Early Montague Rod Shop, Pelham Massachusetts

I am still taking rod orders for delivery in 2012.

Available models include the Sprite, Smidge, Swift, Sienna, Salient, Sierra, Sojourn and Sentinel.

Follow the link for Swift River Fly Rods for model specifications. Some customization is possible.

The Terenzio natural silk lines are here from Italy. $185 includes shipping in the U.S.

SR will routinely stock line weights from DT2 to DT7 and will special order lines from DT1 to DT11.

All Terenzio lines from DT 1 to DT7 are 25 meters. Lines weights 8 to 11 are 35 meters and cost $225.

Each line comes in an artistic hand-made box with a pre-looped line, two silk leaders and dressing.

Classic Bamboo Rods, Classic Reels, Natural Silk Lines

Classic Rods and Reels Currently in Stock or on the Bench ---- Last Revised February 12, 2012 ---- See Terms and Conditions of Sale at Bottom of Page.

Swift River Fly Fishing is a small part time business. Please call between 6 PM and 9 PM Eastern time on weekdays or 10 AM to 6 PM on weekends.

Prices are not generally subject to negotiation. Shipping costs via USPS Priority Mail are $15 per rod plus $1.25 per $100 value for insurance.

1) Swift River Sprite: 6', 2/2, 3 weight, new. This latest taper at Swift River is based on a T&T rod that casts an impressive line relative to its size.This rod is finished with a 5.5 inch super fine grip and a cork, dual-ring reel seat. The ferrules are oxidized, the ferrule wraps are hunter green and the guide wraps are translucent olive.This rod can be outfitted at purchase with a 2 inch JAF reel from England that weighs a mere 1.5 ounces or a larger JAF Avon reel at 2.5 inches. The rod itself weights 2 ounces. It comes in a CSE rod bag, hanging tag and Leonard style tube. I suggest a 3 weight Terenzio silk line with spider wire backing to keep the weight down. $1095 - Add either JAF reel and new silk line for $275

2) Gene Edwards Deluxe: 7', 3/2, 5 weight, excellent, restored. Short Gene Edwards rods are exceedingly hard to find. It is only the 3rd seven-foot Gene Edwards I have had in 20 years of selling bamboo fly rods. This particular rod was well restored before I purchased it and retains all the correct components and markings. It has a typical Edwards up-locking reel seat with a walnut spacer and a fish-tail grip. The wraps are a medium brown with yellow tipping and the ferrules are oxidized. The stripping guide is a carbide ring style. The rod is in excellent condition and is unfished after the restoration. It is a stout little rod with a lot of muscle and a fast action. I suspect it will throw a very long line. It comes in the original Edwards rod bag and a replacement Edwards tube. The inscription in yellow ink (slightly discolored from the restoration process) on the butt reads, "Gene Edwards" Deluxe along one flat. $1095

3) Swift River Edwards Heritage: 7', 3/2, 3/4 weight, excellent, original. This 2010 rod is the last 7' Edwards Heritage made here at Swift River on a blank made by the Edwards family in the early 1930s in Bristol CT. The sections of the blank were trimmed to represent the taper of a Eustis Edwards rod of the same length and finished in a manner similar to an EW Edwards and Sons rod, with coffee brown wraps, gold tipping and oxidized ferrules. The slide band reel seat has a cedar wood spacer and the grip is stout cigar shape. The cork grip has been cleaned a bit and the finish buffed to restore the luster of the varnish. It comes with a CSE rod bag with leather hanging tag and a black coated rod tube with brass end caps. $825

4) Leonard Catskill: 7'3", 2/2, 4 weight, excellent, original. This is a rare 7'3" pre-fire Catskill series Leonard in excellent original condition. It comes complete with the original hanging tag, Leonard rod bag, and tube, all matched to the rod. The tag reads L. Catskill, 7'3", 3 1/4 ounces, Special. The wraps are red as shown in the photos and the varnish is very good to excellent. The stamp on the butt cap of the downlocking reel seat reads "The Leonard Rod, H.L. Leonard Rod Co. Makers, Reg. U.S. Pat. Off." The grip shows light to moderate soiling. Everything about the rod appears correct and original. $2250

5) Lyons and Coulson Imperial / Heddon Featherweight: 7'6", 2/2, 1/2 F, 4 weight, excellent, restored. I recently took this rod in trade and it is a real sweetheart. It is finished in the Heddon Black Beauty style with black silk, orange tipping and oxidized ferrules. It has a nice, gradually swelled butt, Heddon reel seat, half Wells grip and a strap and ring hookkeeper. The script reads L & C Imperial on one flat and #2010 on the next. It has 1/2 ferrule rather than the 3/4 on most 7'6" Featherweights, making very unusual rod.. It has a light, medium action. The rod bag has a Lyons and Coulson, Buffalo NY tag. The tube is also original to the rod. It has been very lightly used since its restoration by Dave Male. $875

