Straw-colored cane with traditional Sweetgrass finish and carefully executed translucent honey wraps. Six-strip hexagonal construction. The rod measures 8' and weighs 4 1/8 oz., built for a #5 line. A beautifully proportioned trout rod, offering an excellent balance between delicacy and reserve. The 8' length provides good line control and reach while retaining the light, responsive feel expected from a fine bamboo rod. Medium to Medium fast action. Serial number 1090. The condition is very good and it has no set in any of the tips. The cork is smooth with light soiling.
The rod reflects the understated elegance and meticulous craftsmanship associated with Glenn Brackett's Sweetgrass rods. His typical writing on the blank. A fine example of contemporary American bamboo rodmaking, it is equally suited to regular use on the river or to a serious collection of modern bamboo rods.
Glenn Brackett is one of the most important figures in modern American bamboo rodmaking. His career was closely associated with the R.L. Winston Rod Company, where he worked alongside Tom Morgan and became an important part of the company's development during its move to Montana.
Brackett later founded Sweetgrass Rods in Twin Bridges, Montana, continuing the tradition of individually crafted bamboo fly rods. His work draws upon the great American rodmaking tradition while reflecting his own considerable experience in taper design, cane preparation and craftsmanship. Through Sweetgrass and the many rodmakers he has influenced, Brackett has played an important role in preserving and advancing the art of American bamboo rodmaking.
Maker
Sweetgrass Rods — Glenn Brackett
Length
8'
Configuration
3-piece / 2-tip
Line
#5
Weight
4 1/8 oz
Action
Medium to medium-fast
Construction
Six-strip hexagonal bamboo
Serial Number
1090
Finish
Straw-coloured cane
Wraps
Translucent honey silk
Condition
Very Good
Questions about this piece, international shipping, or price are always welcome.
A fine Gary Howells “The Westerner’s choice” bamboo fly rod with exceptional provenance, both as a piece of American rodmaking history and through its previous owner, the Danish fly-fishing legend and author Preben Torp Jacobsen.
Measuring 8'6″ and built in two sections with two tips, this rod is marked “G. H. Howells” and “8 1/2' 4 1/4 oz #4154” on the shaft. The serial number places its manufacture in 1978–79. Although originally designated for a #6 line, the rod performs beautifully with a modern #5, bringing out its smooth, medium full-flexing action.
The cane is a handsome medium wheat-straw colour, with nodes arranged in Howells' characteristic three-up pattern. The varnish remains excellent, while the familiar brown wraps are finished with yellow tipping. The ferrules feature Howells' distinctive Winston-inspired brown overwraps, complemented by chrome tip tops.
The 6″, Full Wells-style grip shows only light soiling but is completely smooth consistent with use. Ferrule fits remain excellent, and both tips are straight and free from set. The reel seat is an aluminium uplocking slide-band design with pocket cap, built around Gary Howells' trademark zebrawood spacer.
The rod is accompanied by its original bright red cloth bag and aluminium tube with brass hardware, with the original Howells data sticker still intact. The original aluminium tube shows some dents and transport marks consistent with age and use.
This particular rod was formerly owned by Preben Torp Jacobsen, one of Denmark's best-known fly fishermen and authors. His name, together with his “Flyleaves” mark, is engraved on the tube cap, providing a particularly appealing connection to Scandinavian fly-fishing history.
Maker
Gary Howells
Length
8'6"
Configuration
2-piece / 2-tip
Line
#6 (also fishes well with #5)
Weight
4 1/4 oz
Serial Number
4154
Year
c. 1978–79
Action
Medium, full-flexing
Reel Seat
Aluminium, zebrawood spacer
Condition
Very good used condition
Includes
Original bag and tube
Questions about this piece, international shipping, or price are always welcome.
A superb Mike Clark bamboo fly rod, measuring 8'6", three-piece with two tips, and built for a #5 line. This is one of Clark's signature “Gierach Best Special Taper” models, serial #20141.
The rod has a quick-tippy action and is presented in fine condition. The cane is lightly flamed, with beautifully small, tight spiral nodes achieved through pressing. Green wraps with red tipping complement the cane, while a striking red agate stripping guide and snake guides complete the guide set. The varnish remains intact throughout.
