Deerfield’s original four-piece/two-tip Side-by-Side Power Pak rods date back to the early 1980s when they seemed to be the only company making multi-piece fly rods. In time, the concept became fashionable among traveling anglers. By the early 90s, four-piece had become the norm for quality fly rods.
Deerfield’s rodmaker Dave Sylvester remains intrigued by the industry’s progress. “Graphite has been evolving though mostly in terms of increasing fiber modulus. Our insert tips were basically an accident. On a whim, we cut a bent tip in half, rather than discard it, using the bottom piece for an insert between the top two sections. The result was astounding. The rod not only had the smoothest damping action ever but maintained constant line tension throughout the cast. Usually there’s a brief, weightless disconnect between the power stroke and second backloading but the rod remained loaded.”
The company set about designing a series of rods that has since narrowed down to some ten distinctive fast-action rods.”The insert advantage is easy enough to understand,” Sylvester says. “Lengthening a rod will automatically increase its flex, effectively loading deeper as the line weight requires. The inserts provide the best of both worlds–more length and modulus. Proving an old hunch I’ve always had: Advanced fly rod design is really within the rod itself. It’s time now to start taking the rod apart a little then put it back together a little more and see how it works. Very well, indeed.”
Each custom flyrod features a black uplocking reel seat and burl madrone insert. The full Wells flor grip is custom-turned and filled to superfine smoothness. The other hardware includes double strippers and black high-bridge single-foot titanium nitride guides, underwrapped for greater security. The tarpon rod has sturdy single-foot ceramics for the rough-and-tumble business of saltwater fishing. Wraps may also be trimmed to match many of today’s fluorescent fly lines. For the ID-minded, the company even has a signer who can copy an angler’s signature opposite the specs. Each rod comes with flannel bag and aluminum case.
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