Gillum, Pinky – 8' 3" 4wt for Elsie Darbee

For your consideration is a Pinky Gillum bamboo fly rod that was made for Elsie Darbee. This is believed to be the only 4-weight rod made by Pinky Gillum that is 8' 0" and over. This is an 8' 3" three-piece for a 4-weight weighing 4.30 ounces. I spoke with Hoagy Carmichael about this rod and he said "I remembered that rod like it was yesterday." Hoagy told me Elsie asked Pinky to make her a rod for the Willowemoc, Beaverkill, and Delaware that was "not so damn stiff like your other rods." The last two photos are the bill of sale when Hoagy originally sold this for Elsie. The letter from Harry Darbee that is mentioned was subsequently misplaced. 

This rod consists of rich flamed cane with gold/yellow silks tipped black. Gillum De Luxe is written on the butt section. The grip measures 5 3/4" with downlocking hardware which was made for Gillum by George Halstead whom he shared a shop with at one time. In my hand, the action is medium-fast and casts itself. I have a short, slow casting stroke and even when I slowed up and shortened my casting motion more, this rod shot line effortlessly. It's a canon and a true 4-weight. One tip has been rewrapped and there are two or three guide feet (only one foot of those guides) that appear to have been redone on the other sections. The varnish displays minor areas of melt with some bag texture in a few small areas. There might be some over varnish that was beautifully rubbed out. It appears the ferrule on one section was rewrapped. Considering that the Darbees often kept their rods on the back porch, this rod has held up fairly well.

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