Best of the Bunch?

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (Flyfishbill) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:57:36 GMT

It's a tie between my Carpenter 8 ft 3/2 Browntone 5 wt and my Summers 275.

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (Canewrap) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:54:14 GMT

My 7'9", 5/6 wt., 2-piece, seriously modified Garrison 209E. The butt is lighter than the Garrison and the tip has a slight swell in the front end. This rod has a very characteristically medium action with a hint of power. It will throw everything from bass poppers and good size trout streamers (#6 or so) down to size 20 something midges. For wetfly action in medium tailwaters I love my Orvis 8', 4wt., 2-piece; slow but extremely sensitive, yet has the backbone to land a good...

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (kermit) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:23:08 GMT

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (nayashewon) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:55:37 GMT

My 8' Andy Barr Penta Windigo model for 7wt line. Has a very powerful parabolic action. Just got back from fishing Brown Drake and Hex hatches for a couple of weeks. This rod handled the big flies and big Browns very well.

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (bob2935) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:40:51 GMT

In my collection of too many and growing larger by the day cane rod collection the go to rod of all cane rods for small to medium streams is my Simroe eight foot three piece for a five. It is just so smooth and loads to perfection. I have many rods by more famous builders that are double the price that do not cast half as good as Simroe's improved version of the classic model #50.
Bob

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (Catskill) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:06:50 GMT

H .L. Leonard, Maxwell Esopus Special. In my opinion, one of the finest casting rods of his hand. Although an impregnated rod and 1 of only 6 made, it has a much better casting feel than the "usual" Maxwell rods as this was a special taper. Plastic is still on the grip...and, no I have not fished it. Yes, for shame...I fish other rods.

Catskill

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (jaybird) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:18:59 GMT

No question this Walt Carpenter Browntone. 7'3" , 3-piece, 4wt. It was given to me new as a gift from a friend in the mid 1990's. I figure I have fished it about 600 days since then. Just a great trout rod and nice looking too. It performed great during the last two weeks sulphur hatch during which several decent size trout like this where duped and brought to hand.

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (maruoff) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:29:26 GMT

a love at first cast affair: even though I nearly always fish 3 and 4 weights my new 8ft #5 3/2 Ted Simroe must rate as the best of the bunch at the moment...and that even though I am a parabolic-guy and that rod is what I would call a (very) deep semi-parabolic.
A well known dealer called the Simroes "therapeutic" which is a good expression for a rod that makes you smile every time you fish it. just so sensitive yet very capable of mastering every situation that will ever be...

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (william) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:49:48 GMT

My Leonard 6' Catskill with an extremely small grip and the word "Catskill" going around the shaft, not along the shaft. It was one of the first rods Maxwell made with the Leonard Rod Co.

Bill

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (slate river) — Wed, 27 May 2009 23:16:00 GMT

Mike,
I've experimented with everything on the Granger 8040. I've tried 4DT, 5DT, 4WF and 5WF. For me it really just a matter of what feels good to the individual and I am by far no expert, but I really like the Wulff triangle taper in a 5WT (IMHO). Out West bigger flies, longer casts and more wind make me like the Wulff TT lines the best.
Bob

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (JimP) — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:36:24 GMT

My overall Favorite is a Jim Payne 101 that I bought from Hoagy Carmichael Jr. about 20-25 years ago. For more power, a George Maurer Trout Bum I bought from George specifically to fish the Elk River in Colorado.

JimP

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (firehole) — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:51:37 GMT

My favorite rod for fishing the Madison, Yellowstone and Gallatin is my Winston Brackett(rare dark tone )Quad 7'9 2/2 4/5wt. For traveling to NZ my Brackett Sweetgrass Quad 7'9" 3/2 4/5wt. For smaller waters like Soda Butte and the Firehole my Lacey Royal 7'3" 3/2 4wt. possibly the strongest 4 wt. I've ever casted & fished.

Dennis

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (driftless) — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:42:02 GMT

For fishing here in Wisconsin, it's a tossup between a Perfectionist & a Driggs. Oddly enough, the Perfectionist was the first rod I made, and the Driggs was the second. Both rods have backbone, but are also capable of surprising delicacy.

For smallies, I like a Para 15.

For Western waters, I've modified a Para 14 somewhat to deal with the wind & large flies. (Anything over a #14 is a large fly around here).

Paul

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (cutthroattroutnm) — Wed, 27 May 2009 00:03:16 GMT

Bob:
Do you fish a 4 wt. or a 5 wt. line on that 8040?
Mike

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (nayashewon) — Tue, 26 May 2009 20:44:56 GMT

It would have to be my Andy Barr Penta 8' 7wt Windigo model. I have been fishing large streamers from a boat with it in Michigan. It is also a great night rod for the Hex hatch or with large deerhair bugs.

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (hdrmd) — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:55:07 GMT

Payne 201; so easy to cast with either 4WF or 5DT.

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (mickfly) — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:01:06 GMT

My Mike Brooks Driggs River Special (7'2", 2/2, 4/5/6 wt). It's a very versatile rod, with a 4/5 tip and a 5/6 tip, each making the rod feel very different. It seems to do lots of things well, and do them smoothly, with a variety of lines.

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (stvrain) — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:10:33 GMT

South Creek Ltd. 7'-9" 3/2 dark flamed with black wraps and gold tips. Great looks and action! Kudos to Mike and Kathy!

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (czkid) — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:35:34 GMT

For the rod that makes me chuckle.... my Gnomish 7' 4/5wt, looks ancient... casts like tomorrow. Jeff is wicked.

For the rod that will do everything... my PHY Para15, designed to do everything... does everything. Accept no substitute for the real thing.

For the rod that will cast through key holes and keeps me out of trouble on small water.... Mike Brook's 179 clone, the bargain man.

For the rod that allows me to carry it into Hell, and cast it to tiny...

Re: Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (Marty) — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:18:12 GMT

Classic Granger 7030 either the victory or the special. Modern Winston 7.5' 5 wt. Bigger water 8642 Granger or clone. Sorry more than one I know but hard to pick those are my I'd sell you a kidney first rods. I could be talked into selling many of the others but not those. Even living in a box I'd keep those 3.

Best of the Bunch?

feeds@yuku.com (Boo) — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:23:55 GMT

What's your favorite rod PRESENTLY in your quiver at this time?