fiberglass fly rods

Proof The World Will End in 2012: Someone Considers Me A Fly Rod Expert

February 29, 2012, by Tom Chandler 8 comments

In what amounts to yet another shocking indicator of the Fly Fishing Industry’s Growing Drug Problem, the Thomas & Thomas fly rod catalog apparently reprinted a quote from some dumb blogger’s post about fiberglass fly rods:

(courtesy Cameron at Fiberglass Manifesto)

Rich Margiotta was surprised to learn his name had found its way into a fly rod catalog, though he was fine with it once he realized “Glass Rod Expert” would probably impress the hell out of the babes if printed on a card, especially once I remarked it would look smashing with the traditional crossed fly rod graphic.

(Rich and I are both suckers for the classics.)

A quick visit to the T&T website, and there I was again:

Clearly, the world is coming to an end.

Though I’ve largely abandoned my campaign to become the Absolute Ruler Of All Fly Fishing Media Channels, 2012 has already seen me interviewed in a fly fishing print magazine and a blog, and suddenly I find myself in someone’s fly rod catalog.

All of which suggests the following: The Mayans were right.

The world is coming to an end in 2012. (How did they know?)

Given that I’m now an expert, I’ll be happy to answer any fly rod questions the Undergrounders might have, though only if the questions are prefaced by “Your Majesty” or (in a pinch) “Mr. Expert.”

See you being all experty, Tom Chandler.

(Hat tip to Fiberglass Manifesto for finding this)

Cortland Releases (Again) Diamondback Fiberglass Fly Rods in 2011? (or, We’re In Love)

November 3, 2010, by Tom Chandler 26 comments

I’ve raved repeatedly about the Underground’s love for Diamondback’s “Diamondglass” fly rods (hey, it’s a manly love), which quickly built a cult following among the low-modulus set.

If my bamboo fly rods were declared illegal by the United Nations and the black helicopters came for them, I could still happily fish my Diamondglass rods on streams and spring creeks.

They’re that good.

Unfortunately, the entire line disappeared from view once Cortland bought the Diamondback company, and much sadness ensued.

Until now.

Formerly black, they now are blue...

Cortland is bringing back the line for 2011 (though we believe the blanks are being produced by an independent rodmaker). The old blanks were black but the new seem to be sporting a deep blue color (we’re all for a little personality here). Otherwise, they look similar to the originals.

Here’s the lineup:

6′ 2 wt. 2 pc
6’6â€ 3 wt. 2 pc
7′ 3 wt. 3 pc
7’6â€ 3 wt. 3 pc
8′ 4 wt. 3 pc
8’6â€ 4 wt. 3 pc

I liked my 8.5′ 4wt so much I bought a backup blank (it’s here somewhere), and I’ve received more than a few emails over the years asking if I knew of a source for used rods, which were fetching “like-new” prices.

Sadly, I don’t see the wonderfully smooth 8′ 5wt 3-pc rod listed, and wonder about the 8′ 4wt rod, which used to be a 2-pc model (and a little teensy bit fast for me).

Perhaps moving to a 3-pc design slowed it a little (and if so, I’m getting one).

At $299, the rods aren’t exactly free for the taking, but they’re a lot less than bamboo or high-end graphite.

Besides, it’s hard to put a price on love.

See you at the counter, Tom Chandler.

The Small Stream Fly Fisher (or, Hiding, Skulking and Sweating, In Pictures)

October 15, 2010, by Tom Chandler 5 comments

There is a rhythm to small stream fly fishing that defies contemporary human nature.

We are, after all, the “get ‘er done” species, yet striding briskly up to a small plunge pool – as if you were powering your way into a Starbucks for your caffeine fix – offers up only empty places where trout used to be.

“Sneaky” is absolutely necessary – a truth known to every predator on the planet save the one who has forgotten how to hunt outside the local supermarket.

Who's Huffy?

With midnight already behind me and a full day ahead, this particular fly fishing adventure will be told in images instead of words (outside of a few details).

That’s because there exists another universal truth – this one not forgotten by man – that suggests it’s far better to make time to fish than to steal time to report about it, so beyond telling you Older Bro and I fished this tiny stream last Saturday (I fished a 7′ 3wt Diamondglass rod, and one glance at the dense willow thickets should tell you why) – and tossing in a few details – you’re largely on your own.

Every once in a while we'd fish a willow-free area (and love it)

I’d fished this stretch a month ago, and it fished better then. It’s later now and the water was just a teensy bit lower, the fish were spookier, and despite accumulating a lot of time on my hands and knees, the body count was lower. It’s even possible I was handily outfished by Older Bro.

Not all small stream pictures involve trout...

A post-fish cleanup of the 7' 3wt Diamondglass...

Fishing a really rugged stretch of water might be the ultimate weight loss plan; once you start rock hopping from one pool to the next, you basically have to maintain your momentum. Stop, and you’ve just made your job twice as hard.

By the end of the day, I was beat and tired enough that the walk out seemed a lot longer than it was. Thus do we offer proof of Relativity.

fly fishing, gymnastics, what's the difference?

A day of this, and we were both beat...

The fish weren’t particularly selective – though several did flash on and then refuse the stimulator I fished early in the day – but they were far from pushovers.

For the record, no trout in water this thin and clear is a pushover.

Royal Wulff worked about as well as anything else...

I have no idea why I took this...

Boulders are the angler’s best friend; willows his biggest enemy. And – unless you’re really, really into tying knots – 4x tippet is pretty much required.

Stand tall, and you'd go fishless. Slink and you'd do OK...

Hey, I’m in a picture, though I’m also reminded that we were fishing in the midst of the rifle season for deer, which leads me to wonder if I shouldn’t have ordered that blaze-orange Boonie hat.

In fact, I think I will.

The Trout Underground in his natural habitat

Rare photo of Fly Fishing's Most Beloved Blogger

See you on a small stream, Tom Chandler.

Friday’s Fiberglass Fly Rod Gossip (And Real News Too)

March 18, 2010, by Tom Chandler 15 comments

The Undergrounders know of my love for low modulus fly rods – namely bamboo and fiberglass.

Of the two, fiberglass is far more accessible; it’s light, affordable, tough, and requires about as much maintenance as your average doorstop.

That’s why news in the fiberglass fly rod industry piques our interest (nay it excites us).

First, the Juicy Rumor

An Alert Anonymous Undergrounder tells us Cortland *will* return selected Diamondglass rods to production, courtesy not their overseas plants, but a USA-based builder.

Regulars will know of my love for the 8.5′ Diamondglass 4wt – a rod I told everyone to buy when they could, because – like many discontinued-but-classic fly rods – they’d miss it when it was gone.

Today, I see used Diamondglass 8.5′ rods selling for full retail, and should they once again become available, I predict solid sales of both rods and blanks (you can never have too much fly rod goodness).

More as this glass news happens.

Glass Goodness From the Left Coast

Larry Kenney – longtime industry stalwart and former Scott rod biggie – announced he’d completed development of his own fiberglass fly rods, and was commencing production.

The Fiberglass Manifesto site ran Kenney’s announcement – including a list of rods (the 8’3″ 4/5 sounds tasty, as does the 7’9″ 3wt) and prices ($580-$595).

Unfortunately, he’s (so far) limiting himself to 25 rods per year, but hey – they’re still hundreds less than high-end graphite.

And because your fly rod happiness is all that really matters to me, I’ll speak freely of things heard on the downlow.

One extremely well-versed fly rod tester test-cast Kenney’s prototypes some time ago, and was impressed. And when he’s impressed, I’m impressed.

See you at the fly rod rack, Tom Chandler