Walton Powell Graphite Rods

[NCL]

I am selling two Walton Powell graphite fly rods for a friend. Both rods are nine foot in length, neither rod has a line weight designation but I would say they are on the heavier side. Both rods come with a rod tube and rod sock.

The first rod has two tips and two third rod sections, I believe the extra piece is for the extra tip, not a five piece rod. This rod also comes with two attachable handle extensions.

The second rod also comes with a single handle extension.

Asking $300.00 OBO plus shipping and insurance on the first rod and $150.00 OBO plus shipping and insurance on the second rod.

I can not get the pictures to load so send an email and I will forward pictures of the rods.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

What is written on each rod?

[NCL]

There is no writing on either rod

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Someone probably bought some blanks and built some rods.....?

Probably not factory built rods.

You would have to take them to a fly shop or fly fishing club and cast some different fly lines on them to find out what they really are.

[NCL]

One of the rods is in a Walton Powell tube so sure that one is factory. Both rods have add on handles which would indicate they are factory made.

[Half Pounder]

Hi NCL,

I just sent you another PM. I received the photos forwarded to me, but they were of two bamboo rods, apparently a pair of Granger three-piece rods, one with a third short tip.

I'll try to attach one of the pictures I received this morning. Maybe I was sent the wrong photos? Neither rod tube looked like a Powell tube.

HP

[Half Pounder]

Just noticed that I was sent the same images as those attached to the classified add on Washington Fly Fishing for the Granger bamboo rods. If you forward the images of the Powell rods, I can post them for you here.

[NCL]

Sorry for the confusion, mixed this ad with the WFF ad. hope the email and PM cleared up the confusion

[Half Pounder]

All cleared up, except I think we would need Rich Morrison's expertise to sort out where these rods fit into the classic Powell universe. It looks like these are maybe 1980s-era rods? Maybe early 90's with that black rod tube?

I'll try to add some of the pictures here. These are definitely cool rods that are screaming steelhead, salmon or stripers, I think.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

These are Powell components and probably Powell blanks (made by G.Loomis).

These rods might be extremely collectable but who knows.

I think that if you use one set of the top two sections you will have a 6 weight rod and the other two sets of section will give you an 8

weight rod?

Fisher Rods did something like this back then too. Mix and match piece to have different weights and different lengths.


Someone has to figure out all this.........

[Lance Gray]

All cleared up, except I think we would need Rich Morrison's expertise to sort out where these rods fit into the classic Powell universe. It looks like these are maybe 1980s-era rods? Maybe early 90's with that black rod tube?

I'll try to add some of the pictures here. These are definitely cool rods that are screaming steelhead, salmon or stripers, I think.

I see many Powell rods. I have over 275 of them. The components are Powell, including the old Casacade's rod tube. The graphite looks like fiberglass. One of the ferruls looks to be metal. I think these rods without looking at them personally on these out of focus pictures look like a rod builder built them. Walt and Press never let a rod leave the shop without a label being on it.

Just my 2 cents.

[NCL]

Rich personally inspected these rods and he did not comment that they looked to be built by a rod builder. These rods do have metal ferrules. Rich did comment, not sure if it was on these rods or a third graphite rod that had no marking, that the rod may have been made for a specific person and thus had no markings. Sorry about the poor photos, never been a great photographer. If someone needs or want different photos I will try to accommodate.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Graphite fly rods never had metal ferrules.

Most all split cane and some old fiberglass rods had metal ferrules.

[Rich Morrison]

I had both these rods in my hands and they are both factory Kantnor blank Walton Powell graphite fly rods. Both are heavier steelhead/Striper rods as has been mentioned. Loomis never made blanks for Powell. That relationship is often misunderstood. Either way these are some extremely unique and outstanding old school Walton Powell graphite rods.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Rich.......

For some time Gary Loomis, G.Loomis Rod Company, made graphite blanks for the Powell Rod Company.

During this time I was a Powell dealer and G.Loomis dealer.

With a small amount of research I can get this verified.

Powell family financially helped Gary Loomis with a new modern blank facility so in return Powell got blanks from Gary at a great price.

When Walton needed some 'pocket money' he would sell those blanks "out the back door" for $25.00.



**We sold more G.Loomis rods than Powell because Gary used one size large tip top and snake guides on the top section.

Master distance fly caster Chuck Campana pointed this out to me or I would not know about this.