The ferrules are oxidized Super Z-style ferrules. The 6½" grip is built from ¼" cork rings and shaped to a generous Full Wells profile. The reel seat features a beautifully varnished, mortised walnut spacer, paired with a nickel-silver down-locking screw-lock seat. The nut, slide and cap all carry ornate engraving, giving the fittings an unusually refined character.
The rod comes with its blue Moleskine rod bag and a black-painted aluminum tube with brass hardware, retaining the original South Creek data sticker.
The Special Taper was developed by Mike Clark in collaboration with two influential figures in American fly fishing: outdoor writer John Gierach and writer and fly tier A.K. Best.
Mike Clark describes the 8'6" #5 as follows:
“The Special Taper rods were originally designed in conjunction with outdoor writer John Gierach and writer/fly tier A.K. Best. The 8'6", 2 tip, 5 weight has a quick, tippy action that handles distance casting well and still cushions long, light tippets. This is a good all-around rod that will handle anything from small dry flies and nymphs to medium sized streamers.”
Clark goes on to explain that Gierach and Best fished these rods extensively before the taper became a standard South Creek model, and that the rods are inked “Gierach Best Special Taper” on the blank.
It is a taper with a particularly interesting pedigree: conceived by a master rodmaker and refined through the fishing of two writers whose influence helped shape modern American fly-fishing culture.
Maker
South Creek Ltd — Mike Clark
Model
Gierach Best Special Taper
Length
8'6"
Configuration
3-piece / 2-tip
Line
#5
Action
Medium-slow
Serial Number
20141
Cane
Lightly flamed bamboo
Ferrules
Oxidized Super Z-style
Grip
6½" Full Wells cork
Reel Seat
Engraved nickel silver, walnut spacer
Condition
Fine used condition
Includes
Original bag and tube
Questions about this piece, international shipping, or price are always welcome.
A fine W.W. Blackburn Beaverkill-79, a 7'9", two-piece bamboo fly rod built for a #5 line, serial #3210.
The Beaverkill-79 carries Bill Blackburn's trademark powerful, progressive action—a highly versatile dry-fly taper with plenty of reserve power while retaining the delicacy expected of a fine small-stream rod.
The rod is straight and without set, finished in beautifully flamed dark cane. The main wraps are tan, with subtle black tipping at the grip end and ferrules. The step ferrules have developed an attractive oxidized jet-black finish, complemented by a black stripping guide.
The approximately 6" grip is shaped as a blunt cigar. The cap-and-ring reel seat is similarly oxidized, with a mortised hardwood spacer, possibly cherry. The rod is accompanied by a non-original cloth bag and its original black crackle-finished tube with brass fittings.
William “Bill” Blackburn became an important figure in the later history of American bamboo rodmaking. Beginning in 1999, Blackburn worked under the direction of Tom Morgan at Tom Morgan Rodsmiths, establishing the company's bamboo operation and producing the bamboo blanks that were subsequently finished by Gerri Carlson.
Blackburn remained with Tom Morgan Rodsmiths until the end of 2011, when he left to establish W.W. Blackburn Bamboo Fly Rods in Bozeman, Montana. He was succeeded at Tom Morgan Rodsmiths by Zac Sexton.
The Beaverkill-79 is a particularly appealing expression of Blackburn's own approach to rod design: powerful, progressive and practical, with a taper that makes it equally at home presenting dry flies on a smaller river or opening up on larger water.
A handsome and highly fishable modern bamboo rod from one of the respected names of the American craft.
Maker
W.W. Blackburn — Bill Blackburn
Model
Beaverkill-79
Length
7'9"
Configuration
2-piece / 1 original tip
Line
#5
Action
Progressive, medium-fast
Serial Number
3210
Cane
Dark flamed bamboo
Wraps
Tan with black tipping
Ferrules
Oxidized step ferrules
Grip
6" blunt cigar cork
Reel Seat
Cap and ring, mortised hardwood spacer
Condition
Very Good
Includes
Original tube
Questions about this piece, international shipping, or price are always welcome.
