The Big China Hypocrisy.

Let’s talk about China.

Not because I hate China.

Not because I love China.

And not because I’m about to wrap myself in an American flag and start screaming “BUY AMERICAN” while half the shit in my house was manufactured somewhere in Asia.

I want to talk about something much more entertaining:

Our hypocrisy.

Because Americans have developed a fascinating ability to decide which foreign-made products are morally unacceptable and which ones magically don’t count.

And nowhere is this shit more obvious than in the outdoor industry.

APPARENTLY YOUR FLY ROD IS WHERE WE DRAW THE LINE

Take fly fishing.

People will absolutely lose their minds over a fly rod manufactured in China.

“Chinese garbage.”
“Support American companies.”
“Buy American.”
“Quit supporting China.”

Okay.

Fair enough.

But let’s keep going.

Look at the rest of the gear that same person is carrying.

Orvis manufactures some of its entry-level rods overseas.

Redington rods are manufactured overseas.

Some Hardy rods are manufactured overseas.

Maxcatch obviously manufactures in China.

Then we get to waders.

Simms has produced certain wader models overseas while maintaining U.S. production for others.

Orvis manufactures waders overseas.

Patagonia manufactures much of its apparel and outdoor equipment through overseas supply chains.

Grundéns manufactures products overseas.

Then there are boots.

Clothing.

Packs.

Fishing accessories.

Sunglasses.

Electronics.

The list gets long really fucking fast.

So apparently a factory overseas is perfectly capable of manufacturing something we trust enough to stand waist-deep in freezing water wearing…

…but somehow becomes incapable of manufacturing carbon fiber the moment we attach a fly reel to it.

Interesting.

THEN LET’S WALK INTO YOUR HOUSE

This is where the argument starts getting really fun.

Roughly 90% of consumer electronics sold in the United States are manufactured overseas.

Depending on the category and year, approximately 80% of clothing sold in America is imported.

And footwear?

Nearly 99% of shoes sold in the United States are imported.

So before we start screaming at some 22-year-old kid because his $150 fly rod came from China, maybe take a quick inventory of the room you’re sitting in.

Your television.
Your laptop.
Your phone.
Your router.
Your headphones.
Your Bluetooth speaker.
Your shoes.
Your shirt.
Your kitchen appliances.
Your power tools.
Your kid’s toys.

Hell, start flipping shit over and reading labels.

You might be surprised how quickly your personal commitment to domestic manufacturing starts requiring exceptions.

And I’m not criticizing anyone for owning those things.

I own them too.

I own YETI products.
A shitload of them.
I own Patagonia.
I use Apple products.
I own imported electronics and wear imported clothing.
I probably own products manufactured in China, Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico and a dozen other countries if I actually went through everything in my house.

I’m not pretending otherwise.

I can simultaneously believe in supporting American manufacturing and acknowledge that I participate in a global economy every single fucking day.

Those ideas aren’t mutually exclusive.

AND SINCE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS YOU TRUST…

Let’s talk about your medicine.

Because apparently we’ll distrust an overseas factory with a fly rod…

…but trust a global pharmaceutical supply chain with the shit keeping us alive.

Roughly 78% of manufacturers producing the active pharmaceutical ingredients used in medicines are located outside the United States.

These aren’t fishing rods.

These are the active ingredients going into medications Americans take every single day.

Blood-pressure medication.
Antibiotics.
Pain relievers.
Cholesterol medication.
Diabetes drugs.
Antidepressants.
Heart medication.
And everything in between.

A bipartisan U.S. Senate Aging Committee staff report released in 2025 went even further.

83% of the top 100 generic drugs consumed by Americans had no U.S.-based source for their active pharmaceutical ingredients.

It also reported that approximately 90% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients used for antibiotics globally originate in China.

India supplies an enormous share of generic drugs used in America, and Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers themselves rely heavily on Chinese ingredients.

Think about that for a second.

We’ll trust a global manufacturing system with something we literally put inside our bodies…

…but some of us are convinced geography alone determines whether a fishing rod can be any good.

That’s a pretty remarkable line to draw.

YOUR IPHONE DOESN’T COUNT, APPARENTLY

This might be my favorite part.

