Ken you are dead wrong about everything you just wrote. I can build a
better rod in every way than any factory. Have you ever had a reel seat
come loose, guide finish cracking, guides come loose or fall out, cork
thats all pitted. On my rods thise things dont happen ever. My rods are
built with single foot ceramic fly guides that are better in every way
and cast further than any rod with snake guides. My rods are fitted to
the caster not the other way around. My guides are placed where they
should be, not set to some standard placement that means nothing
because every blank is different even in the same model. When you bend
the blank it shows you were the guides need to be placed to keep the
line off the blank for better distance. I can make my rods any color I
choose, I can do feather inlays, butt wraps, use the best glue, finish,
the best components money can buy. (the factory doesnt do that) Seems
to me all factory guys come from the same mold and its and old mold, if
you are still fishing any rods with snake guides you are way behined
the curve. All you are paying for in a factory rod is a warrenty and
you are getting a product that is set up for the average guy with
average components and is of average quality. I can tell you have never
fishied a good custom rod or your opinion would be different, come to
the Penns Clave and I'll show show you a real fly rod. Bruce Fisher