sold ORVIS BATTENKILL BAMBOO FLY ROD, “BILL CAIRNS”

ORVIS BATTENKILL BAMBOO FLY ROD, “BILL CAIRNS”

This is an 8’ 2-piece, 2-tip Orvis Battenkill marked as a Bill Cairns rod.  Cairns ran the Orvis fly fishing school for many years, and wrote books about casting and fishing. A copy of his book on casting accompanies the rod.  He requisitioned rods for the school, which were marked with his name and had no serial number.  They are often called simply “Orvis school rods.”  The rod features a down-locking reel seat over walnut spacer, 6’ cork, winding check and hook keeper, carboloy stripper and first guide, blued ferrules, bright snake guides, original bag and tube.

This is a standard 8’ 4 3/8 ounce Battenkill best with a 6wt or 7wt line.  Orvis marked them for an 8wt, but they are usually fished one size lighter.  The rod is in good working condition, showing some use.  One tip is down 5/8” from a tip-top re-set. The reel seat spacer has some finish loss, the cork has some soiling, the ferrule wraps have separations, and the tube label is faded.  None of these issues affects the casting or the quality of the cane work and finish.