Posts tagged: fly rod

Has the “John Gierach/George Maurer” Lost Bamboo Fly Rod Finally Been Found?

April 14, 2009, by 14 comments

Hardcore John Gierach fans will remember his “Lost Rod” essay from Another Lousy Day in Paradise, where Gierach discovers a package containing a bamboo fly rod built by uber-builder George Maurer arrived sans the rod itself. From Gierach’s essay:

“It took a few seconds to sink in, but, sure enough, one end of the tube had been opened neatly with a sharp knife and there was nothing inside. It wasn’t a mistake and it wasn’t a joke. Maurer’s sense of humor is a little odd, but he wouldn’t do something like that.”

Later in his essay, Gierach says:

“I had thing for this rod because it had spoken to me, and because the one that had been in the now-empty shipping tube was serial number 001 of a model George calls the Trout Bum, an allusion to some old fishing book.

“So I stood on the porch, looking down into the empty tube, and after those few initial moments of disbelief, my first rational thought was, this was bound to happen.”

It’s a typically engrossing Gierach essay, and having worked with George Maurer on his rod-building Web site, I discovered exactly what Gierach meant about Maurer’s sense of humor.

A pair of George Maurer bamboo fly rods

A pair of George Maurer bamboo fly rods

Still, I admit to being surprised when I received an email from a man who said he had Gierach’s lost Maurer fly rod in his possession, and that he intended to auction it off to support Intermountain – a Montana children’s charity.

From his email:

A friend bought a container full of lost items from UPS and it was in there (at least 15 years ago). This friend gave the rod to his son after he learned to fly fish, but the son died in a car accident before he ever used it. The father gave it to a mutual friend – the man who taught the boy how to fly fish.

After some research, the new owner contacted Gierach to give him his famous rod, but Gierach said my friend should keep it since his friend technically paid for it.

My friend even has a letter signed by Gierach stating that he is, indeed, the rightful owner. The serial number is 001, and it’s still never been used. My friend has given it to me, or more appropriately to the charity I work for. He wants us to auction it off, with all of the proceeds going toward saving abused and neglected children.

I live in Western Montana, among some of the greatest trout streams in the World, and the current owner is the consummate fly fisherman, who also lives in this area. He already has a semi-parabolic bamboo rod that he loves, so he has no use for this rod other than for stories, which will no doubt be enhanced when he is able to add that the rod he once owned literally saved the lives of children.

Full disclosure: I haven’t seen a photograph of the rod or any evidence of the letter mentioned above, but the whole story seems plausible enough to be the real thing. I’ll continue checking as I have the opportunity.

Still, has Gierach’s lost fly rod been found? And is it about to come to market a year after Underground Fave builder George Maurer’s unexpected death?

George Maurer inspecting bamboo in China

George Maurer inspecting bamboo in China

Perhaps. And yes, I’m tempted to cast this story in terms of one of fly fishing’s most-interesting literary mysteries – involving a famous writer and one of its most-famous bamboo rod builders – finally being put to rest.

And one wonders what price the rod might bring at auction. Any guesses from the Undergrounders?

More as it happens from the Trout Underground’s Breaking Bamboo-Related News Division.

The Bamboo Birthday Gift (or, Not What You Think)

April 8, 2009, by 5 comments

When a fly fisherman says he got bamboo for his birthday, the mind races. Payne? Phillipson?

Or perhaps a modern craftsman? Reams? Thramer? Beasley? Shays? Raine?

Not exactly:

Do McGuane, Gierach have one of these?

We ask you: Do McGuane or Gierach have one of these?

Yes, my furred friends, the Underground now possesses what few others do: a bamboo keyboard (and a powerful attitude about it).

Clearly – and as fly fishermen everywhere know – bamboo transforms you into a better fly fisherman typist unbearable snob writer.

Do McGuane, Leeson or Gierach have one of these? Are their words flowing organically from its smooth, limber, almost sensuous keys? Or are they stuck writing on stiff, unyielding, too-fast, unnatural synthetic keyboards, their sentences short, quick, efficient – but lacking connection to the primal life force that beats within all of us?

Are they – to put it bluntly – simply muddling by on sheer talent?

Sure, plastic keyboards are great at pumping out words all fast and easy. And yeah, they’re light, so you can type on them all day. But for the sheer joy of writing, nothing compares to bamboo, and if you doubt that for even a second, I can scare up a couple hundred people who will state – in definitive terms (some using physics diagrams as a visual aid) – that bamboo users simply write better.

