Rods

The List

If you're interested in getting on the list for a rod, please complete the Rod List Form. I will contact you when a rod is available that either matches or comes close to your preference in the order of the date on your email (the list). Being on the list is not a commitment to buy. No payment is due at point of order. Price for the rod will be the price in effect at the time of delivery. Full payment is due before shipping. There's a 2-week return period. Current prices are at the bottom of this page.

Colson Rods

New Rods for 2021. All 3/2, ferruled.

  • 6 1/2', 1-weight. Born from the conjunction of very low, ultra-clear water, tiny flies and the scrap bamboo from Spey rods, this little gem turned out to be the fun-to-fish rod of last summer. Loading beautifully with the DT1F, it fishes #16 to #28 dries with 12 - 14 foot leaders at remarkable distances.

  • 8 1/2', 2-weight. "The Catskill Two." A rod that casts 1, 2, and 3 weight lines for the most delicate of presentations of small flies. Designed with the late-summer Catskill rivers in mind, this rod is a delight anywhere trout are sipping tiny flies and a long leader and long casts are required.

  • 9', 5-weight to meet the specifications of W.K. Rollo. Hardy Bros. cataloged their Keith Rollo rod (9 and 9 1/2 feet) from 1932 to 1957. Rollo wrote a glowing review of the 9' version for the 1937 catalog. Putting together his review and the requirements from his 1931 publication I put together this rod for general fishing in conditions similar to the generally windy conditions of the Yorkshire dales, paying close attention to where Rollo desired power and the point of balance in a rod.

  • 9', 4-weight to emulate the various descriptions that Theodore Gordon gave for his preferred rod, paying particular attention to what he wrote after 1912. Gordon like a longish rod, a generously sized handle, and a light line (equivalent to a HEH) to achieve accurate and the most delicate of presentations. He received in springtime 1912 as a gift from members of one of the Catskill area angling club a 9' Leonard Catskill of 4 1/4 ounces (likely a # 45) that he described to G.E.M. Skues as "beautiful."

  • 10', 4-weight with Harfield Edmonds in mind. Edmonds preferred rod for upstream spider and wet fly angling was a 10 1/2 feet, split bamboo butt and greenheart tip, made in Leeds. He considered rods made all of bamboo too much work for the wrist fishing in his style. I'd like to think that this 10' rod at 5 ounces would delight him without tiring the wrist excessively. I fished this rod enough to know that it works exceptionally well for upstream nymphing and downstream wet fly as well as upstream spider fishing. It has changed somewhat my perspective on long rods -- for the positive!

  • 11', 7/8-weight grease line rod with A.H.E. Wood in mind. While Wood's rod #1 is 12' long, it's handle is somewhere between 19 and 22 inches. Wood was quite keen, as was Rollo and Gordon, on the balance point of the rod, wanting it as close to the hand as possible. Lots of cork, lockfast ferrules, and heavy fittings led to Wood's #1 "light rod" weighing more than 12 ounces. This grease line rod weighs a smidgeon over half of that, bringing the balance point to Wood's ideal location. This is a great single-handed rod for all grease line fishing, including waking flies for steelhead and Atlantic salmon. The additional control that derives from its length and use of a "free" line-hand are eye-opening.

Spey rods 3/2, sealed, in either splice-joint or ferruled, ranging in length between 11 and 12 1/2 feet. Scandi (floating) heads with running lines work extremely well with these rods. All rods are sealed and varnished. Splice-joint rods are about 6 inches longer than ferruled rods when not joined, so a 11-foot splice-joint is about 11 1/2 feet and a 12-foot splice-joint is about 12 1/2 feet. Splice-joint rods are taped together with clear electrical tape (included with the rod) to form an extremely tight connection. Spey rods come with a reel seat that fits both modern reel feet and most of the larger ones found on older Hardy Salmon Perfects. Bamboo Spey rods will normally cast several line weights. For example, some of my customers use 385 - 425 grain lines on the Spey L rod and lines as heavy as 540 grains on the Spey H rod. In general, my personal preference is for lighter lines than most. I use Rio Steelhead Scandi floating lines for these rods. None of my Spey rods are tapered for "Skagit" style sink-tip fishing. I carry a graphite rod for fishing sink-tips.

  • Spey XL is for 300 - 350 grain floating Spey head.

  • Spey L is for 350 - 400 grain floating Spey head.

  • Spey is for 400 - 450 grain Spey head. Floating lines recommended, but type 3 sink-tip possible.

  • Spey H is for 450 - 500 grain Spey Head. Floating lines recommended, but type 6 sink-tip possible.

  • Salmon and steelhead rods, three piece, ferruled, two tips. Sealed and varnished.

    • 8 1/2', 8/9 weight salmon boat rod. Cascapedia canoe rod. Dry flies, waking flies, and wet flies size 1/0 and smaller.

    • 8 1/2', 7/8 weight light salmon rod.

    • 9', 7 weight "greased line" rod for summer fishing.

    • 9 ', 9/10 weight heavy salmon rod.

    • 11' AHE Wood Greased Line Rod for DT7F line, preferably HCH silk line.

  • Trout rods, three piece, ferruled, two tips. Sealed and varnished.

    • Trout H: 5/6-weight heavy trout rod, 4 to 4 1/2 ounces. 8' and 8 1/2' lengths. Dry fly, wet fly, and streamer.

    • Trout: 4/5-weight trout rod, 3 1/2 to 4 1/4 ounces. 8', 8 1/2', and 9' lengths. Dry fly, wet fly, and streamer.

    • Trout L: 3/4-weight trout rod, 2 3/4 to 3 1/2 ounces. 7', 7 1/2', 8', and 8 1/2' lengths. Dry fly and wet fly.

    • Trout XL: 2/3- weight trout rod, 2 to 3 1/4 ounces. 6', 6 1/2', 7', 7 1/2', 8', and 8 1/2 lengths. Dry fly and wet fly. I also make a splice-joint version of this rod that is 8 1/2'.

    • Trout "Toy": 6 1/2', 1- weight that I think of as a toy but it really is not!

    • 10', 4 weight "Edmonds & Lee rod for short line, upstream spider fishing in pocket water.

Prices include rod with two tips, bag, and tube. Prices include excise taxes. New York residents and those that pick their rod up at my shop will have to pay New York State sales tax.

  • Spey rods with ferrules - $2,750

  • Spey rods with splice joints - $2,500

  • Three-piece, single-handed rods - $2,000