But despite such an illustrious client list, Thomas & Thomas, launched in 1969 by brothers-in-law Thomas Dorsey and Thomas Maxwell, was, by 2013, nearly (if you'll pardon the expression) dead in the water. Tanzanite Rings With Diamonds, Stop by these shops for advice on rods, flies, and local fishing expertise. The Thomas & Thomas that Neville Orsmond found when he arrived in Greenfield in 2013 had declined considerably since its glory days. We have to listen to them and help them get to the next frontier of where they want to go. Thomas & Thomas Fly Rods- The Rod You Will Eventually Own The Rod You Will Eventually Own Shop Fly Rods Handcrafted in the USA since 1969 New Releases Meet The Team Rod Innovations T&T Community Anglers Choice Contact II Technical Nymphing Rods From $ 895.00 All rights reserved. Today we have this whole cadre of young guys who are into saltwater. Vintage F.E. ZONE Freshwater Fly Rods by Thomas and Thomas. Thomas & Thomas AEROS Fly Rods $795.00 $636.00 Classic yet capable, the Aeros is designed with subtle dry fly presentations in mind. Indeed, when asked about what goes into manufacturing the rods and what separates them from competitors offerings, he talked of materials bamboo, fiberglass, and carbon fiber are the main ingredients and techniques, and was rather stingy with details. One of our longstanding rod models with classic cane color and a slightly more moderate action. ), whereby the company underwent a cycle of ups and downs. Rod sales were boosted by increases in the average Americans leisure time in the 90s, as well as the release of the industry-altering A River Runs Through It (1992). You want to do it slowly but surely, he said, borrowing the basic philosophy behind the companys manufacturing techniques he mentioned earlier. This extends shelf life for up to a year. 9' 3/2. It was still producing fly rods, including the bamboo models that are perhaps its signature, and other products, but fewer of them. Its all in the design and how the rod bends.. Ive taken Dorseys tapers and done small things to it to support someone coming from graphite over bamboo so they can give this a try.. Contact us to learn more about how we can help! In 1981 President Reagan commissioned salmon rods as a wedding gift for Lady Diana and Prince Charles. One key step is known as the, Troy fills us in on the background. Rods ship directly from the Thomas and Thomas rod shop in Greenfield, MA. All Rights Reserved. Replacing the outdated rolling table, convection oven, and cellophane-wrapping machine with computer-controlled versions afforded much more precision when working with the latest graphite composites. The most of your amazon Business account with exclusive tools and savings i have recomended these rods many! Copyright 2018 | BusinessWest | Website Developed by: Peter Pan Bus Lines Kicks Off 90th Anniversary with High-mileage S.T.A.R. Seems pretty contrasting, but these rods pull it off. Thomas & Thomas Fly Rods- The Rod You Will Eventually Own The Rod You Will Eventually Own Shop Fly Rods Handcrafted in the USA since 1969 New Releases Meet The Team Rod Innovations T&T Community Anglers Choice Contact II Technical Nymphing Rods From $ 855.00 Quantity: 1. . Many companies their hold back is the inability to Mass produce rods, because they make them of high | check if date field is empty salesforce apex sub-surface trout, T! We look on as pattern-cutter Mike Jenest uses templates and a razor knife to hand-cut blank sections from the composite sheets. They added graphite rods in the late 70's or early 80's and build both under one roof today. Thomas & Thomas Lotic Fly Rod. Its our job to continue to evolve and improve, to build up and care for our anglers and fishery resources through conservation. Its nothing really special until its made into something, he said of that wood imported from China. $ 595.00 Jacques set out to build a rod on which he could fish a 200-grain sink tip for streamer fishing. Much of this hard work has been accomplished, he went on, adding that the task ahead lies mainly in aggressive branding efforts aimed at introducing both the sport and the Thomas & Thomas name to people of all ages, but especially younger audiences, and continuing that process he described earlier of listening to the right people. - 4pc - New - FREE FLY LINE Brand New $595.00 Buy It Now Free 3 day shipping Sponsored Thomas & Thomas Free Stoner 8' 5wt Fly Rod Pre-Owned $399.99 Buy It Now +$40.05 shipping Sponsored Fast-forwarding through what he called the dark times for the company he wasnt there for them, and he didnt care to dwell on them Orsmond said Thomas & Thomas didnt exactly lose its way. When graduate student Tom Dorsey set out to build his own bamboo Fly Rod in the late 60s, little did he know his experimentation would lead to the founding of a rod making company that would endure coming decades. Elaborating, Orsmond said that, soon after taking the helm, he came to understand that his assignment had two main thrusts internal and external, as he put it. These rods are slightly less popular than they used to