Emboldened by the varnished, straight-grained goodness beneath my fingers, I’m going a step further, suggesting I might even be better human being than the huddled plastic masses, most of whom probably deserve the carpal tunnel they’re developing from their synthetic keyboards.

Clearly, the scales have simultaneously fallen from my eyes and tipped in my favor. (See what I did there? The bamboo’s already working its magic.)

One day, the world will look back at this moment with reverence, correctly seeing it as a turning point in the literature of fly fishing the world, when the most organic, smooth, flowing writer the world universe had ever seen typed the immortal words:

“It was a dark and stormy morning on the river.”

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The Underground Picks The Dozen Best Fly Rods of All Time (Period)

February 10, 2009, by 178 comments

Nothing fires a discussion among fly fishing’s faithful more than the subject of fly rods. They are, after all, the most significant tools of the trade, and what’s more, fly fishermen love to argue.

The right fly rod feels like an extension of your arm; flies appear precisely where you’re looking (as if by magic), and landing trout is a pleasure.

Naturally, one man’s great fly rod is another’s pool cue or noodle, and yes, it’s just barely possible that my own personal bias has entered into the construction of this list, though just in case there are some questions about sanity choices, I wanted to lay out my criteria.

The Dozen best fly rods of all time? We pick, you argue.

The Dozen Best Fly Rods of All Time? We pick, you argue.

The Underground’s Scientifically Derived Criteria

First, no current rods are included. History may decide the Orvis Helios or Winston Boron or Sage Z-Axis might be the most bizarrely named best fly rods ever, but I’m leaving those discussions to history. New rods are just that (new) – and they simply haven’t been around long enough to make the list.

Additionally, short production runs don’t really count. I truly believe the very best bamboo fly rods ever made are being built right now (by names like Ream, Brandin, Thramer, Johnson, Karstetter, Wojnicki, Raine, etc), but let’s face it – the combined lifetime output of those builders equals about one month’s production of Helios fly rods, and while I love my built-by-still-living-guys bamboo fly rods, they’ll never be cast by enough people to truly matter.

Similarly, no boutique rods really made the list – even though I could make a very cogent argument for the inclusion of a Steffen Brothers or McFarland glass rod or the little-known-but-much-lamented East Branch “classic” graphite. There simply aren’t enough floating around the fly fishing universe.

Then there’s the question of history; many will argue that today’s rods – the result of all sorts of materials and taper improvements – are the defacto “best” rods. Instead, I’m picking history’s best fly rods; the rods that set the pace in their era.

And finally, there’s the little issue of what “best” really means, and because I play with words for a living, I’m willing to suggest “best” is simply a reflection of criteria.

One rod may be lightest, another may cast beautifully, and another may be cheap. Which is the best?

Well, that’s why you’ve got the Underground. (We Report, We Decide.)

Of course, it’s possible the assembled Undergrounders have different ideas, and if you can write a solid-but-snarky justification (see below), I may create a followup “Underground Reader’s Choice” post (and who doesn’t want to be famous)? Naturally, saltwater and spey (two-hander) fly rods are wholly underrepresented in this list (with one exception), and I want to say right now that I’ve managed to avoid the slightest twinge of guilt about that.

The Dozen Best Fly Rods of All Time

Leonard Model 50(DF)
Sure, no two Leonards seem to cast anything alike and the craftsmanship varied widely over the decades (hell, it varied widely over the course of hours), but as Uber Rod Geek Rich Margiotta pointed out, the Leonard Model 50 set the early standard for light-tipped, Catskill-style dry fly rods – a remarkably enduring style of taper that’s still happily consumed by the masses today. And hey – you gotta start somewhere.

The Paul Young Perfectionist (7.5′ 4/5wt)
In truth, almost any of the Paul Young semi-parabolic rods could qualify for the Desirable Dozen; I picked the Perfectionist because I own the taper. The Para-15 is probably more famous and the better all-around rod, but the point here is that Paul Young created a more fishable version of the somewhat touchy full-parabolic tapers loved by Charles Ritz. A marketing whiz and astute businessman, Young also found a way to convert cosmetically challenged cane into a useful stuff via his “ring of fire” flaming process, and the Underground hates waste, so we find ourselves here. It’s perfection on a stick.

