RODS AND REELS CURRENTLY IN STOCK
I accept high quality rods and reels for consignment sale on this website. If you have high quality rods by any of the recognized classic makers such as Eustis Edwards, Dickerson, Payne, F.E. Thomas, Gillum, Garrison, Leonard, E.C. Powell, Winston, G.H. Howells or others and you are looking to sell the rod, please contact me. The same goes for reels by Hardy, Bogdan, Saracione, etc. My commission is tiered depending on sales price; it is 10% for sales over $6,500, 15% ftrom $2,500 to $6,500, 20% from $1,000 to $2,500 and 25% for sales under $1,000. These rates are lower than most dealers charge.
Photo by Daryl Burry
I try to describe rods and reels as completely and accurately as possible; in case of any discrepancy, however, I offer a three day inspection period during which time the item may be returned for a full refund, minus shipping costs. Please note that all customs duties, inspections, etc. are the responsibility of the buyer in international sales. Also please note that all international sales will be shipped insured and declared for the full price paid; please don't ask me to do otherwise. Within the USA I usually ship via registered mail for items valued over about $2000, because of insurance costs; for items below this value I will ship via normal Priority Mail with the United States Postal Service. If UPS is the desired shipper, costs are a bit higher than with the post office. Massachusetts residents must also pay a 6.25% sales tax. Shipping to Europe or Japan is usually in the $100-$175 range if I can ship using the U.S. Postal Service; cost is a bit higher if I need to ship via UPS (the USPS will only insure packages up to a few hundred dollars to many international destinations). Please note that all international packages valued over $2500 must be shipped via UPS. Payment may be made by credit card, paypal, wire transfer, personal check, money order, or international bank check. I list rods at what I feel are fair prices; I am still willing to at least consider intelligent offers, however, so if you see a rod or reel you really want but can't quite go to the full asking price, please make an offer and it will be respectfully considered.
If interested in any of the rods or other items listed below, please call me at (413)625-6259 or email to per2@comcast.net. If phoning and no answer, be aware that this is the rod-shop phone in a one man shop and I am not always available to answer. Please try again if no answer, or leave a message and I will get back with you.
Each item listed will have one or more photographs illustrating the rod or reel for sale; the photos appear below the description of the item. If you are interested in one of the following offerings and want more visual information, feel free to request additional emailed photographs of the item. Let me know if there are any particular details you wish me to emphasize in taking the photos. Note that if there is more than one photo of an item, these smaller images can be enlarged by simply clicking on them.
If interested in any of the rods or other items listed below, please call me at (413)625-6259 or email to per2@comcast.net. If phoning and no answer, be aware that this is the rod-shop phone in a one man shop and I am not always available to answer. Please try again if no answer, or leave a message and I will get back with you.
Each item listed will have one or more photographs illustrating the rod or reel for sale; the photos appear below the description of the item. If you are interested in one of the following offerings and want more visual information, feel free to request additional emailed photographs of the item. Let me know if there are any particular details you wish me to emphasize in taking the photos. Note that if there is more than one photo of an item, these smaller images can be enlarged by simply clicking on them.
Rods
IF YOU CONTACT ME THROUGH THE 'CONTACT ME' LINK ON THIS SITE AND DON'T HEAR BACK FROM ME, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT per2@comcast.net
When there are Brandin rods available, they will be listed first, followed by other classic rods in order of ascending length and in alphabetical order.
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IF YOU CONTACT ME THROUGH THE 'CONTACT ME' LINK ON THIS SITE AND DON'T HEAR BACK FROM ME, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT per2@comcast.net
When there are Brandin rods available, they will be listed first, followed by other classic rods in order of ascending length and in alphabetical order.
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I strongly recommend that you look at these listings and photos on a laptop or desktop computer rather than a 'smart' phone in order to see the photos well and to navigate the site easily.
Please note that I can now accept payment via credit cards as well as through Paypal with no fee for domestic sales.
Please go to the 'E.C. Powell Book' page on this website to purchase copies of my book A Fly Rod With a Soul about the fishing rods and life of E.C. Powell, the extraordinary rod designer, caster and angler. I have plenty of the trade edition still available and just a very few of the limited and deluxe editions.
