Hardy Phantom 8ft 6in 6wt: The Crossover Specialist
A close look at the Hardy Phantom taper — 8ft 6in, 6wt, 2-piece moderate-fast bamboo fly rod built for the water between trout and steelhead. Taper analysis,
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The Rod Maker's Bench
Explore bamboo rod making, classic taper references and the decisions behind a build. Start with a process overview or a guide to choosing a blank and its components.
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LATEST FROM THE BENCH
Articles and field notes
18 articles
Dickerson 801611-D: 8ft 7wt 3-Piece Bamboo Rod
Explore the Dickerson 801611-D taper — Lyle Dickerson's three-piece 8ft 7wt designed for portable power. A moderate-fast bamboo fly rod built for large
Read articleDickerson 7012: 7ft 4wt Bamboo Fly Rod
Explore the Dickerson 7012 — Lyle Dickerson's lightest and most refined taper. A 7ft 4wt bamboo fly rod that defines short-range precision and the art of
Read articleDickerson 8013 Bamboo Fly Rod - 8ft 5wt Power Benchmark
The Dickerson 8013 is the power benchmark in the classic bamboo taper library — a fast-action 8ft 5wt built to handle wind, distance, and bigger water without
Read articleLeonard Letort 40: 8ft 4wt Bamboo Fly Rod
A detailed look at the Leonard Letort 40 — 8ft 4wt full-flex bamboo fly rod taper built for spring creek precision. Learn its history, taper analysis, and…
Read articleLeonard Baby Catskill Bamboo Fly Rod — 7ft 3wt Full-Flex Taper
Discover the Leonard Baby Catskill — a 7ft 3wt full-flex bamboo fly rod taper that carries the soul of Catskill fly fishing tradition. Learn its history,
Read articleGarrison 209: 7ft 6in 5wt Bamboo Fly Rod
A detailed look at the Garrison 209 — 7ft 6in 5wt progressive taper. How it differs from Garrison's 212E, where it excels in mid-size trout streams, and what
Read articlePaul H. Young Texas General: 8ft 6in 8wt Bamboo
The Paul H. Young Texas General is an 8ft 6in 8wt fast-action bamboo fly rod built for large freshwater and light saltwater. Honest review of its power,
Read articlePaul H. Young Para 16: The Para Series Goes to Work in Big Water
An in-depth look at the Paul H. Young Para 16 — 8ft 6in, 7wt, 2-piece, progressive/fast action. Where the Para series delivers power without losing feel. Taper
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