The Payne 100 (7.5′ 4wt)
It’s widely accepted that Payne consistently produced the best, long-lasting, most-consistent bamboo fly rods, and that even in the era of supercomputers, nanotechnology and widely available pizza, the Payne 100 taper simply can’t be improved. Over the course of decades, Payne bamboo fly rods have captured the hearts of fly fishermen for their castability, gorgeous finish, and elegant durability, and while the Payne 100 is a great example, it’s only one in a long of great examples of Payne workmanship. This is one time Payne is gain.

The Fenwick 7.5′ 5wt Feralite Fiberglass Fly Rod
In truth, the 8.5′ 6/7wt Fenwick glass rods were more popular, but everyone who’s been in fly fishing since the 70s has probably owned one of these chocolate brown beauties – wonderful fiberglass fly rods that brought a smooth-actioned, lightweight (for the time), glass-ferruled, great-fishing fly rod within reach of almost everyone. That the classic glass Fenwicks are experiencing something of a renaissance – along with an uptick in value – is hardly a surprise. Though heavy by the standards of today’s weight geeks, they’re still smooth fishing rods. What can brown do for you?

The 8.5′ 5wt IM6 Winston Fly rod
A classic that’s still available for sale (albeit at an amazingly inflated price), the IM6 Winston fly rods are testament to Tom Morgan’s influence on their design; light tipped and very smooth, they are superb all-around trout rods, and what’s more, they’re just plain fun to cast. And you don’t have to be a Winston partisan to believe the 8.5′ 5wt might be the “troutiest” rod in existence. Taken as a whole, the Winston IM6 fly rods may have logged more water time than any other fly rod on the market, and rightly so. Summary? The IM6 is still IMpressive.

The Loomis IMX 9′ 4wt
I’ll just say it: I’ve never cast a Loomis fly rod I particularly liked, but in an astonishing display of editorial integrity, I’m going to list a Loomis IMX, which is the rod line that – for better or worse – helped fuel the fly rod industry’s arms  race. I’m not at all sure the truth path to fly rod salvation lies in high tech, but I do know it’s a marketable differentiator, and that “new” continues to be the mechanism by which fly rods are made “obsolete” in the market’s eyes – and therefore ripe for replacement. As rods got faster, lighter line weights became commonplace, and with the rise of indicator nymphing, longer, lighter rods became popular. Hence the IMX 9′ 4wt – a rod I wouldn’t own, but a classic I must acknowledge.

Sage LL 389 (8’9″ 3wt)
Edging out Sage’s 490 LL, the 389 might have been one of the best spring creek/light fly fishing rods of all time, so naturally, Sage – marching to the tune of “more technology is better” – just had to discontinue it. Incredibly smooth, suggestively limber and an amazing fishing tool, the 389 remains one of the few rods that everyone from the bamboo fiends to the techno-rod-geeks can comfortably rave about. Inside dish from more than one industry source suggests Sage’s new line of “progressive” fly rods were designed to cast and fish like the much-missed Lightline rods, a bit of circular manufacturing that should amuse you, assuming you’re not paying today’s higher prices for “yesterday’s” action.

The Scott Heliply 8’8″ 8wt Saltwater Fly Rod
Sure, I’m totally winging it here; I know saltwater fly rods like Nestle knows ethical business practices. Still, I have it on very good authority the Heliply was one of those rods that was oddly discontinued, then forcibly brought back through the efforts of masses of keening saltwater fly fishers. In an era when “saltwater fly rod” was fast becoming code for “enjoy your tennis elbow,” the Heliply 8wt was a breath of surprisingly bendable fresh air – the reason the Heliply still enjoys a cult following.

Any Reasonably Tapered 8.5′-9′ 6wt
Sure, I’m cheating with this one, but that’s what writers do when they’re trying to make a point. The 6wt rod used to occupy trout fishing’s comfortable middle ground – the rod you’d toss in the truck when you weren’t absolutely sure what you’d be doing all day. Today, a 6wt is a borderline saltwater stick, and if you’re fishing a 6wt on the river and run into one of the “I fish a 2wt for everything” crowd, you’ll be viewed as something of a terrorist.

Funny thing is, the laws of physics have yet to be revoked by fly rod manufacturers (they seem to have successfully escaped the laws of economics), and a reasonably tapered 6wt will do everything from to throwing streamers and busy dries to fishing #22 midges with a reasonable amount of delicacy. I was tempted to award this slot to the “original” IM6 Winston 6wt or the Payne Canadian Canoe 6/7wt bamboo fly rod, but Ian Rutter pointed out the original G-series Scott was better than both, and I’ve learned not to disagree with people who let me stay at their house. Your choice.

