For Sale- Very rare 7’ Dickerson 7011 lightweight
Dickerson only made four of these lightweight 2 ¼ oz. 7011s which are true 3 weights; the only 3 weights he made aside from one 6 footer. All four were made during a short period from 1951-53. This rod has Dickerson’s typical brown wraps with black tipping. It is marked in Lyle’s handwriting: Dickerson 7ft. 2 pc 2 ¼ oz. on one flat and James H. Campbell 1952 on another flat. It has a small cigar grip and rare knurled aluminum slide-band reel seat with reddish wood (mahogany?) mortised spacer. Lightly swelled butt section, tight spiral wrap winding at the grip with no keeper, and an opaque white agate stripping guide. Original light olive bag and original tube with a Dickerson-made black plastic collar and cap. Ordered by Mrs. Douglas Campbell on 11/28/1951 for James H. Campbell. Original cost was $65.
Condition report: One tip is short the length of a tip top reset (1/4”) and has a non-original chromed Perfection tip-top. The butt section has remnants of two pieces of 1” electrical tape on each side of the signature wraps which were added to measure fish, resulting in dried tape adhesive on the varnish surface which should be easily removed. Otherwise, very good original condition.
Price is $6200+ Registered & insured shipping. This rod is being offered for shipment within the USA only. Bank check or money order accepted. Other forms of payment considered on a case by case basis with incurred fees payed by the buyer.
This rod has been in the same Michigan family since the mid 1960s when it was purchased from the original owner. The very cool story, as relayed from the daughter of the 2nd owner, is as follows:
Around 1965, I was probably about 10 years old, when I went with my dad to a house in downtown Detroit to look over a fishing rod a man had for sale. It was a bamboo rod that the seller said Lyle Dickerson had made for him. I can’t remember how much my dad paid him for it but I do remember him making me promise not to tell my mother how much it was.
During the short time he owned it (he died at 50 in 1974), he treated this rod as his most treasured possession. He used it sparingly, typically using one he could risk damaging, but I remember being with him on the Au Sable and Black rivers when fishing with this masterpiece made him as happy as a man can be.
After his death my mom gave away most of his fishing gear to a cousin who she knew liked to fish. But I knew how much this rod meant to my dad, and the memories of him with it meant so much to me. I confess that I took this from his stash of fishing gear and hid it in my closet before my cousin came to claim his booty. That was 49 years ago. For many years I harbored visions of learning how to fly fish and I planned to use this in his honor. But, alas, that is not going to happen. I’ve finally come to the point where I can part with it and be content with the memories. I’d really like someone to purchase it who will not only appreciate the skill of the maker but hopefully, its provenance as well.
Email dickerson.rods@gmail.com
Please see photos below
