I know they're not very popular, but I'm looking for a taper for a 4 piece pack rod.  My brother will be spending some time out west this summer backpacking and I would like to build a rod for him.

I'm looking for something 7 - 7 1/2' in a 4 - 6 weight.  (Todd Grisier)

Phillipson Smuggler.  7.5' 4 piece six weight.  (Pete Van Schaack)

I've just started a four piece. I had decided to base it on the Payne 101 taper. I have only got to the rough planing stage, so it's not too late to change. Does anyone know for sure if the .292 dimension at 75 inches is real or could it be a typo?. I also wondered if the dimensions for the 70 and 75 inch stations might have been transposed?-   (David Kennedy)

Here are the #'s for my Payne 101. It's an early one, 5 thousandths has been subtracted for varnish.

1" = .065
5" = .091
10" = .101
15" = .117
20" = .131
25" = .145
30" = .155
35" = .170
40" = .181
43.5" = .186 at the ferrule
47" = .212
50" = .218
55" = .232
60" = .248
65" = .267
70" = .285
75" = .309
80" = .344 rest under cork.  (Dennis Higham)

The South Bend #291 is a good 6wt 4pc pack rod. I think it was John Dotson who posted the taper to the list a couple of months ago. I have cast an original and found it to be a strong wind bucking 7 1/2' rod capable of fishing weighted nymphs as well as streamers. I believe this taper as well as the taper for the 7 1/2' 2 piece #290 were developed by Wes Jordan during his tenure @ South Bend. If you decide on this one and don't have the taper let me know and I'll send it to you.  (Will Price)

I've done a little bit of experimenting with 4 piece backpacking rods, one of the surprising things I've found is that some of the faster 2 piece tapers also make very good 4 piece tapers. I converted a 2 piece Cattanach 7042 into a 4 piece and I liked it as a 4 piece. The 7042 is a 4 weight that tends to lean towards a 5 weight, and as a 4 piece it seems better as a 5 weight. If cutting a 2 piece into a 4 piece goes against your sensibilities Wayne does have a 7043 (3 piece) which is beefed up a little bit to handle the extra weight of the extra ferrule, it will handle being converted into a 4 piece very well.  (Darryl Hayashida)