I've got some great rods, including 3 by Dickerson (7613, 8014, 801510), 2 by Mike Clark, a beautiful Granger Special, a sweet John Pickard, and a few
others, most of which are outstanding casting instruments. I could live with any of the Dickerson's or the Pickard as my only rod if forced to do so. But
my favorite remains my 7'6" Jack Howell for DT-5 (his version of the 1952 Dickerson 7613). Maybe it's because I fished it nearly exclusively for
10 years (I had to have Jack refinish it after 8 years because I used it so much) that I have developed a totemic connection to it.
This forum began as Clark's Classic Bamboo Rod Forum, founded by Clark Davis for all who share a passion for classic rods. The forum is now owned by Whitefish Press aka Dr. Todd Larson - banjo.
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Best of the Bunch?
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 cutthroattroutnm |
It's still my Jack Howell | #21 | ||
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Posts: 62 05/24/2009 21:43 |
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slate river |
#22 | |||
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Posts: 101 05/25/2009 23:16 |
My Granger Aristocrat 8040 is my favorite classic rod and my favorite contemporary rod would have to be my Sweetgrass 7'9" 5wt. I probably fish these
two rods more than any of my other rods as they give me the greatest enjoyment especially when dry fly fishing. Wouldn't and couldn't part with either
of them.
Bob |
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alpom |
#23 | |||
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Posts: 322 05/26/2009 11:04 |
Winston 7'9'' 2/2 quad 4/5. It is "best" just because i just got it i am sure will use my others "bests" after some time
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Marty |
#24 | |||
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Posts: 175 05/26/2009 11:18 |
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.
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czkid |
Define Favorite... | #25 | ||
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Posts: 3990 05/26/2009 11:35 Moderator |
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 Brookies (and 24 inch Browns)... Bob Nunley's 6ft, 3pc, 3wt For the rod that instantly feels like an old friend.... Dermot Wilson's 8'3" "Wilson International" parabolic.... Ralph |
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stvrain |
Current Favorite | #26 | ||
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Posts: 82 05/26/2009 13:10 |
South Creek Ltd. 7'-9" 3/2 dark flamed with black wraps and gold tips. Great looks and action! Kudos to Mike and Kathy!
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mickfly.fiberglassflyro... |
#27 | |||
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Posts: 2 05/26/2009 16:01 |
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.
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hdrmd |
#28 | |||
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Posts: 9 05/26/2009 17:55 |
Payne 201; so easy to cast with either 4WF or 5DT.
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nayashewon |
#29 | |||
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Posts: 37 05/26/2009 20:44 |
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.
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cutthroattroutnm |
What line on the Granger? | #30 | ||
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Posts: 64 05/27/2009 00:03 |
Bob:
Do you fish a 4 wt. or a 5 wt. line on that 8040? Mike |
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driftless |
Paul Young tapers | #31 | ||
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Posts: 71 05/27/2009 08:42 |
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 |
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firehole |
#32 | |||
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Posts: 3925 05/27/2009 18:51 Local user |
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
Last Edited By: firehole 05/27/2009 18:57.
Edited 1 time.
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JimP.fishnbanjosplace |
#33 | |||
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Posts: 18 05/27/2009 19:36 |
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 |
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slate river |
#34 | |||
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Posts: 103 05/27/2009 23:16 |
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 |
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william |
#35 | |||
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Posts: 3 06/19/2009 15:49 |
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 |
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maruoff |
#36 | |||
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Posts: 914 06/19/2009 16:29 |
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 presented to you on a river. I only have a few rods I would never sell and if you would ask me now I will tell you I will never sell this one. certainly not till I find an even better rod (well to be honest the 8ft1" #5 Wojo might be an even better rod but it costs...well...three times as much...worth every cent but not affordable for everyone). |
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jaybird |
#37 | |||
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Posts: 955 06/20/2009 23:18 |
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.
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Catskill |
#38 | |||
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Posts: 223 07/03/2009 00:06 |
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 |
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bob2935 |
No Brainer | #39 | ||
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Posts: 813 07/03/2009 00:40 |
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.
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nayashewon |
#40 | |||
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Posts: 43 07/03/2009 14:55 |
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.
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- Members Corner
- Forum Announcements
- Collecting Bamboo Fly Rods
- Fishing Bamboo Fly Rods
- Rod making, restoration, repairs and discussion on those related topics concerning bamboo rods.
- Rod and Reel Makers Forum
- Information About Makers & Manufacturers
- Taper Exchange
- Appraisals & Identification of Bamboo Fly Rods
- Ephemera, empherma and Ephemerella.....
- Book Talk
- Photos, paintings, written stories and talents.
- Classic Reels
- Collecting and Tying Classic Flies
- The Cooks Kitchen
- The Classic Fly Rod Classifieds
- Technical Support
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