bryan hulse
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Zach,
I’d forgotten about Abel rods (I think everyone has since they began outsourcing to Folstaff). I’m guessing that the first company to do a full composite grip would be Loomis.
Ss
Zach,
I’ve enjoyed reading hers, as well as Crystal’s posts. I have tried a couple of times to pique my wife’s interest in fly fishing. I’ve tried to teach her casting–didn’t go too well, bought her a couple of hours of one-on-one instruction with an FFF certified instructor–never scheduled a time. A couple of years ago we shopped together and she picked out and purchased womens’ waders, boots, rod, reel, and pack and used them for less than two hours on a trip to CO.
Now I’m working on our daughters. The oldest turned seven last September, and to my surprise she knows exactly what to do without any instruction whatsoever. Strangely enough, I’m not always certain she knows how to turn eight.
I haven’t listened to the pod cast yet. It is downloaded, but haven’t listened to much of anything lately.
Bryan
Most of the limits anglers experience while fishing bamboo are self-imposed; most are buying tapers for small flies and small water, but expect them to fish like a larger rod when needed. To that end, when it comes time to order make sure you’ve done your homework, ask the builder lots of questions, and explain to him exactly what you want. You will probably never feel motivated to fish cane on a regular basis if you are limited to a 7′ 4wt.
I can’t match the knowledge of most of the fly fishermen on the Classic Fly Rod Forum, but I’ve been fishing bamboo for over a decade on rivers as broad as the Yellowstone and as small and remote as some of the back country streams of the Smoky Mountains. The rods I use the most will cast #4 streamers as well as they will a #20 emerger, and are perfectly capable of landing 20″ fish.
The only place I am reluctant to fish cane is out of a boat.
Bryan
I bought a 555 5wt line when they were just out and have used it less than a half dozen times for the reason you mentioned. I purchased the line in November and had such an awful time with it coiling on any day when the temperature dipped below 50 that I had no interest in using it during warmer weather either. Consequently, it has less dirt on it than I have on me right now and I could easily pass it off as “like new condition”.
I was a dedicated Wulff user for many years until I won an SA GPX line from a local fly shop; I’ve replaced all of my lines with SA since then. They have remained slick and supple through all kinds of weather.
The only other brand I’ve tried was a Rio sink tip line; the running line had a bad memory problem, so I ended up cutting the sink tip off, dividing it into sections, and making sinking leaders.
I would like to cast a Cortland 555 Little Tunny line, though. If anyone has one I would like to hear their opinion.
Bryan
I own a G5 and have been very pleased with it. It has several advanced features: selectable ISO ratings of 50 to 800, a number of white balance settings, exposure value settings, ten or so exposure modes (i.e. shutter and aperature priority, full auto, program, manual, etc.), accepts an external flash, the ability to shoot RAW, solid optics for a point and shoot, exposure lock, and a fold out a LCD screen that is actually useful at times–lots to like. However, it is slow to startup, has an annoying lag time between shots, especially if it is recording larger files, and it is a bit big, even for a bellowed front shirt pocket. But, it is still much smaller than a DSLR and the almost DSLRs.
I owned a G2 before purchasing the G5 and would highly recommend both. I would think that the G7 would be just as good, if not better.
Bryan
I haven’t hunted for quail since I was and boy and living in AL. Is there enough suitable public land to hunt that a restoration project would be worth while. Lack of land access is what led me to put my gun away.
Mike,
You wouldn’t be saying–under your breath–that the Winter stocking program is unwise, would you?
To link something that Brian and Zach said, and with all due respect to Joan Wulff, I think that Winston should drop the Joan from the Joan Wulff rods–I do think it disourages more men from casting them; and, they are wonderful rods.
As for everything else why not stock both–merchandise that appeals to women who fish and women who accompany their so’s on fishing trips? Avoid stereotypic colors for the technical gear (waders, vests/packs, jackets, etc), but do stock “tropics” colored clothing for travelling, wearing around lodges, and on boats.
I would think that the most important thing would be to approach the women who visit your shop the same as you would the men, then steer or guide them accordingly.
Good luck with the new business.
Bryan
Great photo story, Zach.
My brother and I fished the Cumby yesterday. There were times during the day that we couldn’t stop giggling the fishing was so fantastic. It was just a perfect day.
I am fishing a day in the park this weekend–Cataloochee to be specific–should any of you N Georgia or Carolina guys want to spend a few hours fishing for wild fish.
Bryan
Cameron,
Do you have Midge Magic by Don Holbrook? What a great resource. One of the tricks I’ve taken from it is to tie different colored under bodies using tinsels and threads and overwrap with clear vinyl rib.
Bryan
I wanted to thank you, dmk and David. I was beginning to think I am either a real ass hole or dumb ass.
My suggestion would be Cataloochee. The kids can ride their bikes, you can view wildlife, tour historic buildings, hike miles of trails, and fish five streams. There are only about 20 campsites, so it is never too
I’ve not known enough T & T and Abel owners to formulate my own opinion, but have heard the same sentiments expressed by others. I’ve read posts and heard several salt guys bemoan the pretentiousness of Abel Reels, but think nothing of plopping $700 down on a Tibor because there is this notion that it is more of a working man’s reel. Same can be said of a lot of rods in that a $600 Winston is somehow more practical than a $600 HS II. I kind of credit St. Croix’s ad campaign of a few years ago that suggested that fishing cheaper equipment equals a better fisherman for the sort of reverse discrimination/sentiment that is popular today.
Anyway, should we ever organize a board get together I would be more than happy to look down my nose at you while you cast one of my T & Ts. 😉
Sir Splitshot
Don’t discount shopping at craft stores and bargain bins at your local grocer. Clear nail polish makes great head cement and can be bought for $.60 – 1.00. False eyelashes are cheap and make great mayfly tails. You can buy a lifetime supply of glass beads for a couple of bucks at Michaels. And it doesn’t hurt to know hunters–they can be a fantastic source of furs and feathers (just make sure to microwave whatever they give you for a few seconds).
When picking a vise look for one that, not only holds a wide variety of hook sizes well, but one you can work both of your hands around at the same time. Also, I’ve been using a rotary vise for ten years, but the only thing I use the rotary feature for is to examine flies.
