Has anyone an opinion of the Highland Mills, Teastick, et.al. rods? I have an 8' Teastick. Seems to be pretty good fished with a 6 wt. Is there something
wrong with these rods, or is it just prejudice? I have no axe to grind.. just want some IMHO's. I intend it as a gift to my nephew as a learning piece.
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Chinese Imports
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 aquabonito |
Chinese Imports |
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Posts: 986 03/01/2009 20:12 Angry Andy |
"You can't make new old friends"
 Andy
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pvansch1 |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 4398 03/01/2009 21:41 Moderator |
If it works and catches fish.... It's doing what it was made to do.
Many of the early Zhu rods were not up to the quality of the present rods being made in China. Most of the beef came from improper use of current makers names on the rods which was very wrong on their part. Deceiving to it's origins and maker. Pete |
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 Marty |
#2 | |||
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Posts: 33 03/01/2009 21:43 |
I confess freely and fully my opinion is 100% based on prejudice. I have never cast one. I have spent the last many years as a buyer for various retail chains
and have watched so many solid american companies be forced out of business by market forces and for business reasons had to play along (although I have always
and will always prefer purchasing from American companies even if they are a bit more expensive there are just very few left in my line of work). I see bamboo
rods as the last bastion (or one of the last bastions) of real true handmade craftsmanship. So I will not play with either the rods or the silk lines. As a
learning rod for your nephew ( a noble endeavor any way you look at it ) I am sure it will be a great rod and bring joy to both of you.
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oneculm |
#3 | |||
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Posts: 486 03/01/2009 22:56 |
I cannot say Andy as I have never seen or cast the newer ones. I would base my opinion on what they are now and not what might have happened in the past. If
anyone plans to attend the get together in Townsend Tn. this spring and has one , I would like to look it over.
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Tim Anderson |
#4 | |||
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Posts: 18 03/01/2009 22:58 |
I have not tried one of the Chinese rods, but perhaps we should be a little careful with our prejudice. After all, we builders are using Tonkin cane from
China and are not prejudiced against the cane being imported to the US. Think what it would be like if they cut us off from their raw materials!
Tim |
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gearboy.fiberglassflyro... |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 61 03/02/2009 08:47 |
I agree with Tim. All bamboo rods are essentially "made in China" .
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Buck Henry |
#6 | |||
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Posts: 219 03/02/2009 09:47 |
gearboy wrote: Kind of reminds me of the old argument that the Mexican built VW Beetles were inferior to the German made Bugs. Heck, we can also throw in the recent migration of UK made fly reels to the Orient to the debate. Same specs, same materials, same process.... but are they really the same? |
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FWdB |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 271 03/02/2009 10:41 |
A bamboo rod is made by hand, isn't it? At least most of it is, still. No machine has been invented to take care of the complete production proces. A
craftsman is a craftsman, some are bad, some are good, some are better, and a fine rod is a fine rod.
Bamboo rods are made all over the world, Europe, Asia and the USA, and if it's a good rod, it shouldn't matter where it comes from, unless there's other reasons, beyond the objective, involved. Wilfred de Bruijn
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Salish |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 145 03/02/2009 14:48 |
I bought one of Zhu's rods on ebay and I've had it about a week. I've only lawn-cast it but it seems to cast very well. An accomplished bamboo
rodbuilder friend has examined it thought it was pretty well done for the money. This is a 7ft 4wt. I was initially thinking of this as a gift, but I like it
enough that I might keep it myself. Do I feel funny about buying it over the internet from a factory in China? No more than I would have had I bought a Granger
by mail order back in the 50's. I have yet to receive the silk line from China.......
Cliff |
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Marty |
#9 | |||
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Posts: 38 03/02/2009 14:58 |
Leo,
I am happy with the Terenzio and Phoenix lines (I know they are european made) I have chosen not to play with either the rods or the lines. Again for purely personal reasons it's one of the few areas of my economic vote I can make the choice to keep the dollars where I want to. Purely personal no intention or desire to convert others just what I choose to do for me. Utterly pointless, yes. Futile, yes. But this is the pound of flesh I have chosen to retain for me. I get really tired of "Made in china" on everything I buy for either work or personal use. In this facet of my life I choose not to play. Same reason my hat, vest, and wading jacket are filson. My fly boxes are Wheatley. YMMV just my personal choice. I wish all those that disagree the same joy and peace I have on the water. Probably sad that in some way this choice makes me feel better but as I say often in the office "it is what it is." tight lines -m |
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joaniebo |
#10 | |||
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Posts: 1793 03/02/2009 18:08 |
Not all countries and / or businesses operate / think the way we often do here in the USA. Thus I hope that some of the "overseas bashing"
doesn't go too far and then get to certain "interested parties" in Far Eastern countries that might then limit the export of certain products or
materials that are used in making the bamboo rods and silk fly lines in the USA / Europe that many of us like to use. I'd hate to think what would happen
to many of the rod builders on this forum if they couldn't get the Far Eastern cane that they've been using or silks become unavailable to those who
"might" currently be using Far Eastern raw materials (possibly Pearsall, Phoenix, Thebault, Terenzio, etc. ?????) in the fly fishing products that we
use ... or even those of us that use the Pearsall, Phoenix, Thebault and Terenzio finished products.
