Vintage 4 wts.

0 Kudo

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Author

Comment

rodblank

Vintage 4 wts.

Lead

[-]

Posts: 33

03/25/2008 13:48

Tags : None

I have a 6' 6" 4 wt. for dry flies from a modern maker and it excels at tossing blue wing olives on tiny brush choked streams. I want to add a 7' or 7 1/2' four weight to my vintage rod collection, but want the blue collar level rod. Did any of the production makers make a true four weight , or do you have to step up to the Paynes etc. to get that option? I have heard some say that a Tonka Prince is a 4 wt, but have a hard time believing it as they also say a Tonka Queen is a 4 wt while every one I have cast is a DT5 or WF6. The Grangers and Heddons seem to be getting pretty pricy in that configuration, but I may be where I end up having to go.

Any suggestions for me?

Reply Quote

SnooKen

#1

[-]

Posts: 538

03/25/2008 16:11

The HI Tonka Prince really is a 4 weight. The only location I can imagine someone claiming the Tonka Queen is a 4 weight is that ethereal zone of which we do not speak where you'll always be a winner as long as you're willing to pay more than anyone else on the planet for that item that day.

Ken

Reply Quote

Marshall8

I would consider....

#2

[-]

Posts: 699

03/25/2008 23:53

the bang for the buck is almost any current rodmakers stuff that is used in great fishing condition for around $400. I have a nice Goodwin Granger taper 7 1/2' 4/5wt 3/2 with an overwrap on one tip that is spectacular for only $450 and a Driggs River extended taper rod that is 7'9" 4/5wt 3/2 no issues for only $350 that no one seems to want around here. I have cast the Prince and the one I used was at least a 6wt and in no way compared with any 4wt taper I have ever cast and there have been many. With that said a good caster can make about anything work with at least 3 and sometimes 4 line weights. Heck, Lefty could throw a ton of fly line with only one section of a four piece rod and it was stiff a** graphite!

p.s. almost forgot about a lovely single tip Granger stamped Kibby C Gart Preferred that is as nice a casting 8' 4wt 3/1 as you could ask for at only $300! In the lighter line weight this one will out handle anything H-I etc ever made.

M

Last Edited By: Marshall8 03/26/2008 00:09. Edited 2 times.

Reply Quote

Marshall8

Tonka Prince taper

#3

[-]

Posts: 700

03/26/2008 09:09

0	0.083	-
5	0.103	54343
10	0.117	78628
15	0.127	98170
20	0.138	108866
25	0.142	133494
30	0.154	135119
35	0.163	141264
40	0.172	147016
45	0.219	87819
50	0.251	71953
55	0.268	71850
60	0.289	69385
65	0.312	65812
70	0.338	61625
74	0.361	58013

Here is the taper I got off a Tonka Prince. Its got more meat in it than most of my 8 to 8 1/2' rods! Its at least .015 heavier at each station than anything that resembles a normal 4wt rod.

M

Reply Quote

thegubster

#4

[-]

Posts: 1170

03/26/2008 09:39

Marshall,

Thank you for taking the time to post this and I have a general ?? for you regarding measuring. That first .083 dim, would that be as close to the tip-top as possible, as in directly under the ending of the tip wrap? And the 5" mark would then be just that....5" down measured from the tip top?

Thanks. I'm going to measure a rod soon and wanted to know the proper or most-understood/accepted way of taking dims. I have a 3 pc rod and will measure it assembled, I'm guessing.

Jeremy...a rookie!

Reply Quote

Marshall8

You have a good take on it Jeremy

#5

[-]

Posts: 701

03/26/2008 09:56

I am using the Hexrod program. You are able in input dimensions from any place on the rod and the program then fills in the blanks in one inch increments. The part I posted is the chart reduced to 5" increments. Yes you get a measurement closest to the tip-top and it estimates the beginning number at 0. Its OK if it is 3/4 inch or 1 1/4 inch both expressed as .75 or 1.25. You can take as many measurements as you would like to input. I usually go every 3".

Yes I measure from the tip-top and put the rod together to take the measurements. Measure each flat and average what you get for the reading.

The program does not mind if you do not go the same spacing down the rod. It will take whatever you input and fill in the blanks. So if you are going down the rod every 5" and run into a guide wrap, no biggie if your reading is at 34". I also take a reading as close as I can get on each side of the ferrules expressed at whatever distance it is like 34.5".

