First Bamboo rod

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Richard	First Bamboo rod		Lead	[-]
Posts: 3 06/09/2009 08:24	Tags : None Hello, I am quickly finding out this is a wonderful list of very friendly and knowledgeable cane enthusiasts. I recently posted a message concerning a Critchfiled rod and received several wonder emails, both on list and private via email. In my ever increasing search for my first bamboo rod to fish the rivers of western Virginia I have found several to my liking and within my budget. Some more expensive and at the top of my price range. All are used, but some are much older than others. The following is what I have found listed for used rods: 1. Don Recker "Degere Fast" 7' 2/2 for a 4/5wt 2. Don Recker "Leonard 38H" 7' 2/2 for a 5wt 3. Don Recker "Dickerson 7613" 7'5" 2/2 for a 5wt 4. Don Recker "PHY Perfectionist" 7'5" 2/2 for a 5wt 3. Orvis "Deluxe" 7' 2/2 for a 4wt 4. Orvis "Far and Fine" 7'6" 2/2 for a 5wt 5. Orvis "Battenkill" 7'6" 2/2 for a 5wt Without listing the prices and sellers can anyone from the list give me some advice, recommendations and any experiences with any of these rods. I am sure there are more of you out there that have fished the Orvis Battenkills, but I was hoping someone could compare the others with the Orvis rods. You may also post via the private message if needed. Thanks for all your help. By they way, I think I have found a very good custom builder with a great price (nice discount) that I'll ask to build my next rod. If I can just make up my mind on what I want I may be able to fish it on Mossy Creek Va for those incredible Browns in September. Best regards, Richard
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tiptop		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 574 06/09/2009 08:38	Richard -- One thing comes to mind when I see your list and that's rod length. I think a 7.5' rod will be more versatile than a 7'. I fish a lot of small streams in WV and a 7' rod is a good choice for some of them, but I choose a 7' rod that loads up close for very short casts -- in other words, not a real fast action rod for in close work which a lot of those brookie streams require. Most of those streams you can use a 7.5' rod just as well and it will be better suited to the larger streams too. The Orvis rods have held value and if you wanted to resell, you shouldn't have trouble selling without losing anything, assuming you don't overpay to begin with. tiptop
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czkid	One of Three	#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4017 06/09/2009 10:12 Moderator	Just my personal prejudice showing, but I agree with Tiptop on the 7'6" routine. The Far & Fine will be a bit faster than the Battenkill (all things being equal), and the Perfectionist will be a good choice as well. Between those three I would let price be my guide if there is a wild difference between them. If there is no major differential then the impregnation factor might push me in the direction of an Orvis as they tend to be "bulletproof". Ralph
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gaddis		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 295 06/10/2009 07:58	Of the rods on your list, I have only fished the Battenkill. I've been happily fishing it in the Catskills and Adirondacks the past three days. I can't compare it to the others, but I don't think you can go wrong with this rod. With a DT5, I think it's perfect.
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Richard		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4 06/10/2009 10:48	Hello, What is the difference between the Orvis Battenkill 7.5' 2/2 for a 5wt line and the Orvis "Far and Fine" 7.5' 2/2 for a 5wt line? Is it the year they were offered as one is rather new and the other is from the mid 60's. Is one a special model offered for only a short time? Just more questions to help guide me in the right direction for that all-around first trout cane rod. Thanks for all your help. Best wishes, Richard
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FrankB		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 12 06/10/2009 14:16	There is a new (but about 10 yr old) Orvis Adirondack 7.5 5wt with 2 tips in the Classified forum. It might be on the 2nd page. I don't know the seller, but did bid on it when it was on *the* auction site, and he has excellent feedback. The rod looks beautiful in the pics, and the price isn't too much higher than a Critchfield.....