For many years, the J.W. Gallas Rod Company produced exceptional custom bamboo fly rods, pairing proprietary tapers with the traditions and designs of the great American rodmakers. With the Halstead Tribute Series, John Gallas turned his attention to the parabolic rods of George H. Halstead of Danbury, Connecticut, one of the distinguished figures of the Golden Age of American bamboo rodmaking.
The intention was to recreate a line of rods that had, by then, become almost unobtainable. Original Halstead rods are exceedingly rare today, and correspondingly sought after by collectors and anglers alike. The Halstead Tribute Series comprises some of the rarest of these parabolic models, including this handsome and powerful 8'1" 5-weight.
Built as a two-piece, two-tip rod, it follows the original Halstead taper in beautifully flamed cane. The furnishings are equally considered: blued Halstead-style stepped ferrules, an agate stripping guide, bronzed snake guides, and brown silk wraps accented in green and red. The mahogany reel seat is fitted with a polished aluminum screw-locking hardware, the latter displaying Halstead's characteristic dual knurling.
Each rod bears a consecutive serial number specific to the Tribute Series—this being rod no. 7. It remains straight as an arrow and is in fine condition, complete with its original sock and tube.
The late John Gallas wrote the following about his Halstead rods:
“My historical connection and interest in Halstead's work relates to carrying on the great tradition of classic rodmakers from the Danbury area, which also includes Halstead's colleague, H.S. Gillum. Also, through Halstead's stepson, I obtained the last original, unfinished rod blanks from Halstead's shop. I produced a limited edition series of these rods several years ago. They are unmistakably identifiable by two sets of stampings, ‘G.H. Halstead Rod’ and the ‘J.W. Gallas Rod Co.’ logo, bearing credit to each maker. The Halstead Tribute Series is a continuation of this effort in classic rodmaking.
For 28 years, I have offered my original tapers in distinguished rods to discriminating fly fishermen and bamboo rod lovers in the same tradition of past rodmakers. I now look forward to adding the unique Halstead Tribute rods, whose tapers have not been available since the master's death in 1961.”
Maker
J.W. Gallas Rod Company
Rodmaker
John Gallas
Series
Halstead Tribute Series
Length
8'1"
Configuration
2-piece / 2-tip
Line
#5
Weight
4.7 oz
Action
Parabolic
Serial Number
No. 7
Cane
Flamed bamboo
Wraps
Brown silk with green and red accents
Ferrules
Blued Halstead-style stepped ferrules
Guides
Agate stripper and bronzed snake guides
Reel Seat
Mahogany spacer, aluminium screw-lock
Condition
Fine condition; straight, without set
Includes
Original rod bag and tube
Questions about this piece, international shipping, or price are always welcome.
A particularly fine H.L. Leonard The Duracane, measuring 7'6" and built for a #5 line. This is an impregnated bamboo rod from the Tom Maxwell period at Leonard, preserved in very good used condition.
Serial #136, the rod is recorded in the H.L. Leonard database and was most likely made around 1978–79. The medium-tempered cane has lightly oxidized guides with transparent honey windings, complemented by brown and black accents at the ferrules and winding check.
All sections are full length and correctly serialized. The two tips are dead straight, with original 13/64" ferrules that fit perfectly, showing only some external oxidation. The original Leonard inscriptions remain exceptionally clear and crisp, written in Tom Maxwell's distinctive hand.
The approximately 5" cork grip shows some characteristic ridging from use and is fitted with nickel-silver checks. Very clean. The blued cap-and-ring reel seat is mounted over a beautifully figured mortised mahogany spacer, with some signs of use. The rod has a medium action, particularly well suited to a DT5.
It is worth noting that this is a Leonard in-house Duracane blank, rather than one of the Duracanes produced on blanks supplied by Sharpe's. Leonard's own Duracane was developed as a distinct rod series, with its own tapers and impregnated bamboo construction. The 1978 Leonard catalogue describes the Duracane as a rod combining special Leonard tapers with the company's traditional craftsmanship and fittings.