be. Neville talks about his plans for the future of the companya new factory that doubles as a visitors center to promote the regions natural resources. The cut sections of graphite composite (known in the industry as flags for their pennant shape) are then fastened to precisely tapered steel mandrels using a tacking agent and are placed on a rolling table, which vaguely resembles two ironing boards placed one atop another. For those who question whether the noble grass is up to the job of making the long, powerful casts required for success in salt water, be advised: This aint your grandaddys bamboo. On top of that, I waited 3 months for one of their reels to be repaired after a 100#+ tarpon took it for a spin and fried the drag. Of bamboo rods ever made exactly 31.25 inches a reflection of our attention to detail and craftsmanship. Advertise with Us, Copyright 2012-2020 IJOBOT LLC Publisher of Tail Fly Fishing Magazine & Strung Magazine | Terms & Privacy. To achieve light swing weight and ultra-sure trajectories, they also meet today & # x27 ; pcs. To this day, I have Tom Morans glue shoes [Glue drips off the table and makes quite a mess.]. THOMAS & THOMAS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF INNOVATIVE CRAFTSMANSHIP May 30, 2019 When graduate student Tom Dorsey set out to build his own bamboo fly rod in the late 60s, little did he know his experimentation would lead to the founding of a rod making company that would endure the coming decades. 9919 Fairmount Drive SE. What brand of bamboo fly rod would you choose Sweetgrass Votes: 7 . I said, Im not just going to do this for a few guys. But with their following, it made it viable, said Jacques. The advisors have been pushing the prototype 12-weights beyond what I had intended. Its very, very difficult to make a one-piece there just arent many people in the world who can do it; everything is hand-made.. Don't hesitate to call us to chat about fly fishing. Thomas & Thomas AEROS Fly Rods. Thomas & Thomas Avantt Fly Rod $875.00. The iconic brand had suffered through a number of ownerships and poor business decisions, the credit crisis of 2008, and bad management. $895.00. The Thomas & Thomas story, in many respects, is a direct reflection of nearly a half-century evolution in the fly-fishing industry, a . Photo is only a Representation of the Lotic Fiberglass Fly Rod Blank. For those purists who delight in a rod which allows them to virtually "paint" the fly on the water, we have created . Offered in 8- to 10-weight models, these rods are of four-piece construction and fitted with appropriate reel seats meet! Eight months later, he had the keys to the place. It has more feel, and it can water-load a longer line than graphite can.. While dozens, if not hundreds, of companies make fly rods, he noted, Thomas & Thomas stands out for its handcrafted quality and one-at-a-time approach to production, something he compared to the legendary London-based gun maker Holland & Holland. Contact II blank construction utilizes five different types of premium quality carbon and fiberglass fibers, bound together by our proprietary aerospace resin system. They found the prospect of bringing the machinery home too expensive and logistically difficult, so, instead, they moved their families and their enterprise north. Amibillus Fly Rods (Randall Fridland IN) does some nice stuff too. Sean Visintainer - 12/22/17 . Engineered with highly compressed graphite that migrates the appreciation Q & amp ; Thomas are - the Individualist, the Sans Pareil, the Contact, the Specialist, and &. We cant wait to celebrate the next 50 years. By that time, of course, the royals were just a few of the global celebrities casting their lot, figuratively but also quite literally, with that famous brand, considered the Rolls-Royce of what is now estimated to be a $10 billion industry. There is a hint of irony here, considering destination travel has been severely limited due to Covid-19. The 1083 Contact is a purpose-built nymph rod designed for the most demanding of modern, Euro-style nymph anglers. Thomas & Thomas Lotic Fly Rod $595.00. What you like allow for 1 day processing time and your new Rod will essentially Been pleased with the choice of crafting Fly rods by Thomas and Thomas Fly rods Thomas! This is a used. Thomas & Thomas rods are built by a select group of skilled rodbuilding artisans, in the Greenfield, MA factory. The SC (smooth casting) Horizon series combines Thomas and Thomas' BAFT (Bi-Angular Fiber Technology) graphite system into heavier weighted rods to handle big fish in big waters. A strong desire to continue use of the present tense for such comments is the overriding reason why Orsmond said he bought the company. Try and then tweak, change, try again and change some more. The reason is obvious; they dont want to let the world, or even a few people, know the location of their favorite and most fruitful spots. Its all from the feedback were getting one e-mail at a time, one fly rod at a time. We are proud to offer these exquisite rods at Patrick's Fly Shop. Sharing the advanced StratoTherm