6) D.W. Menscer: 7'6", 2/2, 4 weight, excellent, original. This lovely rod is based on a Payne 100 taper. The rod as a whole is very well exectued with nicely flamed highlights to the medium brown cane. It employes the Payne spiral node pattern and the wraps are medium Payne brown with a slightly darker gold, almost burnt orange tipping. It has an oxidized slide band reel seat and a walnut spacer. The script on the butt reads "Little River, 7'6" 4 wt, #101-07" on three consectutive flats. The rod has been very lightly used and the varnish work is excellent. It comes in the original rod tube with a Little River Rods label. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the rod. This is a chance to own a fine light line rod from an maker with a growning reputation for excellence. $1150

7) Swift River Salient: 7'6", 2/2, 4 weight, new, demo rod. This rod, built on one of the signature tapers at Swift River Fly Fishing, is one of two most popular models. This particular rod features the usual Leonard Hunt style 3/3 node pattern with dark flamed cane and light nodes. The grip is a half Wells and the reel seat an oxidized cap and ring with walnut spacer. The Leonard style ferrules are oxidized as well and the wraps a hunter green with dark wine tipping. The medium action of the Salient makes it an excellent all around rod. The rod is complete and ready to ship with CSE rod bag and Payne style rod tube. This twice used demo rod is availble at $900.

8) Orvis Deluxe: 7'6", 2/2, 5 weight, excellent, original. This very nice impregnated Orvis rod has a pleasing medium action and is in very good original condition with the correct rod tube and bag. It has the serial # 43431 on all three sections. The wraps are Orvis standard medium brown and the slim cigar grip is complemented by an all cork, dual-ring reel seat. The rod is very light in hand relative to most Orvis rods. The oxidation on the female ferrule shows a bit of wear but is generally very good. The only minor issue with the rod is that the grip has been lightly sanded and is a bit slimmer in the hand than when originally made. It stands to serve as an excellent all-around trout rod. $675

9) Sewell Dunton #156: 7'6", 2/2, 5 weight, excellent, mostly original. A very nice rod that will serve both as a fine trout rod and a great addition for those collecting rods in the Montague/Dunton line. This rod shows very little use and has high grade nickel silver Montague ferrules used on many Dunton rods. The silk wraps are black. The Sewell Dunton decal is in excellent condition and it reads #156 - 7 1/2' along one flat. It has a relatively fast action and comes complete with the original bag and tube with the correct Anglers Choice, Sewell N.Dunton label in very good condition but lightly faded. The rod has no other issues. $375

10) Heddon Featherweight, Black Beauty: 7'6", 2/2, 4/5 weight, very good, partially restored. The high demand for Heddon Featherweight rods limits their availability. This is a very nice rod with only a couple of minor cosmetic issues. The cane sections are full length and straight, the ferrules fit tightly and retain their blacking with no signs of wear. The black wraps are all in excellent shape but they lack orange tipping, which was true of some Black Beauty models. It also lacks the Heddon script on the butt, leading one to believe it was lost during a restoration some years ago. The varnish was good but rough enough in some areas that I have buffed it out. The snake guides appear to be more recent stainless steel replacements. The grip is in fine shape and has been lightly cleaned to remove moderate soiling.The rod bag and tube are original. The cap on the tube is dented. All in all a good rod with an excellent taper that promises many hours of enjoyment. $725

11) E.W. Edwards Sons, Edwards Special, 7'6", 3/2, 4 weight, under restoration: This Edwards Sons rod is from the early 1930s, made in Bristol, CT. It is a beautiful little dry-fly rod with bright nickel-silver ferrules, size 15 and 10. The male ferrules are the double-shouldered style used by the Edwards at the time. The wraps are coffee brown. The rod needs a complete overhaul as two ferrules need to be reset, the grip needs to be replaced, the wraps are dried and cracked and the varnish badly alligatored. The rod will be restored to as new condions with all the original hardware and full-length cane sections. Both the rod bag and tube are correct and original to the rod. The restoration is expected to be complete by early April and I am willing to take a deposit for delivery in April. $1275 A $300 deposit secures the rod for April delivery.