During Tom Maxwell's tenure at Leonard, the designation evolved into “The Duracane.” The Maxwell-era rods bearing this inscription are now readily identifiable by the distinctive wording and Maxwell's characteristic script. Specialist collectors consequently use The Duracane as a useful marker for this particular Maxwell period of production.
In other words, the Maxwell Duracanes are properly referred to as “The Duracane”, rather than simply Duracane. This example, with The Duracane inscription still exceptionally crisp in Maxwell's hand, is a particularly fine representation of the series.
Explore our collection of H.L. Leonard bamboo fly rods, spanning several generations of American rodmaking, from the pre-fire era to the workshops of Tom Maxwell and Marc Aroner. Discover the 50DF Tournament, 4099½, Hunt 50-5, and the Catskill Special 48-4.
Maker
H.L. Leonard Rod Company
Model
The Duracane
Length
7'6"
Configuration
2-piece / 2-tip
Line
#5 (DT5)
Action
Medium
Construction
Impregnated bamboo
Ferrules
13/64"
Serial Number
136
Year
c. 1978–79
Era
Tom Maxwell
Condition
Very Good
Includes
Original bag and tube
Questions about this piece, international shipping, or price are always welcome.
A fine H.L. Leonard Hunt 50-5, made during the Tom Maxwell period and dating to early 1980. At 8 feet, in a three-piece, two-tip configuration for a #5 line, this is one of Leonard’s classic all-round trout rods. Serial number 8073; weight approximately 4.4 oz.
The rod is built from beautifully flamed cane, with Leonard’s characteristic small pressed nodes arranged three-up. The wraps are a handsome plum, accented with purple and red at the hook keeper and male ferrules, complemented by an agate stripping guide and black snake guides. The action is medium to fast — refined, responsive and distinctly Leonard.
Leonard’s stepped ferrules retain virtually all of their original pewter-toned oxidation. The six-inch cork grip is formed in a slender cigar profile and leads to an attractive tiger maple reel seat. The oxidized slide band and butt cap show some light edge wear, while the cap carries the classic stamping:
“H.L. Leonard Rod Co., The Rod Maker, since 1869.”
The rod shows moderate, honest use. There is light soiling to the grip, some brassing to the inner guides and fine casting cracks in the varnish over the ferrule wraps. The tiger maple reel seat is slightly tight, although the sliding band remains fully functional. These signs of use are consistent with a rod that has been fished and carefully kept rather than restored.
Complete with its tan cloth rod bag and sanded aluminium tube with brass fittings.
A particularly appealing Maxwell-era Leonard: beautifully appointed, highly fishable and an excellent example of the Hunt tradition from one of the most interesting periods in the history of the Leonard Rod Company.
Previous owner bought this rod through Spinoza Rods.
Explore our collection of H.L. Leonard bamboo fly rods, spanning several generations of American rodmaking, from the pre-fire era to the workshops of Tom Maxwell and Marc Aroner. Discover the 50DF Tournament, 4099½, The Duracane, and the Catskill Special 48-4.
Maker:
H.L. Leonard Rod Company
Model:
Hunt 50-5
Length:
8'
Configuration:
3-piece / 2-tip
Line:
#5
Weight:
Approx. 4.4 oz
Serial Number:
8073
Year:
1980
Era:
Tom Maxwell
Condition:
Very Good
Includes:
Original bag and tube
Questions about this piece, international shipping, or price are always welcome.
A superb H. L. Leonard Model 48-4 Catskill Special, measuring 7'0" in three sections and originally built with two tips for a #4 line. This example is in very good condition, although one of the original tips is now missing. Serial number 89105.
A particularly interesting rod historically, this Leonard was made by master rodmaker Marc Aroner, approximately between 1990 and 1993, for Larry Foster as part of the effort to preserve the Leonard tradition and trademarks.
There are several distinctive details that identify Aroner's hand. His mortising tool leaves a characteristic circular lip at the top of the cut, whereas the standard Leonard reel-seat mortise has a straight edge. The nodes have also been pressed to an unusually small size, another detail associated with Aroner's work.
