kevin powell
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I am excited to find out where Phil lands because times like these set fires that amazing to watch burn. Go get em Phil.
Those McFarland rods are just gorgeous, but that one doesn’t hold a candle to your pip squeak.
Anybody ever compare the Mcfarlands with the Steffen Bros?
And I did not do it justice with the photos. Honestly it is hard to compare the McFarland and The Steffen rods. I have a 7ft 4wt Steffen and The 6ft 5wt McFarland. The two rods cast and perform very similar if that is ALL that you are looking for. My Steffen is a little faster but it may be the length of the rod and I overline it with a 5wt line. They will both easily cast the same distance for me. The price is a couple a hundred dollars different as well and the time it take to get. The craftsmanship is also in both but in opposite ways. The McFarland is much like a Baroque Painting, every detail is there and done the compliment all the other parts. The Steffen is more like a Modern Deconstructed Painting and it too is Beautiful with the unfinished blank and the attention to performance but you can tell it is made to really fish. I am not a big fan of the bellinger seats on the Steffen but it does the job well. If I get another steffen I wil just buy the blank and build my own.
Here are some pics that I found on the web of the Steffen – I have to get a camera to get pictures of mine.
The only thing different on my McFarland would have been adding the roped winding check at the head of the cork which is you have ever built a rod (especially custom) it is a pain. Then to blue it on top of that is to much of a request. It also does not have a hook keeper which is pretty useless as well on this short of a rod.
The price difference between a McFarland and the Steffen
Steffen 4 piece – $375.00 ($425 if you upgrade the seat)
McFarland Stream Grade 4 piece – about $475.00 (to $700 presentation grade and it is worth it) and you have a choice of actions.The length of time it took to get the McFarland kind of forced me into the Steffen and As I told Cameron earlier – The steffen will probably become my new “Always” with me rod in the truck.
Welcome Dave… I have seen you somewhere before but I cannot put my finger on it. Like Neal – Similar waters.
Ah – I see Cameron has converted another disciple. Congratulations Kevin, you will love that rod.
He has. Glass is a perfect southern rod.
Neal, now we need to take you to get some real BarBQ. Seeing that Colonel Pooles sign kind of makes me ill inside (but I AM at home with the stomach bug). Davis, BubbaQ, the Pink Pig, Two Brothers (i only say because it is better the the hill of fame) and there are more but they
I sport the same Filson Wools. I tried fleece but once wet they were pointless. I used to paddle quite a bit and I when i started paddling casually instead of crazy paddling. I switched to wool on most everything. It is just warmer “All day long”. I am the same with socks and a sweater (on real cold days – fleece on a normal day).
I wish everyone on this site could cast this thing. Anyone who plays on the small creeks would fall in love.
This would be a great standard rod for any company – 4 and 5 wt. I really do not see the point in lighter (but that is just me). I have a Winston 3wt that just lost it’s home to these glass rods.
no stocking this year… But I am not upset about it. We had a long year of replacing junk that we had before a house fire. There was really nothing new that either of us needed.
I did get a new tripod…. and My camera was stolen the week of Christmas. What do I do with the tripod now? That was a bummer.
Sorry… I wasnt clear. Get the thing ready for the up turn in the economy. The time it would take to organize and get it going would be right on the upswing.
That is what I meant sparks and fires during a down in the economy. Some of the greatest ventures were created in one of these lows in the economy.
(and living in the AD world – I saw the revenue turn before the papers with all the lay-offs, 21% matches the numbers when Reagn came into office)
I believe Phil is in Maine but a similar thought crossed my mind.
I can quote an IA mag to see how much it would cost to run. It could be a quarterly like the Drake. Run it a different size so it stands out. Distribution Numbers is a hard part and SPONSORS (advertisers) but Zach has a good start on that. Between everyone on the site, I am sure would could pool enough money for a startup adventure. AND we would have to talk to Zach. It could be a logistical nightmare – I do not know.
I am curious how many would sell and would love to have a magazine to design (A DREAM THAT I HAVE ALWAYS HAD). That is a job that I would do for free (during startup) to see what would (could) happen. Just out of fun and getting to know everyone.
If we only knew some photographers and writers that thought the same way. ;D
I have shied away from this thread, because I really do think its tough to separate the specific FF industry economy from the general state of the economy and from politics… They are all so tightly woven together.
After reading the news about Phil this morning…
I’m with you brother. Politics is hard to shy away from on this one with the machine being a part of the “whole” economic picture and being a major player in the solution. About every 10 years the economy tends to turn toward a recession. Economic booms always have a downturn. The Industrial revolution had its Great Depression and this techno revolution of today is finally seeing its downturn. I realize the dot coms fall was about eight years ago but the trickle down from the rest of the geek wars is starting to show. There have been some major mistakes made and some major things learned. Usually the growth behind an economic downturn is very exciting. This one may be a little slower to turn around but it will. Borrowing and lending were out of control but take a little knowledge from your Grand Parents – Do not live beyond your means.
I love the printed page probably a little more than most. It is what I have studied my entire life and turned into a living. The Internet has taken a portion of that away but it has also created different opportunities. I will not read “LONG” internet articles because I hate to read off of a computer screen & it is also hard to trust the source. There are reputable sites and maybe those who are being cut from a slowing printed publishing industry of wonderful news stand rags will transfer their loves and talents to the net.
I am excited to find out where Phil lands because times like these set fires that amazing to watch burn. Go get em Phil.
Welcome Jim. I too would like to see a little gear porn. I am your neighbor to the north a little and used to turn pens and make rods. I lost all the equipment but will get back into it later down the road. Cameron on the forum has hooked me into the fiberglass and now I am thinking about building again because it is easier to buid glass than buy..
2 days no “cope” and it is hard to “cope”…. BUT I am done with it. Stopping a twenty-five year relationship with something that is really nothing.
Funny, cold days on the water are OK though. 😕
Darrin – everything is better on the water cold or not.
I guess that is one of the tobacco issues of WHY… Any food taste better. Your back doesnt hurt from yardwork the day before. So on and so forth.
This is a hard topic to discuss without throwing in a political twist. I personally have been working most of my waking hours because I know that one of the first budgets in many businesses to cut is marketing, advertising, and design. I do not know if my next job will be my last.
That being said. I am paid in full. No house payment, No car payment, No credit cards or school lones… With a years worth of backup in the bank to pay the bills we do have. Cut backs have only been with my time. No time for me because I am saving for the turn because I am scared to death if it gets worse.
I had a friend, who sells cars, tell me today that you can buy a 2008 Dodge truck and get a Dodge Neon instead of rebates. How unheard of is that.
I would like to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Holiday Season as well. I might not have another free moment to do so. I appreciate everyone on this forum.
The respect and candid honest opinions and thought from everyone on this site is hard to find. Thanks and Merry Christmas.
( and I wasnt trying to be PC – It just happened to happened, I have designed about 30 holiday cards this season and it tends to become a normal speech pattern)