Note that I have a few of the E.C. Powell "Essays on Fly Fishing" pamphlets edited by Press Powell and produced in the 1990's for sale at $25.00 ea. You can see scans of these between the rod listings and reel listings on this page.
Newly listed: Gillum 8½ ft strong salmon rod; Dickerson 8013D; E.C. Powell 9½ ft 'Steelhead C'; Mint Gillum 8½ ft strong trout rod; Sam Carlson 7ft #4 line; Carlson 'Thomas Four' 8ft 3 pc
Newly listed from the Thomas H. Clark collection: Morris Kushner 7'8"; H.L. Leonard 7 ft one piece; Garrison model 193; Spinoza (Marc Aroner) 8 ft. 3pc #4 line special
Coming soon: Early 8ft Leonard; and much more...
PRICES REDUCED on Carpenter 7 ft. 'Like a Payne' 97
If interested in a most distinctive fishing jacket, go to my link on this page "Gobillot Designs Fishing Wear."
Rods
Tom Clark, our friendship and his bamboo rods.
Tom Clark passed away this past year after living with Parkinson’s disease for many years. He and I have been friends for about the past 30 years, having been introduced to each other by a shared passion for bamboo fly rods and our mutual friend Joe Garman with whom Tom was very close. I fished with Tom both in Michigan where Tom had a house on the Ausable and in Montana where he also had a place on the East Gallatin in Belgrade.
On the Ausable Tom piloted his classic Ausable River Boat, the same one he fished Ernie Schwiebert out of many years before as described in Ernie’s two volume book “Trout.” We covered a nice stretch of water during the Hendrickson hatch on that iconic water and a day or two later Tom allowed me to fish one of his prized Dickersons, an 861711, on the North Branch Ausable while that day Glen Blackwood was at the helm of his Ausable Boat. Dickerson was Tom’s favorite maker, though in later years he often fished one of the many rods I built for him. We also fished the Missouri, Big Hole and other Montana waters over many years, particularly enjoying floats on the Big Hole with guide Bob Folkedahl. Tom was dedicated to his fly fishing and also fished waters throughout the globe, eastern Canada for Atlantic Salmon, New Zealand, Kamchatka and the Kola Peninsula.
I have been very blessed to have had the chance to study a great many bamboo rods of the classic era, and Tom’s collection provided me with a broader perspective than any other. He had rods by Dickerson, Garrison, Gillum, Hawes, Payne, Leonard, Powell and others, often very rare and unusual models. I have taper records from these great makers out of Tom’s collection that have formed the basis for my understanding of what has been done in terms of taper design and other details of bamboo fly rod construction. On visits to Tom in Michigan or Montana we would spend hours casting rods, perhaps a new model I had developed, or one of the many rods in his varied collection. So many great rods! My wife Jean and I were so glad we had the chance to fish with Tom one last time this past summer. We drove Tom over to a spring fed pond owned by a friend in Livingston, MT and he fished one of my new nine and a half foot Powell-inspired designs that day, taking several nice trout though confined to a walker-chair. The passion was still there.
It is of course bitter-sweet for me now to start offering rods from this collection for sale; many of the rods feel like old friends from whom I started to learn 30 years ago. There are a number of rods that you will be unlikely to come across anywhere else and you will do well to keep your eyes on this site as I start to offer these rods for sale. Some rods will be very expensive as fits their maker, rarity and provenance, while others will be modestly priced due to condition or less storied builder. Tom’s collection threw a wide net, covering a wide array of makers, from Heddon to Garrison and Omar Needham to Gillum. Even if you are not looking to buy, here will be an opportunity to see some very interesting rods rarely if ever available elsewhere. There are a great many rods and I will be listing them over the coming months, a few at a time. I hope you will enjoy looking and for those of you who knew Tom, also a way to remember this remarkable man.
Rods coming from Tom's collection will be identified as such in the description.
Tom Clark passed away this past year after living with Parkinson’s disease for many years. He and I have been friends for about the past 30 years, having been introduced to each other by a shared passion for bamboo fly rods and our mutual friend Joe Garman with whom Tom was very close. I fished with Tom both in Michigan where Tom had a house on the Ausable and in Montana where he also had a place on the East Gallatin in Belgrade.
