Winter 2020
Last year was exciting for me from a rod design and build standpoint. I built rods ranging from a 8'3" two piece, two weight to a 8'3" piece three weight. This is my favorite rod for Michigan fishing from late spring through fall. It handles a variety of flies from brown drake spinners to tricos with finesse and directness. Light in the hand, very precise and accurate, it handles large browns quite easily. Little brookies feel pretty good too! Incredibly, these wonderful dry fly rods only weigh 2.75-2.80 ounces, complete in the three piece configuration
Last year was exciting for me from a rod design and build standpoint. I built rods ranging from a 8'3" two piece, two weight to a 8'3" piece three weight. This is my favorite rod for Michigan fishing from late spring through fall. It handles a variety of flies from brown drake spinners to tricos with finesse and directness. Light in the hand, very precise and accurate, it handles large browns quite easily. Little brookies feel pretty good too! Incredibly, these wonderful dry fly rods only weigh 2.75-2.80 ounces, complete in the three piece configuration

For the last of these rods, I had an idea to make a rod with more "feel." To do so, the taper was reduced by the grasp. The feel was dramatic, but not in a bad way. The line speed was still high with nice tight loops and good turn over with maintaining a lovely smooth casting character to fish those subtle risers in difficult conditions. I was extremely happy with how it turned out and will be making more rods with this taper in the future!
I finally produced some 8' and 8'3" two piece two weights. Some even had staggered ferrules! These have size reduced reel seats and diminutive grasps that are not dainty. Between the two different tips, one can fish anything from a 10 foot cast to crisp casts over 40 feet. These exquisite light fishing rods are tools, not toys! They really shine in the slow flowing rivers of late summer and fall. Under those conditions, precise presentation of small dry flies is essential for success. These rods make that feel not only possible, but pleasant!
I finally produced some 8' and 8'3" two piece two weights. Some even had staggered ferrules! These have size reduced reel seats and diminutive grasps that are not dainty. Between the two different tips, one can fish anything from a 10 foot cast to crisp casts over 40 feet. These exquisite light fishing rods are tools, not toys! They really shine in the slow flowing rivers of late summer and fall. Under those conditions, precise presentation of small dry flies is essential for success. These rods make that feel not only possible, but pleasant!
Summer 2018 Update
The summer of 2018 is half over, and all but one of the 8'6", 3 pc, 4 and 5 weights have been delivered. Presently, the 9', 4 and 6 weights are in production. They weigh 3.1-3.3 oz and cast wonderfully. This rod is a perfect big-spring creek rod (i.e. Henry's Fork), but works really well on small meadow streams also. The first 5 wt. to come off the line was declined and a friend who cast it said "I have to have this rod", though he had no plans to own one. Light in the hand, not tip-heavy as many 9' rods are, and one that casts a tight loop both close and far best describes this rod. Very few 9' rods have these characteristics. One or two of these may be available in the early fall. I loved the 8', 3-wt, 3 piece that I built for myself so much, I am planning to build some more this fall and winter. The cane has been tempered and split for these. Several will be available later this year!
The summer of 2018 is half over, and all but one of the 8'6", 3 pc, 4 and 5 weights have been delivered. Presently, the 9', 4 and 6 weights are in production. They weigh 3.1-3.3 oz and cast wonderfully. This rod is a perfect big-spring creek rod (i.e. Henry's Fork), but works really well on small meadow streams also. The first 5 wt. to come off the line was declined and a friend who cast it said "I have to have this rod", though he had no plans to own one. Light in the hand, not tip-heavy as many 9' rods are, and one that casts a tight loop both close and far best describes this rod. Very few 9' rods have these characteristics. One or two of these may be available in the early fall. I loved the 8', 3-wt, 3 piece that I built for myself so much, I am planning to build some more this fall and winter. The cane has been tempered and split for these. Several will be available later this year!

Then this happened... I finally decided to design-build a long 2 wt!!! I'd been thinking about it for several years and kept putting it off. Well, I finally started it and could hardly sleep until I got it done! 8'3", 2pc, 2 wt - 1.95 oz, reduced and refined - reel seal and grasp minimalist in all areas, this is as light as I can build a rod. You may ask, "how does this cast" - using a WF2F by SA, it's so precise at 10' and 25' that it is scary and still very capable at 35-40' as well. On its maiden voyage, it landed a 17" brown on a #14 brown drade spinner, so it's not designed for small fish and small flies! Some rods of this style will be available late winter or the following spring.
I hope you enjoy fishing your Hanson Rods as much as I enjoy designing and building them!
I hope you enjoy fishing your Hanson Rods as much as I enjoy designing and building them!