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In keeping with our tradition of offering fine quality rods at affordable prices, Coldwater Collectibles proudly welcomes Don Recker to our stable of rod makers. If you have not yet heard of the Fort Jennings, Ohio maker, you will soon! Don is a retired machinist who also worked as a maintenance supervisor at the local high school near Fort Jennings. He has been honing his skills for the better part of the past decade in his shop down the road from his home. Don's rods are based on classic tapers designed by master makers of the past such as Dickerson, Leonard, Payne, Thomas, and Young and more recent makers such as Cattanach and Degere. They feature lightly flamed shafts with three around golden nodes, clear silk wraps tipped black and a beautifully executed glass-like varnish finish. Each rod is equipped with fine quality mildrum strippers, Pac-Bay light wire snakes, and Rush River nickel silver ferrules. Don uses extra-fine quality cork and beautiful hardwood burl reel seat spacers in box elder, black ash, amboina, maple, and the unique Buckeye burl fitted with the finest quality cap and ring and screw locking hardware. Each Recker rod comes with a brand new soft cloth bag and new aluminum tube. So whether you're out chasing brookies in the Smoky’s, rainbows and browns on the famed Au Sable, or cutts in and around Yellowstone, chances are good that one of Don's handcrafted rods will suit your needs. The following offerings are now available at Coldwater Collectibles:

SOLD Don Recker “Paul Young Midge” ~ 6' 3” ~ 2/2 ~ 2.7 oz. ~ 4 wt. ~ SN 1122 ~ NEW ~ If you have not yet heard of Ohio’s Don Recker, you will soon! Don is a retired machinist and barber who also worked as the maintenance supervisor at the local high school near Fort Jennings, Ohio. This finely tuned wand is based on the famous PHY Midge taper and features richly flamed cane with 3 around golden nodes, clear silks tipped black (one black wrap at the tip–top guide for Tip #1 and two for Tip #2) and is protected by perfectly executed glass-like varnish finish. TiCh stripper, chrome snakes and tip–tops. Quality N/S ferrules give a satisfying 'pop' when separated. Comfortable cigar grip and D/L’ing cap and ring seat with a black walnut burl spacer. Petite W/C. HK loop. Comes with a new fly print soft cloth bag and new aluminum tube. This small stream classic has a brisk medium-fast action and is a THE perfect choice for small streams. I really enjoyed casting it with a Cortland Peach WF-4 and DT-4. Proudly made in the USA.

Don Recker“Mad River Special” ~ 7' ~ 2/2 ~ 3.4oz. ~ 3/4wt. ~ NEW ~If you have not yet heard of Ohio’s Don Recker, you will soon! Don is a retired machinist and barber who also worked as the maintenance supervisor at the local high school near Fort Jennings, Ohio. This finely tuned wand is based on a proprietary taper Don developed while plying his waters in Ohio. It features beautifully flamed shafts with 3 around golden nodes, clear silks tipped black protected by perfectly executed glass-like varnish finish. Silver-housed agate stripper, chrome light-wire snakes and tip–tops. Tight fitting N/S ferrules give a nice 'pop' when separated. Comfortable cigar grip and beautifully figured amboina burl seat with D/L’ing N/S cap & ring hardware. Petite W/C. Comes with a new fly print soft cloth bag and new green wrinkle-finish aluminum tube with brass collar and water-tite cap . The progressive medium-fast action is a joy to cast and will easily handle dries and nymphs as well as a variety of small terrestrials. Perfect for small to medium-sized stream work and/or in tight quarters where a roll cast is the only option. This rod really sings for me when paired with a Cortland Sylk and/or Cortland Peach WF-4. Proudly made in the USA. $795

Don Recker “Tongue River Special” ~ 7' ~ 3/2 ~ 3.7oz. ~ 4wt. ~ NEW ~ If you have not yet heard of Ohio’s Don Recker, you will soon! Don is a retired machinist and barber who also worked as the maintenance supervisor at the local high school near Fort Jennings, Ohio. This finely tuned wand is based on a proprietary taper Don developed over time during his annual trips to Montana. It features beautifully flamed shafts with 3 around golden nodes, clear silks tipped black protected by perfectly executed glass-like varnish finish. Silver-housed agate stripper, chrome light-wire snakes and tip–tops. Tight fitting N/S ferrules give a nice 'pop' when separated. Comfortable cigar grip and beautifully figured amboina burl seat with D/L’ing N/S cap & ring hardware. Petite W/C. HK loop. Comes with a new fly print soft cloth bag and new green wrinkle-finish aluminum tube with brass collar and water-tite cap. The brisk medium-fast action throws a lovely line and would be perfect for dry fly work on small streams and/or in tight quarters. I found it to my liking when paired with a Cortland 444 Peach WF-4 and/or DT-4. Proudly made in the USA. $895

