(November 2009: sources the Fly Fishing Dictionary by Nobuyuki Kawano; Rolf Baginski's book Split-Cane Rods -- Bamboo Treasures )

Lyle Dickerson was originally a salesman in real easte and with the financial crisis 0f 1929 he lost his job. He thus begun building bamboo rods in 1931 starting on his own and without any help he mad his own planing form, milling machine and equipment.

His rods were of a different kind, stifter and with a faster action, excellent finish, which eventually got noticed in 1937 in a book (Just Fishing by Ray Bergman ).

He had two pupils: Thomas Bedford and Bob Summers. When he retired, he sold his business to the former who then sold it to James Schaff (co-founder of Esquire magazine with Arnold Gingrich who said once that "Dickerson's rod is a Guarneri of dry fly action, and Paul Young's rod is a Stradivarius of semi parabolic action.")

Lately, the whole original lyle Dickerson's shop has been bought by John Pickard who is resuming bamboo rod crafting in the Detroit area from the same premises of lyle Dickerson.

From a Lang's auction 2007 catalogue

Great Dickerson 8' Model 8013 Trout Rod. Without a doubt,
rods by the late Lyle Dickerson are some of the most coveted rods
by the serious collector. This 2/2 rod made in 1948 is in excellent
original condition. The wraps are translucent orange tipped
black, the ferrules are oxidized to a copper color, the handle is
clean and solid and the reel seat is a screw down locking style with
walnut spacer. All sections are straight and full length, with the
tips made 1/4" longer than the butt. The ferrules need cleaning to
fully seat. A great Dickerson with its original bag and tube, with
the tube collar having a repairable split. ($3,500-$3,700)

Dickerson 7' 5" Trout Rod. This 2 pc, 2 tip rod is one of the most
sought after of the Dickerson models and is in very good condition.
It features brown wraps with black tipping, blued ferrules
and a screw down locking reel seat with walnut spacer. The original
owner's name is inked on the shaft. Serial #7613. The varnish
has a few hook digs but is solid. All sections are full and the tips
have slight fishing sets. The ferrules are a little loose but are still
functional. This great rod comes with its original bag and a
replacement tube. ($3,000-$3,500)

Wonderful 7' Dickerson Model 7011 Special. This 2/2 trout rod
is one of the most desirable of the Dickerson rods. It is in excellent
plus condition with only light soiling of the handle. The
wraps are translucent orange, including the 4 signature wraps on
the butt. It has the original owner's name, "John Boate 1952",
inked on the shaft, with "Dickerson 7011 Special". The reel seat is
redwood with aluminum cap and ring. Complete with the original
olive bag and tube. ($3,800-$4,200)

Dickerson, Lyle - Dickerson Rods - Undated but according to
Stein and Schaaf ’s book on Dickerson, this is the 1938 catalog.
Unpaginated with approx. 8 pages with black and white illustrations
on the front cover. Price list of 15 rods on the last two pages.
A Fine copy save for the private library sticker of the Jack
Eschenmann collection on the back cover. ($200-$400)

Book: Dickerson, the man and his rods

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