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czkid		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4020 06/10/2009 14:39 Moderator	The Far and Fine is the "new" version of the Battenkill. It tends to be faster than the old Battenkills and much lighter in color. The newer rods from Orvis just don't seem to have the "collector value" as the old ones do.... Other than that, no problem. Ralph
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Slate Drake 9		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 97 06/10/2009 16:55	I only have hands on experiences with the Orvis rods on your list, so I can't compare them to the others. In my opinion, the 7' Deluxe is the best of them. I have cast the 6'6", 7' and 7'6" Deluxe and fell in love with the 7 footer, but the others are really nice and for the right price I'll get them too. I fish 3 different lines on mine, depending on what I'm doing. Up close I throw either a 5DT or 5WF Longbelly. When I know I'm going to be casting at least 30 feet consistently, I throw a 4DT. I actually like the Wonderline on this rod. My Deluxe didn't like my 444 Peach 4DT, just felt underlined until I reached way out. The Battenkill is also nice, but not the Deluxe. I actually prefer the 8' 4 1/8 ounce Battenkill over the 7'6" models (just feels better to me). I'm not wild about the "Far and Fine." A little too tippy for my liking in a short rod. Shoot me a PM if you would like me to point you towards at least 1 other 7' Deluxe that is for sale. Fishing with bait is like swearing in church.
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WatercolorMan		#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1416 06/13/2009 03:42	#5 & it will last a lifetime
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Pete in Vermont	I agree.	#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 34 06/14/2009 00:18	WatercolorMan wrote: #5 & it will last a lifetime I agree--the Orvis 7-6 Battenkill is the best choice. I've owned several Orvis rods over the years and still have one tucked away. I prefer the varnished rod over the impregnated Orvis but that process does protect the rod and they are good rods (but like a lot of good stuff you pay $400 or so extra for the Orvis name. I was fishing the Battenkill two weeks ago so I stopped in at Orvis and they rigged up a new 7-6" Battenkill for me to try at their pond along with a couple of the new "Helios" models. The Battenkill was a good, solid rod and cast nicely. I tried a #5 Heilos and a #3 weight and the graphite/boron stuff was--in my opinion--not worth the money at all. The #5 was all tip action--and I mean ALL TIP--but the #3 had a much smoother, medium flex. While the name is the same and they are marketed as part of their "top-line" of rods, there was nothing similar between the two that I tried. I then brought out a 3/2 Tom Maxwell 7.5 for #5 made in his personal shop in the late 1980s. I had to wrestle it away from one of the Orvis School instructors who came over to see what I was casting. "That's one great casting rod," he said as he sent tight loops all the way to the far bank. Pete In Vermont
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Richard		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 5 06/14/2009 08:23	Well, I bought the 1969 Orvis Battenkill 7'6" 2/2 HDG (6) for $650.00. Perhaps a little more than most would have paid, but it is in really nice condition, or at least it seems from the photos. I will provide an update once I return from Afghanistan later this month and cast it in the pond nextdoor. Now to find a Lee Wolf TT 5DT line and I will be set. Any recommendations where I can find some? Additionally, what reel(s) would you recommended for this rod? I was looking at a nice Hardy Princess, Hardy Lightweight, Hardy Perfect 3 3/8", and Hardy St. George 3". Something about the Hardy reels I like. Is there a reel out there that would be better? I'm aways open to new ideas, but prefer vintage equipment. Best Regards, Richard
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gaddis		#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 296 06/14/2009 09:48	An Orvis CFO III is a good match. That's what I use on mine. I'm sure an equivalently-sized Hardy would be great as well.
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Richard		#12	[url]	[-]
Posts: 6 06/14/2009 10:12	Gaddis, That's great. I was afraid it may be a little too light for the Battenkill. I have a nice CFO III I purchased as a youngster with money made from mowing lawns during the summer. At that point in my life it was the most expensive thing I had ever purchased, at $110.00. Now if I can find someplace to purchase a Wolf TT 5wt...
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PA Limestoner		#13	[url]	[-]
Posts: 104 06/14/2009 10:13	Your choice of reel should take into consideration if you want a left hand or right hand retrieve. Many of us who are right handed prefer a left hand wind, because we tend to turn the rod upside down to bring in fish to help equalize stresses on delicate tip sections and hopefully avoid sets. Reeling in upside down is easier while using one's dominant hand. Many Hardy reels are rare in a left hand set up (those with a ring line guard) and their prices are at a premium. For a classic look, consider the Hardy Bougle Mk. IV and VI's. The IV has a non ported winding plate while the VI has ports on the winding plate. Can convert to either LH or RH retrieves. These Bougle's are essentially raised pillar lightweight Perfects, and should easily last a lifetime.
