I just got my mitts on this rod, an 8' 3/2 4/5 wt that has taken me off guard. It's rod that Hal Bacon split and glued up and Geo. Guba finished out
(very well) and it's basically unfished.
Coming from my "progressive prefs." background, when I first flicked this rod (reel-less) and felt the action down into the mid section I cringed a
bit. "Oh no, not as snappy as I'd hoped!" Then I remembered a rod my son has from Dave Norling (an experimental proto) and I thought much the
same until Nate had me cast it. I fell in love with the ultra smooth action. All I heard was a "Told ya!!" from my college kid!
I put a reel to this 8 footer and lined her w/a 4wt DT SA XPS, a favored line. I'll keep this brief....it totally had me on that first
back cast! Totally!!
I'd like for anyone familiar with this taper to describe the type of action it possesses please. All I can say is that it's so very silky smooth w/o
being "soft". It will comfortable bend down deeper into the mid than my med. fast progressives will and it surprised my elementary style of casting
by giving me tight loops, despite being remarkably less "crisp" than what I'm used to. In short the rod blows me way.
I have some very nice tools from a couple of very good makers and this adds another, unexpected feeling to bamboos. When I came here the last thing (it nearly
deterred me from "heavy, whimpy, cane rods") I wanted was a rod like this.
I'm totally blown away! I'm, a Sage and Loomis (think IMX) guy. This is unreal!
I just don't know what "name" to ascribe to the action besides "smooth" as can be. You rodmakers know more than I do and I'd
appreciate it so I can both share with friends and learn. I hope Hal Bacon finds this..he did a wonderful job on this taper.
This was better than getting engaged! (28 yrs back)
Thanks,
Jeremy.
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.
For those who don't use English as their primary language we now have a translator for your language of choice hosted by Google.
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Leonard Hunt 50 question...Pics added...
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 thegubster |
Leonard Hunt 50 question...Pics added... |
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Posts: 1272 06/12/2008 12:52 |
Last Edited By: thegubster 06/16/2008 22:58.
Edited 2 times.
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 fishnbanjo |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 5525 06/12/2008 12:56 the Canefather |
Having owned an original 50 DF Hunt CA 1928 I can say it was the most difficult rod I ever lined but once I was successful (ended up with a Mastery DT) I was
very well pleased.
banjo
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fishbates |
#2 | |||
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Posts: 116 06/12/2008 12:58 |
Well join the club, they are great rods i have one that is a bit faster a 50df with all cork reel seat and between my normal 50 df and this faster one both are
great rods and why many of us have thrown away our plastic rods, well maybe not thrown away but i use them only for back up rods
mine are both 5wts so you might have a bit lighter one, engaged well that only reminds me of nightmares, so i cant realy compare the two, you might try to get your hands on a 8040 granger since you like this action and maybe even a 201 payne dave |
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rodzilla |
Leonard 50 | #3 | ||
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Posts: 103 06/12/2008 13:37 |
Jeremy, you are a lucky guy to acquire such a nice rod. That 50 taper is so sweet it could cause me to go into a diabetic comma! I like mine with a 4 DT
line as well.
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greendrake ll |
#4 | |||
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Posts: 733 06/12/2008 22:54 |
thegubster wrote: Ouch!! I hope your Missus doesn't see that or you will be signing off> Jeremy,running and ducking rolling pins Jeremy, You need to cast a couple of Dickersons tapers,no buggy whips there,nice and snappy with power to spare.They would be right up your alley.....Will |
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creakycane |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 1655 06/12/2008 23:00 |
That kind of action you describe, and the silky medium action with great line control and feel, is exactly how a good cane rod should feel (not soft; not
fast). If you want a fast rod, go graphite, you cannot beat it in cane. You desciption makes me think of how Bob Taylor's 4 and 5 wts rods feel in 7 1/2
and 8' 5wt.
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thegubster |
#6 | |||
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Posts: 1273 06/13/2008 08:28 |
Creaky, I'm taken in. The feeling is new for me, even in cane and it just fits me to a "T".
