Dennis
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firehole |
FE Thomas Browntone 7'6" 2/2 4wt. Accolades |
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Yesterday, I fished the Gallatin & Madison with my recently acquired FE Thomas Browntone 7'6 2/2 4wt. 3 1/2oz. I've owned 6 FET most of them 3/2
medium action and by far this surpasses any of them. The rod has a med-fast+ action which allowed me to flick dries with one backcast easily 60'+ with
absloutely no effort and pinpoint accuracy. The rod easily controlled bows who wanted to head to the Madison's fast current. I believe if I doublehauled it
would throw easily 80'+ with the Cortland Syllk WF4 which I had loaded on my Winston Perfect 2 7/8". It fished great in tight where I was hooking fish
only 10' feet away. It's one of the finest casting rods I've ever owned. FET 2/2 dry fly rods are truly special. I would like to hear other owners
opinions of their FET 2/2.
Dennis
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seattlesetters |
#1 | |||
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Dennis - While I haven't cast as many bamboo rods as you, your FE Thomas (pictured above) is certainly the best I've ever had the pleasure of casting. I love it!
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bobbeegee |
#2 | |||
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Dennis,
That is one eye-popping Fred Thomas rod! I enjoyed your thoughts on its fishing attributes. Personally speaking, if I could afford them, I would be most happy to end my fishing days with a few select Thomas rods. With a couple of Heddons I will never let go of. Bob |
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john channer |
#3 | |||
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Dennis;
Would you mind measuring it and posting the taper on the tapers forum? john |
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rocketman |
#4 | |||
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Dennis
What is stamped on the butt cap? Should be a symbol or letter and a number or just a number, and what type of stripper does it have? Please do mic the rod and post the taper. Thanks Those old fishermen: They're slow-moving and crabby and some of them talk to themselves, but they can catch trout.
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firehole |
#5 | |||
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John,
I don't own a mic but I may be seeing Glenn Brackett in a few weeks and I'll ask him if he wouldn't mind micing it for me. Knowing Glenn I'm sure he would do it. Dennis |
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oldfishbrain |
#6 | |||
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I owned an F.E. Thomas Special 7 1/2 ft 2/2 not too long ago. In my hands it was more of a 5wt although when I bought it years ago it was represented as a 4wt. I recently sold it to a forum member. Before it was shipped out I took careful measurements of the taper which are given below. Notice the flat taper between 25 and 40 on both tips that surprised me. I spoke to Chris Bogart about it and he is of the opinion that a lot of production makers of the time produced these generic tips so that they could be cut at different lengths and produce different final length rods. In any event here are the measurements. They are given in individual flat to flat measurements in thousands of an inch, sometimes at odd stations because of the presence of guides wraps etc., and are not corrected for varnish Butt: (from top of welt of female) 5 204,205,204 10 218,218,217 14 226,224,224 15 (stripping guide) 16 236,234,234 20 253,251,257 25 273,269,270 30 283,284,279 35 373,365,373 (in between signature wraps) In front of grip 403,406,412 36 1/4 Grip starts 45 3/16 Grip + cork reel seat ends Swell starts at 33" Tip 1 (from end of tiptop) 1.25 72,72,75 5 85,87,88 10 108,109,111 14.5 119,119,119 16 125,125,127 20 141,139,139 25 161,159,161 30 161,161,164 35 161,164,163 40 167,168,166 42.5 170, 175,176 45 3/16 end of male slide Tip 2 1.25 71,68,68 5 89,90,88 10 102,106,102 14.5 122,120,124 16 125,125,125 20 141,139,139 25 155,156,156 30 156,155,156 35 158,159,160 40 165,164,165 42.5 167,168,170 45 3/16 End of male slide Guide spacing; Butt: 2 1/8 (Adjacent to female ferrule) 15 Stripper Tip: 4 1/4 9 1/4 15 3/16 21 5/16 27 7/8 36 1/2 Ferrule: 11/64 Stepdown
Maker of light line nodeless bamboo fly rods
avardanis@sympatico.ca |
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oldfishbrain |
#7 | |||
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Forgot to add:
The weight of the rod was 3.28 oz. And here are some pictures:
Maker of light line nodeless bamboo fly rods
avardanis@sympatico.ca
Last Edited By: oldfishbrain 08/03/2008 14:11.
Edited 1 time.
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firehole |
#8 | |||
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I believe you could use a 5wt. on this one too but I believe it would slow the action down a bit whereas I like a 4wt. line for a faster action. Considering
I've heard a Syllk WF4 is about a 3.5wt. the rod can lay out 60' with ease. Is a Syllk a 1/2 line light from its actual line designation? The actual
marking on the butt cap is GE-64. I believe the stripper is a Mildrum stripper guide. My expertise isn't on the technical side but more on values and
knowledge of rare rods and rodmakers.
Andre, thanks for your post of the taper of your rod. It very well might be the same taper. Dennis
Last Edited By: firehole 08/03/2008 14:49.
Edited 2 times.
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firehole |
#9 | |||
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Andre,
Your guide spacing is right on with mine. Dennis |
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oldfishbrain |
#10 | |||
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Dennis:
I don't know who Andre is but my name is Alex. I forgive you in advance and wish you the best. Alex
Maker of light line nodeless bamboo fly rods
avardanis@sympatico.ca |
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bulldog1935 |
#11 | |||
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I was fishing "Fred" in Alaska last week.
8' 3/2 Dirigo. Really a perfect 6-wt. for the high flows and little rainbows currently on the Russian and Ptarmagin Creek. I would also be a great rod for the big rainbows and low flows in September.
Last Edited By: bulldog1935 08/03/2008 15:10.
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firehole |
#12 | |||
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Sorry Alex. Out of curiosity do you still own the FET Fairy I sold you? It was such a gorgeous rod.
I just tried it with a WF5 and it still throws out 60' with authority but it action has slowed somewhat to a medium fast. So it's safe to say it's a 4/5wt. Dennis
Last Edited By: firehole 08/03/2008 15:23.
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oldfishbrain |
#13 | |||
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Yes Dennis I am still the proud owner of the F.E. Thomas Fairy. Beautiful rod indeed.
Maker of light line nodeless bamboo fly rods
avardanis@sympatico.ca |
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bdcanefly |
#14 | |||
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Dennis,
BDC
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