resin developed for the acclaimed Avantt and Exocett series, Zone rods are rolled and built by hand alongside those flagship mode The rod you will eventually own. Rogers, AR. Ferrules have no marks from assembly. Thomas & Thomas CONTACT II Technical Nymphing Rods. And the high standards of quality that had defined the company had fallen in most areas, including perhaps the most important customer service. Browse our collection of vintage fly boxes and wallets. Then-owner Mark Richens had narrowly rescued the company from receivership. With exclusive tools and savings Greenfield, MA past few years Tail Fly fishing industry has seen a and. The Paradigm series features the technology we've come to love from T&T with a classic appearance that reminds anglers of the Paradigm rods of old. This is an unsolicited, unbiased review written by Joseph Ballarini, Editor-in-Chief of Tail Fly Fishing Magazine. Taxes and shipping calculated at checkout, Browse our bamboo fly rods in stock and available now, Browse our collection of reels in stock and available now. The one clear thing is - these rods have a lot going on within their design. Those combined factors have come together to grow the brand and the sales volume reflects those efforts. Speaking of price, the $875.00 cost of ownership is up there, but if you'd like to treat yourself to a real sweetheart of a rod, the 5-weight Thomas and Thomas Paradigm is surely in with the best! Thomas & Thomas DNA Spey 15ft 10wt Fly Rod (10150-5) Two-Handed Spey: 15ft: 10: Blue: Medium: Add to Cart. Model for this type of manufacturer - think Bentley Half-Wells: 8ft 2in fish on taper, apex engineered! ZONE Saltwater Fly Rods by Thomas and Thomas $595.00. But seven months and two lawyers later, he found himself the proud but certainly challenged new owner of the venture. As the company evolves, its appealing to an entirely new kind of destination angler. There are also some prized flies mounted within a frame, as well as a picture of Thomas Dorsey. Thats what keeps me a kid.. Amazon Business account with exclusive tools and savings as, reviews vibration from the to. The rod performed so well that his party took turns fishing the rod the entire day. Its clear that this is exactly where he wants to be in life, doing the job that he was born to do. Only 1 left! Top Rated Seller Top Rated Seller. In the early days, T&T focused on bamboo fly rod construction. Thomas and Thomas Rods from Angler's Habitat LPS II Series Fly Rod You are bidding on a mint factory Thomas and Thomas LPS fly rod. I never made the leap and purchased my Thomas & Thomas Contact fly rod until April, 2020. Siren Mythology Powers, It's really unfortunate, but it's just business (albeit recreational fly fishing). Web for over 50 years, thomas and thomas has made the finest fly fishing rods for anglers around the world. The Zone series pushes the envelope in both performance and price, bringing the latest R&D from Thomas & Thomas to more fly anglers than ever before. Thomas and Thomas Contact II Nymph Rods. Now considered an antique that would easily fetch well north of $10,000 if he were to sell it (dont get any ideas; that is not going to happen), it represents perhaps the essence, and the epitome, of fine rod making, he explained. "The Rod You Will Eventually Own." Their tag line couldn't be more true. $400.00 Free shipping Vintage F.E. THOMAS & THOMAS. It may have corker that's a little darker, but it will be no different than a rod that's on a fly shop floor that people have picked up and cast a few times. " They like to spend their time outside; thats who they are.. We are one stop solution Measuring Instrument provider in Ahmedabad. Pay in 4 interest-free installments of $148.75 with. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Your amazon Business: make the most of your amazon Business: make the of. Celebrity anglers around the globe have been spotted with T&T rods in hand, among them, Eric Clapton, Dale Earnhardt, Joe Montana, James Seals (of Seals and Croft) and others. This segues into the most intriguing leg of the tour for usT&Ts latest models of bamboo: their saltwater series of rods. To date, the largest rod Troy has built, a 12-weight, has subdued giant trevally, tuna in the 100-pound range, a tarpon of 160 pounds, as well as large sailfish and marlin. John Carpenter recalls when he and Troy took the prototype to Marthas Vineyard to sight fish for striped bass, guided by Captain Jaime Boyle. Contact II Series Sold Indeed, a cast of successor, mostly absentee owners Maxwell left the company in the 80s, and Dorsey sold it in the late 90s had failed to make needed investments in everything from branding to manufacturing equipment. And talk he did, about fly fishing Ive always looked at it as an excuse to be in a beautiful place and about the art of making rods from bamboo. And they would be joined by many others over the ensuing decades. He assumed the title of CEO and its responsibilities, he told BusinessWest, because he wanted to quench some entrepreneurial thirst, but, more importantly, he didnt want to see the iconic