I've been sorting through my rods, trying to select some rods to sell and I realized I have quite a few 7' 6" Phillipsons. I thought I would post a mini comparison between the one's I've had out in the back yard recently. It is based on casting over a brief period of time when no fishing was involved, so take it for what it is.

R76 (Royal, Eponite, 50's era tobacco glass) This is a great rod, and compares well against the other classic 50's era rods. The looks are distinctive with the red and green wraps over tobacco glass. I consider this a good 6 or 7wt rod. It will cast either, but this rod is very nice when it loads a bit deeper so I would say it is a better 7wt rod. It does have a bit of tip bounce.

Johnson Profile 400 (4F76). This is another Eponite blank, but painted a mustard yellow. It is also a 6/7 wt rod. This rod is a wonderful fast action 6wt rod, it casts as good as any 7'6" graphite rod, but it is heavier. I noticed no tip bounce that the R76 had. With a 7wt line on it, this rod loads a bit deeper, but it still isn't a slow rod. If you look at the old post: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=52258&p=232504 you will see other opinions that this rod might want a bit heavier line than the 6wt it's rated at.

G-MF76 (Green wraps on the Master, yellow, Scotchply with the metal ferrule). This rod is a fun rod to cast with both a 6wt and 7wt line. It loads deeper than the Profile 400 and is lighter, but it is slower and doesn't throw as tight a loop, but is a better roll cast and is more "fiberglassy" with a deeper bend. It seems like it should throw a lighter line, but it really isn't a 5wt.

DF76 (Deluxe, red blank with metal ferrule). This rod looks like the Master with a different paint job, but is a different taper. It is even slower and might cast a 5wt line (I didn't try it). If you slow down, it is fun with the 6wt line. It is even more limber than the master, and required a bit more slowing down.

The fickle nature of fiberglass is one that makes me hesitate to choose a favorite. As far as fishing tools go, the Johnson Profile 400 would be my choice if I wanted to fish a wide variety of locations/techniques. (and the R76 was a close second). However the Scotchply blanks are lighter and more fun to cast.

Today it was the G-MF76 that just put a smile on my face. Though I'm sure that it would be a different rod on a different day.

I didn't have a Glass (sleeved) ferrule 7' 6" or a spigot ferruled 3-m rod or a Epoxite to compare.

Does anyone else have a favorite Phillipson in this size?

[Edit: changed the references to Epoxite to scotchply per the update below.]

Profile 400 was Eponite (printed on the blank and on the wiki). Profile 600 and Profile 800 were Scotchply.

I'm not sure about the G-MF76 and the Deluxe. I thought it said Epoxite on the rods, but I just checked and don't see it.
Going back to old posts. You are right. I will update the original post.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4826#p30064

My buddy has the 5-wt Registered for his only glass rod.

I own a Phillipson DF76 "Swamp Fox". It is a favorite glass rod. It is slow but very smooth. It feels like casting a fine bamboo rod to me. I have the reel loaded with Cortland's 444 "Sylk" DT5 line.

something to note about soft tips is they give you control and accurate casting when fishing in close.

Casting distance is often over-rated in fly fishing, though this, too is a quality of Phillipson rods.

as a rule, I find both 7' and 8' Phillipsons superior to the 7'6"

+1 of the Swamp Fox. It's my dedicated smallie rod as of right now.

What amazed me when casting 4 different rods was how they were similar but all distinct. When I cast Fenwick 8' 6wt's I find them very similar and they run together. The Phillipson's were all distinct. I really was expecting the Master and Deluxe to be the same, but they weren't.

Probably--I don't know this but I think one of you will--another change that resulted in different feel along with the use of different mandrels/tapers, was the fiber-to-resin ratio. I seem to recall that the later rods used a lighter composite formulation and coating than the earliest Phillipson's. I'm thinking that would change the more bamboo-like self-loading feel to a "crisper" feel, if nothing else because the blank itself was lighter. Just not sure, but users may know just experientially if not technically.

My only Phillipson is a 7'6" Registered Epoxite for a 5wt or 6wt. It looks just like the picture Bulldog posted above with two tips. It is a great caster with some backbone if needed. Anybody have any other observations about this rod? I have not fished it much...maybe it is because of the presence of the second tip...ominously hinting that I may need it some day.

here's my buddy Ewell putting his to work

You are most welcome. I had a bit of a Phillipson collection at one time and still am on the hunt for a couple of specific types of Registered Midges.

Merry Christmas

I have always had a soft spot for the Registered Epoxite
6’6” rod. There just seems to be something special about it.