[Rookiespey]

Whoohoo!
I'm so pumped. I just picked up my B&W Walker 13'6" 8wt.
It is the first 4 pc rod made in this rod line!
I was at the Michael and Young's spey clave in late February. I spent all 7 hours with Gene at the clave.

I cast every rod he brought, lol.

I just kept coming back over and over to this one rod. It was so sweet and with the rivers I fished most, this was my favourite length and line weight.

So I discussed the build with Gene and he confirmed that B&W could do a 4pc build. I was stoked.

Months and quite a few protos later I get a call from Gene saying it's done and on it's way. I thought it was a reasonable amount of time considering a 4 pc had not been made before but Gene surprises the heck out of me and the rod shows up with tippings! Gene and B&W are class acts all the way!

It gets to Xgolfy's and I head down to pick it up. We put the 3 pc and 4 pc together and wiggle test them. They are damn near identical.
Now I'm just jacked!

I have not had a chance to line her up but will in the next few days.
Going to try a few lines on her including an 8/9 Carron and an 8/9 45' Winter Authority.

I'll post a review when I get a chance to cast her.

Here's a pic for now.

 

[xgolfman]

the fact that they made you what you wanted...in the color you wanted (copycat)
at no additional fee and it turned out so well speaks volumes about what a great company they are and what a great guy Gene is to work with...

My only regret is EVERY damn one of them becomes my favorite and it's hard to choose which one to fish..

I was able to try briefly the 12'4 8/9 powerlite on Sat. Like all B&W's it is an amazing cannon of a rod...I stopped at 45' of normal running line out on a 45' w.a. with dry tip on...then switched to the heaviest tip i had..a type 8 RIO and it freaking bombed that..but fished so nicely normally...

I didn't want to go any further as I like MY 13'6 so much and it doesn't need competition..LOL..

(my 13'6 on bag and 12'4 on river...bombs away)

 

[Rookiespey]

@ xgolfman - lmao. That's why I got the 4pc.

@ malacarba - couldn't tell ya the weight. But it doesn't feel noticeably heavier than my 7139-4 Burkie or my previous 13'6" Meiser s rod.

 

[longrodangler]

Very envius,:Eyecrazy: one day .its that the scandinavian that B&W makes?

 

[tyfish]

Sweet looking stick Ed let Me know what you line it up with
But you guys are doing to much with these B&W
Lol

 

[Rookiespey]

Lol.
I hear ya Ty. Loving these sticks.

@ longrodangler this is the Walker series. Not sure about the scandi, but it throws a heck of a lot of line with the Nextcast heads.

 

[xgolfman]

they make a shooting head series that I would bet would be perfect for that...Gene would know for sure..

 

[Tyke]

I was fishing the Spey 3 weeks ago & the gillie had a 14ft 6in Walker as a demonstrator, I couldn't resist having a go & for my taste I would have preferred to line it with a slightly longer & fractionally heavier line - but it was a beautiful rod to cast!

I only tried it with a floater & poly-tip, but you could feel the reserves of power down in the blank & the tip lifted the line from the water with ease without overly deflecting - so I'm sure it would also make a superb rod for sunk line fishing, I even liked the colour.

Now I'm not one for bling on rods; I like matt finishes, plain whippings & a fuji reel seat [which fits everything & holds a reel very securely] is fine by me - I guess I'm a function over form sort. Following this I have a few of the Norway Speycaster series & a Powerlite speycaster blank which B&W made up with a Norway build for me - it was much cheaper too, being only about £10 more than the list price of an equivalent Norway at the time.

To be fair the peach of the Norway range is the 13 footer, it is a beaut & handles almost anything including 33-36 gram [500- 560 grain] scandi heads, but excells with a 55-65 ft Speyline. I have the 3 piece & it has survived a lot of use [& abuse] & still is my "take anywhere rod".

They cost a lot less than the Powerlite or Walker series so for someone looking to try the B&W's the Norway's represent a good functional choice without such a big price tag - if you really must have bling you can always buy an aerosol of gold paint!

Regards, Tyke.

 

[Rookiespey]

To each their own I guess.
I like the extras on my rod. Like personalizing it.
Kind of like diff options on my truck. I like like the ac, power options and auto trans. Works just as well with manual windows , no ac and standard trans...but not my thing.

Cheers.

 

[bigwilly]

Ya I'm with you Ed. I can't stand looking at a plain jane boring rod. If i'm spending that much on a rod I want a bit of style. Life's to short.

My 13'6. Have an all gold Olson coming to match it!

 

[Rookiespey]

Ya I'm with you Ed. I can't stand looking at a plain jane boring rod. If i'm spending that much on a rod I want a bit of style. Life's to short.

My 13'6. Have an all gold Olson coming to match it!

Haven't seen that combo before Will.
Very cool how B&W let's you customize the way you want it.