Have the same two or three favorites as ever and don't expect them to change, all built from blanks: Fisher 8.5' for 6-7 line (25 years), Fisher 8' for 5 line, and I might a count Fisher 7 1/2' for 5 line. I am really enjoying a Cortland ProCrest 8' for 5-6 that I got recently but I don't think, by definition, I could have 10 favorites although in all of these lengths and weights I have others--Sceptre, Conolon, and some graphite, that I like a lot. The Conolon 8' for 6 is a heck of a rod (I have two of them so I sold a Fenwick FF806 and don't miss it a bit), but I wouldn't call these favorites, nor a Sceptre 8.5 for 6-7 that I think is the best of its type ever made in 'glass. I still wouldn't call it a favorite.
A man can't have that many or they aren't favorites. I want for nothing in fly rods; the only way I'd be seeking/changing would be if I started fishing in dramatically different conditions than typical. For example, I'm sure I could find a more amenable graphite rod in 9' for 8 or even 'glass in 8 1/2' for 8 than the 9' Sceptre for 8 I've had about 35 years. That's a heck of a rod I like pretty well but I don't fish that line weight much, so I wouldn't call it a favorite. I hardly ever fish brooks anymore or I'd have a 7' Sceptre, which would be an immediate favorite.
You can only have one favorite per type of fishing condition, I say. But you could have three if you want, see, but if you had four favorite conditions, you would have 12 favorites, not 10. Oh, if you went with 2 favorites (in defiance of the dictionary) per condition, and you had 5 preferred conditions, that would be ten, for an extremely unique and more than perfect collection. That must be what Duff is driving at. You really can't do that, but I see where it is fun to go for it anyhow.
Look, there's a Fenwick yellow 8 1/2' for 6, a really fine rod, but not a favorite because the Sceptre is a hair better, and that isn't a favorite either. The Fenwick could easily be a favorite--it's that good--if a man didn't have a Sceptre or a Fisher in the same line weight. You couldn't call all three favorites; that would be a stretcher as to one or the other according to the true favorite that only your casting arm knows.
This is a favorite for me
And this is the other favorite
Those two are my ten. The rest are just good rods.
Posted: 07 May 2012, 18:02 • 
one of the latest acquisitions is the Winston Stalker 7½’ 3wt, and even it’s so far been fished only a few times it’s already my favourite small stream rod ... some new rods still on order, including Fred’s the One, Shane’s S-glass and Matt’s Heirloom-Kaneglass and I’m hoping all of them will find their way to the top10-list for 2013… this will never end, but it's good to know there are other rod junkies out there. Thanks Duff! 
9' 4 piece 6 wt. Scott G graphite rod 9) 7 1/2' Orvis "Midge" cane rod 10) 8' 6 wt. 4 1/8 oz. Orvis Battenkill cane rod. Not always in this particular order, but I find I enjoy using these rods quite a bit 
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