods from components that are made in the U.S.A. This is not always easy or possible. Sometimes the best rod making components are not made in America. For example, the best cork in the world comes from Portugal. The bamboo that all modern bamboo fly rods are made from grows only in a small region of China. You cannot get it from any other place. Japan & Britain dominate the market of silk thread that all my rods are wrapped in. However, all the reel seats, ferrules, winding checks, etc I use are made in America. Whenever, among the best components, I can choose American made components I will. The pipe in the rod tubes I use as well as the cotton flannel of my rod bags are also made in the U.S.A. I do this to support American companies that choose to manufacture in America & so you know that by buying a rod made from me you are doing the same. I have lived my entire life in the "rust belt" region & I am well aware of the consequences (both economic & social) of jobs leaving the United States.
Trust: Purchasing a rod and / or having one made for you are personal decisions. You might at first feel a little apprehensive about it, especially if you're buying a rod from someone you've never met face to face. If you've ever felt that way, I completely understand. That's why I've tried to eliminate as much doubt as possible from my clients when it comes time for them to lay down their hard earned money. I give everybody a period of five days to return a rod to me if they're not happy with it for any reason. That gives you plenty of time to look the rod over, put a reel on it, & lawn cast it for a while. Should the rod not be at all what you wanted & you hate the thing, you've got five days to tell me you're sending it back to me. When I get the rod back & see that you haven't abused it or used it as a fly swatter, I give you you're money back. The only money you stand to lose is the cost of shipping the rod. If I made a mistake on your rod (misspelled your name, for example), you let me know and I'll make it right. My payment policy is usually half when you order, half when the rod's done. I understand things happen & sometimes people need time to get the money together, that's why I work with clients individually to meet their needs. I want my clients to trust me. I never sell or share your contact information with anybody, no matter what. Your dealings with me remain between you & me. I like to look at my relationships with my clients as a sacred trust.
Every rod maker has their strengths & weaknesses. There are some things they do better than others. To tell you otherwise would be a lie. That's why there is so much variety in the custom rod market. I make rods primarily for trout, bass, & pan fish. If you ask me to make you a rod that I feel is not within my field of knowledge or expertise, I will point you to a rod maker that can make the rod you want. I would much rather have you get the rod you want than to disappoint you. I want you to have a good experience interacting with me so that, even if you don't buy a rod from me, you might be inclined to recommend me to other anglers.
Some rod makers have long waiting times for delivery of a rod. It could take two years or more for you to get your rod from the time you ordered it. Now, some rod makers are truly just that busy that they have long wait times. However, some makers wait & let their orders pile up before they start making any rods. Then they knock them all out at once, sending out many rods at the same time. I don't do that. I make rods on a 'first come, first served' basis. I'm always working on rods, not sitting around waiting for orders. This means that you get your rod sooner. That's good because I make these rods all by hand & it takes a while (9 to 12 months). If I make a mistake, it might take longer. Rather than leaving you hanging, I'll let you know.
Giving Back: I am always inspired by the folks who donate their time & expertise to help others. There are many people out there who selflessly give of themselves to do good work through the sport of fly fishing. I’m grateful for whatever abilities I might have as a rod maker. Many kind people have helped me out when I needed it & I feel an obligation to pass that good will along to others. That’s why I donate, on average, at least one rod a year to a group or charity I feel uses fly fishing to help other people. I’m also very willing to help any aspiring rod maker or angler when I can. I answer all my email, letters, etc. If you have a question & I can answer it, I will. I encourage all anglers and/or rod makers to contact me anytime.
I have always made my living with my hands. Rod making is no different. I have been fishing with a fly rod my entire life & am in love with the sport. I have the same feelings about making rods. The way time seems to pass gently when I’m standing in a stream with fly rod in hand is also experienced when I’m making a rod. That feeling inspires a spirit of calm goodwill that I want to share with other anglers. Rod making, for me, is how I do that.
Below are a few of my thoughts & advice on how to choose a custom rod maker & choosing your first bamboo fly rod:
With so many choices out there, I'm honored each time someone picks me to make their fly rod. I know you have many large tackle manufactuerers & other independant rod makers out there to choose from. I recommend all anglers own at least one rod made by an individual rod maker, even if you choose another rod maker besides me. I'm not so naieve as to not recognize that there are other excellant, trustworthy folks out there making rods like I do. But with so many folks out there calling themselves rod makers, how do you decide which one to do business with? Here are some things to consider when searching for a rod maker to make you a custom rod:
Obviously, you should look for a rod maker with a good reputation. Bear in mind though that reputaion isn't everything. The rod maker you're considering might not have a reputation at all, - especially if they're up & coming. That's okay. You might find that you can get a great rod at a much lower price from a maker who's trying to establish themselves. Also keep in mind that in today's world of the internet & annonimity on the web, one bad apple might say something negative about a rod maker they never would have said in person. Don't let one bad report spoil you on any business.
