Thank-You

To all of you who fight to keep us free, Thank-You.

The price of cork cost what???

Cork flooring is not something you bring up around rod builders because it is one of the reasons for the drastic increase in the price of cork rings. BUT what else are you going to put in a new workshop designed for building rods??

Cork floor.

My new shop just got finished and I'm in the process of moving in. The cork floor is very very nice and give the room a unique feel.

New MHX Blanks

I just got in some of the new MHX blanks being produced and distributed by Mudhole tackle. They seem to have great promise. I'll be able to give a better review once I get one or two built and put them to use but I like what I see based on giving the blanks the ol "wiggle test". The MB783 looks to make a bang-up hard jerk bait stick.
One of the unique things is that each blank is individualy numbered. A nice touch for the custom builder/customer.

Read more here: MHX blanks

^^

Definitive fly fishing resoucre?

This site Flyfishline.com poses itself as the "definitive on line fly fishing resource"... maybe not but it's looking to be a pretty good site.

Check it out.


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and for something completely different

I have a few fish pics or "Hero Shots" that I've always thought would look great as some form of abstract art. Maybe a brilliant water color or old worn black and white photo , circa 1950's, like I saw of my grandfathers.
Well I've found the place. Living Proof Designs will take your Hero Shot and turn it into some real art.

I imagine they can even paint chubs . How about it Bob?

Meiser Website

There are only a few rod builders that I can say I truly do idolize. One of those is certainly Bob Meiser. It's not only for the rods that he builds but the way that he conducts himself and carries out his business. Nothing but a class act and one damn fine rod builder.

He just had his website re-vamped and the new version is on-line.

Take a look.

Meiser Rods

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Fly Mag (well sort of)

Another on-line fly fishing magazine launched this week with quite pleasing results. Fish Can't Read is an internet only mag that combines all aspects of fly fishing with some mighty pleasing prose and very high quality photographs. It's a little slow loading but certainly worth your time.

Check it out.

Fish Can't Read


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Custom Fly Rods

I'm looking to increase my fly rod build portfolio. Give me a fly rod to build and we'll work out some special pricing. I'm looking to do something different, say a small stream trout rod or a big stick rod for the surf, of course, rods for bronze and steel are always good!!!!

Please Remember

Please remember to offer a prayer for our Nation and those that lost they're lives eight years ago today.

Never Forget!

Sucess, finally!

It's only taken me about 5 years and a few hundred, if not thousands of dollars in gas, food, lodging, license fee's and equipment but I finally landed a chinook "KING" salmon on a fly rod.

We planned our trip to the salmon river this year to be early in the season to target the early runners and to avoid most of the crowds. Once the crowds show up, even though that's when there is the most fish in the river, it's very difficult to actually fly fish. The banks get so crowded that you really just flip your fly into the water in front of you and hope that a fish runs into it.

This trip we just hit the early runners. Not a lot of fish in the river but enough to give us hope and keep us casting. There were very few anglers. Many times we could look up and down the river and be the only people around.

This feisty 25 pounder hit a estaz fly and took me into my backing before I got him into some shallow water to be netted.

The power of these fish is awesome.

Now that chinook is crossed off the bucket list it's onto the next target. Striped bass I'm coming for ya!

Hey Kayak Anglers

Yakers... take a moment to check out Chad Hoover's new book "Kayak Bass Fishing". Chad is the proprietor of the very well designed and administered website Kayakbassfishing.com.

Chad's book covers all aspects of fishing for Largemouth, Smallmouth and Striped bass from a kayak. The book will be released in November and you can pre-order it from his publisher.

Heliconia Press

Micro Guides

I get a lot of questions about Micro guides. I use Fuji Micros in either size 4.5 or 4mm. They come in both Alconite and SIC rings.
The theory behind the micro guides is the lighter you can make the tip the better the rod will balance and the faster the tip speed on the cast. I always love the look on the face of a new rod owner the first time they see them. The first question is always "wont' they pop free?".

No, They won't and yes, they work. Very well in fact. And I'm willing to bet that after you use them you will never go back to an off-the-shelf production rod that runs oversized sized 8 single foot guides to the tip.

Here is a pic of 6 Fuji SIC size 4mm micros on a dime.

Win this rod

I have built a rod for the conservation group Smallmouth Unlimited to promote the launch of their new national magazine: SMALLMOUTH.

All Smallmouth Unlimited members will have a chance to win the rod. You can join SU
here.

Please join this great group and help to promote Smallmouth Bass conservation.

Oh, yeah you could win this flat out kick-ass rod too!!!!!!!

broken record

Ok, I guess I should ask you to re-read some of my earlier posts but here it goes again. RAIN. Wow, I can't remember the last time we've had rain like this over the course of a summer that hasn't been the result of a tropical event. The river is above 5 feet at the harrisburg gauge and it's mid-august.
The Swatara got hammered, Again.

Not a good season to make a commitment to improving your fly fishing skills.
On the bright side everything is falling in line for a knock-out fall season. Get those hard jerk baits ready.

Dave Lewis

I just read where custom rod builder Dave Lewis passed away. This is a very big loss to the rod building world. Dave's fly rods set a standard for us all. His designs had a classy elegance and his craftsmanship was flawless.

Please take a few minutes to view his website and remember his family in your prayers.

Dave's rods


md