On the Ausable Tom piloted his classic Ausable River Boat, the same one he fished Ernie Schwiebert out of many years before as described in Ernie’s two volume book “Trout.” We covered a nice stretch of water during the Hendrickson hatch on that iconic water and a day or two later Tom allowed me to fish one of his prized Dickersons, an 861711, on the North Branch Ausable while that day Glen Blackwood was at the helm of his Ausable Boat. Dickerson was Tom’s favorite maker, though in later years he often fished one of the many rods I built for him. We also fished the Missouri, Big Hole and other Montana waters over many years, particularly enjoying floats on the Big Hole with guide Bob Folkedahl. Tom was dedicated to his fly fishing and also fished waters throughout the globe, eastern Canada for Atlantic Salmon, New Zealand, Kamchatka and the Kola Peninsula.
I have been very blessed to have had the chance to study a great many bamboo rods of the classic era, and Tom’s collection provided me with a broader perspective than any other. He had rods by Dickerson, Garrison, Gillum, Hawes, Payne, Leonard, Powell and others, often very rare and unusual models. I have taper records from these great makers out of Tom’s collection that have formed the basis for my understanding of what has been done in terms of taper design and other details of bamboo fly rod construction. On visits to Tom in Michigan or Montana we would spend hours casting rods, perhaps a new model I had developed, or one of the many rods in his varied collection. So many great rods! My wife Jean and I were so glad we had the chance to fish with Tom one last time this past summer. We drove Tom over to a spring fed pond owned by a friend in Livingston, MT and he fished one of my new nine and a half foot Powell-inspired designs that day, taking several nice trout though confined to a walker-chair. The passion was still there.
It is of course bitter-sweet for me now to start offering rods from this collection for sale; many of the rods feel like old friends from whom I started to learn 30 years ago. There are a number of rods that you will be unlikely to come across anywhere else and you will do well to keep your eyes on this site as I start to offer these rods for sale. Some rods will be very expensive as fits their maker, rarity and provenance, while others will be modestly priced due to condition or less storied builder. Tom’s collection threw a wide net, covering a wide array of makers, from Heddon to Garrison and Omar Needham to Gillum. Even if you are not looking to buy, here will be an opportunity to see some very interesting rods rarely if ever available elsewhere. There are a great many rods and I will be listing them over the coming months, a few at a time. I hope you will enjoy looking and for those of you who knew Tom, also a way to remember this remarkable man.
Rods coming from Tom's collection will be identified as such in the description.
For Sale:
~Brandin 805-2 'C' 32/36, 3½ oz, 8 ft 2pc/2 tips semi-hollow quad for #5 line. This is one of a few 'taper development' rods I built in the shop shared with Mario Wojnicki in California in 1991. The '32/36' refers to an average rate of taper in the butt of .032"/ft and .036"/ft in the tip, creating a semi-parabolic action. Casting this rod with a #5 line makes me wonder why I didn't stay with this basic approach to taper design; it has wonderful, smooth and instantaneous power from 10 feet to 60+ feet. I love the feel of this old rod of mine; a pleasure to see and cast it again. Another version of this approach to tapers is currently listed at another dealer for substantially more money. It is marked "31/37" and as such would be more towards the parabolic side of 'semi-parabolic.' This rod listed here on my site is essentially straight and in excellent condition having been carefully used. Ferrule fits are perfect. The expected minor signs of use. Old Mildrum SRMC carbaloy stripping guide and old stock tungsten steel snakes. This rod came to me with an inexplicably replaced reel-seat that was poorly done; luckily, I found a few reel-seats of the proper vintage and wood (figured myrtle) in my stash of old components and installed the proper seat. I was able to use the original slide-band and also had the proper abbreviated butt cap to match. Most of my dry fly rods could be said to be to some degree semi-parabolic, but this rod is just a touch more so than my later dry fly tapers; a very sweet, nice casting rod. In original bag and modern Brandin tube. $5,250 SALE PENDING Click on smaller images to enlarge