SOLD Don Recker “Driggs River Special” ~ 7' 2” ~ 2/2 ~ 3.7 oz. ~ 5 wt. ~ SN 1123 ~ NEW ~ If you have not yet heard of Ohio’s Don Recker, you will soon! Don is a retired machinist and barber who also worked as the maintenance supervisor at the local high school near Fort Jennings, Ohio. This finely tuned wand is based on the famous PHY Driggs River Special taper, so named for the river found in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It features lightly flamed carmel-colored cane with 3 around golden nodes, clear silks tipped black (one black wrap at the tip–top guide for Tip #1 and two for Tip #2) and is protected by perfectly executed glass-like varnish finish. Chrome-housed amber agate stripper, chrome snakes and tip–tops. Quality N/S ferrules give a satisfying 'pop' when separated. Comfortable cigar grip and beautiful cherry burl seat with polished N/S D/L’ing cap and ring hardware. Petite W/C. HK loop. Comes with a new fly print soft cloth bag and new aluminum tube. The stout medium-fast action is perfect for small to mid-sized streams where there is a premium on keeping large trout out of woody debris and from undercut banks.

Don Recker “Dickerson 7613” ~ 7.5' ~ 2/2 ~ 4.1oz. ~ 5wt. ~ NEW If you have not yet heard of Ohio’s Don Recker, you will soon! Don is a retired machinist and barber who also worked as the maintenance supervisor at the local high school near Fort Jennings, Ohio. This finely tuned wand is based on the famous Dickerson 7613 taper and features beautifully flamed shafts with 3 around golden nodes, clear silks tipped black protected by perfectly executed glass-like varnish finish. Silver-housed agate stripper, chrome light-wire snakes and tip–tops. Tight fitting N/S ferrules give a nice 'pop' when separated. Comfortable cigar grip and a beautifully figured amboina burl seat with D/L’ing N/S cap & ring seat hardware. Petite W/C. HK loop. Comes with a new fish print soft cloth bag and new brass capped aluminum tube with water-tite collar. The strong, quick action really sings when paired with a Cortland 444 Peach DT-5. Proudly made in the USA.$795

Don Recker “Young Martha Marie” ~ 7.5' ~ 2/2 ~ 4.1oz. ~ 5wt. ~ NEW If you have not yet heard of Ohio’s Don Recker, you will soon! Don is a retired machinist and barber who also worked as the maintenance supervisor at the local high school near Fort Jennings, Ohio. This finely tuned wand is based on the widely popular PHY Martha Marie taper and features beautifully flamed shafts with 3 around golden nodes, clear silks tipped black protected by perfectly executed glass-like varnish finish. Silver-housed agate stripper, chrome light-wire snakes and tip–tops. Tight fitting N/S ferrules give a nice 'pop' when separated. Comfortable cigar grip and a beautifully figured cherry burl seat with D/L’ing N/S cap & ring seat hardware. Petite W/C. HK loop. Comes with a new fish print soft cloth bag and new brass capped aluminum tube with water-tite collar. The fast action and stout butt is well-suited for a Cortland 444 Peach DT-5 and would be perfect for finessing dries and dry/dropper rigs into small targets on small to medium sized streams. Proudly made in the USA. $795

SOLD Don Recker “Dickerson 8013” ~ 8' ~ 2/2 ~ 4.9 oz. ~ 5 wt. ~ SN 1120 ~ NEW ~ This finely tuned rod crafted by the mature hands of Ft. Jennings, Ohio’s Don Recker is based on the Dickerson 8013 taper. It features beautifully flamed shafts with 3 around golden nodes, clear silks tipped black (one black wrap at the tip–top guide and male ferrule station for Tip #1 and two for Tip #2) protected by perfectly executed glass-like varnish finish. Chrome-housed amber agate stripper, chrome light-wire snakes and tip–tops. Quality N/S ferrules give a resounding 'pop' when separated. Comfortable cigar grip and U/L’ing N/S screw and slide hood seat with a beautiful stabilized birds-eye maple burl spacer. Petite W/C. HK loop. Comes with a new fly print soft cloth bag and new waterproof brass capped aluminum tube. The strong yet supple medium to medium-fast action is a joy to cast and will easily handle dries, nymphs, small hoppers and terrestrials. I liked it with a Cortland 444 Peach DT-5.

Occasionally, Don will offer an array of shop rods, demos and prototypes which are usually in like new condition. These rods may have been on display at shows/gatherings and test casted and/or lightly fished and are generally in like new condition.