I think you're going to enjoy the process of buying a rod from a rod maker if you find a someone you connect with. So interact with the different rod makers who's work you're interested in. These days this is mostly done by email or over the phone. Contact them & ask questions - even questions you think are dumb. You deserve answers to any questions you have. If you're considering having this individual make a rod for you then you should feel comfortable contacting them. keep in mind that if you're buying a rod from someone, you're not bothering them by asking questions from time to time.
It's your money & you deserve good customer service. That means in addition to answering all your questions, the rod maker should never pressure you into buying, never ignore your requsts, & keep you updated about the progress of your rod as it's being made. Wait times are something you'll have to contend with when having a rod made for you. Some rod makers have longer wait times than others. Many times this is because some makers sit around waiting for orders to pile up so they can fill them all at once & make rods by the batch. For some makers, their work is in high demand & they can truly be back-ordered by a year or two. No matter what the situation, the rod maker should inform you of how long you'll have to wait & keep you updated as the time goes by.
I would suggest, no matter how "big" a name someone has, that you never buy a rod from someone who acts like they're doing you a favor by making a rod for you. No one is that good. Treating clients by anything less than fair is a sign of an unprofessional, regardless of how long they claim to have been making rods. In addition, immediately dismiss any rod maker who implies that you don't know anything. It's your rod. You'll be the one fishing with it, not them. Remember that old saying, "the customer is always right"? A good maker will want to offer suggestions to you & will tell you if they think you might be making a mistake with your choices, but in the end they will always leave it up to you & give you what you want.
So I recommend that you look for a rod maker who is kind, friendly, & helpful. Look for someone who's going to treat you like a friend & not just a paycheck. You not only want to be happy with the rod you're buying, but also with the process of having it made for you. If you find one of the many rod makers who strive to treat their clients honestly & fairly, you'll more than likely have also made a friend.
With so many choices out there, I'm honored each time someone picks me to make their fly rod. I know you have many large tackle manufactuerers & other independant rod makers out there to choose from. I recommend all anglers own at least one rod made by an individual rod maker, even if you choose another rod maker besides me. I'm not so naieve as to not recognize that there are other excellant, trustworthy folks out there making rods like I do. But with so many folks out there calling themselves rod makers, how do you decide which one to do business with? Here are some things to consider when searching for a rod maker to make you a custom rod:
Obviously, you should look for a rod maker with a good reputation. Bear in mind though that reputaion isn't everything. The rod maker you're considering might not have a reputation at all, - especially if they're up & coming. That's okay. You might find that you can get a great rod at a much lower price from a maker who's trying to establish themselves. Also keep in mind that in today's world of the internet & annonimity on the web, one bad apple might say something negative about a rod maker they never would have said in person. Don't let one bad report spoil you on any business.
I think you're going to enjoy the process of buying a rod from a rod maker if you find a someone you connect with. So interact with the different rod makers who's work you're interested in. These days this is mostly done by email or over the phone. Contact them & ask questions - even questions you think are dumb. You deserve answers to any questions you have. If you're considering having this individual make a rod for you then you should feel comfortable contacting them. keep in mind that if you're buying a rod from someone, you're not bothering them by asking questions from time to time.
It's your money & you deserve good customer service. That means in addition to answering all your questions, the rod maker should never pressure you into buying, never ignore your requsts, & keep you updated about the progress of your rod as it's being made. Wait times are something you'll have to contend with when having a rod made for you. Some rod makers have longer wait times than others. Many times this is because some makers sit around waiting for orders to pile up so they can fill them all at once & make rods by the batch. For some makers, their work is in high demand & they can truly be back-ordered by a year or two. No matter what the situation, the rod maker should inform you of how long you'll have to wait & keep you updated as the time goes by.
I would suggest, no matter how "big" a name someone has, that you never buy a rod from someone who acts like they're doing you a favor by making a rod for you. No one is that good. Treating clients by anything less than fair is a sign of an unprofessional, regardless of how long they claim to have been making rods. In addition, immediately dismiss any rod maker who implies that you don't know anything. It's your rod. You'll be the one fishing with it, not them. Remember that old saying, "the customer is always right"? A good maker will want to offer suggestions to you & will tell you if they think you might be making a mistake with your choices, but in the end they will always leave it up to you & give you what you want.
So I recommend that you look for a rod maker who is kind, friendly, & helpful. Look for someone who's going to treat you like a friend & not just a paycheck. You not only want to be happy with the rod you're buying, but also with the process of having it made for you. If you find one of the many rod makers who strive to treat their clients honestly & fairly, you'll more than likely have also made a friend.
How To Choose Your First Bamboo Fly Rod....A Primer.