I'll tell you something that occured to me last night. Maybe, just maybe all this stuff about hollowbuilding and such that I've been so taken with (being so much a graphite guy just a few years back) maybe all that chasing the elusive perfect feel ... is not so far away afterall. (I hope I don't alienate some friends here by saying that.) Maybe that slight "heft" is what's needed. If I'd picked up this rod directly coming from graphite, I'd never have picked up another cane at all. It would've been all I thought cane to be...too heavy. But it's not. It could be that's it's me that's changed over the last 5-6 yrs..??...dunno. There's something about the way this rod just simply...casts itself.... It took me 1 1/2 hours to get off the back lawn last night! |
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SnooKen |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 657 06/13/2008 11:37 |
Jeremy; Couldn't be happier for you finding a rod that feels so natural. "Magic Rods" don't come along often! I suspect you hit the nail on
the head when you surmised that you and your casting have changed over the years. I'm certain that has been the case for me. Since getting into cane fly
rods I've become much better at listening to what a fly rod tells me as I cast and responding to the dialogue with appropriate changes in stroke and tempo.
Far fewer rods now strike me as "dogs" and subtle differences seem more apparent.
Ken A Curmudgeon is just an Old Fart with outlet malfunction. You'd be grumpy, too. |
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thegubster |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 1275 06/13/2008 12:07 |
SnooKen wrote: Nice, isn't it Ken! If they weren't as important to me in this sport as they are I could just shrug them aside and just worry about catching fish. Not so though. I had a very enjoyable day out a couple weeks ago simply casting to "hopeful" risers, exploring. It was one of the most enjoyable days of "few fish catching" times I've ever had! I think this little girl will add to that! Really, this stuff is still new to me. I'm a graphite guy.....I keep trying to remind myself of that! And I'm losing ground. |
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johnr |
leonard 50 | #9 | ||
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Posts: 98 06/13/2008 12:47 |
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thegubster |
#10 | |||
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Posts: 1277 06/13/2008 14:26 |
Thanks John. Some good info there. I'm just beginning this trip....
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ARTHURK |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 150 06/14/2008 07:34 |
Hi Jeremy,
Congratulations! You have found the beauty in cane. My friends and I have discovered the same and are more into that medium smooth feel nowadays. In fact, the new 'graphite boys' converts grab my 3-4wts ( Kagerow Kei, The New Divine Fairy, Brackett Winston Light trout) as they feel these rods are light, and silky smooth without being whimpy. I love watching them cast because their eyes will close in pleasure. I do not mind slightly longer, more powerful and heavier 5-6wt canerods ( Hattons, Dunsmuir Quad, Calviellos) and find that they have that same special feel without loosing out on distance nor backbone. That said, you may notice some of the rods mentioned are modern hollowbuilt rods including bamboo ferrules. My take is that hollowing and other innovative ideas have nothing to do with smoothness. It boils down to taper, workmanship, balance and of course that wonderful reed...bamboo. I'm really happy to read your post. Do post catch pictures when available. I'm certainly looking for a good 50DF myself as I think its one of the must have tapers. Best Arthur |
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thegubster |
#12 | |||
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Posts: 1278 06/14/2008 20:28 |
Hi Arthur,
I've read any number of your posts. I've enjoyed them all, without fail. As with most, you include a few pictures of your exploits and in some, I've admired and drooled over more than a couple of your rods! You do have quite the collection. It's added to my "wants".... Tonight, after getting all my chores done and after having a good gab with a local, wonderful old rodmaker, I'm taking my new rod out for a little while to sort of settle me in for the evening. I love the playing and watching a line cut smoothly through the air. It really is poetry. Then I'll take some pictures which I'l put up tomorrow morning. If I know me, tonight will have my nose in a new bottle of "sauce". I need to toast this one. It's somewhat of a "find" after much exploring around these parts! Hey Drew....thank you, again! Jeremy. |
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tedgolden |
#13 | |||
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Posts: 2518 06/17/2008 10:19 Moderator |
You are most welcome! That is a gem and it would appear has opened a new door for you. Best, Drew
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bswild |
Leonard Hunt 50 | #14 | ||
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Posts: 309 06/18/2008 18:35 |
I had a Bacon built Leonard #50 repro that I loved. I cast an authentic Leonard Hunt of the same configuration, and thought it was too stiff. But those rods
vary a lot. But Hal makes a helluva blank, and Guba's work looks nice, too.