The cane is a beautifully even oven-tempered wheat-straw colour, finished with light brown wraps edged in green and a distinctive green double wrap at the ferrules. A carbide stripping guide and keeper on the wrap flats complete the fittings. The serial number is present, with the “A” reportedly added by Marc Aroner, who believed it was Larry Foster's indication of the rodmaker.
The slender 4¼" cigar grip is exceptionally well preserved. The reel seat is fitted with a beautifully figured, lightly stained curly maple spacer, complemented by an oxidized nickel-silver cap and ring. The cap bears the traditional Leonard stamp:
“H.L. Leonard Rod Co, The Rodmaker, Since 1869”
The opposing side is marked “Catskill Special.”
The varnish remains perfect, the step ferrules have developed an attractive oxidized finish, and all three sections are straight and sound.
The rod comes in a cream-coloured poplin bag, configured to accommodate two tips and a non- original aluminium tube.
A remarkable modern Leonard with an important connection to the continuation of the Leonard tradition—beautifully made, exceptionally preserved and, with its Aroner provenance, a fascinating piece of American bamboo rodmaking history.
Explore our collection of H.L. Leonard bamboo fly rods, spanning several generations of American rodmaking, from the pre-fire era to the workshops of Tom Maxwell and Marc Aroner. Discover the 50DF Tournament, 4099½, Hunt 50-5, and The Duracane.
Maker
H.L. Leonard
Rodmaker
Marc Aroner
Model
48-4 Catskill Special
Period
c. 1990–1993
Length
7'
Configuration
3-piece / 1 remaining tip (originally 2 tips)
Line
#4
Serial Number
89105
Cane
Oven-tempered wheat-straw bamboo
Wraps
Light brown with green tipping
Ferrules
Oxidized step ferrules
Grip
4 1/4" cigar cork
Reel Seat
Nickel-silver cap and ring, curly maple spacer
Condition
Very good condition; one original tip missing
Includes
Cream poplin bag and non-original aluminium tube
Questions about this piece, international shipping, or price are always welcome.
One of the true classics of American bamboo rodmaking: a pre-fire H. L. Leonard 50DF Tournament, an 8' 3/2 rod designed for a #5 line.
This is an exceptionally well-preserved example, and it appears to have received a sympathetic restoration at some point in its life, including a thin, crisp coat of varnish. The underlying cane is exceptionally sound, with no repair wraps and no apparent issues to the bamboo. Most of the silk appears original.
The cane is a beautiful golden straw colour, finished with original-looking gold silk wraps and lighter gold tipping at the winding check, ferrules and tip tops. The rod features English-style reverse-twist guides, an agate stripping guide and agate tip tops, a slightly swelled butt and a traditional ring hook keeper.
The diminutive cigar-style Leonard grip, measuring 4⅞", remains in wonderful condition. There is some light ridging from use, but no significant soiling. The reel seat is the classic Leonard nickel-silver cap-and-ring style, bottom engraved with A.W (original owner), fitted with a warm butternut spacer. The rod weighs just 3⅝ oz.
On the water, the 50DF offers the wonderfully refined medium-fast dry-fly action for which this model has long been admired: light in hand, precise in presentation and possessing considerably more character than its modest dimensions might suggest.
The rod comes with its original bag and original aluminium tube with brass fittings. The bag is missing its hang tag and has some fraying at the bottom, which was sympathetically repaired by a previous owner. Alder Creek would be happy to undertake further restoration of the bag if desired.
A beautiful example of one of Leonard's most celebrated tapers, combining rarity, elegance and genuine fishability.
Explore our collection of H.L. Leonard bamboo fly rods, spanning several generations of American rodmaking, from the pre-fire era to the workshops of Tom Maxwell and Marc Aroner. Discover the 4099½, Hunt 50-5, The Duracane, and the Catskill Special 48-4.
Maker
H.L. Leonard
Model
50DF Tournament
Period
Pre-fire (before 1964)
Length
8'
Configuration
3-piece / 2-tip
Line
#5
Weight
3 5/8 oz
Action
Medium-fast, dry-fly
Cane
Golden straw
Wraps
Gold silk with lighter gold tipping
Guides
Reverse-twist snakes, agate stripper and tip-tops
Reel Seat
Nickel-silver cap and ring, butternut spacer
Condition
Very good; sympathetically refinished
Includes
Original bag and aluminium tube
Questions about this piece, international shipping, or price are always welcome.
