The Waterworks Lamson Centre Axis Rod & Reel

The Waterworks Lamson Centre Axis Rod & Reel …

Effortless Accuracy …

Cast off your preconceptions of fly rod design. The Center Axis may be the most meaningful advancement in fly rod performance since graphite replaced fiberglass all those decades ago. By closely aligning the center mass of our Litespeed reel with the center axis of our rods, we’ve de-levered the mass of the heavier object. The result will amaze you. You’ll feel the pulse of your cast like never before. Don’t take our word for it. Put the Center Axis in your hand. Casting is believing.

No matter how effective the Center Axis is at reducing reel-induced inputs, the system can only be as good as the rod it’s fitted to.  Our freshwater rods are designed to be versatile, accurate, fun to cast and honest to their line weight.  We think a 5 weight that needs to be over-lined to load short isn’t really a 5 weight.  A versatile rod trades a little line speed for the ability to form D-loop casts and project loop symmetry in a variety of conditions.  It’s a balancing act from a design standpoint, but we think you’ll be impressed with the results.

Our saltwater rods seamlessly blend a solid lower section with a crisp, energetic and lively tip, easily and intuitively generating line speed and clean, smooth loops.  All saltwater rods are outfitted with hard wearing composite top grips, titanium stripper guides and anodized aluminum double up-locking reels seats, and come in our signature flay sky grey colour with cobalt blue accents.

FLY RODS, RE-ENVISIONED …

CAST OFF YOUR PRECONCEPTIONS:

In 1995, when we were taking a critical look at fly reels, we were also looking at rods and reels as a system. What we saw didn’t seem optimal. No matter how great the rod, one key fact compromises it: 2/3rds of the total weight you’re casting is the reel. And that heavier object hangs off-center from the rod’s axis.

We realized that if you shifted the mass of the reel along the rod’s axis, most of the twisting force generated during casting would be eliminated.

We did that, and in ’97 licensed our concept and design to Sage, calling it Center Axis.

Some ideas are ahead of their time. In 1997, we were very busy promoting the strange idea that fly reels should have large arbors, so it’s understandable that a complete re-structuring of the rod-reel system was a league too far.

But ideas find their moment. For the Center Axis, we think that moment has arrived.

THE REEL PROBLEM:

Imagine casing with a reel mounted 12-inches below the rod.  The reel would create pendulum and twisting forces. On a smaller scale, the same forces are at work with the standard rod/reel configuration. On your backcast, you want to feel the decelerating line load the rod, not the force required to hold the reel straight. Your hand informs the brain about timing and position so the measured energy you put into the rod happens at the right instant—at the perfect amplitude and arc to send the loop sailing. While searching for the rhythm and feedback from the rod and line, the last thing you need is the reel swinging around and creating background static.