After making many prototype rods, I've settled in on five single handed taper equations which I feel as a maker represents a concise quiver of rods to be used where and when you'd fish for trout. I make these tapers in 2 types of Split Cane configurations. The classic Hexagonal and Quadrate constructions only. Three tapers of the Hexagonal construct, can be described as progressive, semi-parabolic and parabolic. The other two equations in the quadrate configuration are semi-parabolic but differ greatly. All of the equations have their foundations in the history of classic American rod making. Some tapers, however I've hybridized with another to give it my own signature. All of my prototype rods are tested on real fish in the field. I often try to push the limit of a rod to see just what it can't do. If it fails to perform in a certain situation, I try to be objective on whether I was asking the rod to do something it wasn't designed to achieve. If I feel the rod should have been willing, I may make a new tip or butt section to improve its performance, or I might take the whole rod back to formula and start over.
All of the taper equations listed below I call my own. If you don't see the one your interested in for sale I often have one almost ready to be listed and I can make it available to you with a phone call or email. I do make custom rods from the historical archives for clients. If you wish to have a rod made like a Leonard or Payne, for instance, give me a call maybe we can find that taper equation and make it.
Progressive tapers for my Hexagonal rods are listed as the Peerless series. This taper is a hybrid blend between the Powell B taper and Phillipsen Peerless. Some of these rods I make hollow built with the hollowing designs of E.C. Powell and Lew Stoner. These rods are fabulous fast action dry fly rods. They cast as a single casting unit delivering dry flies precisely and smoothly very much like the feel of a graphite rod but more lively. These rods are great for someone new to cane rods because the casting stroke is easy to translate.
Semi-Parabolic tapers for Hexagonal rods are listed as the Phantom series. This taper is a rod that works great for high country fly fishing for medium to small trout. This taper originated and then hybridized from Wayne Cattanach and Lyle Dickersons classic Catskill style rods and then tweaked for High Sierra fly fishing. Medium high line action with a distinct butt section that can roll cast with authority when needed.
Semi-Parabolic Quadrates. These tapers are similar but distinctly different. Ones metric is a straight translation of the Phantom hex into what is called the Phantom Quad. this quad is everything that the hex version is however with a bit of extra reserve in the butt section, making your cast almost effortless. The other Quad taper is the Freestone. This taper accentuated by hollow building techniques is a performance fishing tool. Like butter in the hand it simply disappears while fishing. Its foundation comes from a few Edwards tapers found in the archives of rod building, and then built and tweaked to this current equation. The Deluxe version of this taper is hollow built and ammonia toned to achieve a smaller metric equation while gaining a one line up in power.
Parabolic tapers for Hexagonal rods. Simply one of the most misunderstood rod equations. This taper which is a blend of a few Paul Young equations, are truly an incredible mathematical solution of leverage and momentum versus brute mass. This taper, quoting PY is called the Perfectionist, and is one of the most perfect rods to have for any situation one may find themselves fishing. Medium casting action which distinctly loads in two stages during a high line back cast. Upon forward cast, the rod unloads like a giant spring to achieve great line speed and distance with minimal effort by the caster.