Small Stream Rods, again

Really appreciated the info Walt posted a few months ago, but have some
questions about other rods.

Currently I have two 7' fiberglass rods. A True Temper Outdoorsman 5 wt.,
and a Featherlight 6 wt. Although the Wright &McGill Rod is finished a
little nicer, the True Temper is the nicer casting rod, with better action.
Still, I'd like a shorter rod for lighter weight line.

A friend has a Fenwick FF535 5'3" 5 wt., but that's still a 5 wt., and I'm
not all that impressed with how the rod handles.

The tackle shop has a couple of graphite 6'6" rods - a Diamondback 3 wt.,
around 130 bucks, and a Cortland CL 3/4 wt, around 100 bucks. I have a
Cortland CL 8'6" 5/6 wt. 4 piece pack rod, and it's a real beaut - great
action and casts super sweet, and picks the line up real nice. So I'm
thinking I might like the CL, but don't usually favor graphite.

On the fiberglass rod board, fiberglass blanks by Steffan Brothers in
Arizona are highly praised, and they make a 5'6" 1/2 wt., a 6' 2/3 wt.,
etc., IIRC. Around 120 bucks for the blank, plus a reel seat and handle.
Would make an easy winter project.

Anybody else have any additional thoughts abought *inexpensive* little rods?
I could buy an expensive rod, but then I would have to work, and then I
couldn't fish, and it just isn't worth it.

"Caughton LaBranche"

aka Timothy Juvenal