I have added a page to the front of the Webster info on my site.
It gives a description of the type of tackle used before the introduction of the reel.
Just go to the web-site and click on ‘David Webster’.
I was just reading about Webster’s Loop Rod in the new book that just arrived.
I wonder if we could ever go back to that type of fishing or have we become to used to our commercialized products?
Donald, Excuse my ignorance,please. Were the # 2 hook sizes showed on his trout flies the same size as our current # 2 hooks. If so, guess the trout were bigger back then???
Donald,
I, too, have been reading about the loop rod in the new book that arrived (Thank you, again). That information is a very nice addition to your site. Your site has been improving by leaps and bounds. A valuable asset to the fly dressing and history loving community.
REE
Rodgerole,
You might find this chart useful when reading about old British patterns.
The Pennel hook sizes seem to have been very popular with more than dry fly addicts for a time in the late 19c.
This might be a good time to mention.
The S/E dry fly hooks sold by Orvis, which I believe are, I think, Model Perfect, therefore care must be taken with sizes when using them. They are made by Daiichi, will get back on the Daiichi number.
Daiichi 1110 long shank, Model Perfect bend, dry fly hook. I have been told that Daiichi supplied these hooks to Orvis and they were also re-packaged under Orvis? name.
I like these hooks for Flymphs and soft-hackle nymphs of the Skues type. When using the 1110, make sure you check you sizes on a hook comparison chart, the Model Perfect sizes are not the same as modern standard sizes.
I maybe should post this as a new string. I think I’ll do that.
Poverty is the mother of improvisation.
Fogg recommends an 11 foot 3-4 weight for upstream wet-fly fishing. Turns out Loop (the rod company, not the rod type) make them. I don’t know who sells them in the US (if anyone) but it doesn’t matter because they’re too expensive for my blood. Webster’s loop rods (the type, obviously not the company) were 13 1/2 feet and Charles Cotton’s were 15 to 18 feet. The only modern rods of that length are spey rods, which are also incredibly expensive, and crappie poles, which are unbelievably cheap. Would a crappie pole work as a loop rod? I don’t know, but I think I’m going to find out. I’m sure you couldn’t “load” one properly with a 3 or 4 weight line, but did the horsehair lines load the loop rods? Cotton didn’t say and I haven’t read Webster yet. I’ve heard really good things about how well furled leaders turn over. Perhaps a very long furled leader would work without any line at all. Any input from anyone who has tried anything similar would be greatly appreciated. And, if I do try it and the result is not too embarrassing, I’ll report back! 8)
Donald , fascinating reading about Him. I will never again complain about how expensive my WF5F line is. It must have taken him days to fashion his horse hair gut dropper combination. I doubt the double haul was even considered with such coarse line and leader. How far would you think he could cast with His loaded rig?
You could certaily get a similar ‘feel’ with one of those telescoping crappie rods.
They do make some that are good quality, graphite even, at least as good as the fly rods of twenty years ago (some as good as the fly rods some of us use today…maybe better).
A four or five weight line, cut down to a comfortable length, would ‘load’ these light poles well for the type of swing/heave/sling cast that would be required.
Some information on eactly ‘how’ he used this rig would be interesting. The cast part I can see would take some practice and skill to get it down, plus learnign the ‘feel’ of it all. Something like Czech nymphing on steroids…
It’s the fish hooking and landing that I’m really curious about. Did he just let the fish fight the rod until tired, then hand over hand it in? Kind of like those long bass poles used for doodlesocking, maybe? (I’ve done that, it’s pretty awesome in the correct circumstances) Or was there a more graceful method of landing the fish?
Neat stuff.
Thanks Donald.
Buddy
I found the description of the taper interesting, “By which means your rod and tackle will in a manner be taper from your very hand to your hook”, further described as such perfect taper.
There must have been great concentration placed on such a perfect taper.
I am also curious as to the type of wood used for the rod. Rods from fifteen to eighteen feet in length, made in Yorkshire and made from several lengths of wood spliced together with silk to perform a perfect taper.
Great detail.
Well done Mister Nicolson.
I enjoy your website and as Mister REE states it gets better everytime I go back.
Plus you’ve got a really good disclaimer on your tying.
In your article you mentioned not knowing how he had his rod set up.
Quite a while back I was reading about commercial fly fishing on lake Champlain in Vermont (just to the right of New York St. ). Since there was a goodly population of Scottish imigrants in the area , they may have fished in the same manner. If you’re still researching, that region might be fruitfull.
Best wishes
p.s you have a neat site