Like its smaller cousins, The Little River Series, the Rick Robbins Main Stem is a powerful fast rod. Reminiscent of the Wes Jordon eight footer, the H.L. Leonard 50 DF and Payne's famous Model 203, the Main Stem is designed to form the backbone of a bamboo rod collection.

Eight feet in length and carrying a number six line, the Main Stem is equally at home on the Delaware and the limestone creeks of Central Pennsylvania. With its three-piece construction coupled with fine dry fly tips, the Main Stem can throw a size 10 Humpy as well as protect 6x tippet attached to number 20 BWOs.

Were one to select but one dry fly trout rod, this would be the one to choose. The Main Stem comes with swelled butt construction, twin tips, honey blonde tempering, silk windings and tipping, nickel silver ferrules, mortised exotic wood reel seat with a central nickel silver inlay, and a nickel silver cap and ring.

In addition to the standard Main Stem, the Main Stem Plus is available and comes with a more powerful butt section for extra reach on larger rivers or with larger flies. The Main Stem Plus also carries a weight 6 line. It is the work horse model of this line.

Also new to the Main Stem line is the Main Stem V and the Main Stem 7.5V. In the Main Stem tradition, these rods are designed to be powerful casters that are at home on a variety of stems. Both carry a V weight line. The Main Stem V is offered in three-piece while the Main Stem 7.5V is a two-piece rod. These two rods are fast becoming my favorite models.