I lived through all this fly fishing stuff for my entire adult life so there is much that almost no one 'alive' knows about.

Maybe we are not supposed to know all this?



Powell would usually put 2 or 3 fly line sizes on their rods that probably hurt their sales some.


Sadly, I never met EC Powell but he was an amazing inventor and had a huge influence on the fly fishing industry during the split cane era.


Walton was kind of a jerk.

Walton showed up at a 'California Fly Fishers Unlimited' meeting in Sacramento when Don Green and Les Eichhorn of Fenwick Rod Company were there talking about their new graphite fly rods. Walton as much as told them they were full bull and said graphite would never catch on.

Press Powell was a really good guy.

[Rich Morrison]

Thanks Bill! There were some “cloak and dagger” aspects to the Loomis Powell relationship. Based on what I know from Jim Clarkson (miss you buddy!!!) and some legal documents he may or may not have passed on to me everything you have said is correct. However, in this new rod facility blanks were rolled in alternating batches. Loomis had his mandrels, and Powell had theirs. Much of the actual equipment in the new facility belonged to Walt. So yes, Loomis “owned” the blank rolling shop. But the tapers the blanks were rolled on were proprietary to Powell and Loomis respectively. Powell was not building rods on Loomis blanks. The manner and source of just the blanks sold from this facility was indeed all over the place in classic Walton Powell fashion. And yes, Walton was an opinionated blow hard. Part of what made Walt Walt.

As to these rods for sale here...these blanks for Walt’s dark gray graphite rods were rolled on Walt’s mandrels in Jim Kanrnor’s San Diego facility. This company was Performance Composites and later Graphite USA. These are standard modulus slow action graphite and have absolutely nothing to do with the Loomis Washington facility.

[Mike McCune]

Uncle Bill, my recollection is that the original offering 3M/Scientific Anglers system graphite rods utilized a metal spigot ferrule. I really enjoy the historical information in this discussion.

Best,
M

[Rich Morrison]

Yeah - I’ve seen a couple of those Kantnor blank graphite rods with metal ferrules. I’ve owed a few of Walt’s graphite/boron rods and they have the NS ferrules. Also, the Hexagraph line of graphite rods all had the drawn metal ferrules as well.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Uncle Bill, my recollection is that the original offering 3M/Scientific Anglers system graphite rods utilized a metal spigot ferrule. I really enjoy the historical information in this discussion.

Best,
M

Yes, you dog, you got me there Mike.

I think those blanks/rods were made by Fisher?

The post (male part) in the middle of the spigot ferrule was metal.

Those larger ones were prized by tide water king salmon fly fishers.

I had a 9 weight and Neil Hansen had a 10 weight. I think Al Perryman had some too.



We have over 25 years of posts here to look at so I get interesting emails all the time.

__________________________________________

Mike McCune is another of my "sons" who is a famous Alaskan and Pacific Northwest fly fishing guide.

He helps Sage and Rio with the development of their cutting edge two handed offers.

Mike now lives on the Missouri river and if you ask him the right way he will teach/guide you with two handed fly rods.

[Lance Gray]

I had both these rods in my hands and they are both factory Kantnor blank Walton Powell graphite fly rods. Both are heavier steelhead/Striper rods as has been mentioned. Loomis never made blanks for Powell. That relationship is often misunderstood. Either way these are some extremely unique and outstanding old school Walton Powell graphite rods.

I been wondering about these rods. Even talked about them last night on the lake while fishing.

You know just as much or more than Clarkson!!

Thanks.

[NCL]

Sold pending funding

[Bob G]

NCL - I commend you for handling this post in a very professional manner...glad your rods sold. Best, Bob

[NCL]

Bob,
Thank you for the kind comment.

[Half Pounder]

Hey NCL,

I'll echo Bob's comment here and also share that I appreciate your courteous and enthusiastic communications with me about these rods. Plus, the fact that you were helping a buddy out with this says a lot to me.

May you have a great trout season, good sir!

[Rich Morrison]

I been wondering about these rods. Even talked about them last night on the lake while fishing.

You know just as much or more than Clarkson!!

Thanks.

Thanks Lance. Everything I know I learned from Clarkson. Or from reading articles he gave or recommended to me. A few things from talking to different members of the family or folks who worked for Powell. I’m just so glad I learned everything I did from Jim. And Gene. So glad to have know these guys.