HL Leonard Centennial Commemorative Fly Rod 8'6" 3/2 #5

HL Leonard Centennial Commemorative Fly Rod 8'6" 3/2 #5A nice and very scarce H. L. Leonard "Centennial" rod, built in 1981 to commemorate Leonard's 100 years in Central Valley, NY. 8'6" in length, 3 piece, 2 tips, and built for a #5 line. These rods were underway at the tail end of my time at Leonard and I remember the planning that went into them. Originally the company intended on producing 50 of these rods, but ended up only producing 38. This rod is #8 of the series and the original owner's name is

The bag is the original olive poplin with the hang tag intact

likely from Jim Payne's own hand

For sale here is a RL Winston catalog from 1995

4 1/2" diameter with capacity for a DT11F & 150 yds of 20# backing

Those sideplates are anodized black and the frame

For sale here is a 3" Hardy St

small stain to rear blank pages

Rods of this quality do not often change hands on the open market

or (fingers crossed) a bigger fish

possibly unused

Rod shafts are coated with spar varnish

The 6" long cork grip is styled to a western profile with a hidden pocket cap