12) Little River, Rainbow Class #129: 7'6", 3/2, 5 weight, new. I am sorry to say that I do not know much about the maker of this rod. It was made in North Carolina and very nicely finished. It has a nickel-silver slide band reel seat with a nicely grained hardwood spacer, cigar cork grip and brown silk wraps with black tipping on light honey colored cane with lighter nodes. The nickel-silver ferrules are bright and the nickel-silver stripping guide has a rose and white agate stripper. It casts very well with a medium fast action and promises to be a fine all around rod with very good range. The grip still has the shrink-wrap and it comes with a brushed aluminum tube with brass cap and well made canvas rod bag. $375

13) Gene Edwards, A&F Favorite: 8', 3/2, 5 weight, excellent, original. Always on the look-out for Edwards family rods of eight feet and under, I am delighted with this fine example of the best of Gene's many years of rod making. Its medium action makes it an excellent, classic all-aroung trout rod, not nearly as fast and stiff as many of Gene's rods. It has a cigar grip and downlocking reel seat with walnut spacer. The machined size 15 and 10 ferrules are bright nickel-silver and still fit tightly. The wraps are a dark brown characteristic of many Gene Edwards rods. The varnish is very good. The rod comes with the original bag and tube and needs nothing before you take it fishing. $1100

14) Heddon #14, 8', 3/2, 1 3/4F, 5 weight: This 1939-41 Heddon has been prefectly restored by Dave Male and fished sparingly since. It has a cedar spacer with down-locking reel seat and the spiral Heddon script on the butt as well as #14 and 1 3/4. The ferrules have been reblackened and show no wear. The half Wells grips is lightly soiled but otherwise fine. Everything is correct and read to take fishing. It comes with the original tube and a replacement red-plaid rod bag with a Dave Male label on it. $675

15) Heddon Folsom 1515, 8', 3/2, 1 3/4 F, 5 weight, fair, mostly original. This rod is being sold with the expectation that the new owner will do the restoration. While the rod is actually fishable as is, the mid is about 1 1/2 inches short and one tip is about 1/2 inch short. The full length tip is missing its tip top but I will include one with the sale.. Other than that the rod is all intact and the cane is solid. All guides are present and the reel seat and grip are fine. I am including an unused mid section of the same taper, color and node pattern (an Edwards/Bristol mid). It can be trimmed to size and fitted with the ferrules from the current mid. When redone the rod will be as new, except for the 1/2 inch short tip. The reel seat has a round cedar spacer with cap and ring. The grip is a mid size cigar shape. It has a strap and ring hook keeper, red silk wraps with black trim, a mildrum style stripping guide and bright nickel-silver ferrules that need a bit of cleaning to fit correctly. It comes with the correct Folsom rod bag, but the label was cut off, and a redish brown cardboard tube that is probably not original to the rod. $325

16) F.E. Thomas Special: 8'6", 3/2, 5/6 weight, good, mostly original. This fine casting rod is in fine fishing condition but has a few repairs to it. It has a torpedo-shaped grip that is flatened on the thumb side to allow for better leverage when casting. The reel seat is all cork with butt cap and slide band. The butt cap is marked F.E. Thomas Special Bangor, ME. It has a NS winding check with integrated hook keeper and a 3/4/3 signature wrap. All silk wraps are an antique gold. The stripping guide is NS with a red agate insert. The mid section is fine with no issues and has five reverse twist snake guides. Both tips are full length and have five reverse twist snake guides. One tip has a 2.5 inch repair wrap just below the second snake guide from the tip of the rod. The other tip also has a 1.5 inch repair wrap just below the second snake guide. Both repair wraps are expertly done and barely visible to the naked eye. The integrity of the rod and the casting ablility do not appear to be compromised in any way. I fished with the rod several times last year. It comes with a Bristol rod bag and a newer Payne style rod tube with brass cap. It is a fine casting, medium action rod for big waters and fish. $475 Sale Pending

17) Edwards Quadrate #54: 8'6", 3/2, 6 weight, very good, partially restored. The rod is in very good condition but appears to be at least partially restored. All sections are full and straight. It has dark red silk wraps with black tipping, a black bakelite reel seat in excellent condition and a grip that is very lightly soiled but also slightly ridged. It appears to be at least partially restored because the signature looks to be inked-over in a slightly bolder script. The wraps are excellent and it is difficult to tell if they are redone or not. An educated guess suggests that the varnish was in poor condition and either stripped or heavily polished, the old signature inked-over, and the rod re-varnished. It is a 6 weight and the label on the original tube says that. The tube and bag are both original and marked. It is a fine early Quadrate based on both the bag and the reel seat. $1295

