Glass Rod Makers

Re: Glass Rod Makers

feeds@kickapps.com (spinzo) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:37:24 PST

Thanks, guys. Very useful info. I thought there were more active makers, but I'm glad to see there's still life in the market.

FWIW, I guess there are still a number of original Phillipson blanks available through Rick's Rods in Denver, though I think the minimum order for blanks is $1500.

Mike

Re: Glass Rod Makers

feeds@kickapps.com (jgestar) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:50:47 PST

Spinzo,

Glass is still a boutique item, particularly the way the economy is going. Check out the Fiberglass Wiki. I haven't updated it as often as I should, but it will give you some ideas and website links. Current makers; Eagle Claw, Lamiglas (mostly blanks), Steffen (very much alive, kicking, and taking orders), McFarland (not taking new orders until later in the year), Scott, TL Johnson (a mostly glass hybrid, not in the Wiki yet), and several very nice Japanese rod companies. Diamondglass appears to be a goner, but there is still some new stock out there (sorry John, they don't show up often on the secondary market). T&T claims they have put glass on hold, but we will see. Harnell may be back in production in about a year, but the going has been slow for them.

There are also several guys building glass rods on custom specified rod blanks....

Re: Glass Rod Makers

feeds@kickapps.com (gillbuster) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:03:30 PST

My next rod is going to be a Diamondglass 5wt ... tried one at a show it was nice... but expensive $$$... hoping to get a better deal in a second market

Re: Glass Rod Makers

feeds@kickapps.com (Flytackle) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:44:25 PST

That's right! Lamiglas does offer the Spring Creek series. It is a nice factory rod, but I think you can do better by buying the blanks and twisting yourself, or having one made. The fittings on the factory rod are nice, but nothing special. Alec

Re: Glass Rod Makers

feeds@kickapps.com (JeffSod) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 09:16:38 PST

I think you can still get a lamiglas blank in fiberglass too. But you will have to find someone to wrap the final rod as I am not sure they sell one factory wrapped.

I have an 8ft Fisher Custom for sale if you are interested. Asking $150.00 shipped or less if you pick it up say at a pond somewhere we can fish. The cork grip is sized for big hands. It has seen very little use. The ferrule fit is perfect. I haven't used the rod enough to comment on line weight but I think its a six weight but could probably handle one line size up or down too.

Re: Glass Rod Makers

feeds@kickapps.com (Flytackle) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:19:01 PST

Fenwick was... than they quit.
Diamondback just discontinued their Diamondglass line.
Thomas and Thomas just discontinued their Heritage line.
Hardy just discontinued their line of 'glass as well.
McFarland has stopped taking orders.

That leaves... Steffen. Mark Steffen, in my opinion, makes the finest out of all of them. Perhaps others had fancier fittings and aesthetics, but for excellence in taper design and quality of product Steffen can not be topped. He is still taking orders, and given the shrinking of the market, he may well get swamped. I have a couple of his rods and several blanks to build yet. If you have not availed yourself of the opportunity to pick up one of his rods, I would highly recommend it. Tomorrow may be too late! Alec

Glass Rod Makers

feeds@kickapps.com (spinzo) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:46:25 PST

Quick question: who out there, besides the small craftsmen like Steffen, is making new glass rods in production quantities? Are any of the brand-names offering glass, or is this more or less a boutique product these days?

Thanks