The Eagle Claw Trailmaster 7.5′ Pack Rod
Just when you think we’re going to zig, we zag. The Trailmaster? A cheap pack rod that was also available as a spin/fly combo? That’s the one. Yeah, I know it’s clubby and awful, but it’s been available for pretty much forever, it was very affordable, and it probably introduced more conventional tackle fishermen to fly fishing than any other fly rod (remember, “best” is in the eyes of the beholder).

Today it’s available in a 98% graphite fly rod only version that looks pretty conventional, but for most of its life, it was a cheerful, happy yellow that belied the suffering that lay ahead for those attempting to learn fly fishing on their own. A great fly rod? Maybe only the way we define it (so sue me).

The Diamondglass 8.5′ 4wt Fiberglass rod
Sure, like a genius artist, the rod was largely underappreciated until it died (in the production sense), but we’re already seeing a healthy aftermarket in used models, and yes, the Underground has standing orders from two fly rod aficionados should I decide to sell my spare blank. Unbelievably smooth – and perhaps the best “technical” small fly rod in existence – this beauty may have been pure Plain Jane in appearance and construction, but the heart and soul of a rod lies in its taper, and this one has a halo and wings.

The 8′ 4wt Tom Morgan Favorite/8′ 4wt Scott G-Series
Another dual winner, this is an homage to the 8′ 4wt trout rod – perhaps the ideal rod for small to medium sized trout fishing. The Tom Morgan Favorite (that’s still available today from Winston as the “TMF”) is perhaps too soft for the current market, but it’s still a fine rod – as is the 8′ 4wt Scott original G-Series rod (since “updated” into a “crisper” fly rod with the G2 series [e.g. - even Scott rod enthusiasts are addicted to speed]).

The Almostas: The Rods That Didn’t Quite Make It

The runners-up list that didn’t quite qualify for the Dirty Dozen, but demanded a mention anyway. Most of these are simply historic rods; others were great, but didn’t quite make the list.

The Phillipson 8.5′ 5/6wt bamboo fly rods
I didn’t want to overload the list with bamboo, but let’s face it: Tommy likes the 8.5′ Phillipsons. I’ve cast the other heavy-hitter 8.5′ bamboo fly rod tapers, and none – not even the Payne 204 – measures up.

The Shakespeare Howald Process fiberglass fly rods
Pioneers in the hollow fly rod world, the Shakespeare Howalds were not pretty, not light, and not particularly durable (they had a tendency to saw themselves to pieces through extended use), but they were among the first good fiberglass rods to appear. We remember them thusly.

Phillipson Epoxite Registered Midge (6’6″ 4wt)
OK, this really only made the list because I badly want one (I just can’t afford to buy the few that are available). Still, it’s a defensible choice from a development standpoint; Bill Phillipson worked closely with 3M on several innovations, and pioneered the technique whereby synthetic rods are formed (on the mandrel) under high pressures, eliminating weakening voids in the blank. Thus, the Epoxite midge – in addition to its twin tips, gorgeous appearance, and homage to the ultra-short “midge rod” craze – also represents a technological highpoint in glass rod manufacturing, and the (sadly) near-final chapter in the Phillipson Rod Company saga. (Gifts of Epoxite Midges accepted by the Underground, and I’ll even let you name the replacement rod for the list.)

The San Francisco-era fiberglass Winstons
Just because, damnit.

Fenwick HMG Graphite fly rods
Those new to fly fishing are often surprised to hear that Fenwick was a leader before they faded into what amounts to cheap rod obscurity. Their classic glass rods made the “Dozen Best” list, and these HMG graphites were among the first affordable graphite fly rods. Frankly, I still find their willowy actions enchanting, but after their initial burst of popularity, they faded from the market (like the company). Too bad.

The Chico-era Powell Light Touch
Before the Powell family fragemented the name – and Charles Schwabb burned his fingers trying to resurrect it – the smooth-casting Powell Light Touch fly rods were wonderful fly rods that just missed the fashion tastes of the post-movie fly fishing generation. Too bad.

I was tempted to erect a Hall of Shame for the wholly mediocre, wildly overhyped rods that bedevil us (and yes, I’m talking to you, Sage RPL+ parking lot rods), but perhaps I’ll leave that to my readers.

Have at it, Undergrounders. Make your case for the “Next Dozen Best Fly Rods Every Built” in the comments, and we’ll see about a Part II.

See you at the rod rack, Tom Chandler.

