FE Thomas Rods

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gooseberryrods	FE Thomas Rods		Lead	[-]
Posts: 568 12/22/2008 14:59	Tags : None I recently acquired a nice old (1915) 8 1/2' FE Thomas rod. It is a nice light 4-5 wt. rod and has a medium action.I have also owned a couple of early lightline nine footers that were terrific with 4 and 5 weight lines. I am talking about rods that are not soft and whippy but medium , almost crisp in action. This got me thinking... why has there not been more written about the rods of FE Thomas? After all, he was one of the "old masters" who stuck with his craft for his entire adult life. AJ Campbell rates the rods of FE Thomas right behind Payne's in his list of the top production rods. I am just curious why there has been so much written about E.W. Edwards and so little about the likes of FE Thomas (and Payne for that matter). Okay... so I stirred the pot, now let's keep it civil and hear what you experts have to say:) gooseberry
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NorthBranch		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 130 12/22/2008 15:29	I have only owned one FE Thomas rod and thought very highly of it. I have also had the luxury of handling some very high end Thomas's and there is no doubt he was a craftsman of the highest level when he wanted to. He produced many more rods than Edwards and there is definetly some variation in qaulity, but for the most part his rods were fine casting instraments any collector would be happy to have in their collection. Personally, I think a fine Eustis Edwards is just a better rod and much rarer based on how few have come to market in the last few years. I think the rarity of the Eustis made rods just made him a better target for a book. I think the Casting a Spell book cast a little light on Eustis's life that left reader wanting to know more and Patricks book filled that desire for more specific info on his life and rods. That said, the high end Thomas's I have seen were breathtaking and I for one would welcome any writing on FE Thomas. CR
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mtn	re: FET	#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 417 12/22/2008 15:35	Gooseberry, One of my favorite.... if not favorite makers. I agree, you don't see alot of discussion or that much in print about F E Thomas and/or the Thomas rod company. When you look at the span in which the company was in buisness that speaks volumes. I really enjoyed Campbells writting on Thomas and found it quite informative. I am also impressed by the number of differnt rod actions and tapers they produced. Currently I own only 1 Thomas rod a Dirigo (FET) from the late 30's 8'6" 4/5 in a mediun wet fly action quite enjoyable to fish and as you said not soft or whippy and quite capable as an all around rod. Ok, I'll give the old pot a stir, I also put Thomas at a close 2nd behind Payne. Mike
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firehole		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3611 12/22/2008 16:03 Local user	That's a great question. IMHO they're second behind Payne as far as production rods. I love their tapers nothing whimpy about them as compared to Leonards. Leonards came to forefront in the late 1970's with Maxwell redoing the tapers. FE development of the Browntone and Mahogany tone rods really set them apart from others. There's a subtle elegance every time you look at a FE from their signature wraps, wrap colors to their reel seats. I guess if there is a area they had some shortcomings it would be consistency and glue lines but as far as tapers they can't be beat. I've owned 6 FE's but my recent addition of a Browntone 7'6" 2/2 4/5 wt. makes me smile all over with it's beauty and sweet med-fast action. Oh, by the way Edwards is third on my list. Dennis
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cwfly		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 799 12/23/2008 15:20	Marty Keane devoted fifteen pages to Fred E. Thomas and The Thomas Rod Company. His first sentence reads, If a fly-fisherman should actually find his ever elusive "perfect" rod, it's a good bet that it will bear the markings "F. E. Thomas, Bangor, Me." on its silver butt cap. His last sentence on Thomas concludes, Many fathers and grandfathers are continuing the tradition of handing down their Thomas rods to the upcoming generations of fly-fishermen, who - like all of us - cannot believe the beauty and, indeed, the soul one finds in Thomas rods.
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Drew Creek	FE Thomas	#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 94 12/23/2008 16:53	Thank you for this post. It was just four days ago that I had my first opportunity to fish my little 8' 3/2 FE Thomas Browntone Special. Bob Nunley did a most remarkable job in restoring this subtle special order beauty from 1939 back to its original understated elegance. Complete with a new dry fly tip. Blued hardware, polished Hardy reelseat and those lovely signature wraps. The medium fast action permitted open and tight loops, casts both far and close and all with an easy grace even for a rank amateur like me. The first cast brought forth a smile in recognition of the simple truth that I like this rod. And on the second cast we were fast to a 14" rainbow. The smile broke into a grin and I heard myself say " I LIKE this rod". The next few hours passed swiftly and 12 more trout were brought to hand. Easily and effortlessly. I'm not anywhere close to being an expert, but, I like my little part of Thomas rods. Dave T.
