by dahlberg » Fri Nov 14, 2014 11:26 am
Not exactly sure what you mean about the handle ferrule over the normal ferrule.
Yes, I designed an absolute killer "flippin" as they were first called back in the seventies, telescopic 7 1/2 footer when I worked with sage and had several others hence based on those designs. I've used them for everything from muskies, stripers, tarpon, cuberas to striped marlin, pcocks, dorado, wolfies and payara. They are excellent, but the inherent design flaw is the distance from the first guide to the reel, and that in a longer rod the reduction in length is still a bit long for shipping.
18 months ago I started a project with the guys at Mudhole involving a two piece design with a staggered ferrule placed in a position where i wanted the hold out to be in the lower third of the rod. So far we've got a two models worked out which are currently designated med and heavy but are actually what I call Heavy and Xtra heavy. The lightest of the two is about a power heavier than what I've been using all these years, but will handle a wider range on the top end (3 0z) and still cast 3/4 lures easily.
I've been using them in field since last January and they are exactly what I wanted and pack down to a nice tidy 56". I've put extensions in the butt on a couple to make them into eight footers and they work fine, plus adding to the butt doesn't affect the "packed" length.
Coincidentally, the first shipment arrived at Mudhole this week. They've not yet been listed, but Todd Vivian, their engineer could steer you to them, and the components that fit, if you call mudhole.
best,
L
Larry Dahlberg
The Hunt For Big Fish