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~Payne model 96, 6 ft 2pc/2 tips, under 1¾ oz. This is the early model 96 as listed in the Payne catalogs from the 1930's, so the six foot rod rather than the later model 96 which was 6½ ft. In wonderful condition the rod is straight and true with good ferrule fits, though it looks to have been refinished a long time ago, perhaps at Leonard if I don't miss my guess. Fast and very delicate action with tips a mere .048" over varnish below the tip top wrap. Astonishing that those fine tips have survived these many years. Tiny grip as befits this model and with the very small agate stripping guide of the era and American pattern tungsten steel guides. Almost all blueing gone from the slide band and the butt cap has a protruding brass pin. Butt cap is stamped "Payne / Reg. Us Pat. Off. / Sold by / Abercrombie & Fitch / New York." A rare opportunity to own one of the few surviving full length early model 96 Paynes. In original bag with tag and Payne tube. $4,450 Click on smaller images to enlarge
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~Thomas & Thomas 'Sans Pariel' 6½ ft 2½ oz one-piece for #3-4 line, ser. #3744. This rod dates from 1981, so built a few years after Tom Maxwell left T&T, but sill in the earlier years at this renowned company. These early one piece wonders turn up very seldom on the secondary market. I am always intrigued by these rods, as I watched the bamboo work at T&T and was inspired by it, even before starting my own rod building in the early 1980's. Lively dry fly action that for me is best with a DT3 line rather than the #4 line designated on the rod. A light action DT4 such as a Sci Ang 'XPS' should also be fine. A wonderful casting, delight of a rod for the small stream fisherman with a vehicle to transport the 6'9" tube. Highly figured walnut reel-seat filler under blued n/s hardware with T&T stamping. Comes in original rod bag with stiffener sewn in which I will pin in such a way that the rod is suspended by its handle to protect the tip from jamming against the end of the rod tube during shipping. In use and storage the rod goes into its bag with handle and reel-seat down. Rods from this early period at T&T are highly sought after and the one piece Sans Pariel is almost never seen for sale. Please note that the rod does say "Sans Pariel" in script which basically means 'without equal' but the proper spelling is actually "Sans Pareil." In original bag with stiffener sewn in and brass capped tube. $2,475 Click on smaller images to enlarge
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~Everett Garrison model 193, 6 ft 9 inches 2½ oz. In talking recently with Hoagy Carmichael about this rod, his words were "that is beyond rare." This is the exact rod that appears on the cover of Marty Keane's 1976 book Classic Rods and Rodmakers. It is also discussed in detail on page 124 of that volume, and appears again in the color section of that book between pages 214 and 215. There were only five model 193 rods built, and one model 195, for a total of six rods at this length built by Mr. Garrison. This one has a particularly delicate action, liking a #4 line on the lighter side, although Marty Keane called for a #3 line on this rod. I cast it close to 30 years ago now while examining Tom Clark's collection at his home in Rives Junction, Michigan and used the taper I took from it to build my own version many years ago. Action is pure semi-parabolic Garrison; there is simply nothing like it. This rod was built in 1954 and shows the expected resorcinol glue at the corners, though less obvious than on lighter colored rods. Wraps and finish are original and untouched, the original varnish is complete and fully covering, and shows crazing which should polish out should the new owner require. Ferrule fit is perfect and it has the appropriate all cork reel-seat with rather diminutive diamond-knurled slide band. In original bag with ferrule plug attached and original brass capped tube. From the Thomas H. Clark collection. $12,500 SALE PENDING Click on smaller images to enlarge
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~Sam Carlson 7ft 2pc/1tip #4 line. You will notice in the photos that there are two tips with this rod, but I am listing it as a one tip rod because the second tip was a 'fishing tip' built by Jeff Wagner, so not original. This rod was built for Bob Gorman of Green River Rods in 1979. Bob spent quite a bit of time with Sam in those years and may have gotten the inspiration for the wrap colors from the 'Green Hornet' demo rod Sam always had in the shop; some of you will remember that rod. This is a delightful rod with a DT4 line, fast and smooth with great feel and the depth of power found in some quads. Rod remains in excellent very lightly used condition, straight as a pin with typically perfect Carlson ferrule fit. These short Carlsons are exceedingly rare and here is a chance to own a really nice one for a very reasonable cost.In original bag, likely original tube; Dana Gray tells me Sam used some of this type tube at times. $3,495 Click on smaller images to enlarge