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slate river		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 25 12/23/2008 21:07	Scott, Good luck on your new rod. May it provide you many years of enjoyment. Bob
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gooseberryrods		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 571 12/27/2008 00:54	Bob and the others.... thanks for the comments. Happy Holidays, Scott
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moregrayling	f.e. thomas	#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 389 12/27/2008 08:07	I've read so much about F.E. Thomas rods, and I always wanted one. A couple of times, when the chance arose, I draged my feet and that was that. Not long ago I aquired an 8 foot, 3/2 Special from a board member. It's a lovely rod, well made and wonderfully finished. The slower action is exactly as I hoped for and this will be my rod for Grayling fishing with small dry flies. If somebody ever plans to put together a book about the F.E. Thomas Rod Co., I'd be one of the first people to put their money on the table, pre-publication if necessary. Same goes for a book about Leonard... With the very best from"Krautland", Christian them 'at knows nowt, fears nowt
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WatercolorMan		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1214 12/28/2008 05:48	Christian Great looking rod and a fine reel to top it off. Hard to go wrong with FET. . . Alan
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greendrake ll		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1004 12/28/2008 09:56	I'm not a big fan of really light line rods(1,2,&3 wts.).I generally stick to 4,5,&6 wt rods for 90% of my fishing.In fact I had never found a 3wt that even came close to my liking until the day that I cast an FE Thomas 6'8" 3wt. I knew then that there was at least one 3wt that I liked.It is without a doubt the best 3wt ever built by anyone as far as I'm concerned........Will
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thegubster		#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1499 12/28/2008 12:07	Scott, Thanks for opening this up. It's a topic I know very little about and have often wondered too because I've heard a lot about the rods. Wish I could say I wasn't interested but that's not the way it is. I'll look in and listen! Christian, nice looking rod. You're so spoiled.....G What lineweight is she? Jeremy.
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moregrayling	F.E. Thomas	#12	[url]	[-]
Posts: 393 12/28/2008 13:54	thegubster wrote: Christian, nice looking rod. You're so spoiled.....G What lineweight is she? Jeremy. Jeremy, It's a 4-weight. It'll be perfick for the Ladies of the stream... Best, Christian and I know just the little chalkstream where it will be christened... them 'at knows nowt, fears nowt Last Edited By: moregrayling 12/28/2008 15:39. Edited 3 times.
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firehole		#13	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3626 12/28/2008 14:04 Local user	Here's the only FE I currently own a Browntone 7'6" 2/2 4/5wt. medium-fast. Just a wonderful powerful caster. The second rod is one I sold to another board member it's a Fairy 8' 3/3 4wt. refinished by Tom Maxwell. Absolutely gorgeous. Dennis Last Edited By: firehole 12/28/2008 14:12. Edited 1 time.
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searun		#14	[url]	[-]
Posts: 98 12/29/2008 22:47	I was fortunate enough to acquire two F.E.Thomas rods last summer. One is a 3/2 Dirigo and one a 3/2 Browntone Special. Both are longer than most here would want at 9', but I like them long to cover the waters I fish and I like a longer rod while fishing from the seat of a boat or a float tube. Dwight Lyons is doing some minor repair work on both of them for me and I haven't cast either one yet. I should have them back by spring. I really can't wait!
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fishbates		#15	[url]	[-]
Posts: 146 12/30/2008 00:36	Fe thomas rods have been a steal for some time, i own several of them, all browntones but a 8 1'2 special mint condition with hanging tag i just could not pass up at $700 BUCKS. I have a 7' 2 piece that is as nice as any payne rod i have owned and casted but as for glue lines, they did not always come out as nice as payne rods, i think they have been underated for some time and will continue to be until the inevitable occures, that unmentionable auction site has two bidders who run the price right through the roof, then we will all want one, but as for eustis edwards, i had one but a bastered rod at best, but what a caster, so im still on the look out for a nice 8' 3/2 4wt from his hands, patience!! d
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