After 15 years of fishing hex's, I'm looking to move into a quad, just for diversity. I prefer rods with fast actions (think 1952 Dickerson 7613), and
I prefer rods between 7-1/2' and 8', 5 wt.. Shorter to me feels like a toy and longer eventually feels like a chore. With that, I'm looking for
opinions as the the best quad rod under $2000, the best under $4000, and the sky's the limit (not that I would likely go there). Thanks
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Best Quad
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 cutthroattroutnm |
Best Quad |
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Posts: 36 03/02/2009 22:53 |
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 seattlesetters |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 610 03/02/2009 23:59 |
Under $4k, Brandin, Gray, Brackett, Kusse and Spittler come immediately to mind. Under $2k, Brackett (2-piece, only) Schroeder (if he's still under $2k),
Bill Taylor, Nigro and Carlin. There are others I'm certainly forgetting...this is just a quick response after two bottles of wine on our anniversary.
"You know how much I love a nice rack!" |
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cdmoore |
Based on your description of need... | #2 | ||
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Posts: 2707 03/03/2009 00:33 Moderator |
Of course any of these guys could alter a taper to fit your need, but without changing anything, I would recommend Kusse. Quite strong tapers in general in my
experience. Per's 805-3 df HB is a powerful rod as well, but of course he is not taking orders at this time, so it would have to be second hand. I've
handled rods from the other makers you mention and the standard tapers offered tend not to be as quick as what it seems like you are wanting. I know there are
some additional rodmakers that I am going to fail to mention, but two that should certainly be on your list as a possibility are Jeff Wagner and Bill Harms. I
think Bob Selb has or had a Wagner Quad 7'6" available... Good luck! C
"If you finish in 7 days, I'll pay you for 10. If you finish in 10 days, I'll pay you for 7." ~Ballykissangel
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cdmoore |
Additional thoughts | #3 | ||
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Posts: 2708 03/03/2009 00:35 Moderator |
If you got real lucky, you might find a Montagne, which tend to be quite fast with a few exceptions. Tom Nigro is making some rectangular quads (RQs), but I
don't think they are modeled after Montagne. Closest design to a Montagne would be a Keone, also a nice rod. C
"If you finish in 7 days, I'll pay you for 10. If you finish in 10 days, I'll pay you for 7." ~Ballykissangel
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gofish60 |
#4 | |||
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Posts: 1939 03/03/2009 01:33 Registered User |
Don Schroeder is still under $2000, and his quads are dynamite, including some new hollow rods.
gofish |
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firehole |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 3733 03/03/2009 01:39 Local user |
I agree with cdmoore Kusse's are fast but I would throw J.C. Zimney into the mix for just under 2K. I have a 98Q by Zimney and it has a nice fast
action,outstanding workmanship and powerful.
I agree with the other posters who mentioned outstanding rodmakers. Since cdmoore brought up Montagne here's a pic of my hollowbuilt 7'6" 2/2 2 3/4oz. 4-6wt. which I just posted under unique rods in fishing bamboo. It will empty a flyreel and although fast action this rod has a softer tip. Dennis 
Last Edited By: firehole 03/03/2009 01:42.
Edited 1 time.
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cwood |
#6 | |||
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Posts: 528 03/03/2009 09:04 |
Wagner makes a really nice rod; beautiful and very functional.
CWood |
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gmflyfish |
Quads | #7 | ||
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Posts: 1136 03/03/2009 09:31 |
Sweetgrass or Winston current production.
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Kaneman1 |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 140 03/03/2009 11:12 |
First you have to decide if you want a hollow built or solid built. If solid 7 1/2 Schroeder or 8' Schroeder, but ask about his HB rods as Gofish60 stated.
Good Luck!!
Kaneman1 |
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cdmoore |
About Bill Harms...plus, Nunley? | #9 | ||
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Posts: 2709 03/03/2009 11:33 Moderator |
Two things about Bill Harms (among hundreds of possible comments). He uses what he calls a "convex taper", which is described on his site in detail.
Interesting stuff. And, if you happen to fish old reels with long reel feet, Bill designs his reel seats to accommodate these. Again, the other makers
mentioned could certainly accomplish that for you, but Bill has been adding that particular feature for quite some time.