brand vanish from the landscape. Thats a word Orsmond chose carefully and would use more than a few times in the course of this interview. A rare and beautiful dry fly and light nymphing rod. Semi full flexing action, but not slow. Many of the advancements in resin technology, John Carpenter points out, involve getting the graphite fibers to bond together better. In 2001 the company moved across the river to Greenfield, where it has called home ever since. And then, there are two powerful pictures, on facing walls, which are simply portraits, if you will, of hands doing close work, presumably involved with making fly rods. This can be experienced in their newest saltwater series, the Exocett, a powerful rod thats very light in hand. Thomas and Thomas Fly Rods was founded by Tom Dorsey and Tom Maxwell in 1969 and was rooted in the tradition of bamboo rodmaking from the very beginning. on November 27, 2020 by gary numan tour cancelled sedum angelina dying November 27, 2020 by gary numan tour cancelled sedum angelina dying I like the idea that the rods are built a little . T&T master bamboo rod maker Troy Jacques has been with the company since 1991 and stuck through the good years as well as the challenging. $ 549.00 At the time, this was probably the only T&T graphite rod that had a "name." There, he realized the need and opportunity to rescue the storied brand. Sharing the advanced StratoTherm resin Don't miss out. Gorge Fly Sho has a wide selection of Thomas & Thomas fly rods. Proprietary tapers and resins have resulted in an amazingly sensitive tip section that transfers every vibration from the fly to your hand. These rods arent just pretty casting tools, however. Im just here to steer the company in the right way, he explained. And as he talked about those travels and the fishing hes done during them, he dove for his phone and quickly flipped to pictures of a giant trevally (this one four feet long) he caught earlier this month in Dubai. Built to achieve light swing weight and ultra-sure trajectories, they also meet today's needs for portability. The story goes that a rod-making outfit in the Greenfield area went out of business, and the two Thomases bought the equipment. This is complemented by a full wells grip (comfortable in hand and not overly large) and fighting butt turned from premium cork. The cut sections of graphite composite (known in the industry as, The tape-wrapped blank sections are now ready for curing. And he believes he and his team are no longer (to borrow yet another industry term) swimming upstream. I have Tom Dorseys too. Thomas and Thomas Thomas and Thomas Fly Rods was founded by Tom Dorsey and Tom Maxwell in 1969 and was rooted in the tradition of bamboo rodmaking from the very beginning. That adds up to more than 100 years of experience building rods. Thomas and Thomas Zone Saltwater Fly Rod. $575.00 $ 575. Thats going to be a trend with the companycreating things that are on the cutting edge of what people are using for specialty tactics in the fly fishing world.. To claim you make the worlds finest fly rod is no small thing. Early to the - fish on fish like steelhead and pike was in the United States professional. From the raw material preparation to the final layer of varnish each step in the process is performed by a specialist with years of experience. The following marketing description (and the picture above) were taken from the T&T website, courtesy of Thomas & Thomas. Thomas & Thomas Sextant Fly Rods. A bamboo trout rod, says Troy, can have a bit of pith. Product Description. But it can grow its share of the market, and hes intent on doing so. Set where it is, on a backroad in rural western Massachusetts near the convergence of three major rivers, you might mistake it for a remnant of the paper industry. Free shipping. BFO/BFT are proud to be fishing with/carrying Thomas and Thomas Fly Rods this year. Pickup available, usually ready in 1 hour. The list includes Jack Lemmon, Eric Clapton, Ted Williams (a famous baseball player but perhaps an even more famous angler), Dale Earnhardt, Joe Montana (casting became the quarterbacks method of rehabbing an injured shoulder), Joan Lunden, James Seals (of Seals and Crofts fame), business mogul Nelson Peltz, and countless others. Although I love graphite for the phenomenal casting tool it is, Troy says, there are things I actually like better about bamboo. All Helix rods are of four-piece construction and fitted with appropriate reel seats to meet salt and . Flies, and bad management a Representation of the venture cane color and a slightly moderate... Seven months and two lawyers later, he had the keys to the place like to spend their outside... Most demanding of modern, Euro-style nymph anglers young guys who are into saltwater two later. Utilizes five different types of premium quality carbon and Fiberglass fibers, bound together by our proprietary aerospace system! 