New spey rod build

[luckybalbowa]

Well, I'm going to build a new spey rod, but I have a little problem.

I have casted a few rods that I could here in Utah and I found I really like the thomas and thomas two handers. But, they want almost $500 for just the blank. I have about... maybe.... $350 to spend on the blank.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a comparable spey blank? Unfortunately I'm going to have to do this partly blind because I cant go to my local shop and try a few spey rods out. So I'm going to have to depend on the input of others.

How is the sage z-axis? Burkheimer?

Oh, and it HAS to match up with my windcutter 789. Otherwise I really cant afford to do this.

[TallFlyGuy]

Try a Meiser rod. Go to the following link and scroll all the way down to the bottom.


http://www.meiserflyrods.com/s2hspey-series.html

Cheers

Justin

[gbeeman]

I second the Meiser recommendation. You won't be disappointed.

GBeeman

[Brett Clark]

iagree
Another vote for Meiser. In the final stages of building a 12'6" 4pc 7wt, the whole enchilada (blank, cork, reel seat, guides, tube, sock) went for $350.

[Coach Duff]

Meiser, Meiser and more Meiser. Coach

[luckybalbowa]

I have decided to buy a rod from Kerry Burkheimer. He's a pretty nice guy on the phone, plus there's nothing like buying from someone who lives in your hometown.

[TallFlyGuy]

Kinda funny,

4 or 5 of us reffered/recommended you to a Meiser, and you picked a Burkheimer rod.:confused: :confused: :confused:

Hope it works for you.

Justin

[luckybalbowa]

Kinda funny,

4 or 5 of us reffered/recommended you to a Meiser, and you picked a Burkheimer rod.:confused: :confused: :confused:

Hope it works for you.

Justin


Yeah, I know. It was neck and neck between meiser and burkheimer, but I had a couple of others talk about burkheimer's pretty dang favorably. Plus, as part of my research for my spey paper, I talked to kerry for a while and he's a pretty decent guy, also, he's a hometown guy (I'm from the 'couve), so how could I buy from someone else? :)

I appreciated all the input you guys gave, but no one really said anything about why they liked the meiser rods. Anyways, with the reputation between the two companies, I don't see how I can go wrong.

[Skilly]

You will be just fine. Both are good guys building great rods.

Skilly

[doublespey]

Hey TFG - have you ever cast a Burkheimer?? Just curious. I've cast many from both and can tell you that, for the price, Meiser is an outstanding rod. If price is no object, get a Burkheimer. :)

[TallFlyGuy]

Hey Doublespey,

I have to admit that I have never had the chance to cast a Burky rod. My overall impression is that they are just a "pretty" rod. I'm not aware of any major players in the speyrod industry that have put time and energy in helping design a certain model etc. I'm probably wrong, but that is just my overall impression.

Cost for me isn't really a factor. If I like it and want it, I'll sell another house to get it ;) ;)

[softwaterstructure]

I'm not aware of any major players in the speyrod industry that have put time and energy in helping design a certain model etc. I'm probably wrong, but that is just my overall impression.



kerry burkheimer has put time and energy into the design (lots!). that is enough for me. :rolleyes:

btw-how can you your overall impression of the rods is that they are just a "pretty rod" if you have never cast one?? :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

and i am not coming to kerry's defense because i own one of his rods because i dont. probably never will but the record has to be set straight.

[Will Atlas]

yeah, from my understanding burkies are as well built a rod as I know to exist. The best steelhead flyfishermen I know use them religiously. Not taking anything away from meiser (I might have to build myself a 6/7 if they're that cheap to build), but they're def. more than just a pretty rod.

[fredaevans]

Interesting that a small patch of southern Oregon and a dot on the map in so. Washington should have three of the finest rod designers in the world (Burkie, Meiz and Gary Anderson, Gold Hill, Or).

All three are excellent at designing rods, so it can become a 'you pays your money and takes your pick,' But double spey pretty well covers the ground on 'price.' That said, the vast majority of the rods built by these fellows are 'sticks' that you will actually use year after year after year and still say YES!!:cool:

Edit: Burkie is one of the few left that actually makes a rod from the ground up. If you get the chance to tour his "plant" in Washougal (sp?) it is well worth the time. The equipment you see on his web site (as brief and out of date as it may be) is still very much in use and (obviously) well maintained.

[luckybalbowa]

Interesting that a small patch of southern Oregon and a dot on the map in so. Washington should have three of the finest rod designers in the world (Burkie, Meiz and Gary Anderson, Gold Hill, Or).

All three are excellent at designing rods, so it can become a 'you pays your money and takes your pick,' But double spey pretty well covers the ground on 'price.' That said, the vast majority of the rods built by these fellows are 'sticks' that you will actually use year after year after year and still say YES!!:cool:

Edit: Burkie is one of the few left that actually makes a rod from the ground up. If you get the chance to tour his "plant" in Washougal (sp?) it is well worth the time. The equipment you see on his web site (as brief and out of date as it may be) is still very much in use and (obviously) well maintained.

After talking with Kerry, he offered to have me come over and visit his shop when I am home around christmas time. Trust me, that is one offer I will not pass up.

The fact he does everything in house was another reason for buying from him.

I have a feeling that I am going to have to build with a cts blank in the future from what everyone is saying.

[Steve Buckner]

The Burkheimers are an exceptional rods. Steve Choate won the world spey casting championship using one. I believe that some of the new Loomis rods are essentially based upon that design. I've cast a few of the Burkie rods, some single hander's and some double-hander's...truly excellent rods. Just because they're good to look at doesn't mean that they aren't excellent tools. Be sure to spend some time test driving one next time you get a chance.

Hey Doublespey,

I have to admit that I have never had the chance to cast a Burky rod. My overall impression is that they are just a "pretty" rod. I'm not aware of any major players in the speyrod industry that have put time and energy in helping design a certain model etc. I'm probably wrong, but that is just my overall impression.