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~W.E. Carpenter "Like a Payne 97", 7 ft. 2pc/2 tips for #4 line. As you can see in the photos, this rod is in mint condition with the paper still on the grip and is marked both on the butt section below the ferrule, label on the rod tube and on the paper on the grip as a "Special Project." Walt Carpenter worked in the Payne shop after Jim Payne's passing and has always displayed an affinity for the work from that shop, and anyone seeing this rod for the first time would assume it is a Payne, until reading the writing on the rod shaft and paper on the grip. Stamping on the butt cap, which is also styled like a Payne cap, has a design similar to Payne, but reads "W.E. Carpenter / Maker" while on the opposite side is stamped "2011" indicating the year of build. The blue label on the tube will also look familiar to Payne fans as will the ferrule plug. Apparently the bamboo for this rod came originally from the Payne shop, and the same silks as Payne used were used to secure tungsten steel snake guides and the distinctive white agate stripping guide. Rod is marked as built on the Payne 97 taper, so a lighter action than the better known model 98. About as nice an example as you will find from one of America's premier makers, now no longer building commercially. Accompanying this sale are two papers, one a letter outlining Walt's approach in building this special project rod, and the other a pamphlet from when W.E. Carpenter was still in Chester, NY. In original bag with tag and double labeled tube. $4,250 Click on smaller images to enlarge
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~H.L. Leonard 7 ft one piece 2⅝ oz (actual weight a hair less). It is very rare to find these pre-fire one piece Leonards and this one remains in excellent condition throughout. One of the difficulties with a one piece rod is protecting the delicate tip in transport and the folks at Leonard came up with a very practical solution. They built the rod tube in such a way that the handle of the rod is suspended by the narrowing internal dimension of the tapered aluminum tube in such a way that it is impossible for the tip to get jammed against the end of the tube. It has the unusual blued hardware like the 'Hunt' series Leonards. Rod feels like it will like a #3 line and is fast in action with an active tip. One piece rods do have a distinctive feel and you are not likely to find a rod like this anytime soon again. In original bag with tag and special tube. From the Thomas H. Clark collection. $2150 Click on smaller images to enlarge
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~Aroner 7½ ft Spring Creek 3pc/2 tips, #6 line. This is Marc's usual fast and smooth taper and action. It displays the hallmarks of his work; well above average quality of cork, masterful bamboo and node craftsmanship, and perfect, glasslike varnish. It has an unusual all nickel silver reel-seat with pocket butt cap and the expected old stock tungsten steel guides. Although Marc is perhaps best known for his light line rods, he is an avid salmon angler and also enjoys fishing some heavier lines for trout. As a result he has built some wonderful 7'6" rods for #6 and 7 lines that are astonishing in their performance on the water. In original bag and brass-capped aluminum tube. $3,075 Click on smaller images to enlarge
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~F.E. Thomas Browntone 7½ ft. 2pc/2 tips, butt cap stamped FE521. As I sometimes see with Thomas rods, this one has tips of differing taper, one decidedly stronger than the other. Quite a fast action that should do well with a #5 line with either tip. Rod has had an overcoat over what looks like the original wraps. Rod was built in 1948 and delivered in 1949. Interesting to note that the Thomas ledger identifies the weight of this rod as 3¾ oz while the tag which is clearly original states 3⅛ oz. My scale puts the actual weight at 3¾ oz, so the ledger for this rod is correct while the tag is not; small mistakes do happen in a rod shop! Reverse twist 'English' guides, some of which are a more open pattern than others. In original bag with tag and brass capped tube. $1,725 Click on smaller images to enlarge