A particularly fine and increasingly scarce H. L. Leonard 4099½, a more powerful development of the celebrated 50½ model. Originally conceived as a tournament rod, the 4099½ is equally at home on large rivers and lakes, where wind, distance and substantial trout demand a little more authority from the rod.
As the original description aptly puts it: “Think big waters, big winds, big fish.”
This is a rare pre-fire Leonard from the Harold Reynolds era, dating from the 1940s, and it remains in excellent condition. The rod handles lines from approximately #6 through #8, giving it considerable versatility for the angler who appreciates a traditional Leonard with some additional power.
The rod retains its original 1940s grey bag and intact hang tag, with burgundy wraps and black tipping. The cane is straight and the ferrules remain tight. The rod has seen only light use, with very light hand soiling and minor ridging to the cork grip. There are some small cracks to the wraps consistent with casting and age. The rod bag shows some fraying at the top.
Few descriptions better capture the character of this model than Marty Keane's account in Classic Rods and Rodmakers:
"Sensing a need to offer a slightly stronger #50DF, the #4099 came forward, and from it one of the great Leonard classics, the #4099 1/2, a three-piece 8 1/2-foot model, originally a tournament rod, weighing 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 ounces - usually closer to the 5 1/4 - 5 1/2 ounce weight. This rod, in my opinion, deserves special mention as a superior instrument, especially for use when large flies, strong winds, and big water must be covered for long periods of time. Its comfortable, slightly thick grip is wisely designed and the powerful tapers allow the angler to make difficult casts with a minimum of effort. The #4099 1/2 has amazed everyone who has performed with it, and it remains a favorite throughout the country with amateur tournament casters and trout fishermen alike."
The 4099½ occupies an especially interesting place in the Leonard catalogue: a powerful, purposeful taper that retains the elegance and refinement for which the great Leonard rods are known. Examples retaining their original bag and hang tag are particularly desirable.
A rare Leonard, preserved in remarkable original condition and ready for the water.
Explore our collection of H.L. Leonard bamboo fly rods, spanning several generations of American rodmaking, from the pre-fire era to the workshops of Tom Maxwell and Marc Aroner. Discover the 50DF Tournament, Hunt 50-5, The Duracane, and the Catskill Special 48-4.
Maker
H.L. Leonard
Model
4099½
Period
Pre-fire, c. 1940s
Length
8'6"
Configuration
3-piece / 2-tip
Line
#6–8
Weight
5 1/8 oz
Action
Powerful, progressive
Wraps
Burgundy with black tipping
Condition
Excellent original condition; minor age-related wear to wraps
Includes
Original grey bag with hang tag
Questions about this piece, international shipping, or price are always welcome.
A fine Orvis Battenkill from 1968, dating to the Wes Jordan era and featuring Orvis' distinctive impregnated bamboo construction.
At 7'6" and 3⅞ oz., this is an exceptionally versatile and much-loved Orvis taper—light, refined and ideally suited to smaller rivers and streams. The action is medium to medium-fast, offering a pleasing balance of delicacy and reserve.
The Battenkill occupies an important place in the history of Orvis bamboo. Named for the celebrated trout stream flowing through Manchester, Vermont, the model became one of Orvis' enduring rod families and was produced in a wide variety of lengths, weights and configurations. The taper was offered for everything from delicate trout fishing to considerably heavier salmon, steelhead and bass applications.
Its history is closely connected with Wes Jordan, who became head of rod production at Orvis and was responsible for much of the company's post-war development. Jordan's work on impregnated bamboo produced a rod construction that was highly resistant to moisture and changes in temperature, while also giving the finished cane its distinctive darker appearance. By 1954, impregnated construction had become standard across Orvis' rod production.
The Battenkill consequently became one of the characteristic Orvis rods of the mid-century period: practical, durable and beautifully refined, while retaining the feel and responsiveness of a traditional bamboo rod. Examples from the 1960s remain particularly appealing to anglers because they combine Jordan's mature impregnated construction with the light, progressive actions that made the smaller Battenkill tapers so versatile.