18) H. L. Leonard, Light Salmon Rod: 8'6", 2/2, 7 weight, excellent, mostly original. This wonderful early 70s rod needed a couple of minor repairs. The ring on the hook-keeper was missing and one ferrule wrap was coming undone. I have addressed those problems and the rod is ready to fish. It has a detachable 4 inch figthing butt. The ferrules are bright nickel-silver and fit well. The wraps are a light translucent sage green, showing as a light tan over the cane and a light sage green over the ferrules. The varnish is very good to excellent and I have buffed it out. The stamp on the down-locking reel seat reads "H.L. Leonard Rod Co. Makers" and 890 is scripted on the butt and both tip sections. The grip is a slim half Wells. It has a nice medium action and is surprisingly light in hand. It comes with the original bag with a separate section for the detachable fighting butt and the original Leonard rod tube. The name of the first owner is neatly scripted on the butt section. It promises to be a great big water rod with a long reach. $1095

19) Cross - The Essex Rod: 8'6", 3/2, 4 weight, excellent, original. A wonderful early 20th century, Wes Jordon made rod in unusually fine original condition. The stamp on the butt cap reads "Cross Rod & Tackle Co - Lynn, Mass - The Essex Rod". It is very well made with machined nickel-silver ferrules and an agate stripping gude. The cane sections are straight and show no signs of fatigue. It has red silk guide and intermediate wraps, all in excellent original condition. The varnish is also remarkable for its age. The small diameter agate stripper suggests it would cast best with a silk line. It has medium/slow action and I would not hestitate for a moment to take it fishing. The grip has been lightly washed and the wooden spacer on the slide band reel seat has been lightly polished. It comes with the original canvas rod sack and a Shakespeare rod tube for added protection. It is clearly the most undervalued rod on this page, as rods of this age, condition and fishability are extremely difficult to find. Put a nice skeleton reel and silk line on it and step back into an earlier century. $425 I am happy to provide a high grade skeleton reel (see below) and lightly used 4 weight silk line for an additional $175.

20) Montague Redwing: 8'6", 3/2, 5/6 weight, excellent, original. The old Pelham shop of Montague Rod and Reel is a scant 12 miles away and I am always happy to bring home a high end Montague, if only for a short while. This medium trout rod is in excellent original condition with original rod bag and labled Montague Redwing tube. As with all Redwing models it is outfitted with a specific style of nickel silver ferrules and a down-locking reel seat and red resin spacer. The ferrule fit is excellent and the rod shows very little use. These medium trout models make excellent big water rods for nymphs, streamers and wet flies. They are smooth casting rods with a classic medium action. This one is no exception. Top end Redwing and Manatou models are very difficult to find. $475 Sale Pending

21) Montigue Rapidan: 8'6", 3/2, 6 weight, excellent, original. This mid grade Montague rod appears to be virtually unused. It has an all metal reel seat and bright silver step down ferrules. The ferrule and guide wraps are red but the decorative intermediate wraps alternate between red and gold. The grip is a half Wells and in excellent, clean condition. The varnish is also excellent and the ferrule fit as new. The cane sections are still perfectly straight and full length. It comes with the original blue light-canvas rod bag with a partial label but the tube appears to be a replacement and the cap is missing. $225

Incoming Rods

Rods Under Deposit

Sale Pending Section (rods and reels shipped but still under inspection)

Heddon/Folsom 1525: 8'6", 3/2, 1 3/4 F, 5 weight, very good to excellent, mostly original. This Folsom 1525 is the equivalent of a Heddon 20. It has the same dark maroon silks with gold tipping and blackened ferrules but a downlocking walnut insert reel seat. Heddon classified this model as a light trout rod. It has a graceful medium action. Folsom is written in spiral script on the butt and #1525 and 8 1/2' is scripted above the hook keeper wrap. The grip has been washed and lightly sanded to remove heavy soiling. The ferrules fit tightly and the blacking shows little if any wear. The rod is in original condition except for a re-wrap of one side of the hook keeper, a few guide wraps and one non-original tip top. It comes in a Folsom Arms rod bag that is a bit longer than the rod and may not be original to it. The rod tube may also be non-original. $675

Rods Under In-House Restoration

Goodwin Granger Champion, 8642, 8'6", 5 weight (NS slide-band reel seat) - Deposit taken for restoration by April 1.

