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Post by DRYFLYPHIL on Jul 9, 2011 7:32:33 GMT -5
Yesterday I was working in Greenfield Mass and finished my call around lunch time. So I decided to go check out the Thomas & Thomas fly rod company/factory. I was just looking for a updated catalog which they didn't have, though they have a pretty cool little factory store. I don't know a whole lot about T & T fly rods because I never used or tried one, though I like what I saw.
Looking at the T & T fly rod website, their rods average in the $600.00 - $700.00 price range, though at their factory store, they average $175.00 - $250.00 price range. Most of the factory store rods thats for sale are closeouts, and demo's. But a big price difference.
They look and feel like a fine quality and well made rod, though I don't own one, so that the extent on my T & T fly rod knowledge.
The next time I'm in the Greenfield area near lunch, I'm going to demo one in the trout filled casting pool. It maybe fun to play a little and check out the function of their rods.
Anybody out there have a Thomas & Thomas? I'm just curious.
I'm actually kind of in the market for a 7'6" 5wt, which it appears that T & T doesn't make, or I just didn't see one on-line, or on their rack.
I'm not even sure of the Fly rod mfg that I'm going with either at this point for that potential 7'6" 5wt, though there are a few mfg's & rods that I really like .......Phil
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Post by Uplander on Jul 9, 2011 23:40:20 GMT -5
Yes...oh yes. I have a T&T "LPS 763." That's "Light Presentation Series 763." Sadly, long discontinued to the best of my knowledge.... It's a 3 wt, 7'6" rod. I absolutely love it. Paired with a Hardy Featherweight reel, it's my go to combo for small stream fishing.  Discontinued series I think, although IMHO they shouldn't have.... I bought it years ago at The Mountain Goat in Williamstown. A quick web search shows that T&T was just bought by some fellow from Florida. My confidence is low.... I can't recommend older T&T gear enough. Can't speak for the new management however.. |
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Post by DRYFLYPHIL on Jul 10, 2011 7:41:12 GMT -5
Yes...oh yes. I have a T&T "LPS 763." That's "Light Presentation Series 763." Sadly, long discontinued to the best of my knowledge.... It's a 3 wt, 7'6" rod. I absolutely love it. Paired with a Hardy Featherweight reel, it's my go to combo for small stream fishing. Discontinued series I think, although IMHO they shouldn't have.... I bought it years ago at The Mountain Goat in Williamstown. A quick web search shows that T&T was just bought by some fellow from Florida. My confidence is low.... I can't recommend older T&T gear enough. Can't speak for the new management however.. Hey, nice rod and setup along with a beautiful brookie. Yes, I know what you mean with the changes that new owners may bring to any company. The guy that I was talking to at the factory was saying that they are realistically launching the new owned company & website within the next few months. Thats why there wasn't/isn't any new catalog or new advertisement at this time, but is coming. Not very often, those new owner changes are very good. A lot of time the 1st thing a changed company wants to do is to save money to help re-coop some of the cost that they dished out of pocket on their investment. So it should be interesting of what changes (pro or con) that they make in the rod quality and such. I guess we'll have to wait and see............Phil |
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Post by DRYFLYPHIL on Jul 10, 2011 8:24:58 GMT -5
Yes...oh yes. I have a T&T "LPS 763." That's "Light Presentation Series 763." Sadly, long discontinued to the best of my knowledge.... It's a 3 wt, 7'6" rod. I absolutely love it. Paired with a Hardy Featherweight reel, it's my go to combo for small stream fishing. Discontinued series I think, although IMHO they shouldn't have.... I bought it years ago at The Mountain Goat in Williamstown. A quick web search shows that T&T was just bought by some fellow from Florida. My confidence is low.... I can't recommend older T&T gear enough. Can't speak for the new management however.. Hey, nice rod and setup along with a beautiful brookie. Yes, I know what you mean with the changes that new owners may bring to any company. The guy that I was talking to at the factory was saying that they are realistically launching the new owned company & website within the next few months. That's why there wasn't/isn't any new catalog or new advertisement at this time, but is coming. Not very often, those new owner changes are very good. A lot of time the 1st thing a changed company wants to do is to save money to help re-coop some of the cost that they dished out of pocket on their investment. So it should be interesting of what changes (pro or con) that they make in the rod quality and such. I guess we'll have to wait and see............Phil Actually I just googled that T&T model that you own, and it appears its still available new thru the Fly Depot which is great. flydepot.com/flyfishing/thomas-and-thomas-light-presentation-fly-rod/pid--1279/I do like the specs and description of that rod and model, as well as the beautiful reel seat. Very cool, and a very sweet looking rod.........Phil |
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Post by FishinCane on Jul 10, 2011 20:36:11 GMT -5
The Itinerant Angler recently interviewed the new owner in a podcast and he plans on bringing T&T back to it's old glory and keeping the factory in Greenfield. He's signed on one of the original owners as an adviser. He sounds like the real deal. The podcast can be heard at www.itinerantangler.com. Jim |
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Post by AgMD on Jul 11, 2011 17:50:13 GMT -5
The history of fishing is full of rod makers that got by or even flourished for a few years and then faded away. It is good to hear that the new owners seem to have a commitment to quality that made T and T 's reputation. I hope they can also make it pay well enough to keep the doors open.
Next time you are there, see if they have any bamboo you can look at. If they do, you should take the opportunity to check them out. After you have admired the craftsmanship and fallen in love with the jewel like finish --- check the price tag and give the rod back -- real quick!
AgMD
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Post by DRYFLYPHIL on Jul 11, 2011 18:23:07 GMT -5
The history of fishing is full of rod makers that got by or even flourished for a few years and then faded away. It is good to hear that the new owners seem to have a commitment to quality that made T and T 's reputation. I hope they can also make it pay well enough to keep the doors open. Next time you are there, see if they have any bamboo you can look at. If they do, you should take the opportunity to check them out. After you have admired the craftsmanship and fallen in love with the jewel like finish --- check the price tag and give the rod back -- real quick! AgMD Actually, before I move out to the Berkshires, I grew up and lived back east, north of Boston about 12 miles from there. Well make a long story short, my boy hood friends father had several T & T cane rods that use to be my friends fathers fathers. I admired those T & T cane rods for years. The gentleman told me that his father use to use them when he was just a boy. Well my friends father passed away a few years ago which he was in his late 70's, so those cane rods were quite old. To this day I wonder what ever happened to those now very nice antique T & T cane rods? I hope they're in the correct hands |
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Post by Uplander on Jul 11, 2011 20:16:37 GMT -5
Well make a long story short, my boy hood friends father had several T & T cane rods that use to be my friends fathers fathers. I admired those T & T cane rods for years. The gentleman told me that his father use to use them when he was just a boy. Well my friends father passed away a few years ago which he was in his late 70's, so those cane rods were quite old. Unfortunately, I don't think that's possible. Thomas & Thomas started in 1968, so I don't know what rods your childhood friend's father and grandfather had, but if they were T&T they were pretty close to brand spanking new when you admired them.... |
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Post by DRYFLYPHIL on Jul 12, 2011 20:51:15 GMT -5
Uplander, your probably correct. All in all, I was recalling my friend and his fathers story, and that was actually the 1st time I ever heard about and I was introduced to T & T brand fly rods, and that conversation itself was many years ago(20+-).
But with out a doubt, Thomas & Thomas seem to be superb fly rods all around...........Phil
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Post by Uplander on Jul 13, 2011 20:05:46 GMT -5
Either way, a couple of late-1960s T&T cane rods would be a treasure!
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