Sharkgirl,

Don't know if it's in your area but you might give this a look.
http://www.sport-fish-info.com/dcforum/dcpages/DCForumID5/1209.html

If you get into building your own you can go as simple or as elaborate as you like, and I've built some pretty nice sticks out of swap meet "junk." Some tackle shops also have "blem" barrels of perfectly good blanks that have some sort of cosmetic flaw that prevents them from being sold for top dollar.

Also, there is a certain extra satisfaction to catching fish with a stick you built yourself. :D

I'm not affiliated, etc etc......

Fishslayer