M

Last Edited By: Marshall8 03/26/2008 09:59. Edited 1 time.

Reply Quote

thegubster

#6

[-]

Posts: 1171

03/26/2008 12:15

Thanks Marshall. I appreciate the explanation because I have yet to play around with Hexrod. I'll look at it tonight.

Jeremy.

Reply Quote

kimk

#7

[-]

Posts: 544

03/26/2008 21:55

My first Tonka Prince fishes well w/ a 4 wt silk but might be better w/ a 4 1/2. The second one is clearly a 5 wt rod. The second one also has a swelled butt which the first ( earlier manufacture I think ) does not. I suspect that not all Prince rods are of the same taper and I also suspect that there is a wide variance in the cane quality and precision of manufacture. These were among the cheapest rods made by H-I. I can't help but suspect that the Prince, Princess, and Queen were made because H-I figured that a two piece rod had one less ferrule and so could be made cheaper than a three piece.
AgMD

Reply Quote

retrotrout

#8

[-]

Posts: 40

03/26/2008 23:08

Most Heddon Featherweights in the 7' or 7.5' foot categories are 4wt rods. The Orvis Midge is also a 4wt. At least the rods of those designations that I own and fish regularly cast a 4DT silk Phoenix really well.

Reply Quote

mtn

Vintage 4wta

#9

[-]

Posts: 358

03/26/2008 23:31

Rodblank, True production 4wt will be pricy and hard to find. As for Heddons there catalogs lightest line reference is HEH translating to DT5. I have seen Thomas, Payne and Leonards but they'll get pricy. You might look at Orvis rods as they had a few rated for WF5 that handle DT4s
Good luck, and have as much fun finding old rods as fishing them.
Mike

Reply Quote

greg hall

#10

[-]

Posts: 157

03/26/2008 23:54

A 7' Heddon 0 1/2 Ferrule rod is an excellent true 4 weight. They're not cheap but they're a lot cheaper than a Payne or a Leonard. I think it's helpful to remember that the early line ratings such as HEH reflected line diameters not line weights and that fly lines were not so standardized as is the case with modern lines. We do have tables which give us a means of translating the old line sizes into modern line weights but I think these translations are a good general guideline but not exact.

Last Edited By: greg hall 03/26/2008 23:56. Edited 1 time.

Reply Quote

nativebrownie

#11

[-]

Posts: 458

03/27/2008 21:36

Agreed on the Heddons - but in my hand the 7.5/3/2, 1 1/2f is a true 4; the 7.5 3/4f is more of a 5; agred that the 7 1/2f is a 4... just from my feel...

NB

Reply Quote

canestixx

#12

[-]

Posts: 126

04/01/2008 12:46

I like the W/M 7030 in any flaver ,it cast a 444 peach DT4 well under all conditions on S.W. Wi. streams. I also like the Heddon 14 Thorobred "Featherweight" 7 1/2 2pc. it too casts the same line very well & adds a little mending to spring creek fishing. As for the Tonka Prince I have only seen them to cast a 5/6 line .i have not found it a good 4wt. rod for spring creek fishing. They don't cast well in close in my hand anyway.

Good Hun'tin
canestixx

Reply Quote

varmint255

#13

[-]

Posts: 243

04/01/2008 14:13

I agree,the 7 1/2' Heddon 1 1/2F will cast a DT4 right nicely,it's what I use for 90% of my fishing.

Reply Quote

germanbrown

#14

[-]

Posts: 633

04/01/2008 14:20

the granger 7030 is a true 4 wt in my mind.

Reply Quote

nativebrownie

#15

[-]

Posts: 462

04/01/2008 19:58

Agreed on the 7030 taper - mine is a DeBell/Phillipson - a fine 4 in my hand...

Reply Quote

canestixx

Classic 4wts.

#16

[-]

Posts: 127

04/01/2008 21:35

I once owned a Phillipson PowerPakt, 7 1/2 ~2/2~5wt. It was a great flyrod then it seemed to turn into a 4 wt. ever had this happen to one of your rods ? Iam not sure but.... I think my casting stroke brokedown & I was over working the rod & that made me think it turned into a 4wt.

i

Reply Quote

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Yuku free message boards

Vintage 4 wts.

Vintage 4 wts.

Quick Reply