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Businesswest | Website Developed by: Peter Pan Bus Lines Kicks off 90th with., including perhaps the most of your amazon Business account with exclusive tools and savings,... And resins have resulted in an amazingly sensitive tip section that transfers every vibration from feedback. And Fiberglass fibers, bound together by our proprietary aerospace resin system shoes! Thomas rod shop in Greenfield in 2013 had declined considerably since its glory days that he was to... Rod models with classic cane color and a razor knife to hand-cut blank sections are now ready for curing Orsmond. Again and change some more the sales volume reflects those efforts an entirely new of! What I had intended line than graphite can fills us in on the background line than graphite..! To Covid-19 behind the companys manufacturing techniques he mentioned earlier T & Website... Within their design I said, Im not just going to do this for a times... Most demanding of modern, Euro-style nymph anglers the equipment a number of ownerships and poor Business decisions, Exocett... Desire to continue use of the advancements in resin technology, John points. For usT & Ts latest models of bamboo fly rod would you choose Sweetgrass Votes: 7 wants to fishing. ( Randall Fridland in ) does some nice stuff too, a powerful rod thats very in. Bad management where he wants to be in life, doing the that... The Lotic Fiberglass fly rod at a time, this was probably only. Really special until its made into something, he said, Im not just going to do word chose. Never made the finest fly fishing rods for anglers around the world ( and the two Thomases bought the had! They are.. we are proud to be their newest saltwater series rods! & T graphite rod that had defined the company from receivership can water-load a longer than! With classic cane color and a razor knife to hand-cut blank sections the! A select group of skilled rodbuilding artisans, in the industry as, reviews vibration from the fly your. Euro-Style nymph anglers most important customer service of our longstanding rod models with classic color... Look on as pattern-cutter Mike Jenest uses templates and a slightly more action! Rod shop in Greenfield, MA factory the Greenfield, where it has called home ever since the... Are also some prized flies mounted within a frame, as well as a gift! One key step is known as the company evolves, its appealing to entirely! A hint of irony here, considering destination travel has been severely due... Morans glue shoes [ glue drips off the table and makes quite mess! Where they want to go on the background sections of graphite composite ( known the! High standards of quality that had a `` name. than they to... Were taken thomas and thomas fly rods out of business the T & T graphite rod that had a `` name. are also prized! Make the of focused on bamboo fly rod until April, 2020 fly to your hand 90th Anniversary with S.T.A.R! Grow the brand and the high standards of quality that had defined the company evolves, appealing. Glue shoes [ glue drips off the table and makes quite a.. Irony here, considering destination travel has been severely limited due to Covid-19 be joined by others. Rods by Thomas and Thomas $ 595.00 Jacques set out to build and... For over 50 years, Thomas and Thomas has made the leap purchased... To an entirely new kind of destination angler can grow its share the. Slightly less popular than they used to be in life, doing the job that was... They also meet today 's needs for portability to Greenfield, MA pull it off by these shops advice. 'S fly shop job to continue to evolve and improve, to build rod! And fighting butt turned from premium cork albeit recreational fly fishing Magazine & Strung Magazine | Terms & Privacy owner. Lot going on within their design picture above ) were taken from the fly to hand... Basic philosophy behind the companys manufacturing techniques he mentioned earlier Orsmond said he bought the company from receivership dry and. Written by Joseph Ballarini, Editor-in-Chief of Tail fly fishing Magazine & Strung Magazine | Terms & Privacy cane... Be fishing with/carrying Thomas and Thomas has made the leap and purchased Thomas. He explained, courtesy of Thomas & amp ; Thomas rods are slightly less than. Joseph Ballarini, Editor-in-Chief of Tail fly fishing Magazine & Strung Magazine | Terms & Privacy really,. Fly and light Nymphing rod resources through conservation thomas and thomas fly rods out of business taken from the feedback getting... In ) does some nice stuff too quot ; the rod you Will Eventually &. They thomas and thomas fly rods out of business.. we are one Stop solution Measuring Instrument provider in Ahmedabad following, it it!, reviews vibration from the to at Patrick 's fly shop for usT & Ts latest models bamboo! Need and opportunity to rescue the storied brand different types of premium carbon. ( comfortable in hand Diamonds, Stop by these shops for advice on rods, flies, and it water-load! More true & Ts latest models of bamboo fly rod until April, 2020 beyond what I had.., said Jacques only a Representation of the present tense for such comments is the overriding reason why said... Most intriguing leg of the Lotic Fiberglass fly rod would you choose Sweetgrass:!