Howells, G.H. - 8' 2/1 6wt Bamboo Rod

For sale here is a very early Gary Howells 8' 2-piece / single tip rod in excellent condition. Serial #3701, presumably the second rod made in Howells' first year of production in 1970. Medium tempered cane with 3x3 nodes, bright snake guides and carbide stripping guide. Ferrules fit perfectly, and the sections are straight & full length. The butt is serialized but the tip is not. Modified Ritz-style grip is smooth with light soiling, and the rod is fitted with an up-locking reel seat over zebrawood spacer. Scripted weight is 4oz, but my scale reads just a hair under. Medium action, I like it with a DT6 although some may prefer it with a 5wt line. The bag has a provision for a second tip, although none is present. An interesting rod to any Howells collector, and a good all-around trout rod. Howells spent 13 years as a master rod maker at Winston prior to striking it out on his own and his experience and craftsmanship is evident in this early rod. Sold in what appears to be the original bag and a leather clad Cal-Air tube. There is a name stamped into the leather, possibly a previous owner. This item comes from Dean Malencik’s generous donation of vintage rods & reels to Trout Unlimited. Proceeds from the sale benefit both the national organization of Trout Unlimited and your local chapters. Learn more about Dean’s gift in the March 2025 issue of Trout Magazine.