Somebody gets on social media and tells another fisherman:

“STOP BUYING CHINESE SHIT.”

And they type it…

on an iPhone.

Apple operates one of the most globally interconnected manufacturing systems on Earth, with enormous portions of its production and assembly historically centered in Asia.

But apparently Apple gets diplomatic immunity from the Buy American police.

So does YETI.
So does Patagonia.
So do imported waders.
So does your television.
So does your laptop.
So does your medicine cabinet.

But that fly rod?

Whoa, buddy.

Now we need to have a serious conversation about supporting American manufacturing.

The irony is fucking spectacular.

I BUILD RODS IN AMERICA

Here’s where I want to make something very clear.

I build my rods here.

I’m proud of that.

I believe in American craftsmanship.
I believe in small American manufacturers.
I believe in keeping skilled trades alive.
I believe there is something special about buying something from the person who actually built the damn thing.

And whenever I reasonably can, I try to support American businesses.

But supporting American manufacturing doesn’t require pretending the modern economy stops at the shoreline.

It’s just not that simple.

IT’S NOT AS SIMPLE AS A STICKER

Most of the rods we fish, no matter what the logo says, are built with materials and components from overseas. Blanks, guides, reel seats, carbon fiber, resins, cork, even the machines that make them — all come from somewhere else.

That doesn’t automatically make them bad.

It just means the reality is more complicated than a simple “Made in USA” sticker.

There are very few rod companies that truly build every component in America. Even some of the most respected American brands source parts globally. It’s the truth, whether people want to admit it or not.

So before we start shaming someone for the gear they fish, maybe take a step back and realize the rod in your hand is probably a product of a global supply chain — and was likely assembled within fifty miles of a fucking Cracker Barrel.

LET’S TALK ABOUT JAPAN

A lot of the best rods in the world are built on Japanese blanks. And for good reason. Japan has set the bar for quality, consistency and innovation in rod manufacturing.

Companies like Toray, Mitsubishi and Teijin have been producing some of the most advanced carbon fiber in the world for decades. The tolerance, quality control and attention to detail is next level.

Japanese manufacturers take pride in what they do. There’s a culture of craftsmanship, respect and continuous improvement that you can feel in the product. It’s not just about making a rod - it’s about making it better every single time.

That’s why so many small American rod companies, including mine, choose to build on Japanese blanks. It allows us to focus on the things we can control - the design, aesthetics, components and the final build — and still deliver a high performing, reliable rod.

Japan gets it right.

QUALITY, STANDARDS AND REALITY

The best rod manufacturers, no matter where the components come from, have high standards. They inspect, test and reject a lot of product that doesn’t meet their specs. That’s part of what you’re paying for — consistency, quality control and a company that stands behind their product.

Not every rod company does this. Some cut corners, accept lower grade components and push rods out the door as fast and cheap as possible. Those rods often end up with issues, and it gives the entire industry a bad name.

I’ve also been to China. I’ve walked the factories, met the people and seen the process firsthand. It was an eye opening experience. I saw extremely clean, modern facilities making high quality products, and I also saw the complete opposite — dirty buildings, poor working conditions and zero quality control.

Both exist. The truth is, it depends on who you’re dealing with, what they’re willing to pay for, and what standards they demand.

It’s more complicated than most people realize.

COUNTERFEITS, COPYCATS AND STOLEN IDEAS

The other side of the equation is the problem we can’t ignore — counterfeiting and the outright theft of intellectual property.

There are factories in China that don’t just make good rods for brands, they also make knockoffs. Same blanks, same components, same designs, with a different logo. They copy small American companies, steal their ideas and undercut them at a fraction of the price.

This hurts the companies that actually put in the work — the guys who design, test, innovate and try to build something real. It kills creativity, undermines the industry and makes it harder for small, independent rod builders to survive.

So when people see a $50 knockoff that looks identical to a $500 rod, it’s not just a cheap rod — it’s a stolen product.

EVERYTHING MANUFACTURED IN CHINA IS GARBAGE.

CHINA CAN MAKE GREAT PRODUCTS AND DOGSHIT. AMERICA CAN TOO.

China is capable of producing some of the highest quality products in the world, and they’re also capable of making absolute junk. It just depends on the factory, the standards and the price point.

