The Payne 98 is a classic bamboo fly rod taper by Jim Payne. Headwaters builds it to spec as the Beaverhead, a 7'0" 4-weight 2-piece medium bamboo fly rod, direct from the maker and priced from $500.
Beaverhead | 7'0" 4-weight 2-piece medium | Payne 98 taper
Who was Jim Payne?
Jim Payne ran the E.F. Payne Rod Company and is widely regarded as one of the finest bamboo rod makers who ever lived. Payne rods are known for a crisp, refined dry-fly action and flawless fit and finish. Original Paynes sell for thousands.
What is the Payne 98 taper?
The taper is the rod's DNA: the way the cane changes thickness from tip to grip, which decides how the rod loads and casts. The Payne 98 is a 7'0" 4-weight 2-piece medium design. Headwaters builds it to spec, not "inspired by," so you get the action Jim Payne intended.
How the Beaverhead casts
It has that classic Payne feel: a smooth medium action that loads from the middle and lays a fly down soft.
It is built for backcountry freestone streams and all-day dry-fly fishing, where a 7-foot 4-weight is the sweet spot.
The Headwaters Beaverhead: the Payne 98 built to spec
Most new bamboo rods with a name taper cost $1,500 to $4,000, with waitlists that can run a year or more. The Beaverhead is direct from the maker: Favorite Series from $500, Deluxe Series at $600. Every Deluxe rod carries an agate stripping guide, nickel-silver hardware, and hand-wrapped silk, on genuine hex-planed Tonkin cane. It ships with a 30-day trial and a lifetime warranty.
The Payne 98 is a classic bamboo fly rod taper by Jim Payne: a 7'0" 4-weight 2-piece medium design. Headwaters builds it to spec as the Beaverhead.
What is the Beaverhead bamboo rod good for?
It is built for backcountry freestone streams and all-day dry-fly fishing, where a 7-foot 4-weight is the sweet spot.
How much does the Beaverhead cost?
The Beaverhead is available in the Favorite Series from $500 and the Deluxe Series at $600. It ships with a rod sock and tube, a 30-day trial, and a lifetime warranty.
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Take the 60-second quiz and we will match you to the taper built for your water. You also get the free Bamboo Short Course: a few plain lessons on cane, the classic tapers, and why bamboo still earns its place on the river.
