Parabolic Rods
Paul Young’s rods have a reputation for being difficult to cast, yet nothing could be further from the truth. While I used his excellent tapers for inspiration, in most cases I’ve altered the tapers with light tips, a little extra wood through the mid section, and lighter butt sections.
This allows these rods to fish well in close (often a weakness of semi-paras) yet still carry a long line.
7′ 3/4wt Millennium Falcon
Named for the new century, this is a delightful little stick that excels in many different situations. A best seller.
6′3″ 4wt Headwaters
A derivative of the Paul Young Midge, this was originally designed to fish small headwaters, but several of my customers nicknamed it the “Little Cannon” and fished it during Salmon Fly hatches and in Alaska for big rainbows and grayling. A remarkable rod.
7′3″ 4/5 wt Eagle Creek
My personal favorite small stream rod. At short ranges, a long-belly 5wt line is ideal, and the 5wt line bosses even larger flies and winds that give lighter rods fits.
7.5′ 4wt Young Philosopher
An exceptionally smooth rod that – like its larger sibling – is influenced by Young Perfectionist taper (though which one?). Young’s Perfectionist is justifiably famous, and I feel this taper fishes better at most reasonable trout ranges.
8′ 4wt Queen of the Waters
A crisp caster with the reach and backbone to handle larger fish, this is the rod that Len Codella said was “the best 8′ 4wt made.” Many people asked me for a longer version of the Perfectionist taper. This is it. Will fish anything.
7.5′ 5wt Old Philosopher
Len Codella thinks this is my best taper – a 5wt variation of the 4wt “Young Philosopher.”
.
The Rocky Mountain/Trout Bum tapers below are refined & combined variations of Paul Young’s Para-14 and Para-15 tapers. While Young’s tapers were unique, mine tend to fish better at shorter ranges and provide a more relaxing, pleasant casting experience. All feature a swelled butt for a unique experience in the semi-parabolic genre.
7.5′ 5wt Henryville Special
Related to the rest of my Rocky Mountain/Trout Bum tapers, I like to think of this versatile rod as the “Little Trout Bum.”
7′9″ 5wt Rocky Mountain Light
While Young’s Para-15 is more famous than the shorter Para-14, many prefer the Para-14’s more relaxed approach to fly fishing. This is my interpretation of this exceptional taper, which will handle a wide range of flies and waters.
7′9″ 6wt Rocky Mountain Special
This began life as a 5/6 wt rod, but as my knowledge of tempering and heat treating bamboo grew, the rods stiffened a bit and became 6wts. Many still prefer these tapers, though my “Light” rods (true 5wts) are quickly gaining in popularity.
8′ 5wt Trout Bum Light
Named after a rarely read fly fishing book written by a bearded author, this is the lighter version of the original Trout Bum. This is the rod that one caster said “was the most civilized version of Paul Young’s semi-para’s” he’d ever cast. Light enough in the tip to fish at short range, yet stiff enough in the middle to offer the leverage to fish a distance. A true all-rounder.
8′ 6wt Trout Bum
The very first Trout Bum rod was shipped to John Gierach for testing, but was stolen en route. It was immortalized in his essay “Lost Rod” and has been a best seller ever since. A powerful, crisp rod for big flies, big fish and big waters.
8′3″ 5wt Paradise Valley Special
A slightly longer version of the Trout Bum Light, this rod was designed with a little extra length – perfect for freestone streams or complex currents. The beauty of this rod is that it feels like an 8′ rod, but fishes like an 8.5′ rod.
8′6″ 5wt Snake River Special Light
The ideal big water/drift boat rod. Powerful enough to handle long casts and wind, this taper remains wholly pleasant to fish.
8′6″ 6wt Snake River Special
A more powerful version of the above rod, this taper is perfect for big fish, stillwaters, stonefly hatches, Alaska, etc. Surprisingly light considering its exceptional power.
8′ 7wt Thunder Creek
Shorter rods whip bigger fish faster, and this rod’s built specifically for big fish – bass, pike, Alaska-sized rainbows – even summer-run steelhead.
8′6″ 8wt The Salmon Bum
Many people will tell you that you can’t fish a powerful bamboo rod all day long, but the Salmon Bum is proof that’s simply not true. Pushbutton power and a pleasant casting stroke. Unique.