The characteristic impregnated finish gives this rod its understated appearance and the durability for which these Orvis rods are renowned. The tip shows a slight set, which can be corrected upon request
The cork grip shows honest signs of use and has developed a pleasing patina over the years, while remaining sound and supple with some ridging.
The rod is accompanied by its original Orvis aluminium tube and a non-original rod sock.
A beautifully understated example of a classic Orvis bamboo rod from the Wes Jordan era—a rod made to be fished, rather than merely admired.
Explore our other vintage Orvis bamboo fly rods, including the Midge and Midge Nymph models.
Maker
Orvis
Model
Battenkill
Length
7'6"
Configuration
2-piece / 2-tip
Line
#5
Weight
3 7/8 oz
Serial Number
50791
Year
1968
Era
Wes Jordan
Action
Medium to medium-fast
Construction
Impregnated bamboo
Grip
Original cork, showing use
Condition
Used; slight set reported
Includes
Original Orvis tube and non-original rod bag
Questions about this piece, international shipping, or price are always welcome.
A particularly interesting and unusual Orvis model, the Midge Nymph is a versatile two-tip bamboo rod designed to offer two distinct lengths and presentations from a single blank.
This 2/2 rod is supplied with two tips of different lengths. With the shorter tip fitted, the rod measures 7'6"; the second tip adds approximately three inches, creating a slightly longer configuration specifically intended for nymph fishing. The result is a wonderfully versatile rod with the characteristic medium-slow action associated with the Midge family.
The rod remains in very good overall condition, with all sections original and straight. The cane is a warm tan colour, finished in Orvis' characteristic three-up node configuration and constructed with traditional resorcinol glue. The burgundy wraps are paired with a carbide stripping guide and chrome snake guides, while the step ferrules have developed an attractive oxidized black finish.
The classic down-locking reel seat features a handsome walnut spacer with nickel-silver cap and ring. The cork grip shows some light soiling consistent with use.
Serial number 81288 is present on all three sections and is also retained on the original tube label. The rod comes with its original Orvis tube, although the accompanying cloth bag is non-original. One of the top guides has been replaced.
An unusual Orvis configuration and an intriguing piece for the angler or collector who appreciates the less commonly encountered models in the company's bamboo catalogue.
Explore our other classic Orvis bamboo rods, including the Orvis Midge 7'6" #5, with its remarkable Preben Torp Jacobsen provenance, and the 1968 Orvis Battenkill.
Maker
Orvis
Model
Midge Nymph
Length
7'6" / 7'9"
Configuration
2-piece / 2-tip
Line
#4–5
Weight
3 5/8 oz
Serial Number
81288
Action
Medium-slow
Construction
Bamboo, resorcinol glue
Wraps
Burgundy silk
Reel Seat
Down-locking, walnut spacer
Condition
Very good used condition; one tip-top guide replaced
Includes
Original Orvis tube and non-original cloth bag
Questions about this piece, international shipping, or price are always welcome.
An Orvis Midge with an exceptional provenance, having belonged to Preben Torp Jacobsen, the renowned Danish author, veterinarian and one of the great figures of Scandinavian fly fishing.
Jacobsen's name and the year are engraved on the reel seat cap, while his published writings describe an Orvis Midge of precisely this length and line rating (see below).
The rod itself is an Orvis Midge, measuring 7'6", built in two sections with two tips and designed for a #5 line. Serial number 73392, with a listed weight of 3⅝ oz. It has seen light use and retains some light hand soiling.
The cane is a warm tan colour, finished in the characteristic three-up node configuration and constructed with traditional resorcinol glue. The original-style burgundy wraps are complemented by a carbide stripping guide and chrome guides. The step ferrules have developed an attractive oxidized black finish.
The classic Orvis cigar grip has very little front taper and a distinctive broad, square-ended butt. The reel seat is an aluminium down-locking screw-lock design with pocket cap and a handsome walnut spacer.
