Is it really worth it?

[wheresmy50]

I have a 1084 and 2 pc 10' med heavy from Lamiglass . . . and I still fish my 9'
2-6 oz tica most often.

I dropped one last year in a fish panic and broke a guide. $70 later, I had a new 9' 2-6 oz tica.

I can take a spare with me on trips and have 2 identical rods, so if I drop one and break a guide, I just switch to the spare.

I've only striped bass fished for about 5 years, but I've fished all my life. To be honest, I can't really tell a difference. The 10' 2 pc Lami is pretty light - if memory serves about 11 oz compared to 14 oz for a 10' st croix that I own that's not rated for as much as the Lami. In fact, I won't fish braid on it because I'm afraid the walls are too thin and it's going to snap.

If you want to pay a premium for the name and "Made in the USA", you're going to get a really nice rod, but the differnce in quality isn't proportional to the difference in price, in my opinion.