Opinions on Cattanach taper

I'm getting ready to build my second (and third) bamboo rods for use on some
overnight backpacking trips to SNP for myself and a buddy. My first rod was
the Dickerson 7012 4wt taper which is probably a common first rod, I'm happy
with the result but I would like to create a three piece that's a little
shorter and lighter for use in SNP.

I've got several rodmaking books and I've looked at the tapers on the
Rodmakers website and I thought the 6'3" DT 3wt 3-piece from Cattanach's
book looked interesting. I really don't have any basis for comparing the
stress graphs right now, once I build a few more rods they may help, but not
yet.

On my last trip to SNP I used the 7012 which was good but a little too much
for the streams I was on, the rod I bought for this type of fishing is a
Winston IM6 6'6" 3wt. which I love but I've been using it to lure friends
into doing this type of fishing with me, it's the rod I lend them.

Does anyone know anything about the action of this taper? Can I cast with a
leader only? Will it work for the very close in fishing done on mountain
streams? How's the accuracy close in?

Use the fact that I love the action of my Winston as a guide if I happen to
be so lucky that someone could compare them.

--

"Frank Hastings" wrote in message
...

Does anyone know anything about the action of this taper? Can I cast with
a
leader only? Will it work for the very close in fishing done on mountain
streams? How's the accuracy close in?


Assuming it's the same taper, I played with Wayne's model of that rod a few
years back on the banks of the Ausable. One of the sweetest rods I've ever
played with and begged him to build one for me. Alas at the time the wait
was (and is) too long. I ain't the guy to ask about accuracy but yes to
everything you asked. For a small 3 wt it had enough to toss a #12 Robert's
drake 40' in my hands (so someone who knows what they're doing could do
better) or just toss it a few feet up the bank.

Use the fact that I love the action of my Winston as a guide if I happen
to
be so lucky that someone could compare them.

Being partial to the Winston IM6 and the T&T Paradigms as the best graphite
dry fly rods still being made, (I think the T&T Heritage series was the best
graphite dry fly rod ever made), the Winston 3 wt is sweet. I've owned the
7'6" 3wt and have the 8' 3wt but have never handled the 6'6" model so can't
give you a direct comparison but not even the fine folks at Winston never
made a plastic rod as sweet as a fine bamboo stick. The better comparison to
cane IMO would be Winston's retro glass rods.

Wayne Knight
(remove *no* to email)

Assuming it's the same taper, I played with Wayne's model of that rod a
few
years back on the banks of the Ausable. One of the sweetest rods I've ever
played with and begged him to build one for me. Alas at the time the wait
was (and is) too long. I ain't the guy to ask about accuracy but yes to
everything you asked. For a small 3 wt it had enough to toss a #12
Robert's
drake 40' in my hands (so someone who knows what they're doing could do
better) or just toss it a few feet up the bank.

I don't know if Wayne has another taper that's a 6'3" three piece 3wt., this
was the only one in his book through.

My experience in the Shanindoa is that I've never had to cast farther than
20', it's much more important to get it where you want it, distance isn't
what I'm looking for in this rod, it will probably only be used in the park.

Being partial to the Winston IM6 and the T&T Paradigms as the best
graphite
dry fly rods still being made, (I think the T&T Heritage series was the
best
graphite dry fly rod ever made), the Winston 3 wt is sweet. I've owned
the
7'6" 3wt and have the 8' 3wt but have never handled the 6'6" model so
can't
give you a direct comparison but not even the fine folks at Winston never
made a plastic rod as sweet as a fine bamboo stick. The better comparison
to
cane IMO would be Winston's retro glass rods.

Wayne Knight
(remove *no* to email)