anything about them? I remember them being a very nice rod years ago but haven’t seen or heard anything about them in awhile. Google searched but not too deep and nothing.
I heard a while back that the equipment, name etc was purchased by a “hollywood” person who had/has it in storage in Ennis MT. And was going to ‘revive’ them.
The rods were very nice, at one time, early 70’s they supplied the rods for Scientific Anglers.
LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL
J.Kennedy Fisher rods were first headquartered in Los Angeles. The Fisher brothers, led by Joe Fisher, chief designer of their fly rods moved the company to Reno, Nevada in the early 1980s. The Fisher Company supplied fiberglas and graphite tubing to the aerospace industry, thus became very good at working with these materials. They built great glass rod blanks for Winston, Scott and Scientific Anglers (to name a few). Fisher designed the first spigot ferrules which are still used today by many rod manufacturers. Fisher made the transition to graphite in the early 1970s with the Fisher “Original” series. Later they added the GT40 series and eventually the Presidential series.
The Fishers were great rod designers and builders but not really into marketing their products. They got out of the business in the mid to late 1990s I believe. I still own a 7-foot 4-weight, 2-section glass Fisher and a 7-1/2-foot, 4-piece 5-weight model, also glass. They are incredibly sweet casters for short to mid-range work. I still use them from time to time on spring creeks.
Good Fishing,
Les
I was a Fisher dealer when I had my shop - They are great rods. The original series in particular were just fantastic tapers. I still fish a 9’ 9 weight Original for stripers - it has many fish under its belt and is still going strong. The only complaint I could ever say about Fisher is that occasionallytheir cork quality was iffy, but just about all manufacturers are sometimes subject to that as it is a matter of supply. Cheers, Alec
I probably have the last remaining supply of original J.K. Fisher graphite and glass blanks. The 2057 1/2 (7 1/2’ 5 wt) glass blank was possibly the best glass blank ever produced. The 25608 9’ 5/6 wt. graphite blank with its spigot ferrule is by far the finest graphite blank every produced. I also have several graphite/boron blanks that were never mass produced.
I have two Fisher 9’ 5 wts, custom builds, and they have the tip over ferrules, I would guess from the mid 80’s. Very nice rods.
Thanks for the replies everyone. The reason i ask is that I have a chance to purchase a rather unique rod called a Fisher Sterling. The rod has two butt sections and three additional sections. With one of the butt sections, it is a 8’11" 4pc. 5wt. With the other butt section it can become a three piece 6’9" 3pc. 4wt. Pretty unique. Anyone ever see this series? Thanks again, Bruce
RatherBFishin,
I’m from central Pa as well. I tried emailing you but it bounced back. Please give me an email at brumat@gmail.com if possible. Thanks. Bruce
Herefishy - It is unlikely that your rod blank is a J.K. Fisher as they produced blanks with internal spigot ferrules in the mid 80’s.
RatherBFishin
Just a quick question - you had mentioned having a supply of Fisher blanks. Might they be available to purchase? Of course from all I see on this thread they might be out of my range but I figured it was worth an ask.
Best
RRhyne56
[url=http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com:f04de]Sweetness On The Water[/url:f04de]
[url=http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com:f04de]http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com[/url:f04de]
IM = robinrhyne@hotmail.com
Hi to all,
I have a GT-40 9’ 5/6 wt, it has a spigot ferrule. I also have the J. Kennedy Fisher catalog from the latr 70’s or 80’s there is no date on it. Their address was in Carson City, NV not Reno as has been mentioned.
The multi-piece rod is listed as their “El Grande” Series it made up into 4 rods - 9’ 3/4wt, 6’9"3/4wt, 9’ 5/6wt and a 6’9" 5/6wt. The retail price listed is $450.00. If anyone would like a copy of the pages from the catalog, just email me and I will make you a copy.
Dick
xfishcop
OOPS!! The catalog that I mentioned does have a date - it was for the 89/90 season. It lists the “Sterling” combo rods also with a “combo” handle the price ranged from $350-$375.
Dick
xfishcop
xfishcop is right. The Fisher Company was moved from LA to Carson City, not Reno. Their actual plant was located at nearby Moundhouse, as I recall. Joe Fisher who designed the rods for the Company, in my opinion operated in the same rarified air as Don Green of Sage as an innovative rod designer. A rod designers’ “Family Tree” would probably include many descendants in some manner to the philosphies of Fisher and Green; particularly western rod builders.
Good Fishing,
Les
I must look into this business of the spigot ferrule - the rod I had built was designated as a Fisher, and I have a source for more blanks, if you are interested. I will look closer at these blanks and see if their really is an identifying Fisher mark. Xfishcop, is there anything in the catalog about a tip over butt ferrule, or do they all have spigot types?
Some heavy line weight models, e.g., 11/12 were produced with huge tip over butt ferrules in the 1980’s. Under Joe Fisher all other blanks were internal spigot. Blanks can only be identified by a a turn of masking tape on the butt end with the model number written in black ink.
The J. Kennedy Fisher Company is currently owned by Harold Bacon in New Hampshire and Steve Nelson in California. (he’s the Hollywood person)
They are getting things in the works to start producing rods again.
Harold has about 250 graphite and 50 glass rods on hand and a couple thousand blanks somewhere out west.
I have 2 Fisher rods, both are 6 wgts. One is 9 feet and the other 11 ft. I like them both and am glad I bought them when I did. I prefer the spigot (I believe that Fisher called them Internal ferrules) and all my rods except the 9 weights have them. I’d like to see them back in production.
Incidently, I recently received a catalogue in the mail called “J Fisher” is there any connection?
Ol’ Bill
I got these rods in the mid 90’s actually. Did they still use the spigots then?
herefishy and all,
The catalog that I have does not mention any tip over butt ferrules. All written descriptions and photos either mention “Fisher internal ferrule system” or show an internal ferrule.
brumat007 - glad that the scanned copy worked.
It won’t be long until the California season opens!!! YAHOO !!!
Dick xfishcop
xfishcop, many thanks again. The attachment you sent me opened and printed perfectly. You made my day and as soon as you tell me what type of flies you enjoy using, you have some on the way. RBF, I emailed you but haven’t heard back, did you get it? thanks to everyone and I can’t wait for my Fisher Sterling combo to arrive. Bruce brumat@gmail.com