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thegubster |
#15 | |||
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Posts: 1283 06/19/2008 07:30 |
Billy,
After all my slathering over this rod, I broke her in very nicely Tuesday on Stonehammer. (She has a lot of mojo...) It fished very nicely indeed. However, due to my recent last winter's rt. elbow reconstruction surgery that extra 6" out on the length had my joint yellling at me in a huge way. I had to quit early. Still aches a lot! I'm afraid my use will be restricted to my shorter rods 7'6" or so...even perhaps my 2-3 wt Sage SPL's. I'll be lucky if I CAN do even that. This is a bummer but it's not like I have a chioce. Enough now. Nothing much to do but wait...again. I did this two seasons back and ... it's getting old. Jeremy...over and out! |
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troutist |
#16 | |||
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Posts: 155 06/19/2008 23:09 |
So happy you found a rod that truly makes you happy. If you ever get a chance to get a Dickerson 801510, mortgage your house if you have to, because I know you
would love the action,...
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seattlesetters |
#17 | |||
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Posts: 249 06/20/2008 12:21 |
thegubster wrote: Don't despair, Jeremy. A couple of years ago, I had about 20-25% of my right (casting) elbow completely removed (not reconstructed). They took out the
bursa sac (no more lubrication!), removed portions of ligaments and tendons and even took out some muscle tissue and scraped the bones. It happenend in the
middle of April, and I was finally able to fish with manageable discomfort about a year later. That summer was tough, but things were better in autumn and
winter and things were nearly back to normal by spring.
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thegubster |
Thank you. | #18 | ||
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Posts: 1286 06/20/2008 12:32 |
Mark,
Thanks for the vote of confidence. I've not been a praying man ... up until recently. (Hope that Boyd fellah doesn't catch this...) I had to forgo everything for much of the same (my troubles) a couple seasons back but you don't get used to it. My bride told me any number of times to just go out to the shed and chew on a stick awhile. It's a bugger... Good luck with continuing healing on your shoulder. Sounds like you had a terrible ordeal. This will pass. Jeremy. |
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seattlesetters |
#19 | |||
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Posts: 250 06/20/2008 12:39 |
Forgot to add: Wading closer to your target is the best thing you can do. Shorter, more accurate casts....putting the fly where it needs to be on
the first cast....are just easier on tired old elbows and shoulders.
The second best thing you can do is limit your false-casting (for one way, see above). It's amazing how much longer you can fish comfortably with an injury when you're cognizant of your false-casting..... Take a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement. It helps....it really does. |
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CtKenC |
#20 | |||
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Posts: 212 06/20/2008 13:09 |
seattlesetters wrote: Seattle.. I identify with, and 101% agree with your comments here and one posting prior.
I too have had bone surgery on my casting shoulder and after 6-12 months of PT etc. had to have the torn rotator cuff (supraspinatous) surgery with titanium screws. But, unfortunately, about 6 weeks after the surgery I fell, did a "face plant" on a walking trail and my shoulder/surgery site took the brunt of the impact. I have used my Maxwell-HUNT 50-5 one time since then and much prefer my 7ft model 48 HUNT at this time. 7ft rods are simply easier om ny shoulder.
Can also use my HUNT 49-5 but the shorter rods are even better for me and limiting my casts, while keeping my elbow near my rib cage is the key. I'm
good for about 1.5 to 2.0 hours at an outing if I do as you have suggested.
Hopefully, next year I'll be back to a more normal situation but at age 68 things heal a little slower than they used to. Ken
I
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- Members Corner
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