Personally, I buy and use lots of items made in the USA, including several Filson vests, shirts and jackets. But the last two shirts I ordered from Filson (a brushed twill and a flannel) both have tags marked as "Made in Hong Kong" and from my past work experience in the outdoor clothing industry, I'd be hard pressed to name very many brand name companies that don't have most of their waterproof, breathable products made in the Far East (there are a few left that don't .... but not that many except some high-end products). It's now a global economy for many, many products and once the Pandora's box has been opened, I (personally) doubt if the lid can ever be closed tight enough for us to go back very far to the way things were a few years ago whether we want to or not. That being said, I hope that those on this forum will say a quick prayer for me since the Cheese Country Spotted Dace early season (barbless hooks and C & R) opens this coming Saturday and the "elderly gentleman" (?) will soon be pilfering my fly boxes again in order to "Gofish"ing ! (I just can't pass up on an opportunity to slam the old fella' !). Cheers and Safe Fishing Bob (aka - BHBoobie) |
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pcg |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 2217 03/02/2009 18:23 Admin |
Congratulations to all for a highly constructive conversation. Impressive & informative.
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JHolton |
My views on imports have always been along this line (from JibJab) | #12 | ||
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Posts: 103 03/02/2009 19:32 |
Watch this and then consider your views. A number of the members of this board make their living crafting bamboo rods. http://sendables.jibjab.com/originals/big_box_mart
Jack |
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tim simbari |
#13 | |||
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Posts: 320 03/02/2009 19:44 |
I've tried 2 Teasticks and seen a couple more, in the lighter weights. Not withstanding all the tradition, American craftsmanship issues they were really
rods that arguably I would have expected to cost 2-3 times more, they really were pretty decent rods. I'd want to see what other tapers were like but these
7', 7'1/2' 4-5 rods were just fine.
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grizzly |
Chinese Imports | #14 | ||
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Posts: 71 03/03/2009 01:22 |
I have looked at cast and measured several of the Chinese imported rods (but not all) and am not yet impressed. Problems include bad node prep large glue
seams gouges in the cane, crooked guides bad wraps and over all poor workmanship. Also none of the rods measrued were even close to the tapers they were copys
of. One rod had a .050 difference from above to below the ferrule. Another rod had maker made ferrules that only fit half off the way, so that tells you that
maker doesnt even know what thier trying to copy. Just becuse these rods are made of bamboo doesnt mean its a well built or good casting and fishing bamboo
rod. Bamboo rods made by a good maker proud of his craft will alway be a better rod than one made with the intent of trying to under cut cost enough to get
into the market. Also a rod made by a quality maker will hold its monitary value and even increase in value over the years, the Chinese imports, dont count on
it.
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oldboyscout |
#15 | |||
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Posts: 206 03/03/2009 09:48 |
Just curious if the discussion would change if the question was "thoughts on Swedish imports" or "thoughts on Argentinian imports"
When I match wits with a trout, I usually lose...
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thegubster |
Without fail... | #16 | ||
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Posts: 1581 03/03/2009 10:40 |
oldboyscout wrote: Thus far in my 58 yrs of breathing/eating/sleeping and serious hobbies in both the woodworking fields and our rodmaking enterprises....ya gits whats ya pays fer! Period! Plain an' simple! I have bought Taiwanese tools (bandsaw/drill press/hand tools) for 1/3 the price of the then US made Delta/Powermatic line of quality tools. Did I expect them to match the more expensive U.S. tools? Nope. And they didn't. Did they get my job done for the "rough" work I expected out of them? Yep. Did I use them with much frustration? No because to expect more out of them would've just been plain foolish. They did the job I expected then to do. Was I happy? Only until I decided that my work (which was getting better) couldn't risk the "rough" tolerances of the cheaper tools. To expect more was silly. So....I eventually stooped to buying the high dollar tools and was more satisified. Pretty simple...Ya gits what ya pay fer!!! It's a lesson I've learned a few times now. You finally quit looking for that easy way out.... With respect. Jeremy. |
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cwood |
#17 | |||
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Posts: 530 03/03/2009 10:43 |
oldboyscout wrote:I don't think so. There is another thread about the beautiful work from Japanese makers. Those individuals are craftsmen and take pride in their work, that is what's lacking from some of the Chinese rods from what I have seen; however, my experience is based on a very small sample size (three rods). The use of current maker's names on rods put a bad taste in people's mouths and that will be hard to mitigate. Their business practices seem to be better these days, but the quality of work still has a ways to go to be on the same playing field as a seasoned maker. On the flip side, these things don't cost a lot and maybe they are filling a niche. Someone with a 200-300 dollar budget will be hard pressed to purchase a decent contemporary or vintage rod. They may be competing with the "traditional" graphite and fiberglass market (Winston WT, Scott G, Steffen glass) more than the cane market. CWood |
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czkid |
#18 | |||
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Posts: 3883 03/03/2009 10:59 Moderator |
Just remember that not too many years ago... '50s/60s Japanese stuff was considered "junk". Time has this funny way of changing things.
Ralph |
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flyflingerandy1 |
#19 | |||
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Posts: 40 03/03/2009 11:26 |
cwood wrote: |
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oneculm |
#20 | |||
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Posts: 490 03/03/2009 11:29 |
Thanks Ralph, I remember growing up being told do not ever buy anything that says made in Japan on it. I guess we are old farts eh?
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- Members Corner
- Forum Announcements
- Collecting Bamboo Fly Rods
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- Rod making, restoration, repairs and discussion on those related topics concerning bamboo rods.
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- Appraisals & Identification of Bamboo Fly Rods
- Ephemera, empherma and Ephemerella.....
- Book Talk
- Photos, paintings, written stories and talents.
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- The Cooks Kitchen
- The Classic Fly Rod Classifieds
- Technical Support
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