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Morris Kushner 7'8" 2pc/2 tips 3½ oz. This is about as nice a Kushner as I have seen; it belonged at one time to Nick Lyons who got it from the Kushner estate just after his passing. In a letter of provenance that accompanies this sale, Nick says he acquired the rod in about 1973 after publishing John Voelker's (Robert Travers) book Trout Magic which has a chapter about Morris Kushner and his rods. The same letter states that Pierre Affre, French casting champion, proclaimed it one of the finest pieces of bamboo he had ever cast. Interestingly it has an unusual (for Kushner) Ritz style grip, perhaps a nod to the parabolic rods championed by Charles Ritz. Kushner was most influenced in his rod making by the work of Paul Young with whom he was good friends and it shows in the parabolic action of this rod which will cast a #5 line. John Voelker in his chapter about Kushner says that he was able to easily cast a much longer line with the Kushner rod than with other rods and this is a very pleasant feeling rod indeed, though I have not had a chance to cast it. Excellent shape throughout with perfect fitting Super Z ferrules. The wood reel-seat is a bit dry and could use a few light coats of oil finish in my opinion. Nick Lyons was good friends with Hoagy Carmichael who apparently made a new bag for the rod, possibly because the original bag was damaged. He may also have made the ferrule plug and the rod mounts in the bag like a Garrison with the ferrule up with plug in and attached to the pull tab, like on a Garrison or Carmichael rod. The tube appears to be original and has Nick Lyons address in New York on a plastic label. From the Thomas H. Clark collection. $3,850 SALE PENDING Click on smaller images to enlarge
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~D.G. Schroeder 7'9" 2pc/2 tips for #5 line. These lovely honey colored rods from Don are seen less often than his flamed work and this one built in 2006 is a very pretty example indeed. A lengthy swell above the grip keeps the action above the hand which I would describe as medium-fast. Varnish is excellent throughout and ferrule fits are perfect. One tip has the slightest of casting sets, as if from a right handed caster. In original labeled tube and bag with stiffener sewn in. In my opinion a great quality rod for this price from a maker who has been building high quality rods for over 40 years. $1,675 Click on smaller images to enlarge
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~Marc Aroner 'Spinoza' limited edition 8 ft. 3pc/2 tips. This is the wonderful special run of 'Spinoza' rods Marc did some years ago; this one is #13. It seems the 'Spinoza' rods are built to follow the aesthetics of a Payne and Marc did a masterful job in creating this run of special rods. Action is medium progressive and the rod is a great caster with DT4 line. I owned #12 in this series and fished it; I can tell you it casts and fishes superbly. The 'Spinoza' is described as "the culmination of our rodbuilding efforts" on Marc & Jonas' website and it gets its name from the wonderful John Taintor Foote story 'A Wedding Gift'. If you haven't read this story, you owe it to yourself to do so; it is a really charming and a lot of fun. My favorite line from the story is "somewhere out there in that dark water, where the eye of man will never behold it again, is a three-ounce Spinoza - and you speak of a Meecham." In the story Spinoza is code for Payne and Meecham for Leonard. This rod has been lawn-cast only and remains in excellent + original condition, the slightest soiling of the grip the only indication of use. Agate stripping guide, pot-belly ferrules, and acorn butt cap are some of the special features that set this rod apart from Marc's usual production. In original bag and Arne Mason brass / leather rod case. From the collection of Thomas H. Clark. $5,950 SALE PENDING Click on smaller images to enlarge
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~Sam Carlson 'Thomas Four' 8ft 3pc/2 tips. After Sam bought the F.E. Thomas Company in the 1950's he built rods under the name 'Thomas Four' rather than under his own name. Many of these rods were offered through the Norm Thompson catalog out of Portland, OR in the 1960's. I have deep affection for these rods because of Sam's generosity with me as I got started building rods in the early 1980's, and also because I grew up drooling over the Norm Thompson catalogs from the mid 1960's and the bamboo rods they offered from many different makers. This is a smooth powerhouse of a rod with a WF6 line, wonderful for larger trout or grilse salmon. It has the burgundy wraps, tipped in red and black that typified much of Sam's work; I'm sure his wife Verna who did the wrapping appreciated the work of double tipping at each guide as well as at ferrules and tip tops! This rod shows off the wonderful details of construction Sam developed as improvements over the Edwards Quadrate rods, such as the squared ferrules and bakelite check at the fore of the grip. Condition is excellent with a few minor varnish scratches and signs of careful use. In original bag and Thomas style tube (bottom brass cap has a split). $4.895 Click on smaller images to enlarge
