Post by Chee Yung on Sept 14, 2005 13:48:05 GMT 8
Rod Story # 4 : Hatton
Hi BOBs ,
I’ve once mentioned to Alberto , part of the mystery and wonder of cane rods are the stories behind the rod and the maker who crafted it. This ‘lore’ of cane rods is a ‘history’ that is kept alive by a few dedicated ‘historians’ affectionately referred to as ‘gurus’ like Martin J. Keane, Michael Sinclair, Ernest Schwiebert, Dick Spurr and of course Sante (banjo) and certainly Jeff Hatton (gnome) . Being a cane expert is tough because you need to know both the rod’s inner and outer workings (everything from taper, glues, material to external finish, silks, fittings and wrapping patterns). Furthermore, you need to actually work with the material and build rods to really understand the craft.
Jeff is familiar with every historical detail from the mid 19th century to the present (he has written a comprehensive book about classic rods), a flytyer (used to tie for AK Best), artist/foundryman (specialized in bronze castings) and is also a skilled rodmaker ( in graphite, wood and cane as he used to build rods for Scott). He has a wonderful collection of rods (some made about the time of Abraham Lincoln and even the 42nd rod made by Charles Orvis around 1855! ) and also fishes hard like a true trout bum ;D prowling Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Impressive indeed!
But knowledge in history is pointless without progress… so Jeff has moved on to craft innovative hollowbuilt mortise rods with mind-blowing cast bronze fittings and aesthetics that span the centuries. With his support, I’m posting his latest work proudly named ‘the beast of bolo’ and his wonderfully ephemeral photo of a wild cutt-bow (cutthroat/rainbow hybrid trout) for our enjoyment .
Why ‘the beast’? Well, according to Jeff, this hollowbuilt mortise rod based on a tweaked Dickerson 6611 taper ( a short 6ft plus rod) was tested by his friends and could actually cast line weights from 2wt to 6wt…with very fast graphite like action at 2wt to a slow bamboo action at 6wt. Amazing! Therefore this little beautiful yet powerful ‘chilli padi’ (a small local chilli pepper that is very spicy) rod is a nicknamed ‘beast’. The beautiful form fit pictured and the mortise wood on the rod handle are made of Coco-Bolo, thus the name ‘beast of bolo’!
Hope to continue this story with a real rod in hand when the ‘elven wand’ Jeff is crafting me arrives ;D!
Cheers and thanks Jeff !
CY
Hi BOBs ,
I’ve once mentioned to Alberto , part of the mystery and wonder of cane rods are the stories behind the rod and the maker who crafted it. This ‘lore’ of cane rods is a ‘history’ that is kept alive by a few dedicated ‘historians’ affectionately referred to as ‘gurus’ like Martin J. Keane, Michael Sinclair, Ernest Schwiebert, Dick Spurr and of course Sante (banjo) and certainly Jeff Hatton (gnome) . Being a cane expert is tough because you need to know both the rod’s inner and outer workings (everything from taper, glues, material to external finish, silks, fittings and wrapping patterns). Furthermore, you need to actually work with the material and build rods to really understand the craft.
Jeff is familiar with every historical detail from the mid 19th century to the present (he has written a comprehensive book about classic rods), a flytyer (used to tie for AK Best), artist/foundryman (specialized in bronze castings) and is also a skilled rodmaker ( in graphite, wood and cane as he used to build rods for Scott). He has a wonderful collection of rods (some made about the time of Abraham Lincoln and even the 42nd rod made by Charles Orvis around 1855! ) and also fishes hard like a true trout bum ;D prowling Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Impressive indeed!
But knowledge in history is pointless without progress… so Jeff has moved on to craft innovative hollowbuilt mortise rods with mind-blowing cast bronze fittings and aesthetics that span the centuries. With his support, I’m posting his latest work proudly named ‘the beast of bolo’ and his wonderfully ephemeral photo of a wild cutt-bow (cutthroat/rainbow hybrid trout) for our enjoyment .
Why ‘the beast’? Well, according to Jeff, this hollowbuilt mortise rod based on a tweaked Dickerson 6611 taper ( a short 6ft plus rod) was tested by his friends and could actually cast line weights from 2wt to 6wt…with very fast graphite like action at 2wt to a slow bamboo action at 6wt. Amazing! Therefore this little beautiful yet powerful ‘chilli padi’ (a small local chilli pepper that is very spicy) rod is a nicknamed ‘beast’. The beautiful form fit pictured and the mortise wood on the rod handle are made of Coco-Bolo, thus the name ‘beast of bolo’!
Hope to continue this story with a real rod in hand when the ‘elven wand’ Jeff is crafting me arrives ;D!
Cheers and thanks Jeff !
CY