Finding the Perfect match

This board is for discussing concerns of fishing bamboo fly rods. Examples would be, lines, actions, classic and modern makers actions and the like.

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WatercolorMan
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Finding the Perfect match

#1

Post by WatercolorMan »

We all have matched up a rod reel and line, its what we do when we get a new rod or reel. I sometimes will get something new like a rod and bring out the reels I think will match up. Then start fishing and refining the combinations.

I must be a little slow or maybe just didn't try enough possible combination of rod reel and line. I got the correct reel right away but it took about 4 years to figure it all out. I have a Payne 100 that Mike Brooks built for me in 2006 and here I am 4 years later figuring it really likes the Clear Creek DT3F line the best. I put that line on the Winston Perfect to match it with the FE Thomas fairy and just started wondering if the Payne would handle that light line also. Well now I have a PERFECT MATCH, here it is. 

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Share your perfect match.

Alan

BobB
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Finding the Perfect match

#2

Post by BobB »

Well, this is about as perfect as it gets for me Alan.

Heddon/Folsom 7 1/2' Featherweight with an Orvis Battenkill Featherweight by Young. Line a DT4F Cortland 444 Peach.

Weights of a feather, so to speak. This was the first reel and line I tried with the rod. Can't imagine anyhting better, maybe more expensive?
Just lucky I guess!


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Bob

 
Last edited by Anonymous on 05/29/10 10:23, edited 1 time in total.

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ibookje
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Finding the Perfect match

#3

Post by ibookje »

Looks great gents.

I also like the Winston Perfect. It's a great reel for #3-4 rods, even on a (short) #5 rod.

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dugdan
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Finding the Perfect match

#4

Post by dugdan »

This new model 2 7/8" Perfect hangs beneath a four weight quad, built by a ham-handed stone mason friend of mine. Occasionally, he carves a rod that casts at least as well as, say, a nine foot montague "Flash", and if I can talk him into using a thread other than rainbow variegated nylon, then at least he doesn't make my eyes hurt.  "No need", I told him, "to break this one over your knee, I'll tell you in a few months if it fishes any better than that last disaster you had me try". I try to be nice, you know, or he'll sulk away to his dark little garage for weeks, and beg me when he emerges to try his latest. Good thing for him we are friends....

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BobS
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Finding the Perfect match

#5

Post by BobS »

Here are a couple of combos I like:

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Above is a Godfrey BiMetal 212 on a Leonard 38 Catskill of 1.8 oz.  A 2wt line is all it needs.

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This is a 3 1/4" Saracione Deluxe on a PHY 8'6" Special.  Works well with a WF6.

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quashnet
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Finding the Perfect match

#6

Post by quashnet »

Twenty years ago, I made my first cast of this PHY Co. Martha Marie (built 1962), using this 3" Hardy St. George from the 1930's and a Cortland "peach" DT5F line. The result was so good that I have never tried another line or reel on the rod.
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PHY Co. Driggs (circa 1953-55), Hardy Perfect 3-1/8" reel (circa 1921), one-half of a Cortland "peach" DT5F.
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Please visit and bookmark the Paul H. Young Rod Database
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Other rod databases: Dickerson , Orvis , Powell

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BobS
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Finding the Perfect match

#7

Post by BobS »

Another combo that works well for me:  Pre-fire Leonard 36 Catskill 7'6" 3/2 DT3 or WF4, with a Paul Hermann Trout.

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janotcastermans
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Finding the Perfect match

#8

Post by janotcastermans »

Some rods and reels


My own made F.E Thomas #4 6'6" and a dingley reel


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Baginski rod 7'6" #5 and again my dingley reel


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oh sorry,wrong picture Image Image


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Dave Norling rod 8'7" #5 and a the St.George with the red agaet


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Hardy Palakona 1974 6'8" #5 and a ocean city n°36 reel


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The very best to you all my friends,Janot

BobB
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Finding the Perfect match

#9

Post by BobB »

Very nice Janot................I mean the bratwurst!!    Image

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BobS
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Finding the Perfect match

#10

Post by BobS »

A couple more, fished today:

