I have found that the age of the maker has little if anything to do with the quality of the rod. The rod makers listed are all craftsmen that I have spoken with at one time or another at shows, rod maker gatherings, or over the phone. All of them are very reputable and make great rods to date. Unfortunately a few of them have passed away such as George Maurer. All of the makers listed I would consider custom makers. By this I mean that these makers do not sell rods that are plane Jane rods, mass produced, that show up in retailer catalogs for over blown prices. The list below represents not only top quality makers but also very reliable and honest.
Dave LeClair (A great Rod Maker and tool maker!)
http://www.flyandrodroom.com/index.htm
John Niemiera (A great ambassador and moderator for cane over the years)
http://www.niemieraflyrods.com/
R.K. Bolt (Great fishing and casting rods)
http://www.rkboltrodco.com/index.html
Ron Barch (To many the voice of the rod making community)
http://www.aldercreekrods.com/
Tom Morgan (A very innovative rod maker)
http://www.troutrods.com/bamboo.html
Chris Bogart Shenandoah Rods (Own a few of his rods and fish them heavily)
http://www.shentel.net/canerod/
JD Wagner (Prolific maker of fine bamboo rods)
http://www.wagnerrods.com/
Jenkins Rods (Sweet rods with great actions)
http://www.jenkinsflyrods.com/
The Chattahoochee River Rod Co. (Nice light weight rods)
http://www.bambooflyrods.com/default.html
Thomas Rod Co. (The classics repros)
http://www.thomasrodco.com/
H.L. Leonard Rod Co. (The Classics repros)
http://www.hlleonard.com/catalog.shtml
Clint Bova (Beautifully crafted fishing rods own four of his rods love them all)
http://www.madriverrodco.com/
http://www.cjbovarods.com/
Chris Raine (Hollow built extraordinaire)
http://hollowbuilt.com/
RL Nunley (Another great maker and moderator for the rod making community)
http://www.rlnunley.com/index.html
Tom Whittle (Sweet action rods)
http://www.stonycreekrods.com/
Mike Clark (Colorado Dreamin')
http://www.southcreekltd.com/
J.C. Zimny (Great old timer own 2 of his rods beautifully smooth casting tools)
http://www.bamboorods.com./
High Sierra Rod Co. (Very fair priced rods, own his Brookie 1/2 pc.)
http://www.highsierrarods.com/
Don Andersen (Vast knowledge and great maker of high quality cane)
http://bamboorods.ca/rod.html
Harms Custom Rod and Gun (A lover of all things Garrison very experienced maker of fine cane)
http://wmharmsrods.com/