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~Dickerson 8013D, 8 ft 2pc/2 tips 4¼ oz (written on rod bag). This very desirable model was built in the era just before WWII and remains in excellent condition. It is a particularly fast version of this model, casting a DT5 or WF6 line in typical Dickerson fashion. Rod is dead straight with perfect ferrule fits and the varnish excellent with no need for attention anywhere. Agate stripping guide and American pattern tungsten steel snake guides. Ferrules have been re-blued and the butt looks to have a very well done protective overcoat of varnish and the tube cap is not the original brass, but a well done aluminum replacement that works perfectly (Bob Summers' work?). Many people feel the 8013 is the Dickerson model to own and this is a particularly nice example. In original bag and tube with replacement tube cap as pictured. $5,850 Click on smaller images to enlarge
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~George Halstead 8ft 2pc/2 tips (one short) 3½ oz. This is a very early Halstead rod with its butternut cap & band reel-seat and black rod bag. It is a smooth, light action wonderful casting rod with either a DT4 or WF5 line; my preference is for the DT4. In the 1970's when I was researching bamboo rods and looking for a good casting 8 ft #4 line rod, this would have been heaven for me with its medium-fast light action; light years better than the red-wrap Leonard 40L I owned in those years. This rod is straight and true with perfect ferrule fit and appears to be in original condition. Agate stripping guide and American pattern tungsten steel snake guides. It is a particularly beautiful, warm brown color throughout, as pretty a rod from this time period as one could want, having been built shortly after Halstead left the Payne shop in 1938 where he designed and made the hardware for those wonderful rods. The only bad news is that one tip is about 5 inches short. As a result, I have priced it as a one-tip rod. A rare and wonderful rod from the golden era of bamboo rods for a modest price. In original bag and tube. $2,825 Click on smaller images to enlarge
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~Dickerson 861711D, 8½ ft 3pc/2 tips for #5-6 lines. This is perhaps the nicest and lightest action of this model rod I have had in my hand, just a touch lighter feel than the rod of the same model and era I just recently sold. Unfortunately it is too cold for me to cast it, but my deflection board tells me it is a strongish DT5 line rod. Superb dampening and feel, I hope I do have the chance to cast it when things warm a bit here in Massachusetts. Built in the 1930's, this rod remains in superb original condition and finish. Agate stripping guide and American pattern tungsten steel high bridge snakes as is standard on Dickersons of this era. I did many years ago have the chance to fish one of Tom Clark's Dickersons of this same model on the North Fork Ausable and as usual from this maker, it fished superbly. For me, Dickerson rods are better on the water than on the lawn and this model is certainly one of the great American trout rods. In original bag with Dickerson's script on flap and original brass capped tube. $4,625 SALE PENDING Click on smaller images to enlarge
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~Gillum 8½ ft 2pc/2 tips strong salmon rod. This rod has clearly been used, but remains very straight with perfect fits to the Halstead step-down ferrules. It was built for Herb Wellington, a prime customer of Gillum rods and the grip is typical of the shape that Herb preferred. Herb owned a great many Gillum rods and gave many away to close friends; this one was given to C.R. Smith whose initials adorn the cork grip. C.R. Smith built American Airlines into the world class business it still is today and served as Secretary of Commerce under the presidency of LBJ. It is a very powerful salmon rod; it feels like it will want a #9 line to bring out its pure Gillum action with what feels like unlimited power. Varnish shows signs of use, but nothing that needs attention before fishing that I can find. This is a resorcinol glue rod as evidenced by the dark glue edges and the locking nut has the proper “H.S. Gillum / Maker” stamp. The iconic Gillum conical fighting butt has a perfect fit, as does the butt plug when the fighting butt is not installed. I have included a close-up photo of a place at a node on one tip where the resorcinol glue has filled small voids; this clearly did not concern Mr. Gillum and it would not me either. The fighting butt fits inside the top of the tube with grip and reel-seat down to make room. In original bag with pull-tab, conical fighting butt and original tube. $3,250 SALE PENDING Click on smaller images to enlarge