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Winston Fly Rod Company Lays Off Workers, Cites Economic Conditions

December 10, 2008, by 34 comments

Scott Fly Rods suffered layoffs early in 2008, and now it’s Winston’s turn to stand in the unemployment line; the fly rod company is laying off production employees due to slumping sales – a sign of a weak economy according to CEO Woody Woodward:

Woodard said projections for sales next year show they should drop, based on economic data. Winston dealers are not ordering as many rods as the recession in the United States and the ripple effect throughout the global economy have slowed consumer spending. The company does not expect to need to produce as many fly rods in the coming year.

“The uncertainty is so great that people just aren’t going into fly shops,” Woodard said.

See WINSTON, Page A5 “That’s all the indications we’re getting and we have to reduce personnel accordingly.” The layoffs took effect last week.

Winston Rod moved to Twin Bridges in 1976, and sells bamboo rods, which retail for around $3,000 each, and less expensive graphite fly rods.

(The Underground is deeply amused at the last sentence, which suggests Winston is a bamboo fly rod manufacturer who also happens to sell graphite fly rods.)

Even before the economy cratered, the fly fishing industry witnessed several years of marginal (or zero) growth, and it’s likely we’ll see more companies take unpleasant measures in order to survive.

Winston is also one of the oldest continuously operating fly rod companies, and “Prestige” fly rod manufacturers might be feeling the pinch of lower-priced, foreign-built fly rods (like TFO) – a trend that could accelerated by a tough economy.

What’s the Undergrounder opinion? Is this simply a blip on the recession radar, or are tougher times in store for an already-stagnant fly gear market?

Is That a Bamboo Fly Pole In Your Pocket, Or Are You Just Happy to Write About Me?

November 6, 2008, by 12 comments

At the Underground, we positively live for those moments when a small, local newspaper paper butchers a fly fishing related story.

Over the years, we’ve been subjected to countless “The First Time I Went Fly Fishing” stories at the hands of writers who clearly shouldn’t have gone (they can’t all be Freemans, sadly), but our favorite – nay, the very cherry on top of the reportage sundae – is the story about a local bamboo fly rod builder.

The Oregon Statesman Journal sent a reporter to interview bamboo rod builder Daryll Whitehead, who didn’t survive even the first line before being unfortunately described as the “Michelangelo of bamboo fly rods.“

Ouch.

The story doesn’t progress beyond the third sentence before we’re staggered by the Second Wince-Inducing Editorial Moment: The Dreaded Fly “Pole” Syndrome:

From a small home-based shop in west Stayton, Whitehead crafts some of
the most sought-after fishing poles in the world. His D.L. Whitehead
poles are sold on most continents and can fetch nearly $4,000 for a
used one.

Throughout the article, the writer goes on to use the “p***” word 11 times (fly fishing decency standards forbid me from printing the word again), perhaps a new editorial record.

The Underground sends our condolences to Mr. Whitehead – along with our hopes for a speedy recovery.

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The Makings of a Country Music Song? “I loaned a buddy a rod and reel, which he lost…”

October 17, 2008, by 16 comments

It’s Friday here on the Underground, and while I’m working my skilled writer’s fingers to the bone to pay a few bills, I’ve still got time to ask fly fishing’s seminal question: What would your friend do to you if you lost his fly rod?

From the Washington Fly Fishing Board:

I loaned a buddy a rod and reel, which he lost, and thinks he left it sitting on the side of the grand ronde down near the schumacker access. The rod is a Temple Fork Outfitters and the reel is a bauer. please shoot me a pm or email if you have found it, and i will further identify…

Break a friend’s fly rod, and you’re forgiven, probably because breaking things is an essentially manly act (sorta like blowing them up).

Lose a fly rod – the act of a forgetful moke and possibly intravenous drug user – and you’re probably looking at a one-way trip to the fly shop, and maybe a few months of barbed comments, which you’ll have to withstand with good humor.

Any Undergrounders with a story to add? Plus a sub-question: Who out there among the Underground faithful is putting big-dollar reels on low-dollar fly rods?

See you on the river (looking for lost gear), Tom Chandler.

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The Underground’s Fly Fishing Retailer Post and Economic Bailout Plan

September 25, 2008, by 5 comments

Sure, the Underground’s feeling the economic pinch just like everyone else, but I’m not worried, reasoning what’s true for AIG is true for me: the Underground’s simply too big to fail.

