W&M Granger Aristocrat 7ft

[Cliff]

I found a near mint condition W&M Granger Aristocrat, 7ft, 4 weight (2/2) for sale. The seller is asking $1000.00. What do you all think? Many years ago I had the same rod in 7.5ft, 5wt, and had to sell it. I've been bemoaning this fact for 25 years because I love the shorter Grangers so much.

 

[albula]

Sounds to me like you have already made your decision.

 

[Zak]

I can think of lots of things I regret not buying, but I don't think I'd regret buying this. I think you should get it!

 

[Dave Westburg]

I found a near mint condition W&M Granger Aristocrat, 7ft, 4 weight (2/2) for sale. The seller is asking $1000.00. What do you all think? Many years ago I had the same rod in 7.5ft, 5wt, and had to sell it. I've been bemoaning this fact for 25 years because I love the shorter Grangers so much.

Sounds like a great rod Cliff. 2 tips is nice, especially the the 7030 because it's a little more fragile than the longer rods.

The key issue with the shorter rods is you have to think through what kind of fishing you do. I have a 6' Ray Gould, a 6'6" Sharpes, a 6'9"Constable, a 7' Tom Fulk and a 7'6" Phillipson and a 7.6" Sharpes. That's too many short rods because I fish rivers and lakes and alpine lakes way more than small streams. Now if I lived on Taneum Creek or Vermont or New Hampshire - it'd be another matter.

I seem to remember John Gierach writing that he didn't see much point in the small light bamboo rods but then he lived and fished in windy colorado.

 

[mcswny]

I have 4x 7’ and under 4wts, as well as a sub 7’ 3wt and 2wt and rarely do I wish I they were longer. Maybe, I wish ONE of the 4wts was 8’

All glass though.

 

[Para_Adams]

Having one short bamboo rod is fun, especially for the small streams, and if it's a Granger it'll fish great. I really like the look of the Aristocrat model. I've been thinking of thinning my collection further, but my Granger Aristocrat 7633 would be one of a few rods I'd have a hard time letting go.

 

[Cliff]

Sounds like a great rod Cliff. 2 tips is nice, especially the the 7030 because it's a little more fragile than the longer rods.

The key issue with the shorter rods is you have to think through what kind of fishing you do. I have a 6' Ray Gould, a 6'6" Sharpes, a 6'9"Constable, a 7' Tom Fulk and a 7'6" Phillipson and a 7.6" Sharpes. That's too many short rods because I fish rivers and lakes and alpine lakes way more than small streams. Now if I lived on Taneum Creek or Vermont or New Hampshire - it'd be another matter.

I seem to remember John Gierach writing that he didn't see much point in the small light bamboo rods but then he lived and fished in windy colorado.

Thanks Dave. I'm low on 7 footers, my only one being a Zhu rod i bought when they were first on eBay many years ago. Its actually not a bad rod. This rod would be plied on smaller streams and creeks.

 

[Dave Westburg]

I actually think 7' is as short a fly rod as you need for small streams. With the rods less than 7' you can get drag more easily because you aren't keeping as much line off the water.

Ed Shenk, however, did just fine fishing short rods on Pennsylvania creeks and limestone streams. He loved really short fly rods for brushy streams. He says in Fly Rod Trouting that "Your rod battery should contain an 8 1/2 footer, a 7 footer and a 6 footer."