The most innovative, technological fishing rod building, rod blanks, and rod components. Our brands carry everything for OEM's, Private Labels, and Rod Builders. Find Rod Blanks, Reel Seats, Grips, Guides, Tip Tops, and Supplies. We have all been told that to cast a tight loop, the rod tip MUST travel in a. On the forward cast, I want to build in wrist action as part of the stop.
Wes Cooper is a retired political science teacher from Fremont, MI. Although widely regarded as the 'Master of the scarf joint', Wes also offers a full line of high quality custom crafted split cane rods. Wes has been building bamboo rods from his shop in Fremont for the past 20 years using proven tapers from master rod builders past and present to develop a wonderful lineup of offerings for the bamboo rod enthusiast. Wes will intently listen to you as you describe your desired taper, length, line weight, cane color, wrap colors, ferrule & guide preferences, grip configuration, and reel seat design. Wes uses only premium quality cork and furnishings featuring carbaloy, TiNi, and agatine strippers, perfection snake and tip top guides, & nickle silver ferrules and reel seat hardware from Bellinger and Constable. Each new Cooper Classic is neatly hand signed and serial numbered by Wes and comes with a hand sewn bag (crafted by Mrs. Cooper) and a high quality black 'wrinkle finish' aluminum tube.
6' ~ 2/2 Available as a 3wt. or 4wt.
6'6' ~ 2/2 Available as a 3wt. or 4wt.
7' ~ 2/2 Available as a 4wt. or 5wt.
7'6' ~ 2/2 Available as a 4wt. or 5wt.
8' ~ 2/2 Available as a 4wt., 5wt., or 6wt.
8'6' ~ 2/2 Available as a 5wt., 6wt., or 7wt.
CURRENTLY IN STOCK
SOLDW.V. Cooper ~ 6’9” ~ 2/1 ~ 2.7 oz. ~ 3/4wt. ~ Serial Number 7087 ~ EXC (exceptions noted) ~ This sweet-casting little wand from the bench of Fremont, Michigan’s Wes Cooper features attractive lightly flamed cane, brown silks with yellow tipping at the WC, tip top and ferrule stations, chrome stripper, snakes and tip-top, and solid varnish finish that has a few mars and smudges. The smooth and tight-fitting Super –Z- style N/S ferules give a satisfying pop when separated. The butt section is fitted with a comfortable cigar grip that continues down to form a cork seat with D/L'ing cap and ring hardware and a petite N/S WC. The rod is sans HK. The set comes with a blue 2-compartment bag and black aluminum tube with beveled brass cap and end cap. The tip section is 1/4' shorter than the butt section (likely made that way) and has a light set. Curiously, the serial number on the butt section (7087) does not match the serial number on the tip section (6987). The brisk medium-fast action throws a tight-loop close-in with Cortland Peach DT-3 and WF-4. Proudly made in the USA!
SOLDW.V. Cooper ~ 7’ ~ 2/2 ~ 3 1/8oz. ~ 4wt. ~ Serial Number 22604 ~ EXC (exceptions noted) ~ This sweet-casting little wand from the bench of Fremont, Michigan’s Wes Cooper is based on the famous Payne 98 taper and features attractive blonde cane, translucent tan silks tipped in light brown, carbaloy stripper, black snakes and tip-tops and solid varnish finish. There are a few minor glue line inconsistencies and both tips have sets. The smooth and tight-fitting truncated N/S ferrules give a satisfying pop when separated. The butt section is fitted with a comfortable cigar grip, beautiful birds-eye maple mortised seat with U/L'ing cap and ring “wedding band” hardware and a petite N/S WC. The rod comes with a nice bag and black aluminum tube. The brisk medium-fast action throws a nice tight loop with Cortland Peach WF-4 or DT-4 and would perfect for close-in dry fly work. Proudly made in Michigan!
SOLDW.V. Cooper ~ 7’ 3” ~ 2/2 ~ 3 1/8oz. ~ 4wt. ~ EXC+ ~ Probably best known as the master of the scarf, Wes also handcrafts quality rods that can often be seen on several of Michigan’s blue-ribbon trout streams. This one features flamed cane wrapped in brown silks with yellow tipping at the WC, tip –tops and ferrule stations protected by a smooth varnish finish. A single yellow wrap near the tip-top guide is used to differentiate one tip from the other. Carbaloy stripper, chrome snakes & tip-tops. Smooth and tight-fitting Bailey Woods N/S ferules give a satisfying 'pop' when separated. Cigar grip it fitted with a N/S D/L'ing cap and ring seat with a beautiful walnut burl spacer. Neatly inked on the rod in black script is: Wesley V. Cooper #19399 (193rd rod built in 1999) ~ 7’ 3” ~ DT #4 ~ 3 1/8 oz. Comes with the original custom made fly pattern rod bag (crafted by Mrs. Cooper) and black wrinkle-finish aluminum brass-capped tube. The brisk action handles a Cortland Peach DT-4 with ease.
SOLDW.V. Cooper ~ 8’ ~ 2/1 ~ 4.8 oz. ~ D.T.6 ~ Serial No. 8532 ~ EXC- (exceptions noted) ~ Probably best known as the master of the scarf, Wes also handcrafts quality rods that can often be seen on several of Michigan’s blue-ribbon trout streams. This early offering was made in 1985 (32nd rod overall) and features beautiful blonde cane wrapped in translucent root beer brown silks, dual carbaloy strippers on the butt, chrome snakes & tip-top, tight-fitting N/S ferules that give a resounding pop when separated and a nicely-executed varnish finish. The business end of the butt section is fitted with a Western-style cork grip, fiddle back maple spacer, screw U/L’ing hardware, exposed WC and folding ring HK. The tip section is an inch shorter than the butt section (made that way) and when assembled, the rod is just a smidgeon (about 1/2') over 8' and a former owners name was inked on the rod at some point afterward. It comes with a red bag and aluminum tube. The slow to medium-slow action just sings in the hands of a patient caster and tosses a sweet loop, for me best when paired with a Cortland 444 Peach WF/DT-5.
SOLDW.V. Cooper ~ 8.5’ ~ 2/2 ~ 5.2 oz. (on my digital scale) ~ 5/6wt ~ EXC ~ Probably best known as the master of the scarf, Wes also handcrafts quality rods that can often be seen on several of Michigan’s blue-ribbon trout streams. This powerful offering pictured above features beautiful blonde cane wrapped in translucent cream silks with light brown tipping protected by a nicely executed varnish finish. Carbaloy stripper, chrome snakes & tip-tops. Smooth and tight-fitting N/S ferules give a resounding 'pop' when separated. Western-style cork grip with nicely figured fiddle back maple spacer and N/S U/L'ing screw and slide hood hardware. Inked on the rod is: Wesley V. Cooper #20902 (209th rod overall, built in 2002) ~ 8’ 6” ~ D.T. #5 ~ 4 1/16 oz. Comes with a custom made rod bag (crafted by Mrs. Cooper) and aluminum tube. The medium-slow action just sings in the hands of a patient caster when paired with a Cortland 444 Peach DT-5 or WF-6.
SHOP RODS
From time to time, Wes offers shop rods at a reduced price. Most are new, but may have either been lawn casted or fished a handful of times. There are no shop rods available at this time. Please check back again soon.
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