As I write this, the Feds are no doubt readying an 80% buyout of the Underground (I figure a billion or so would do it), and there’s only one fly in the ointment: Traffic figures sadly suggest we’re succeeding, rendering us ineligible for bundles of your tax dollars a bailout.

Damn.

Without any hope of gluttony at the government trough, I suppose all that’s left is to continue, and we’ll start with a few broader insights into the recently-concluded Fly Fishing Retailer Show.


(image courtesy Derek DeYoung/Canvasfish.com)

First, Yes, It Was Smaller

FFR is where manufacturers roll out their new trinkets, and retailers either froth at the mouth or simply yawn and move on. The show – small by most standards – saw growth last year, but for all the obvious reasons, it downsized a bit this year.

Fewer booths dotted the landscape, and someone suggested 14% fewer bodies wandered the hallways (since my body was 1.5% larger than last year, I bravely narrowed the gap for the industry just a bit).

What’s new?

First, The Juicy Gossip

For months, unhappy rumours have been circulating about Scott Rods, a company loved by many but plagued by mismanagement and an odd marketing focus.

Given my affection for their rods (I once said they were the bestest brand with the worstest marketing), I was relieved to hear the news was all good.

I stopped by the Scott booth (they rolled out their new A3 rods, proving once again they can pair numbers and letters in relatively uninteresting ways), and they were upfront about their issues and the recent reorganization.

The financial questions have been resolved, and they’re back on track (sigh of relief). In an interesting homage to transparency, they even sent a letter to that effect to their dealers.

Yay, Scott.

What About Last Year’s Underground Favorites?

Last year, a few exhibitors earned Underground favorite status, and visits to this year’s booths confirmed my Nostradamus-like powers of prescience. Simply put, they mostly scored:

Canvasfish.com

Last year, Derek DeYoung of Canvasfish.com was stuck out in the boonies – his marvelous, stylized oil paintings of trout visible only if you liked to walk. For Derek, 2008 was a good year.

His work appeared on the cover of Gray’s Sporting Journal and in a few other magazines, and life, as the artistic types sometimes say, is hopping. I plan to write a whole post about this guy later, but suffice it to say I like his work.


(image courtesy Derek DeYong/Canvasfish.com)

Flybook.com

Craig Langer’s FlyBook hosted online booking system for guides, outfitters and shops only had one customer after launching just prior to last year’s FFR show, but this year, he’s got 30 customers and is growing fast.

Compared to a flashy new fly rod, this isn’t sexy stuff – unless you’re a guide or outfitter who is chewing up all your personal fly fishing time doing menial, mind-numbing office work.

Langer’s online solution is elegant and affordable, and if you’re a guide, it deserves a look. And yes, it’s about time the fly fishing industry as a whole entered the 20th century (and yes, I’m aware it’s the 21st century…).

Lamson Konic Reel

Let’s face it; it’s not hard to make a good $350 fly reel – and there’s no shortage of the things in this industry – but being basically cheap, I’m more interested in the $100 reels that simply always work.

In the good old days, fly fishermen had the clunky-but-bombproof Pflueger Medalist; now the affordable end of the market is awash in a sea of reels produced overseas, many of which are wholly anonymous.

Last year, I pegged the Lamson Konic for “soon-to-be-a-sales legend” status, and I was right; the $120 reel with the $400 sealed drag assembly quickly became one of Lamson’s top sellers, and is credited with keeping Lamson’s growth streak alive – even in the grips of a recession.


The new Lamson Guru

Given my desire to surplus my very-loud LL Bean/Hardy Marquis currently holding all my 6wt lines, the Konic remains a top choice, though Lamson’s new machined Guru reel ($179 or so) and wholly redesigned Velocity also look interesting.

In short, Tommy likes.

This Year’s Themes: Green, and Video

This seems to be the year the fly fishing industry discovered the environment. Given the industry’s dependence on clean water and a healthy environment, that’s a fairly shocking statement.

In all fairness, a few companies have long been concerned with environmental issues (Patagonia, Orvis, Loon to name just a few), but by and large, it’s taken until now for “green” to become the new black.

In fact, “the green thing” largely overshadowed most of the product announcements at the show; all the seminars focused on environmental issues (several of the earlier sessions were sparsely attended).

As a result, there weren’t any seminars focuses on typical topics like online marketing, CRM, merchandising, etc, and for a show catering to retailers, that’s an odd reality.

For example, the biggest show buzz revolved around Simms’ announcement – apparently in conjunction with Trout Unlimited (the other, less-famous TU) – that it was doing away with felt wading soles by 2010.

