The 8' Phillipson
Moderator: TheMontyMan
The 8' Phillipson
#1It's no secret that I love Phillipson rods, both those Bill designed for Granger and his own company's models. The 8' Phillipson 4 1/4 oz. 3/2 rod is among his best designs, slightly beefier in the mid than the Granger 8040 but very similar in action.
I have pictured the four models that were catalogued as 8-foot 3/2 varnished rods -- the Pacemaker, Powr Pakt, Paramount and Premium --as well as the two impregnated models, the Peerless and the Preferred.
It's interesting that over the years, some of the 8-foot rods were marked as HEH and some as HDH. The weight is marked as the same 4 1/4 oz., and the ferrules are identical (16 and 10, compared with 15/10 for the 8040), but the action is slightly different. I haven't miked the rods (I'm not proficient in that) so I don't know if the tapers are different or if someone in the factory waggled each rod and pronounced it HDH or HEH. To me almost all of them cast best with a DT5 line, although one of my two Pacemakers is a 4-weight. Interestingly, it is marked HEH, while the one that casts better with a DT5 has no line designation on it. The Peerless that I own is the later "nosecone" version and is simply marked "line weight 5."
I would be interested in the observations of other fans of these rods.
Pacemaker (early model)
Powr Pakt (later model)
The hammer-handle models (Premium and Paramount)
The impregnated models, Peerless and Preferred
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Re: The 8' Phillipson
#4Great line up Lon and thank you for starting this thread. I fished my Hank Roberts nosecone version this past Saturday. It is my favorite 8' rod in the 3/2 configuration. My rod is also marked line #5 and I use Cortland Peach 444 DT5 and WF5 and also a natural silk on it. Even mice seem to like this rod
Cheers,
Joe
Cheers,
Joe
Re: The 8' Phillipson
#7OMG !!
I gotta show this to my wife!
Proof that someone else has the Phillipson Phlu worse than I do.
Loved looking at your rods
I have a W&M 8040 Aristocrat that I love with a 4 DT, and a Phillipson Pacemaker 8' that I haven't worked with enough to find the right line.
You've inspired me to get it out and try some lines
I'm looking for a Premium in 8 ' if anybody wants to part with one
Clayton
I gotta show this to my wife!
Proof that someone else has the Phillipson Phlu worse than I do.
Loved looking at your rods
I have a W&M 8040 Aristocrat that I love with a 4 DT, and a Phillipson Pacemaker 8' that I haven't worked with enough to find the right line.
You've inspired me to get it out and try some lines
I'm looking for a Premium in 8 ' if anybody wants to part with one
Clayton
Re: The 8' Phillipson
#8The 8’ varnished Phillipsons are the rods I use the most for close-to-home fishing. My favorite is a Pacemaker HEH that I like as a 4 weight. I expected it to be a 5 weight and it’s fine with a 5 but it’s best for me with a 4 weight line. I think It’s the second iteration with the black plastic seat with silver colored metal threads. It’s great with little BWO’s and I like to nymph and swing soft hackles with it also. It’s great at a lot of things. A very easygoing taper but not slow. Plenty of power for fighting the fish I usually encounter. Haven’t caught a 20 incher with it but I wouldn’t worry about it’s ability to handle a fish like that. I don’t know which I like better - the 8 footer or its’ cousin, the 5oz 8’6”.
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Re: The 8' Phillipson
#9Nice selection, Lon! I've had a few 8 ft. Phillipsons, but still prefer the Granger 8040 FWIW.
Scott
Scott
Flyman615
"An undisturbed river is as perfect as we will ever know, every refractive slide of cold water a glimpse of eternity" - Thomas McGuane
"An undisturbed river is as perfect as we will ever know, every refractive slide of cold water a glimpse of eternity" - Thomas McGuane
Re: The 8' Phillipson
#10In our family there was no clear line between psychotherapy and flyfishing...