You've been fly fishing for a while & wondered about bamboo rods. You've heard great things about them & their traditions. You've even had the opportunity to wiggle or lawn cast a friend's bamboo fly rod. You have come to the conclusion that you want a bamboo rod yourself, one of your very own. As you begin to look into buying one, you realize just how many choices there are available to you & instead of finding answers, you've only ended up with more unanswered questions. You're afraid of a worst case scenario: you spend a lot of money on a rod that you won't like.
First off, forget all the old stereo types you might have heard about bamboo rods being heavy, slow buggy whips. Modern rod tapers, glues, & construction techniques allow us to do all kinds of things with bamboo today. Because of these developments in design & construction, a bamboo fly rod can be made with just about any type of character or action that you can imagine. There are very few, if any, limitations to bamboo as a rod material these days. In other words, as you begin your search for your first bamboo fly rod, don't worry about bamboo not being able to do what you want it to do.
Narrow your choices in rods by deciding how you'll use the rod: where, how, type of fish you'll be catching, etc. Then you'll know exactly how you want the rod to perform. If you need help deciding these things, contact a rod maker. A good rod maker will be more than willing to answer your questions & help you decide what you want in a rod.
Cast as many bamboo rods as you can. Go to sporting shows & fly shops & ask to wiggle a few different bamboo rods. Do some research on the internet & ask other anglers what they think about bamboo fly rods. The more input you can get, the better. Keep in mind that bamboo is a natural material. No two rods will ever be exactly the same - even production rods of the same make & model.
There's two main routes to go when buying your first bamboo fly rod:
1.) Buy a used rod, either production or by an individual maker, based on your budget.
2.) Employ a rod maker.
If you know that you're going to eventually have a rod made for you someday, then it makes sense & it's cheaper in the long run to wait until you've decided on a particular maker for your first rod. Ultimately this is the best way to go. Remember, having a custom rod made for you is more than just having your name written on the rod. A rod maker can tweak a rod taper for the rod to do exactly what you want it to do. To hire a rod maker, it's worth the wait.
Most rod makers offer different levels of rods at different prices. This means that in many cases, you can have a rod made for you to meet your needs at a cost the same as (or less than) some used upper-end production rods.
So when choosing your first bamboo fly rod educate yourself. Don't be afraid to ask questions - even if you think they're dumb. Contact as many rod makers as you can , ask them all your questions, & compare their answers. Finally read about bamboo rods. Here is a short list of books I feel will help you learn more about bamboo rods & give you an idea of how to go about finding your first bamboo fly rod.
1.)"Fishing Bamboo" by John Gierach.
2.) "Splitting Cane" by Ed Engle.
3.) "Casting A Spell" by George Black.
First off, forget all the old stereo types you might have heard about bamboo rods being heavy, slow buggy whips. Modern rod tapers, glues, & construction techniques allow us to do all kinds of things with bamboo today. Because of these developments in design & construction, a bamboo fly rod can be made with just about any type of character or action that you can imagine. There are very few, if any, limitations to bamboo as a rod material these days. In other words, as you begin your search for your first bamboo fly rod, don't worry about bamboo not being able to do what you want it to do.
Narrow your choices in rods by deciding how you'll use the rod: where, how, type of fish you'll be catching, etc. Then you'll know exactly how you want the rod to perform. If you need help deciding these things, contact a rod maker. A good rod maker will be more than willing to answer your questions & help you decide what you want in a rod.
Cast as many bamboo rods as you can. Go to sporting shows & fly shops & ask to wiggle a few different bamboo rods. Do some research on the internet & ask other anglers what they think about bamboo fly rods. The more input you can get, the better. Keep in mind that bamboo is a natural material. No two rods will ever be exactly the same - even production rods of the same make & model.
There's two main routes to go when buying your first bamboo fly rod:
1.) Buy a used rod, either production or by an individual maker, based on your budget.
2.) Employ a rod maker.
If you know that you're going to eventually have a rod made for you someday, then it makes sense & it's cheaper in the long run to wait until you've decided on a particular maker for your first rod. Ultimately this is the best way to go. Remember, having a custom rod made for you is more than just having your name written on the rod. A rod maker can tweak a rod taper for the rod to do exactly what you want it to do. To hire a rod maker, it's worth the wait.
Most rod makers offer different levels of rods at different prices. This means that in many cases, you can have a rod made for you to meet your needs at a cost the same as (or less than) some used upper-end production rods.
So when choosing your first bamboo fly rod educate yourself. Don't be afraid to ask questions - even if you think they're dumb. Contact as many rod makers as you can , ask them all your questions, & compare their answers. Finally read about bamboo rods. Here is a short list of books I feel will help you learn more about bamboo rods & give you an idea of how to go about finding your first bamboo fly rod.
1.)"Fishing Bamboo" by John Gierach.
2.) "Splitting Cane" by Ed Engle.
3.) "Casting A Spell" by George Black.
©2010 - 2024 Chris Lantzy, Custom Rod Maker