The rod is housed in an original Orvis aluminium tube and a non-original two-pocket tan cloth bag.
A lovely fishing rod in its own right, but above all a piece with an unusually personal connection to Scandinavian fly-fishing history. The combination of an Orvis Midge, Jacobsen's ownership and his own published appreciation of this very rod makes it a particularly evocative piece for the collector of both American bamboo and Scandinavian angling history.
This particular Orvis Midge was formerly owned by the celebrated Danish fly fisherman, author and fly dresser Preben Torp Jacobsen, one of the most influential figures in Scandinavian fly fishing. His name and year are inscribed on the rod's cap, providing unusually tangible provenance.
The importance of the association is further strengthened by Torp Jacobsen's own writing. In Tørfluefiskeri, in the chapter “Mine fluestænger” (“My Fly Rods”), he discusses the great American bamboo makers and writes of Leonard and Orvis:
“Alongside Leonard, Orvis has in recent years been among the most reliable makers for those who have wanted a true ‘Stradivarius’.”
He then specifically describes adding an Orvis Midge to his personal collection:
“Later I also added to my collection an Orvis ‘Midge’, 7½ feet long … and intended for a #5 line.”
Torp Jacobsen goes on to explain that, although the actions of the many rods in his collection inevitably overlapped, each possessed its own individual character, and that certain rods had qualities that made him prefer them over the others.
This is therefore considerably more than an Orvis Midge with an interesting former owner. The model itself is documented in Torp Jacobsen's own writing as part of his personal collection, while Orvis is placed alongside Leonard among the makers capable of producing what he evocatively called a “true Stradivarius.”
Explore our other classic Orvis bamboo fly rods, including the Orvis Midge Nymph, featuring an unusual longer tip for nymph fishing, and the 1968 Orvis Battenkill, a fine example of the Wes Jordan era.
Maker
Orvis
Model
Midge
Length
7'6"
Configuration
2-piece / 2-tip
Line
#5
Weight
3 5/8 oz
Serial Number
73392
Action
Medium-slow
Cane
Tan, three-up node pattern
Construction
Resorcinol-glued bamboo
Wraps
Burgundy silk
Reel Seat
Aluminium down-locking, walnut spacer
Provenance
Preben Torp Jacobsen
Condition
Light use, minor hand soiling
Includes
Original Orvis aluminium tube and non-original cloth bag.
Questions about this piece, international shipping, or price are always welcome.
A fine and exceptionally well-preserved example of one of Pezon et Michel's most celebrated bamboo rod designs: the Ritz Super Parabolic PPP, Master — Lambiotte Type.
Measuring 8'3", built in two sections with two tips and weighing 5¼ oz., this rod is designed for a #5–6 line. Importantly, this is an original French-made Pezon et Michel rod, rather than a Sharpe's or Farlow's rod built on a P&M blank.
The rod remains in excellent original condition, retaining its characteristic staggered-ferrule construction and original bamboo ferrule plug. The cane is finished with the classic green silk wraps tipped in red, while the fittings and workmanship remain remarkably well preserved.
The long, elegant Ritz-style grip, with its subtle flare towards the rear, is paired with a champagne-coloured aluminium screw-lock reel seat. Ferrule fit is excellent throughout, and the rod retains the refinement and distinctive character for which the Ritz-designed Super Parabolic series is renowned.
The rod is accompanied by its original Pezon et Michel red satin bag and original plastic tube, complete with brown protective cover and the original P&M patch.
A particularly desirable French bamboo rod, and an excellent example of the Ritz/Lambiotte tradition that helped establish Pezon et Michel as one of Europe's great rodmakers.
Maker
Pezon et Michel, France
Series
Ritz Super Parabolic PPP
Type
Master – Lambiotte Type
Length
8'3"
Configuration
2-piece / 2-tip
Line
#5–6
Weight
5 1/4 oz
Action
Parabolic
Construction
Staggered ferrule
Wraps
Green silk with red tipping
Reel Seat
Champagne aluminium screw-lock
Condition
Excellent original condition
Includes
Original bag, tube and ferrule plug
Questions about this piece, international shipping, or price are always welcome.
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