some cannons from the South - Ian Kearney
Several people have asked for the tapers of a couple of the rods mentioned
at the Southern rodmakers gathering. After some delay due to a flat battery
in my digital callipers here they are.
1. Danny's norwegian rod. A hollow butt rod, quite light, powerful and
relatively fast action, but not as fast as a Dickerson 8015 guide special. #
7. It is 9' 0"
Measured over relatively light varnish say .003 to .004. Section
measurements averaged but variation usually within .002
Hollowed section had a diameter of .194 at the bottom of the butt, about
half of the total cross section.
1" .085
5" .114
10" .136
15" .152
20" .164
25" .176
30" .190
35" .200
40" .224
45" .250
50" .271
52 " .271
55 ferrule
58" .279
60" .286
65" ..299
70" .319
75" .334
80" .353
85" .366
90" .383
95" .398
97 handle
2.Walker Brampton " Joe Frost Tonga" . Joe Frost was a guide in the Taupo
area in the 1950's and this rod was designed to his specifications for
casting heavy lures in big rivers for steel head trout.
It is a slow action , feels heavy but that may have been the balance with
the reel being used , but an absolute cannon with a lot of power for lifting
sunk lines and casting them a long way. It is 9'3", and #7.
Measured over relatively heavy varnish allow .004 to .006. These
measurements are an average of the 3 flats . There was variation up to .008
between flats , but where this happened there was generally close to
consistancy between 2 flats and the other was higher. I attributed this to
the inconsistancy in the over varnishing and tended to discard the high
reading when this occurred.
1" .116
5" . 122
10" .147
15" .164
20" .183
25" .197
30" .216
35" .235 ( these measurements were double checked)
40 . .237 ( these measurements were double checked)
45" .246
50 .257
53 .257
ferrule
58" .271
60 .275
65" .287
70" .298
75" .307
80" .318
85" .331
90" .340
95" .342
99" .360
handle
As can be seen these are two quite different rods, both of which cast a #7
line very very well.
Ian