This rod is my pride and joy. It’s my most valuable possession, and it sparks a strong emotional response every time I fish it. It was an engagement gift from my fiancée. When I asked her what my dream rod was, she listened.
Before I dive into the rod itself, it’s worth mentioning the importance of fishing a rod you have a personal connection with. As fly anglers, we experience the outdoors through a piece of cork, and that piece of cork should feel just right. That’s why I’m a big advocate for going to your local shop, talking to the staff, and handling different rods instead of just buying the “best value rod” from some forum thread. You’ll know which rod feels right in your hand—no matter the price point.
R.B. Meiser Rods Are Special
I was chatting with a guide at my local fly shop about $1,000 rods and how they’re generally not worth the money. We both agreed that a good rod doesn’t need to be expensive, and that many brands are overpriced because of hype. But when I mentioned my own high-end Meiser and how much I loved it, he nodded and said:
“Meiser rods are a work of art. They’re on a totally different level than these other $1,000 brands.”
Bob Meiser and Nick Moses are humble guys doing the Lord’s work. Bob began crafting two-handed rods back in 1986, just as they were starting to gain traction in North America. His shop is credited with developing the first switch rods and the concept of a grain window for spey rods. There’s no denying the impact Bob and his team have had on the sport.
Fast-forward to today: Nick Moses has taken on most of the rod building as Bob eases into retirement. Each rod is made one at a time, with only a few hundred produced per year. Clients can choose standard options or go through a custom build process to create something unique. I opted for the latter.
The Process of Ordering My Rod
You read that right—it wasn’t as simple as entering a credit card number online. When I ordered my custom rod, it was Bob Meiser himself who picked up the phone. He was excited to hear what I wanted to achieve, and he gave me recommendations on lines that would pair well with both the rod and my style of fishing. After that, he passed the reins to Nick to bring it to life.
When Nick and I first spoke, he was in the middle of moving the shop while finishing a holiday batch of rods. We set a time for me to swing by, get a tour, and consult on the build. He walked me through hardware, reel seat, and colorway options. If you can dream it, Nick can build it.
My Highlander CX
My rod is a 13’ 7-weight Highlander CX, built in four pieces. Technically, it’s a 6–8 weight thanks to its wide grain window of 450–700 grains. I chose the Highlander because I wanted a versatile, all-around rod I could wield in a variety of fishing situations. From technical touch-and-go casting to chucking heavy sink tips, the Highlander does it all.
The rod has quick recovery speed balanced by a sensitive tip that picks up subtle strikes and swing changes. The blank features a uniform progressive taper, meaning power increases evenly from tip to butt. For how powerful it is, the rod feels light. Each cast has crisp authority, and each stroke responds cleanly. Casting off the tip feels effortless, while slowing down and leaning in engages the rod uniformly from butt to tip.
The cosmetics are stunning. From the feather inlay to the stacked cork grip to the impeccable thread wraps, everything is dialed in. Speaking of cork, I love the grip on this rod. Nick left a little extra bulk in the middle of the top grip after I told him I liked a more substantial feel. The result is a grip tailored to my hands. The lettering is another highlight—Nick hand-paints the calligraphy before the final coat of epoxy. My rod proudly bears my name near the cork.
I paired my Highlander with a Danielsson H5D 9thirteen—a reel designed specifically for steelhead and sea-run trout fishing with two-handers. At under $400, it’s a bargain for the performance. I’ll give it its own feature in a future post.
The two lines I use most are an SGS Scandoid and a Bridge Tributary. The Scandoid, designed by Steve Godshall specifically for the Highlander CX, casts up to 12.5 feet of T-11, with a 30-foot head at 525 grains. The Bridge Tributary is my go-to for fishing traditional flies on a floating line when it isn’t too windy. Designed by Tim Arsenault, it clocks in at 42 feet and 525 grains and feels equally dialed for my rod. If you want more info about rigging for summer steelhead, check out this post.
How It Stacks Up Against the Rest
Plenty of other high-end rods compete with the Meiser on pure performance. Thanks to modern composites and manufacturing, excellent spey rods can be made today for a fraction of what they cost a decade ago. But where most rods fall short is soul.
Not many rods today have it, though a few do. Kerry Burkheimer rods, for example, are handmade with soul in spades (and I hope to own one someday). Winston rods also deliver performance with hand-rolled blanks that carry their own character. But in truth, a rod’s soul is tied more to the angler than the rod itself. A soulful rod is one that speaks to you—one that complements your casting style and becomes part of the experience.
There’s no rod that will suit you better than a custom build from a master craftsman. While most anglers won’t have the chance to fish a custom rod, I encourage you to bite the bullet at least once in your life. Yes, they’re expensive—but worth every penny. If not for the performance, then for the experience of helping build the tool you’ll use to connect with the world around you.
If you’re looking to splurge on your next spey or switch rod, look no further than R.B. Meiser. You won’t regret it.
-T
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