This isn’t the simple deal it appears to be, so stay tuned for more.

Watching Fly Fishing Instead of Doing Fly Fishing

The other big trend would have to be the explosion in fly fishing adventure videos. They’re hot, and yes, everybody has one, and yes again, even the video geeks were scrambling to add a “green” element to their movies.

The AEG guys were making the rounds – rumor had them hurrying to get their steelhead epic out quickly on the heels of their Mongolia DVD – and several new filmaking faces could be found among the show’s booths.

The full-length, big dollar movie “Drift” by Confluence films (I have a review copy, and I’ll watch it soon) was premiered. Written by Drake publisher Tom Bie, it looks to be a little like AEG for the over-40 set. More after I see it.

Also, the unfortunately named “Fly Boys Fishing” were showcasing their new “Raising the Ghost” adventure video effort. They didn’t cough up a copy for review, but what I have seen of the video suggests adventure and fish porn in equal quantities.

Steve Apple of “Fishsizzle” fame – a quirky little movie that brought annoying fly fishing icon Al Braughtigan to life – showcased a trailer for his upcoming “Hustle & Fish” movie, which frankly looks pretty damn good.

Clearly artistic, but (so far) lacking the posturing, and yes – even a plot thrown in for good measure. More on this one just as soon as we get the teaser.

A few others were making the rounds, including a very interesting Bonefishing video by Charles Rangeley-Wilson.

As you can see, I’ve got a lot of watching to do.

What About Gear?

As you can also see, I’m over 1000 words and I haven’t even started the gear goodies. To do justice to the gear stuff, I’ll fire that post in a day or two.

In the meantime, I’ll whet your appetites with:

  • Sage may have hit our funny bone with their Bluegill-specific fly rod, but reel manufacturers weren’t laughing at Sage’s new reels, which are impressive
  • William Joseph’s magnetic closure – that’s said to be “one-handable” yet largely waterproof – also scored some buzz
  • Also buzzworthy was Simms’ not-yet-released vibram rubber wading boot, though the backstory on this is very juicy indeed
  • Patagonia updated its line, and managed to somehow make their industry-legend Patagonia SST jacket entirely recyclable
  • Orvis extended their wildly successful Helios fly rod line with the Helios Ion small stream fly rods
  • Hardy & Greys launched their revamped USA presence with a lot of impressive gear and a big booth

Stay tuned, Undergrounders – there’s more to come from the FFR show.

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The Underground’s Heading Home – But Not Before We Offer Yet Another Sign of the Apocalypse

September 16, 2008, by 17 comments

“Home” is a powerful word, especially when you’re headed that way. And in a couple hours, I’m headed that way.

Fly Fishing Retailer – as is always the case with trade shows – was more notable for the people than the products, though some of the products are pretty memorable too, and perhaps for reasons other than intended.

For example, Sage has apparently done so well with its “Bass” series of tournament-legal fly rods that it’s lovingly embracing the kind of species-specific marketing that has driven fly line manufacturers to develop approximately 1800 largely identical species-differentiated fly lines.

Undergrounders, we give you the Sage “Bluegill” fly rod:

sage bluegill fly rod

Plus, I’ll finish up the “greening” of the fly fishing industry piece I hinted at in a prior post.

And yes, plenty more Fly Fishing Retailer news to come after I’ve sorted through the piles of literature at the Trout Underground/Man Cave World Headquarters.

See you on the plane, Tom Chandler.

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Top Bamboo Fly Rod Makers Not Feeling Recession’s Effects

September 8, 2008, by 10 comments

While the mortgage and (now) looming credit crisis is driving most slackers Undergrounders to the edge of the bankruptcy abyss, it seems sales of bamboo fly rods remain strong – at least for top builders.

Bamboo fly rod
Bamboo fly rods seem to be defying the economy.

The Boston Globe published a story about Per Branden where the writer – who was clearly not familiar with fly fishing at all – noted Branden no longer accepts orders for his hollowbuilt bamboo fly rods.

My favorite interview moment? When the interviewer repeatedly refers to Branden’s “bamboo fly poles.” (Where’s the super slo-mo of Branden’s face when you really need it?)

Also on the “not accepting orders list” is Colorado’s Mike Clark (the oft-mentioned builder in Gierach’s essays), who has frozen his list at five years, and though he’s still building, he wants to clear away some of the orders before taking more.

