Highland Mills Rods

Long considered the perfect material for casting a fly line, fly fishermen are rediscovering the virtues of bamboo. For some the attraction lies in the aesthetic of fishing with a beautiful, natural material; for other it is the hallowed tradition of rod builder Leonard, Hawes, Payne, Gillum and Garrison. All can appreciate the physical characteristics of bamboo, as it imparts just the right amount of energy to a fly line to propel it accurately towards its target while still giving the caster time and opportunity to make subtle adjustments to their cast. A small dry fly will land softly and fine tippet will survive the setting of the hook and most importantly, the playing and landing of that big fish!

The highland Mills Rod Company brings to market a full range of high quality bamboo rods in the tradition of Phillipson, Heddon and Wright& McGill production rods. New to bamboo? We have the perfect rod for you. Fished cane all your life? You’ll find the ultimate rod, the one you always wanted, at a price that’s sure to please.

Our rods are built using traditional methods, contemporary technology and state-of-the-art adhesives and coatings.

Highland Mills Guarantee

Thorney has flyfished for over 30 years, mostly with cane, and brings his passion for both using and collecting bamboo flyrods to the business of Highland Mills Rod Co.

He had a distinguished career photographing architecture in New York and counted the architect I.M. Pei among his clients. A book of his photographs, Manhattan Lightscape, was published by Abbeville Press. All the pictures on this site - from rods and reels to streams - are Thorney's photographs, and include some of his favorite fishing spots.