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~Gillum 8½ ft 2pc/2 tips, 5¼ oz (on tube label) strong trout rod. Like the Stagg salmon rod by the same maker on this site, this rod remains in absolutely mint, original condition. Rods of this vintage and condition almost never show up in today's market and this one will take your breath away. Like the Stagg salmon rod, this rod absolutely glistens. My deflection board tells me it will like a #7 or 8 WF line, so clearly a rod for larger trout and flies. Resorcinol glue and the proper "H.S. Gillum / Maker" stamp on the locking nut as well as witness / alignment dots on ferrules. I knew Harry Darbee, famed Catskill fly tier in my younger years and he was a great proponent of Gillum rods for both trout and salmon angling. He was not alone; the great artist and angler John Atherton describes in his book "The Fly and the Fish" his ideal trout rod and ends it with "And I would ask 'Pinky' Gillum to make it for me." In original bag and labeled tube. $9,000 SALE PENDING Click on smaller images to enlarge
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~F.E. Thomas Browntone, 9 ft 3pc/2 tips, 6¼ oz. A very nice landlocked salmon or grilse rod, this fine condition Thomas feels like it would cast a #7 line with plenty of reserve. It remains in excellent condition with minor signs of varnish age and a slight fish-fighting bow. In original blue rod bag and Thomas tube with partial label. $895 Click on smaller images to enlarge
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~E.C. Powell 9½ ft 2pc/2 tips 5⅝ oz semi-hollow 'Steelhead C'. This rod comes from my personal collection and appears at the start of chapter 15, pg. 169 of my just published book on E.C. Powell "A Fly Rod With a Soul." I purchased the rod from Jim Adams some years ago as part of my research for writing the book and it is the most powerful 'Steelhead C' I've come across. It wants a WF9 line and easily handles long casts for wet fly steelhead or salmon angling, as well as being particularly good with sinking tips and sinking heads. Jim described the rod on his paper label as "very good / fine"; the rod has seen a good amount of use, but remains straight as a pin. I will touch up a few spots of varnish chips and the rod will be ready to fish without worry. You will be amazed at the casting quality of these C taper Powells designed for larger flies and also excellent bass bugging rods. Agate stripping guide and American pattern tungsten steel snake guides. Original wraps and finish and in original pre-WWII olive bag and Powell tube (top brass collar split as often seen). $1,250 Click on smaller images to enlarge
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Photographic Prints
Photographic Prints~Per Brandin B&W print. Stroboscopic view of John Napoli casting my Tournament Trout Fly Rod at the Long Beach Casting Club about 1995. Signed digital print image size 13X20 inches, paper size 17X22 inches. Suitable for mounting or framing. Signed. $475 SOLD, but other prints of this image are available.
~Per Brandin B&W print. 'Fish Watches Man'; Chinatown, NY City 1980. Image size 33X22 inches. Digital print suitable for mounting or framing. Perhaps my single favorite image. Signed. $795
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I have many other prints available for sale, both in digital and silver print modes; please see the section of my website I call 'Street Level Photos' for more information.
E.C. Powell Essays on Fly fishing, edited by Press Powell
I have several of the E.C. Powell pamphlets from the 1990's edited by Press Powell at $25.00 each. This is a great and useful compendium of the better known essays written by E.C., including A Discourse on Trout Angling and Tackle, The Mechanics of Fly Casting, and A Short Common Sense Treatise on Fly Rod Construction. This pamphlet also includes some other writing from the Powell family, as well as photographs from the Powell family archive.
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Reels
~Ari Hart Seatrout reel in LHW. This 3¾" diameter by 1" spool width reel is an ideal Steelhead dry fly, grilse or light salmon reel with its smooth zero pickup inertia drag and palmable spool. Ari Hart reels have won kudos for their design and performance for many years and one is included in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Comes in original black leather case stamped "ATH." $795 Click on smaller images to enlarge
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This list of rods and reels will be updated with new items occasionally so please keep checking back.