Wondering if I was seeing a trend, or merely a statistical fluke, I started calling some builders.

Hollowbuilding maestro James Reams (his rod profiled on the Underground here) – suggested he’s also turning over the idea of a freeze on rod orders (though his waiting list is at three years and for now, he’s still taking orders).

Even one-time Reams protege and hollowbuilder Chris Raine is only beginning to dig out from under a pile of rod orders which backed up when he suffered a few health issues.

“People are calling and asking about hollowbuilt bamboo fly rods because they’re traditional bamboo rods, but they cast and fish better” said Raine.

Rodbuilding legend AJ Thramer has also not seen a dip in orders: “Everything I build, I sell, so I’ve stopped worrying about the order book. Literally as fast as I can make them, they’re gone. The dealers keep saying “I need more, I need more.”

Interestingly, the fraction of AJ’s orders for his more-expensive hollowbuilt rods continues to climb – he now estimates that as many as 70% of his rod orders are hollowbuilts.

He’s also received requests for a higher-end Thramer rod: “I think it’s mostly collectors” he said.

Arizona bamboo rod builder Mike Shays has seen a recent upsurge in rod orders, and said “I really do think people are looking for high-end rods. I think people are afraid of buying cheap rods.”

Shay’s waiting list is also about three years.

Sure, the statistical sample is small, but the evidence seems clear; bamboo rods – at least those from top builders – are looking pretty recession proof.

Sure, the long-term sales cycle might be helping in this case, but if anything, the rodmakers report receiving more orders this year than last.

Still, lest you think these guys are raking in oil-company level profits, do the math in your head, and you’ll see it’s possible to make a living, but almost no one’s getting rich building bamboo fly rods.

Thramer summed it up beautifully when he said “Rod building is an honest poverty – hopefully you leave behind a trail of smiling people.”

I’m traveling to the Fly Fishing Retailer show in Denver next week; anyone want to take odds I hear a different story from most of the non bamboo-related fly fishing industry?

See you cutting bamboo stalks, Tom Chandler.

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Sporting Clays Style “Casting Course” Appearing in Bend: Will it Be Good For Fly Fishing?

September 3, 2008, by 15 comments

If sporting clays competition and fly fishing had a love child, would it look something like Orvis’ just-announced Old Mill Casting Course?

Old Mill Casting Course Map, Bend, OR
The Orvis shop in Old Mill lies at the start and finish of an 18-station casting course.

Most of the growth in “outdoor” sports is occurring courtesy a competitive angle (e.g. competitive bass fishing, competitive hunting, “action” pistol events, retriever competition, etc.), yet competitive fly fishing has yet to take hold in the USA (despite several attempts).

But competitive casting on a closed, “real-world” style course? Hmmmm.

Let’s face it; wild trout and their environs aren’t particularly well suited to competitions, but the technical act of fly casting almost certainly is.

And while regular readers know I’m hardly a cheerleader for the fly fishing industry, I do think this is an idea with merit.

We don’t force our wild trout populations through the competitive ringer, and I could see weekend competitions acquiring the patina of a social event – much like the action pistol competitions (the fastest-growing shooting sports), where largely low-key competition is almost always followed by a barbecue.

Of course, I see growth in a worthy sport. The fly fishing industry no doubt sees growth in sales of a new line of competition-only fly rods.

How’s the course work?

Like golf, each station on the course will have a par score. Depending on the station, experts will be able to hit par in one to two casts, intermediates in three to four casts and beginners in five to six casts.

Scorecards will be distributed at the store, and those with the best scores will have their names affixed to a store plaque, Tibbett said.

The course will be free and open to the public. It is being developed in partnership with The Old Mill District.

“Really, the whole fly-fishing business is abuzz about it because it could be the start of a whole new thing,” Tibbett said. “It’s been talked about, apart from grass-roots events where you throw a Hula-Hoop on the lawn, but it’s never been taken to this level. The Old Mill (District) really has gone out of its way to make this happen.”

Did they mention golf? Damnit. Fly fishermen already look ridiculous, and adding lime-green plus fours to our competitive outfits isn’t going to help.

I’m trying to get past it.

So I’m putting the question to the Undergrounders (especially those living in urban areas): would a “Casting Course” style competition (with hints of sporting clays, golf, and barbecued food) interest you? Or should urban anglers get used to fishing ditches for carp?

Is this a Big Thing for the industry, or just a recession-mired fly fishing industry making hopeful noises?

As always, Undergrounders, the floor is yours:

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