The St. John Package is our complete cane setup for anglers who have been thinking about bamboo, admiring bamboo, or waiting for the right excuse to finally fish one.
Built from highly regarded Tonkin cane, the St. John is everything a bamboo rod should be: deliberate, smooth, soulful, and completely different from the fast-action graphite world around it. The flame-finished blank has that unmistakable warmth and character that makes cane so special, while the slower, more traditional action rewards good timing with beautifully controlled loops and an incredibly connected feel through the cast.
The rod is available in your choice of a 7' 4-weight or 7'6" 5-weight, and each St. John is supplied with two matching tips to add longevity to a rod that is designed to be fished for years and passed along long after that. Finished with premium components and rooted in Maine Fly Company’s own French-Canadian woodworking and craftsmanship heritage, this is one of those rods that feels special before you ever make the first cast.
For the reel, we paired the St. John with the Ross San Miguel — one of the most iconic names in American fly reels and, in our opinion, an exceptional match for cane. The San Miguel brings a classic silhouette and polished, high-gloss finish to the package, but underneath that heritage-inspired look is a thoroughly modern reel. A sealed carbon and stainless drag system, large arbor, push-button spool release, micarta handle, and precise drag adjustment give the St. John the balance, reliability, and fishability it deserves.
The finishing touch is the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Textured Trout GP fly line. Built a quarter-size heavy with a mid-length head, the Trout GP loads beautifully and complements the more relaxed tempo of a cane rod while still giving you the control, accuracy, mending ability, and distance needed for real days on the water. SA’s AST Plus slickness additive, textured running line, and floating tip make this one of the highest-performing trout lines available.
Every St. John Package also includes backing, professional rigging, and a Maine Fly Company rod tube, so your setup arrives ready to fish. Simply select left- or right-hand retrieve, and we will take care of the rest.
There is something particularly satisfying about this combination: a traditional Tonkin cane rod, one of the most storied reels in fly fishing, and a modern high-performance fly line. It looks timeless, feels beautifully balanced in hand, and fishes far better than something this pretty has any right to.
And the value is hard to ignore. Many quality Tonkin cane rods on the market exceed the price of this entire package before a reel or line is ever added. If you have been flirting with bamboo, this is an unusually approachable way to step into it without compromising on craftsmanship, performance, or presentation.
Available in 7' 4-weight or 7'6" 5-weight. Please allow approximately 4–5 weeks for building and shipping.