Leonard 39 and Godfrey Brook Trout 274:Image

PHY Prosperity 8' and Walker TR3:Image


matsoberg
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Finding the Perfect match

#11

Post by matsoberg »

I try to match my rods with a specific reel and line all the time but it´s quite tricky as it seems to depend on the mood I´m in at the moment. But this combo does it for sure at all times; Stefan Broms 7½ foot hollow, nodeless, swelled butt 5wt and a Bengt Engelbrekt No 2 trout reel. Sorry, no "on the water pic´"



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WatercolorMan
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Finding the Perfect match

#12

Post by WatercolorMan »

Lets try it again.
WOW guys those are some GREAT COMBO’s you have.
I knew this would be a nice way to see some nice photos of your gear, but man I’m really knocked out.   

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7'-2" Lancaster Savage River with the 3" Lightweight Mk V Bougle Centenary

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RyanAK
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Finding the Perfect match

#13

Post by RyanAK »

Very nice Alan. Quite the handsome match.

Here's a pairing that came together for the first time this evening. 
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My new Dennis Stone 8' 5wt Cascade that I had Dennis build with antiqued hardware.  I had originally intended to pair this rod with a Heddon 125, but the foot does not quite fit the seat.  I hadn't really considered this Young Pattern 15A (marked S. Allcock & Co.), but the leading on the reel and the worn bluing on the rod's hardware couldn't compliment each other better. 
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And the reel balances the rod perfectly.  Yup.  A perfect match. 

Here with the Heddon Imperial that was my first choice:
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Greg Reynolds
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Finding the Perfect match

#14

Post by Greg Reynolds »

Here's a couple of combinations that work nicely for me...

7-foot Superfine & Marquis 4:
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7-foot D.R. Klausemeyer & St George Jr:
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Last edited by Greg Reynolds on 06/05/10 14:48, edited 1 time in total.

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EastslopesTH
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Finding the Perfect match

#15

Post by EastslopesTH »

for small rivers out west. This came together last season: 7' 2/2 4wt I finished out from a Payne 97 by Mike Brooks with a Kineya 301.

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RyanAK
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Finding the Perfect match

#16

Post by RyanAK »

Greg, love the Klausemeyer rod and St George Jr. Really a lovely pair.


Eastslope - nice! I'm not familiar with Kineya reels, but that one is a looker.

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WatercolorMan
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Finding the Perfect match

#17

Post by WatercolorMan »

Ryan


That's a fine looking Heddon 125 buy your right about the Young Pattern 15A looking just right.


Greg the 7-foot Superfine & Marquis 4 look perfect togather. I really like the Marquis reels and the later models with the grey in the center looks especially fine with your Orvis rod.


The Kineya reels are just super fine and the Bi Metals they make just catch the eye and are so classic looking what a treat it must be to own one of them.


Bob's Godfrey BiMetal 212 is amazing as well and on that Leonard 38 Catskill well it make a guy want to go shopping for one of those combo's for his own.


I had a chance to cast the 7' 3/2, DT3 George Boehme, hand-planed, duronze, fittings hand-crafted. 2 9/16s St. George, what a great setup that is, our friend

Flykuni2 has some rare gear you just don't see very often unless you visit him.

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RyanAK
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Finding the Perfect match

#18

Post by RyanAK »

Another combo that I think works well together.  Lancaster 7'6" "Falling Springs", Young 14A
and a Peach DT4.
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Balances well and looks just right. 

Neat thread Alan.  Thanks for starting it. 

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leadwingcoachman
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Finding the Perfect match

#19

Post by leadwingcoachman »

heddon 8'5" black beauty and a ross gunnison 3, I've been fishing this with a airflow DT5 ridge line (not pictured)

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phillipson peeless 8' 5" with a ted williams reel... this rod will through any line it's a cannon.

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BobB
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Finding the Perfect match

#20

Post by BobB »

leadwingcoachman,

The Gunnison looks real fine with the Black Beauty!

Got a G2 I'm hoping to mate with a Beauty, once I scrape enough money together to buy an 8' 1 3/4F.

Bob

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