And, I believe our own Mr. Nunley is still fashioning quadrate rods, too? C
"If you finish in 7 days, I'll pay you for 10. If you finish in 10 days, I'll pay you for 7." ~Ballykissangel
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cdmoore |
Ack! And Robert Kope, too! | #10 | ||
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Posts: 2710 03/03/2009 11:34 Moderator |
Sorry...should have edited this all on one posting...but hey, it's keeping the subscribers on their toes.
"If you finish in 7 days, I'll pay you for 10. If you finish in 10 days, I'll pay you for 7." ~Ballykissangel
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bobk |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 44 03/03/2009 13:03 |
First of all, I love the classic rods! Leonard's followed by Thomas however my "go to" rod for the last 7 years has pretty much been a 7'
6" 2/2 quad built by Tim Zietak. Darkly flamed with full intermediates, beautiful looking and it handles a 4 wt in close or out far with ease. Now I know
some may think that I'm nuts but I had the same configuration in a hollow built Brandin that I recently sold, to a board member, because I liked the Zietak
better. Similar actions but Tim's rod fit me better.
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creakycane |
#12 | |||
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Posts: 2103 03/03/2009 16:35 |
Buy a Carlin for delivery sooner and get on Mike Spittler's list. Call both of them and talk about which models suit your needs. I don't think you need to go much farther than those two for the bigger rods, IMO. |
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spey |
#13 | |||
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Posts: 114 03/03/2009 19:16 |
Ask Olaf Kundrus, he will make you one. From what I remember Creakycane has one of Olaf's quad and I have two . Very nice rods!
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tim simbari |
#14 | |||
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Posts: 321 03/03/2009 19:17 |
Can't disagree with anything said prior. The most desirable quads of all time are Carlson's. That being said, Dana has improved the tapers, has a
finnished product as good if not better, has a very reasonable delivery period, and charges about 1/2 what he should. These will be worth considerably more
down the road, not that anybody is concerned about that.
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creakycane |
#15 | |||
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Posts: 2104 03/03/2009 19:21 |
Yes, Spey, I do like Olaf's 7' 4 wt quad very much! The action and finish could not be better. I wonder how his larger quads are action-wise?
Another lesser talked about quad maker is John Pickard. He has made some PHY type midge quads (I have a stretched midge quad 6'6" 4 wt darkly flamed) that has become a favorite of mine since it will throw just the leader or up tp 45 feet with a flick of the wrist. Always wondered what his Para15 Quad woudl feel like. If Young tapers have any appeal translated into a quad format, this might be worth a look. |
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msucane |
#16 | |||
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Posts: 1 03/03/2009 19:39 |
I am a little surprised that no one has mentioned Chris Raine. His 8'3" 5wt rod is one of the finest rods I've cast. Action is similar to a
Montagne I was fortunate enough to own. Powerful with a delicate tip to protect fine tippets if necessary. Price is under 2,000.
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cdmoore |
Told you I'd forget someone... | #17 | ||
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Posts: 2713 03/03/2009 20:26 Moderator |
Someone got Zietak and Zimny and Raines. Of course there are also Taylor and Cremeans. Others too, I'm sure. But our poster seemed to wanted certain specs.
SO...out of all these great names, can anyone recommend specific models that meet his criteria? C
"If you finish in 7 days, I'll pay you for 10. If you finish in 10 days, I'll pay you for 7." ~Ballykissangel
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webcay |
kusse quads | #18 | ||
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Posts: 24 03/03/2009 21:15 |
I have to go along with Ron Kusse as far as quads go. I have an 8' 5 wt and an 8' 6 wt. Besides being cannons they are also bullet proof. I spent
a week in Alaska in Sept. and caught rainbows to 30" without any worry whatsoever. I'd get them while you can. Ron hasn't raised his prices in
years.
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Southbranch |
#19 | |||
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Posts: 395 03/03/2009 23:33 |
Here is one of Don Schroeder's quads. As you can see, this 7' 9" 5 wt. 2/2 rod has been fishing a few times. It features pre-embargo cane,
blonde maple winding check and reel seat, and Don's usual mirror tip sections. I have 2 of Don's quads.
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cutthroattroutnm |
Casting action on the Schroeder | #20 | ||
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Posts: 37 03/04/2009 01:42 |
What type of taper is that Schroeder? A 7'9", 5wt. that has a Dickerson-like fast taper would almost be ideal. Do you know if he does quads in 3 pc.
construction?
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