Re: The 8' Phillipson
#12Great post…past forum posts have always had high praise for the Granger 8040s and 8’ Phillipsons. I’ve never tossed these 8 footers, so I thought I would try to get my hands on one. The 8’ Pacemaker, that I purchased several months ago, had oversized chrome snake guides, oversized tip tops, and TWO ceramic stripper guides; also a brown thread wrap with a hint of metallic glitter. (See first 3 pictures) I tried to keep the spirit of an early Pacemaker by re-wrapping the guides using a “granger green” silk with yellow silk tippings. However, I personally like hook keeps and decided to keep the installed hook keep. (See last 3 pictures)
I’m patiently waiting for an early spring day to get the Pacemaker out on a river. Like I said earlier, I haven’t tossed an 8 footer, so I’ll be bringing 4 & 6wt sylk lines and 4 - 6wt WF lines. Hoping this rod will quickly become a “go to” rod.
Sawtelle
I’m patiently waiting for an early spring day to get the Pacemaker out on a river. Like I said earlier, I haven’t tossed an 8 footer, so I’ll be bringing 4 & 6wt sylk lines and 4 - 6wt WF lines. Hoping this rod will quickly become a “go to” rod.
Sawtelle
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Re: The 8' Phillipson
#13A very well done "study" of the Phillipson 8 foot 3pc rod. Some of the best production models ever made. I am a big fan of the Phillipson grip the modest full Well's that is not the hammer shape, comfortable for all day fishing. I also really like the 16 & 10 ferrule sizes for a bit more power than a 15. It is no wonder they are very popular with us vintage rod people. Best Paul,
Re: The 8' Phillipson
#14Great rods indeed. I acquired an 8 footer with a broken tip a couple years ago. I had Dennis Stone scarf the broken tip and he did a wonderful job. I fish the rod regularly and do enjoy it. Mine likes a DT5 line.
Re: The 8' Phillipson
#15Wonder if anyone has miked both rods - the HDH vs HEH. It would be interesting to see if there is a difference.
Re: The 8' Phillipson
#16Hi Teter, thanks for starting this thread. Your Phillipson collection is impressive! I have a varnished 8' Phillipson Premium from the Phil Snyder estate that I am really pleased to own and take fishing. That was always Phil's intention as well. It's been a real go-to rod for me. Mine is marked 4 1/4 - HDH. I like it with a WF5 or a DT5 on the stream. It's one of my faster cane rods. It's super easy and fun to cast, and has enough backbone to handle some breeze and a sink tip line occasionally. I also like the modest Wells grip and the subtle cosmetics. The tip ferrule measures like a #10/11 step down (.156/.172) and the butt ferrule is a straight #16 (.250). I also have a W&M #8040 that I haven't fished as much, and it feels good with a 4 or a 5 weight line. It’s similar, but doesn’t have the power of the Phillipson. I’d like to fish it a bit more and find the sweet spot of this highly regarded Granger taper. After fishing both of these rods, it’s clear to me that Bill Phillipson was a master craftsman and likely a very good fisherman!
Re: The 8' Phillipson
#17You have quite the collection Lon! I love Phillipsons too. My only 8'er is a Paramount which I will keep and fish until I am unable to fish anymore. My Paramount casts very well with a 5wt and I've had no reason to try anything else but I may try a 4 just to see how the rod perfoms. I have a couple 8 1/2' Phillipsons, (Preferred, Peerless), and 9' Premium, Paramount and Power Pakt.
I do have a friend that has a 8' Pacemaker and as far as I know, doesnt use it. I may have to bug him about maybe selling it!
Bruce
I do have a friend that has a 8' Pacemaker and as far as I know, doesnt use it. I may have to bug him about maybe selling it!
Bruce
Re: The 8' Phillipson
#18Native trout from my favorite stream. A very well build and strong rod for smaller sized fish. I have felt undergunned with it a few times, especially on very turbulent waters with huge grayling.