Rick Robbins
Hand Crafted Bamboo Fly Rods

Rick Robbins of Lexington, Virginia has been building bamboo fly rods for more than 25 years.  His love affair with bamboo fly rods began in the 1960's when, as a university student, he made his first ever credit purchase--an H. L. Leonard 48 DF.  In the late 1960's and early 1970's, Hap Mills of Leonard inspired Rick's pursuit of cane construction and made Rick a Leonard dealer.  But, it was a friendship with Tom Maxwell that began in 1971 that launched Rick as a bamboo rod builder.  As mentor and friend until his death in 1998, Tom Maxwell was the dominant influence on Rick's work.  Rick also credits Marc Aroner's friendship and help as significantly inspiring his pursuit of quality bamboo fly rod construction.  Rick is best known for his "Little Rivers Series" of fly rods.  These short powerful rods are designed for WF 4 lines.  Carrying a swelled butt, honey blonde tempering, compound tapers, mortised zebra wood reel seats with nickel silver cap and accurate, delicate dry fly presentations on small waters.

 

Each Rick Robbins fly rod is built from scratch using 1930's era professional bamboo rod tooling.  The production of these rods is limited and each model may not be available in any one year.  All Rick Robbins fly rods come with a cloth bag and an aluminum tube with brass ends. 

 

Little River Series ...

 

The Little River Series of Rick Robbins Fly Rods are short powerful rods designed for WF 4 lines.  From the Swelled butt to their fine tips, these rods are crafted to meet the challenge of America's little rivers.

 

Heat tempered to a honey blonde tone, they are built to deliver the tight loop precision demanded for accurate and delicate dry fly presentations on small waters.  All models are of six strip construction and feature compound tapers.  Each is built using the finest bamboo, cork, nickel silver, and spar varnish. 

 

Each rod comes with two tips, a mortised zebra wood reel seat with nickel silver cap and ring, silk windings, a cloth rod bag and aluminum tube with brass ends.  The Little Rivers is available in the following models. 

                              

                                    7 foot 3 piece for a 4 wt.

 

                                    6 1/2 foot 2 piece for a 4 wt.

 

                                    6 foot 3 piece for a 4 wt.

 

The price for the 1 piece model is $1700, 2 piece Model is $2000 and $2250.  for the 3 piece models. 

 

The Main Stem

 

Like his smaller cousins, The Little River series, the Rick Robbins Main Stem is a powerful fast rod.  Reminiscent of the Wes Jordon eight-footer, the H. L. Leonard 50 DF, and Payne's famous Model 203, the Main Stem is designed to form the backbone of a bamboo rod collection.

 

Eight feet in length and carrying a number six line, the Main Stem is equally at home on the Delaware and the limestone creeks of Central Pennsylvania.  With it's three piece construction coupled with fine dry fly tips, the Main Stem can throw a size 10 Humpy as well as protect 6x tippet attached to number 20 B W O‘s.

 

If one were to select but one dry fly trout rod this would be the rod to choose.  The Main Stem comes with swelled butt construction, two tips, honey blonde tempering, silk windings, nickel silver ferrules, mortised zebra wood reel seat with nickel silver cap and ring.  

 

Slow Water Series ...

 As a laid back compliment to the Little Rivers Series, Rick Robbins Fly Rods offers the Slow Waters Series.  These short softer action rods are designed to slow the casting cycle to a serenity including pace.

 

Both models in the Slow Waters Series are two piece rods made for four weight lines.  With a modest swelled butt and delicate tips, the compound tapers of this Series are tailored for small dry flies and tiny un-weighted nymphs and emergers.

 

The Slow Waters Series are offered with a choice of mortised zebra wood reel seats with nickel silver cap and ring, or lighter all cork grip and reel seat with nickel silver rings.  Nickel silver ferrules and silk windings are standard.  The Slow Waters Series comes in the following models:

 

                                            7 foot   2 piece   for 4 wt.

 

                                            6 1/2 foot  2 piece   for 4 wt.

For fishing to highly selective trout in slow, quiet waters, the delicacy and peaceful stealth of these rods is unsurpassed. 

Contact ...

Classic Fly Fisherman
Robert R. Selb
222 S. Broad Street
Lansdale, PA 19446

 Visa and Master Card accepted, also check or money order. Pay Pal can be used on items under $150.00. Please call: Toll Free: 1-866-930-3667
 Phone: (215) 412-3667 Fax: (215) 412-3606 Email: Classicflyfisherman@yahoo.com