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A fascinating review of the graphite favorites before they progressed up through the IM designations. I guess in my first reply I didn't pick up on the interest in "classic" graphite as such, as opposed to graphite rods with a comparatively "slow" action, of which there are many today in the "starter" rod category or in the lower priced blanks in the 30,000 modulus range. The basic type is easy to come by in modern rods. I have an 8 1/2' for 4/5 on a no-name blank that is as smooth, progressive and "slow" as graphite gets.

The comparatively "slow" feel is partly a function of length. Thus in the early days, graphite rods for a given line weight were generally 6'' to 1' longer than a comparable 'glass rod. The better dampening and lighter weight of graphite made these longer rods possible, and while any graphite was stiffer than 'glass, the longer length "slowed" the rod down so it didn't feel too dramatically different. The early Scotts were among the best of the type, and then came the Fisher-made Winstons. Ironically, Fenwick's "HMG" stood for High Modulus Graphite, yet some of those will feel quite slow compared to modern IM-designated rods. I almost turned down a give-away 7 1/2' HMG for 5/6 until I picked it up to discover it felt relatively "slow," more so than a Sage 7 1/2' for 4/5 I have, that is also "slow" for graphite. These are nice comfortable rods to fish.

In the late '70s Scientific Anglers lent me a System 5 'glass while I awaited a replacement blank for a System 5 graphite I had built. I enjoyed the 'glass, which they offered as a replacement instead of another blank. Sometimes I wish I'd kept it, but the longer graphite actually had a slower, more progressive feel than the 'glass, so I stayed with the graphite System 5 and fish it to this day. The system graphites of the time weren't the best of their type though, and the more recent no-name 8 1/2' I have is a more refined "slow" graphite rod.