First Announced for 1999 production this 7' 4wt has proved to be a great all-around fishing rod. It is also a really superlative casting rod with great power. This rod has character and will speak to you. This will quickly become your favorite all-around rod.

This rod is based upon a taper taken from a Paul Young Rod (quite possibly one of his infamous "barrel" rods) owned by a dear friend of mine John "JJ" Jackson who was a fly tier and guide based in Grayling Michigan. He died suddenly this year at the age of 39. I built this rod in memory of him. I have greatly improved the original rod taper and the result has been a rod that has drawn critical acclaim. If you are looking for a good all around rod for the majority of trout fishing and really want a super casting rod at all distances - this is it.

The price for a limited Special Edition version is $1475 with a metal tube and $1675 with one of my custom matching spalted maple rod cases.

Above is the first trout taken on this rod. It is a magnificent Manistee Brown Trout taken during an awesome Hex hatch just after dark. I was surprised at the size of the fish since the rod handled it so well. I went on to take numerous other fish, but none will mean as much to me as this one.

Ther's special edition rods all will have the special brown metallic silk thread tipped in orange, a single tip with the unique tip top identical to that on the original, and a special inscription "J.J. Lives for ...". The reason for this edition having only one tip is that JJs rod only had one and it is designed to be a fishing rod and more specifically - your favorite fishing rod.

Above is a picture of the inscription on the rod and two of the flies that I will remember JJ for. One is the deer hair extended body Brown Drake that he taught me how to tie and the other is a crystal caddis also known has the Molester.