Fishnbanjos Slice of Life in Cyberspace

Paul Young was born in Arkansas, he and his family moved to Minnesota for a brief period and settled in Michigan in Detroit. Paul always had the outdoors in his heart as hunting and various sporting habits, which included fishing of course, had him learning taxidermy and opening a shop in Detroit where he had great success mounting hunting and fishing trophys for his fellow sportsman.



Around the early 1920's Paul acquired a set of "V" blocks and from reading a book on rod making began a career of more than 40 years as maker. The rod makers task was aleays a slow and methodical one employing the use of "V" blocks and planes and since Paul would not rush the process to simply cut corners while making his rods he sought alternatives to supplying his demanding customers needs. Paul made contractural commitments with the South Bend Rod Company, E. W. Edwards & Sons and Heddon Rod Co. Most of these rods were marked as Prosperity and Depression rods and with this information in mind I will offer you a look from 2 of my Paul H. Young catalogs where the model information is gleaned. The first catalog is from 1941 and the second the mid 50's.



1941 Catalog of Models



Dry Fly Special



Offered in 7'6",8',8'6" and 9' lengths.



Ace Dry Fly Rod



7'6"----4 ozs.----------3--pc--2--tips



8'----4 1/4 ozs.--------3--pc--2--tips



8'6"--4 1/2-4 3/4 ozs.--3--pc--2--tips



9'----4 7/8-5 1/2 ozs.--3--pc--2--tips



9'6"--5 3/4 ozs.--------3--pc--2--tips



Prosperity Fly Rod



7'6"--3 3/4 ozs.--------3--pc--2--tips



8'----4 1/4 ozs.--------3--pc--2--tips



8'6"--5 ozs.------------3--pc--2--tips



9'--5 1/2 ozs.----------3--pc--2--tips



9'---6 ozs.-------------3--pc--2--tips



9'---6 1/4 ozs.---------3--pc--2--tips



9'6"-6 1/4 ozs.---------3--pc--2--tips



Depression Rod



7'6"-3 3/4-4 ozs.-------2--pc--2--tips



8'---4 1/2 ozs.---------2--pc--2--tips



8'6"-5 ozs.-------------2--pc--2--tips



9'---5 3/4 ozs.---------2--pc--2--tips



9'6"-6 ozs.-------------2--pc--2--tips





CA 1955-1958 catalog



The Midge



6'3"--1 3/4 ozs.--------2--pc--1--tip



The Perfectionist



7'6"--2 1/2 ozs.--------2--pc--2--tips



The Driggs



7'2"--2 7/8 ozs.--------2--pc--2--tips



The Martha Marie



7'6"--3.37 ozs*---------2--pc--2--tips



7'6"--3.65 ozs**--------2--pc--2--tips



*=with skeleton seat

**=with screwlock seat



The Parabolic 15 (K.T. Keller)



8'----3 3/4 ozs.--------2--pc--2--dry fly tips



8'----4 ozs.------------2--pc--2--wet fly tips



Also available with 1 wet and 1 dry fly tip



The Boat Rod aka the Encampment Special or Guides Model



8'----4 ozs.------------2--pc--2--tips



The Texan



8'6"--4.85 ozs.---------2--pc--2--tips



The Texas General



8'6"--5 1/2 ozs.--------2--pc--2--tips



The Parabolic 17



8'6"--5.40 ozs.---------2--pc--2--tips



The Bob Doerr



9'----6 ozs.------------2--pc--2--tips



The Florida Special



No Length listed, 6.65-6.75 ozs-2-pc-2-tips and fixed fighting butt



The Powerhouse



9'6"--7.15-7.25 ozs.----2--pc--2--tips