8' bamboo cast off

Dave Westburg

Dave Westburg

Fish the classics
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Spent some time with friends today casting 8' 4 and 5 weights. There's much to be said for casting a single length rod to appreciate the nuances of different tapers. Here are the rankings of the various rods we cast

8' Payne 201 taper built by Doug Moore. The #1 choice by most of us. Very smooth and powerful. I thought of this as medium fast action. Seemed best with a 5 weight line.

Phillipson 8' Peerless. 4.1 ounces. Medium fast action. A classic 5 weight. Finished second to the Payne taper. I enjoyed this rod immensely on my trip last year to the Wisconsin driftless

Granger 8040. Relaxed smooth 4 weight. The slowest action rod of the bunch. 3.3 ounces. A great small stream finesse rod. Can't wait to put this rod to work on some small cascade streams at the end of summer. I can also think of a little beaver pond which is perfect for this rod.

Thomas Special Dry Fly Taper 8', 4 5/8's ounce 5 weight. Came in last. The fastest rod of the bunch. Fun to cast but not as much fun as the other rods. Thomas rods still exists in Maine and some day I hope to fish this rod for Maine brookies.

Am curious what the rest of you think if you own any of these rods.

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Dave, I’ve owned pretty much the same set of 8’ rods, and my own experience matches up with yours exactly.

My 8’ Payne 201 (clone, blank made by Jeff Pope and finished in the Payne style by me) is by far my favorite rod to fish. However, for the blank made by Pope I enjoy it a tad more with a six weight than with a five. Medium fast and does pretty much anything I use an 8’ rods for, smoothly with ease.

One of my earlier rods I owned was a nifty 8’ Phillipson Pacemaker. It was similar to my Payne 201 but just a notch lower in cast ability and fishing ease. A pure 5 wt.

My next favorite 8’ might be the same one you discussed. A Granger from the early Goodwin Granger era, it is a smooth 4 weight, a pleasure to cast but best suited for smaller dries and short to medium casting. A wonderful light casting rod but more East Coast style than I typically fish.

The last rod on my personal list was my 8’ Thomas. Probably made in the 1930s. A beautiful rod, good casting but it didn’t have that extra ingredient the Payne taper has and it wasn’t as fun to cast or fish.

Ron
 
I had my 8' Leonard 66H taper out today. Really a sweet casting rod with WF6 Peach. Needs regular long casts to like a 5. My other 8' is the Cortland 444 LTD with a parabolic action and it like a 6wt Sylk. It'll get it's turn soon.
Sometimes I think I'd like a lighter line weight bamboo but these just fish so well for me. Be fun to try some of those rods though.
 
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I have a Granger 8040 as well, however it was made after Wright & McGill took over the co. I believe it’s a true 5wt. It’s a real pleasure to fish.

Also have a Homer Jennings 8’ that is a nice, smooth casting 5wt. I bought it used from a guy in Italy. I wished I’d asked him if he’d ever caught any Marble trout with it, a fish I always was hoping to try for.
Homer Jennings was/is known for his fine finishes, but this rod is also a joy to cast.

Never cast a Payne taper but might have to change that someday.
 
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