A nice George Maurer (Sweetwater Rods) "Trout Bum" model fly rod, 8', 2-piece, 2-tip, and built for a #6 line. Serial. #001-A. This rod was made for John Gierach and is accompanied with a letter from John to the new owner. This rod was made as a replacement for John, as the original was stolen, which he chronicled in the "Lost Rod" chapter in "Another Lousy Day in Paradise." In the letter John notes that he is selling it because he wanted a three-piece rod to better accommodate his travel. This rod, being the replacement for the first stolen rod which was serial "001", is marked "001-A". It weighs 5.8 ounces on my scale. Semi-parabolic action, flexing well down the rod shaft. The rod bears the inscription "For the original Trout Bum, John Gierach". Light wheatstraw cane with dark brown burn spots to give it the appearance of Calcutta cane.  Very dark maroon main wraps, with a carbide stripper and black snake guides. Some minor wear to the inner snakes, a bit of cracking at the ferrule wraps, and the grip is fairly well tanned. The swiss-style ferrules are oxidized. "Bum" is inscribed just above the ferrule on each tip. The grip is 6 1/2" long and sculpted to a heavy western profile with a hidden pocket cap. The seat is an uplock screwlock made of nickel silver., and the mortised spacer is some kind of unvarnished burl wood. There is no die stamp on the hardware. The rod packs into a tan cloth bag with a stiffener, and has a Sweetwater Rods logo on it. The tube is brown painted aluminum with brass fittings. A neat opportunity to acquire a rod owned by the original trout bum.

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