Fishnbanjos Slice of Life in Cyberspace

Lyle L. Dickerson was quoted in the book by authors Dr. gerald Stein and rodmaker Jim Schaaf as saying "If the depression had never come along when it did, I probably never would have gone into the rodmaking business." I say the bamboo rod community would have been all the poorer had he not.



While Dickerson is most noted for his 2 pc fast series of rods his first rods were of 3 pc construction and while there are some fast rods in that series most were of moderate taper which Dickerson himself preferred.



It has been acknowledge that Dickerson published 2 catalogs in his career which were prompted by noted author of Trout, Ray Bergman, himslef a Dickerson afficinado. Bergman had been fishing near Dickersons home when they met and his favorite rod was a Leonard which he asked Dickerson if he could duplicate. Dickerson acknowledged that he could but in reality wasn't quite sure how he would accomplish the task but took it on in any event. When Bergman received the rod Dickerson made he was quite taken with Dickersons achievement which began a life-long singing the praise of his work and assistance in obtaining orders.



Living in the Detroit area Dickerson also got orders from some of the influential folks of the period, like Drs, dentists and the hard driving, fast paced executives of the auto industry.



The model descriptions below come from the 1938 and 1947 catalogs which Bergman was the force behind. The information I list as 1934 comes from an obscure circular that Dickerson made in 1934. This circular was unknown when the Dickerson book was published but both Dr Stein and Jim Schaaf now have copies I have supplied them which I had made up from my original. Research shows this circular was available upon request and was in a 1934 Paul Young Catalog, which had a section on Dickerson, this information first surfaced.



Models and information from the 1934 circular



7'6" 3 pc. for E line No. 761510



8' 3 pc. for E line No. 801510



8' 3 pc. for D line No. 801610



8'6" 3 pc. for D line No. 861711



8'6" 3 pc. for C line No. 861812



9' 3 pc. for D line No. 901711



9' 3 pc. for C line No. 901812



9'6" 3 pc for D line No. 961812



9'6" 3 pc. for C line No. 961913



Dickerson Models 1938 Catalog



3 pc rods



7'6" No. 761510 E line 3 3/4 ozs.



8' No. 801510 D line 4 1/4 ozs.



8' No. 801611 D line 4 1/2 ozs.



8'6" No. 861711 D line 4 3/4 ozs.



8'6" No. 861812 C line 5 ozs.



9' No. 901711 D line 5 1/4 ozs.



9' No. 901812 C line 5 1/2 ozs.



9'6" No. 961812 D line 5 3/4 ozs.



9'6" No. 961913 C line 6 ozs.



10' No. 102013 C line 6 3/4 ozs.



2 pc. rods



7' No. 7011 E line 3 1/4 ozs.



7'6" No. 7612 E line 3 3/4 ozs.



8' No. 8013 D line 4 ozs.



8'6" No. 8614 D line 4 1/2 ozs.



9' No. 9015 C line 5 ozs.



Dickerson Models 1947 Catalog



3 pc rods



7'6" No. 761510 E line 3 1/4 ozs.



8' No. 801510 D line 4 1/4 ozs.



8'6" No. 861711 D line 4 3/4 ozs.



9' No. 901711 D line 5 1/4 ozs.



9' No. 901812 C line 5 1/2 ozs.



9'6" No. 961812 C line



9'6" No. 961913 C line



2 pc. rods



7'6" No. 7612 E line 3 3/4 ozs.



8' No. 8013 D line 4 ozs.



8' No. 8014 C line 4 1/4 ozs.



8'6" No. 8614 D line 4 1/2 ozs.



All line sizes are for silk if using nylon use one size higher.