Thanks, Lloyd.
No bears that trip, though I did see a grizz tearing up a different meadow in July '93, from about 350 yards. That was close enough for me b/c I did the math and figured he might beat me to the car.
As to the rod, I think if you ask in bamboo circles you'll find Art Weiler has about as good reputation for quality and price as one can have. An old guy I knew who owned and fished Garrison's rods fished my repro and said it was indistinguishable from Garry's production. I bought another rod from Art this winter, his reproduction of a Dickerson 7613. It cost me all of $1000 delivered to my door. (Every penny well-spent - consider that a lot of new graphite is in the $750+ range.) Art has told me in the past he keeps his prices low because he wants people to fish his rods.
