The Yellowstone Park Foundation has put together a nifty rod and trip raffle package to benefit their Native Fish Conservation Program.
A $25 ticket puts you in the running for the drawing to be held 1 October 2016 for the $10,000 package.
Jerry Madigan of Legacy Fly Rods (Madigan Rods) has specially constructed two gorgeous special production rods – my YPF contact did not provide specifics on the tapers, etc; we’ve reached out to Jerry Madigan to ask for details and will update when available. The rods are currently being held at Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone and can be viewed anytime.
Added bonus – you need not be present to win.
The package also includes a three day excursion to the Silver Tip Ranch on Slough Creek along the border of Yellowstone and Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.
Purchase tickets in person at Blue Ribbon or via JD Davis at the YPF. You can also pay by either going to the Yellowstone Park Foundation’s donation page – make sure you state your donation is for the raffle (or mention in the “gift comments” on the online form) or mail your payment to 222 East Main Street, Suite 301, Bozeman, Montana 59715.
Update –
Here’s more detail on the rods from Jerry this morning.
Two hand-made Tonkin Cane rods are included in the raffle. The rod tapers selected result from the 23 years of fishing Yellowstone waters by the rod maker. Each rod will fit your Yellowstone Park fishing adventures like a glove.
Both rods are of the 3-piece, 2- tip configuration making them easy to transport to your destination, including the Silver Tip Ranch.
Both rods are conservatively hollow-built to enhance the crispness and responsive of the actions.
The rods were flamed to a medium tone and wrapped in fine silk wraps. The stripping guides have coordinating agate rings and snake guides are the finest made from Snake Brand.
Rod 1
Rod 1 is an 8 foot rod carrying a 5-weight line for most anglers. The action is medium-fast and performance in the wind is exceptional. This rod will be at home on any Park stream on very windy days and is particularly suited to Yellowstone Lake, Gallatin River, Yellowstone River and Madison River. It is also ideal for the Madison and Gallatin outside of the park.
Wraps are antique gold with coffee-colored single-thread trim. The tips are differentiated by one single trim at the tip-top on one and two single-thread trim wraps at the tip-top on the other.
The grip and reel seat spacer were shop-made from a single billet of Thuya Burl in a fashion similar to the grip on the classic Heddon Model 60.
Rod 2
Rod 2 is a 7.5 foot rod carrying a 4-weight line for most anglers. The rod also responds very well to a Phoenix 5DT silk line according to the rod maker. Again, the action is medium fast, but with a slightly lighter touch and added flex lower in the blank to enhance roll-casting performance. This rod is the ideal configuration for most park streams and will be a necessary companion on the Silver Tip outing. Not to worry, trout up to 26 inches have been efficiently landed on this taper.
Wraps are salmon-pink with dark rose tipping. The tips are differentiated by the dark rose trim tip-top wrap on one and the salmon-pink trim tip-top wrap on the other.
The grip and reel seat spacer were shop-made from a single billet of Madrone Burl in a custom shape.
More details.
The nickel silver ferrules were from Bailey Woods and considered by many the finest made today. The ferrules were blued and are protected by an industrial metal protectant.
Both of the rod tapers feature a swell just north of the grip. The rod 2 butt illustrated above sports the more dramatic swell.
The shop-made hook keeper and winding check are also nickel silver.
The intermediate wraps on both butt sections are functional as they can be used to measure your catch. From butt to the front of the grip is 10” and wraps indicate 14”, 18” and 22”. The stripping guides are 26” from the butt.
Reel seat hardware was shop-made from nickel silver solid stock and dimensioned specifically to support and coordinate with deep engraving.
Engraving was performed by a professional engraver specializing in custom-made jewelry and collector knives. The inscription and font on the butt match that on the rod tube cap.
The reel seats are both up-locking and down-locking in design providing flexibility in angler preference and rod balance.