The same thing goes for America. We can make incredible products here, and we can also make cheap, low quality garbage. The country a product comes from doesn’t automatically make it good or bad.

There are amazing rods built in China, and there are terrible rods built in America.

At the end of the day, it’s about the people, the process, and the standard you hold yourself to — not just a label on a box.

LEAVE THE KID WITH THE CHEAP ROD ALONE.

THE KID WITH THE MAXCATCH ROD

I love seeing a kid on the water with a $50 Maxcatch rod. That kid isn’t thinking about where the blank was made, who turned the cork or what thread was used. They’re just stoked to be fishing.

That cheap rod might be their first rod, and it might be the reason they fall in love with the sport. Maybe it’s what they can afford. Maybe it was a gift. Maybe it’s all they need right now. And that’s a beautiful thing.

We should be encouraging that, not tearing it down. Because it’s not about the rod — it’s about getting people outside, experiencing wild places and finding something that brings them joy.

Gatekeeping and gear shaming does nothing but push people away. Fly fishing doesn’t need to be a rich man’s game, and it damn sure doesn’t need more ego. We were all beginners once, and most of us didn’t start with a high end rod.

A FISH DOESN’T CARE WHAT ROD YOU’RE USING.

SUPPORT AMERICAN MANUFACTURING

If you have the means, support American manufacturing. Buy from the small companies building rods here. It keeps people working, families fed and helps grow an industry we all love.

Every rod you buy from a small American company puts money back into real people — rod builders, machine shops, component suppliers, artists, guides and the local economies that keep our communities alive.

It’s not just about a rod, it’s about supporting a culture, a way of life and the future of this sport. These are the companies that show up, answer your questions, fix your rods and actually give a damn.

I know American made rods cost more. I know not everyone can afford them. But if you can, it makes a difference. It helps keep innovation, quality and craftsmanship alive right here at home.

REAL PEOPLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

YOU’RE DEFENDING A PREFERENCE.

At the end of the day, most of this argument comes down to preference. You like American made — cool. I do too. But don’t act like your preference makes you a better angler, a better person or somehow more legit.

There’s a lot of hypocrisy in our community. People wearing Patagonia, YETI, Simms, Fishpond and a bunch of other gear that’s made overseas, but they’ll lose their mind if a rod blank comes from China. It’s the same shit — just a different product.

We all pick and choose what to get fired up about based on what fits our narrative. Some of you aren’t against foreign manufacturing — you’re just against cheap rods. And that’s okay. Just be honest about it.

There’s nothing wrong with having preferences. Just don’t pretend it’s about something bigger than what it really is.

IT’S A PREFERENCE, NOT A MORAL HIGH GROUND.

SO SHUT UP AND FISH.

At the end of the day, it’s just fishing. It’s not that serious. We’re not curing cancer out here. It’s a hobby, it’s for leisure and it’s supposed to be fun.

Stop killing everyone else’s vibe. Stop gatekeeping. Stop acting like your way is the only way. Stop making people feel like they don’t belong because they fish different, use different gear or can’t afford what you use.

The fishing community is at its best when it’s inclusive, not exclusive. When we encourage each other, share knowledge and get more people on the water — no matter what rod they’re holding.

There’s already enough shit going on in the world. Fishing should be the escape, not another place where people feel judged.

Be a better human. Help someone. Share a spot. Answer a question. And remember what it felt like when you were new.

LESS EGO. MORE GOOD TIMES.

THANK YOU FOR READING.

If you made it this far, thank you. This wasn’t written to be perfect, it was written to be real. It’s a piece of my story, my thoughts and the things I’ve learned along the way.

Fly fishing has given me a second chance at life in more ways than I can count. It’s slowed me down, kept me present and introduced me to some of the best people I know. It’s also shown me that we’re all a little broken, and that’s okay.

If any part of this resonates with you, I hope it reminds you to be a little kinder, a little more patient and to appreciate the simple things. Get outside. Call your people. Check on your friends. And never be afraid to ask for help.

To my family, my friends, the fishing community and everyone who has supported me — thank you. You’re the reason I keep going.

TIGHT LINES AND TAKE CARE.

JON LAVEZZO

PEOPLE / FISHING / THE MOMENTS IN BETWEEN