Super Parabolic Fly Rods - Split Cane
In 2024, we acquired the stock of split cane blanks, ferrules, and components that had been made by Pezon et Michel of Amboise, France, whose factory closed in 1999.
The purchase of the Pezon et Michel materials has enabled us to offer a carefully chosen range of Super Parabolic rods, built and finished without compromise to our usual impeccable standards.
We have selected four models from the Ritz Super Parabolic PPP (Perfect Progressive Power) series, which was conceived and endorsed by Charles Ritz, the famous angler and hotelier. Monsieur Ritz was the technical director of Pezon et Michel, founder of the Fario Club and author of A Fly Fisher’s Life.
All four models are built with strict adherence to the specifications set out in the original Pezon et Michel fiches de référence.
The Traun, Speedcast and Super Marvel have the classic Ritz Parabolic staggered ferrule format- the tip is longer than the butt. This ensures that the all important flex of the tip is less affected by the weight and rigidity of the ferrule. The rod’s balance is enhanced too. It’s a very good design indeed.
The Baby Zephyr has a detachable handle. Its butt and tips are equal lengths.
These rods are eminently suitable for contemporary river fly fishing. Their designs have stood the test of time and each one celebrates the noble heritage of Pezon et Michel.
By following this link https://youtu.be/MZhqz4QOaj0 you can watch Edward Barder describe and demonstrate the merits of the Ritz Super Parabolic rods on the Fieldsports Channel.
Models
The Ritz Super Parabolic PPP models we build are-
The Traun –Type Hans 8’2″ #5/6 weight 2-piece, 2-top.
Named after the famous river in Austria & developed by legendary Traun guide, Hans Gebetsroither.
A smooth-casting rod of great authority and precision.
I find this rod works particularly well with the Scientific Anglers GP taper #5-weight line, which is actually a 5¼-weight. Their GPX line, which is half a size heavy, also works very well.
Rod weight: 4.4oz/124g
The Speedcast II –Type Mario Riccardi 8′ #5-weight 2-piece, 2-top.
Developed by and named after Mario Riccardi, the Italian casting expert and rod designer.
A surprisingly light, super-accurate dry fly rod which generates impressive line speed. Very useful in a stiff breeze.
Ideally suited to a double taper #5-weight line, but it will also handle a Scientific Anglers #5-weight GP taper nicely.
Rod weight: 4.2oz/120g
The Baby Zephyr –Type Edouard Vernes 7’9″ #4-weight 2-piece, 2-top + detachable handle.
Named after Edouard Vernes, President of the Casting Club de France. Superbly accurate & smooth, this is an ideal rod for more delicate dry fly & nymph fishing, with reserves of power.
The Baby Zephyr fishes perfectly with a double taper #4-weight line- a Scientific Anglers Mastery for preference.
Rod weight: 4.4oz/124g
The Super Marvel –Type Hans 7’2″ #4-weight 2-piece, 2-top.
Developed by the famous River Traun guide, Hans Gebetsroither.
A very light rod of remarkable power that delivers the fly with pinpoint accuracy, even in a headwind. A superb rod for smaller streams, wading and confined spaces. ‘Suitable for all wrists’ it says in the 1977 Pezon et Michel catalogue.
The Super Marvel works best with a Scientific Anglers #4-weight GP taper line.
Rod weight: 3.3oz/94g
One of each of these rods is always available for inspection and testing on the river Lambourn next to our workshop in Newbury.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like to discuss these rods in more detail and make an appointment to try them out.
A little history.
Charles Ritz was a fanatically keen fisherman and tackle designer. As a young man learning the hotel trade in New York, he befriended several leading members of the East Coast rod making trade, among them Jim Payne. On his return to France, his fascination with fly rod design grew apace when providence led to his greatest discovery –the parabolic rod action.
Legend has it that Ritz had sent a fly rod to a friend via bicycle courier. There was an accident en route and parts of the rod’s butt and tip were broken off. Ritz rebuilt the rod with its truncated butt and found that the tip section caused the butt to flex more fully than hitherto, resulting in the so called parabolic action. He also noted that the staggered ferrule arrangement- the tip being rather longer than the butt- improved the action and balance of the rod.
Shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, Ritz became the technical director of Pezon et Michel. In the late 1930s, the first Parabolic rods were produced in their factory in Amboise, then the most sophisticated rod making facility in Europe. Soon after the war’s end, there were further developments and refinements of the Parabolic rods, culminating in the PPP (Pendular Progressive Power) Super Parabolic series.
Gallery
Click to enlarge
Traun and Speedcast
Baby Zephyr
Super Marvel
Super Parabolic Split Cane Fly Rod Details
Each section is selected with meticulous care from our extensive stock of original Pezon et Michel split cane.
Each rod has two numbered tops, to be used in rotation from day to day so that wear & tear occurs evenly.
Handles are a comfortable modified half Wells shape turned from the finest Flor grade Portuguese cork.
The reel seats have cork barrels and Pezon et Michel black anodised butt caps & reel bands.
Ferrules are Pezon et Michel nickel silver with a split cane extension stopper for the Traun, Speedcast and Super Marvel. The Baby Zephyr has Pezon et Michel boxwood stoppers.
The snake guides are pewter-coloured stainless steel with matching tip rings and a Mildrum carbide butt ring.
Silk whippings are the classic Pezon et Michel bottle green with red tippings.
The rods are finished with a flawless hand applied marine grade varnish.
Each rod has a tailor made compartment bag with a hanging loop and a superb Barder Rod Co aluminium screw cap case.
A signed and dated certificate of ownership is issued with each rod.
Prices & Ordering
Prices for 2026
Traun: £1,950
Speedcast: £1,950
Super Marvel: £1,950
Baby Zephyr: £2,150
A non-refundable deposit of £400 is requested when a rod is ordered. The balance will be due on completion.
Ordering
Payment may be made by electronic transfer, debit card or credit card.
Orders from outside the UK must be paid in UK pounds and all fees paid by the payee.
Carriage
On average, the cost of carriage, packing and in-transit insurance is £50 – £60. We will advise on shipping costs to countries outside the UK upon request.
We are not responsible for any import duties that may apply outside the UK.