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Updates
50th
Anniversary Update
Dad started
building split-cane fly rods in 1960. They have been
fished, treasured and sought after for fifty years
now. I consider this something that should be
celebrated and honored. My father is irreplaceable and
the knowledge he has passed to me is something invaluable and
rare. For this, I am forever grateful. In honor
of the contribution he has made to the rod building
community, as represented by the plague pictured below, Dad surely deserves
to be honored for his innovation,
tool design, skill and true virtue. My intention was
to commemorate this special year by offering a limited
production of flame tempered, three piece,
rods. I hoped to call these Heirloom - something one passes
from generation to generation, just as Dad has passed his
craft to me. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I have
been unable to achieve this goal. Still, I am working
on some ideas to commemorate our 50th anniversary.
Please continue to check back often to follow my progress.
During the 2009 Colorado Conclave a
plaque
was passed from Mike Clark's hands into Ed Engle's, accepting
it on behalf of Dad and honoring him. I wish we
could have been to received it, but health concerns with Dad
kept us from doing so. There are far too many people to thank,
Mike Clark, Kathy, Ed Engle and Mike Sinclair for all of
their efforts to honor Dad I'm sure I have left
some folks out and sincerely apologize. Above is an imagine
of the text engraved on the plaque. Below is a photo
of the presentation from Mike Clark to Ed Engle.
Many thanks to
Michael Simon for the new graphic on our home page. He
graciously contributed the print depicting the
Jenkins Signature Rod. Please visit his new website at
www.michaelsimonanglingart.com
for some of the finest
angling art available from a terrifically talented man.
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The Jenkins Signature Rod
After a good bit
of discussion, debate, analysis and consideration of past
and present rods, Dad and I have decided on what we feel is
the most authentic representation of the Jenkins cane fly
rod. Since the rods that Dad built his reputation on,
beginning in 1960, were oven tempered, it was an easy
and unanimous choice that it should remain this way.
Dad's original and time-tested GA tapers are still the
standard. Also, since his designs were meant to function optimally
in a two piece format, we have decided that this will be
what we currently offer.
Jenkins Signature rods will be equipped with our 6", bullet shaped, Flor
grade grip, bright nickel silver cap and
ring reel seat with our traditional, mortised, Cherry wood
arbor, nickel silver ferrules and bright chrome guides and tip tops. Keeping with
our belief that, "simplicity is its own form of
beauty", wraps will now be a translucent beige with
dark chestnut brown winds at the ferrule stations.
Snake Brand Guides
are offered as an optional upgrade.
"The
rod arrived on Monday. What a work of art!! It
was worth the wait to own a Jenkins rod for sure! You
must be proud to be carrying on the family tradition with
such talent. Once the dust settles on this end I would
like to order a 4wt from you.
Hope this finds you well! Thanks again for your
efforts! You certainly live up to your reputation!!
D.Q
- Webster, NY.
"Hello,
Charlie. I was not going to fish the "Charlie Rod", but at
the end of the season I broke down and went streamside with it. It fishes very
well & has the same traits as the newer rods that you & Steve have
crafted for me! I have owned 30 rods over the years... and after all the
road testing the Jenkins rods are my favorite. I must say the best traits of the
Jenkins rod, show up while fishing them! From the early rods crafted
by yourself, to the rods crafted by you and Steve, and to the rods Steve crafts
today they prove one thing to me. Like father, like son. You should
be damn proud."
M.C. - The Kickapoo
Valley
"I received
the rod yesterday, in perfect condition. The new cosmetics are
great. Thanks for your fine work and a beautiful rod."
J. B. - Garland, TX
cane
models
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Rod Repair & Restoration
As a result of our
recent relocation, work load and devotion to spending time
crafting the finest rod possible, we have initiated the following policy. We will only except repair or
restoration work to be done on Jenkins Rods. In the past,
we have offered these services to valued customers who needed it
on other trade name rods, but we honestly do not have the time
or resources to do this anymore. We regret the fact that
this new policy has to be enacted, but feel that it is only fair
to inform customers who desire these services that we no
longer provide them. Unfortunately, we can make no
exceptions to this new policy. For those
who are need of repair or restoration on other trade name rods, we suggest that you post a
inquiry on "Clark's Classic Fly Rod Forum" whose link is
provided below. There are plenty of competent craftsmen
participating in this forum who are extremely capable and willing
to take on the work.
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The ILS Reel Seat
The details of this story would take too long to explain. These reel seats
were the
result of over seven years of prototypes that I spent trying to
mill the components for on a small Sherline lathe,
driven by my fascination with Granger's internal up-locking
seat.
The endeavor turned into a something that was
much too
time consuming and impractical with the machinery and materials
that I had available. So, being determined to continue
with the idea to create an unique, internal, up-locking reel
with superior cosmetics, I contacted Al Bellinger who graciously
agreed to help with my idea. Along with Al and Richard Greene's
help, a limited number of the above pictured reel seats were
fabricated.
The Nickel-Sliver reel seat, shown above on the right, was beautiful, but limited by the fact
that the mortised arbor resulted in some limitations in the reel feet
it would accommodate. The round arbor, black anodized
Aluminum seat, shown above on the left, was much more user
friendly, but never seemed to develop much interest.
To make a long story short, my hope
to create a more esthetically attractive version of Granger's
original and innovative reel seat was pre-empted by the
introduction of Orvis' T3 and Zero Gravity graphite rods. I am
quite proud of the above pictured prototypes and it is my
hope to
continue this pursuit if time and financial resources allow.
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Contact
& Ordering Information
Contact Information
|
Steve Jenkins |
| 3728 W. Hamilton Avenue |
| Denver, CO 80236 |
| Phone: 303-936-0691 |
|
Email:
rodmaker@sopris.net
|
| or |
| C.W. (Charlie) Jenkins |
| 3112 South Vrain Street |
| Denver, CO 80236 |
Ordering Jenkins
Cane Rods
We make every effort
to craft the finest cane rod possible. As a result, customers should expect to
have to wait for their order to be completed. In fairness to anyone who would
like to own one of our cane rods we have adopted the following policy. If you
would like to order a rod please contact us at any of the sources listed in the
column to the left so we can discuss your request. All orders are honored
on a first received, first filled basis. Cane rods require receipt of a
non-refundable, $100.00 deposit. When your rod is near completion you will be
notified and billed. A $30.00 shipping and insurance charge will be added to the
final cost. Upon receipt of payment we will ship the rod to you. Payment is to
be made by Certified Check or Money Order. Personal checks require clearing
our bank account before shipping. The serial number of your rod will be
registered to you and kept in our records. If, after trying every means possible
to contact you, we do not receive a response after thirty days your rod will be
offered to the next customer or placed on our Available Rods page. Our current delivery time on new orders
is approximately six months.
Ordering Available Rods, Prototypes,
Etc.
If you
are interested in ordering an item from our Available Rod page, please
contact Steve Jenkins. You will be advised of a final balance
which includes shipping charges and insurance if desired. Upon
receipt of payment we will ship your item. Payment is to be
made by Certified Check or Money Order.
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Index
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Email:
rodmaker@sopris.net
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