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Pete in Vermont	Orvis CFO III or Hardy Perfect 3 1/8 suggested+	#14	[url]	[-]
Posts: 35 06/14/2009 15:36	In think the CFO is one of the finest reels Orvis ever produced. It was designed for them by Stan Bogdan many years ago and he now gets $1500 for the reels he and his son build and there is a 2 to 3 year wait. I have a CFO III Disc now (recently upgrading a 20 year old CFO III) and I like it a lot. Also the right size in a Hardy would be the Perfect 3 1/8 or the 3-inch St. George (which are hard to find, including the new commemorative version they built a couple of years ago in limited numbers.) Pricewise you can't beat the Orvis CFO and it is well-made. Pete In Vermont
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Richard		#15	[url]	[-]
Posts: 7 06/23/2009 22:22	Well, I went ahead and purchased a beautiful 1969 Orvis Battenkill 7'6" 2/2, 3 7/8 oz HDG (6) as my first bamboo rod. It looks as if it was never fished, or perhaps very, very little. I feel the $650.00, including shipping and insurance was a very good deal. All serial numbers match including the rod tub label that's in very nice condition. Now the question to the list is what would be the recommended line weight and type. I have casted a 5wt SA WF-F and it felt very nice, but wanted to hear from others with this same rod. I was told a Wolf TT 5wt would be ideal. What about the new line by Rio specificaly for bamboo and the Cortland Sylk in DT? Should I stick to a 5wt as suggested on this site or use a 6wt as I think the rod was originally tested for? Any and all advice is welcomed for this new bamboo lover. By the way, while I was test casting the rod on a pond next door to my home I was able to catch a very nice largemouth bass on a size 14 Adams. All i can say is, "I'm hooked" and now I see what all the fuss is about! I loved it so much I just purchased a 1965 Orvis Battenkill 8' 2/2 4/38oz HCH (7) for larger nymphs and small streamers. What would be the ideal line for this rod? regards, Richard
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Manistee Man	Battenkill 7-1/2 ft, 3-7/8 oz	#16	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1 06/24/2009 15:56	I have owned and fished the 7 1/2ft -3 7/8oz rod (SN 46832) since summer of 1967. I got married that summer. About a month after our wedding my wife saw me drooling over the Orvis catalog and invited me to buy one for myself. I've had both the wife and the rod since. I wouldn't trade either. Unfortunately, my wife never invited me to buy any more rods. I love the rod. Several other Orvises crept in over the years. I also own the 8ft - 4 3/8 oz, and the 8 1/2ft - 5 1/8 oz. On the 7 1/2 footer, I use a dt5 or wf 5 line most of the time. If I'm going to fish close with a fly larger than about no 10, I will use a no. 6 line. The rod is a sweetheart. I generally only use it on smallish steams where I'm going to fish less than about 45 ft from me to the fish.
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tedgolden		#17	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2898 06/24/2009 16:53 Moderator	1965 Orvis Battenkill 8' 2/2 4/38oz HCH (7) for larger nymphs and small streamers. What would be the ideal line for this rod? A WF 6 or WF7 will work well. If you want to experiment a bit, try a Triangle Taper 6 (formerly 6/7). Very versatile rod.
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gaddis		#18	[url]	[-]
Posts: 297 06/24/2009 20:58	Well Richard I think you did very well. You've got my two personal favorite bamboo rods. On the lighter rod my favorite line is a Scientific Anglers Air Cel Supreme 2 in DT5F. Same line on the other rod in DT6F. An Orvis CFO IV matches well with the 8' 4 3/8 oz Battenkill, as does a Pflueger Medalist 1494 (or an Orvis Madison 6/7, same reel).
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Boris		#19	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4 07/13/2009 06:35	Hi Richard, I've cast the DeGere "fast" on grass and water on several ocassions. I haven't fished with it but IMHO it's a fantastic taper - a dry fly rod that could be a good all rounder - I was able to cast it in close and out to 60' no trouble with the right line on it. It felt crisp and responsive. In fact I liked it so much I went and ordered one as my first bamboo rod. After casting several rods and narrowing it down to two I liked which were chalk & cheese really I finally settled on the "Digger" DeGere "fast". The other rod in the short list was the PHY "Driggs River"; yeah I know, they are both very different, almost on the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of feel characteristics. Now I just have to wait til April for delivery....
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