Thomas/Edwards/Payne, Isaak Walton (circa 1894 to 1900), 8'6", 3/2, 4 weight

F.E. Thomas Dirigo, 8', 3/2, 4 weight (1920s rod with NS reel seat and intermediates)

Classic Fly Reels

1) Hardy St. George Jr. LHW, excellent: This 2 9/16 St. George Jr. also shows little or no use. Designed to balance light line fly rods, it weighs 3.5 oz. It has a light weight ribbed aluminum reel foot and a nickel-silver line guard. It comes with the original Hardy leather reel case and the box with original papers. The box has a few small tears which is why it is ot listed as mint. $600

2) Brass Trout Reel 1: 2.5", 4.25 oz. excellent, original.This antique Birmingham style English reel has a white brass frame and back and a gold brass face plate and foot. The clicker works well and everything is tight. Fish with a lovely classic reel at a moderate price. Made in England is stamped in an arc on the face plate. It comes in a recently made reel pouch. $96

3) Brass Trout Reel 2: 2.5", 5 oz. excellent, original. This second Birmingham style antique brass reel is all gold brass.It weighs a bit more than the first but is in equally excellent condition. It also has the Made in England stamp on the face plate. Use either reel as left or right hand wind. Comes with a recently made reel pouch. $96

Reel 2 on Left, Reel 3 on Right

4) Two JAF Avon Reels: One black and one silver Avon, both 2.5" for 1 to 3 weight lines. New and unused but without box. These are classic click and pawl English trout reels made from light-weight bar stock for either left or right hand retrieve. The black Avons were never sold commercially and are quite rare. They come in a round reel case. $155 each

5) Two Pflueger Progress Bulldogs: The Pflueger Bulldog Progess 80 is on the left in the image below, and the Progress 60 on the right. Both reels are in excellent mechanical condition with strong clickers and can be used for either left or right hand retrieve. The Pflueger 80 is all brass but a few hints of black indicate that it was once black like the smaller reel to the right. The model 60 is all brass with a black finish, in very good condition, unusual for reels from the 1920s. They are wonderful light-weight fly reels for 3 to 5 weight lines and especially good for silk lines as the ventilation allows for better drying. $96 for either with reel case.

Pflueger Progress Bulldogs - 80 and 60

Silk Lines - In stock. Terenzio Natural Silk Lines, DT1 to DT7, 25 meters. Line sizes DT 1 and DT8 to 11 by special order.

DT1 to DT7, $185 including shipping in the U.S. DT 8 to DT 11 lines are 35 meters and priced at $225.

Sales Terms and Conditions

I try to offer rods at fair prices. Those prices depend primarily on what the rod cost to acquire and restore if necessary and a reasonable market-up, generally at or below the standard for this business. I am open to fair offers and potential trades for other high-end classic rods. I will do what I can to find an arrangement that works.

Terms of Sale, Inspection and Return Policy - By purchasing a rod from Swift River Fly Fishing you agree to abide by the following terms.

Payment by check or money order is preferred. PayPal is also accepted but it will be necessary to add 3% to the cost of the rod and shipping and insurance to cover added fees.

Rods are described to the best of my ability after careful inspection and research to verify condition, originality and authenticity. However, mistakes do happen and all rods are sold with a two day inspection period.

This inspection period is to verify that the rod is as described on the web site with no significant issues or defects other than those in the description. Any defects noted in the description are taken into account in pricing the rod. If any other substantive problem with the rod is identified within the inspection period a full refund is offered.

The inspection period is a not intended as a trial period to see if the action is suitable or the rod measures up to some subjective standard. If you take a rod out to cast or fish that means you have accepted the rod as in advertised condition and you now own it and are solely responsible for any damage that occurs during use.

Attempts to renegotiate the price of a rod after it has been received are not welcome. You can accept the rod in as described condition or indicate any substantive issues not included in the description and ask to return the rod for a refund.

Please examine any rod throughly upon arrival. Rods returned in violation of this policy are subject to a 20% relisting fee. Never ship a rod without first discussing the timing and shipping method. A rod must be returned in the condition in which it was shipped. Be certain to repack the rod correctly and insure it for full value.

There are no refunds for return shipping. If a rod is returned damaged it becomes the buyer's full responsibility. No refund will be issued for a damage rod. It is the buyer's responsibility to file and collect on any insurance claim. If a rod is damaged during use I am happy to repair it at a reasonable price.

Swift River Fly Fishing is a small, part time business. The best ways to contact me are by email or phone in the evening, between 6 and 9, or on weekends. I am not home weekdays and away on travel from time to time.

Night Heron For Sale - Joel White designed Pea Pod – 14 feet LOA. Built in 1997 by the Landing Boat School, Kennebunk, ME

Comes with two 8 ft Shaw and Tenney oars, two rowing stations, teak seats and trim, new bottom paint and custom Triad trailer.

Used for 9 seasons guiding for stripped bass along the Massachusetts North Shore.

Can be easily rigged to sail with sprit rig and steering oar. $3000 or BO. Western Massachusetts. Call 978-544-2582