Custom Fly Fishing Rods by Chris Lantzy, Custom Rod Maker
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    • Classical & Custom Series Graphite
    • Fiberglass Fly Rods
  • Available Rods
    • Available Reels, Accessories, etc.
  • Accessories (Bags, Cases, Wallets, & more)
    • Fly Wallets
    • Leader Wallets
    • Hand Stitched Leather Accessories
  • Designing Your Custom Fly Rod
    • Frequently Asked Questions
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    • Tackle Tips
  • About
    • Rod Making Philosophy
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  • The Pliant Rod (Blog & News)
    • Beyond The Rod Shop
Custom Fly Fishing Rods by Chris Lantzy, Custom Rod Maker

the pliant rod:

blog & news

"Forgotten Fly Rods, Vol. I" by Dr. Todd Larson

1/24/2011

 
"Forgotten Fly Rods: Overlooked and Underappreciated American Fishing Rod Makers, Volume 1" is a unique look back at several rod makers from the past that, for whatever reasons, have been lost from popularity of anglers today.

            “In this entertaining and informative book, Dr. Larson profiles fourteen American fishing rod makers that have, unfortunately, been largely forgotten or overlooked today. In this book you will read of the story of one of America's most pre-eminent early rodsmiths, Ben Welch, and the titanic 1840s contest he waged with fellow rodmaker JohnC. Conroy to see who could make the finest fly rod; discover the great numismatist-turned-rodmaker Morgan L. Marshall of Oswego, New York; learn the sad fate of rodsmith Clarence E. Huntley; read about "Uncle" Nathan Harrington, perhaps the nicest man to ever work a planing form; learn new details about the rodmaking career of the great Thaddeus Norn's discover why Alonzo Fowler may very well be the most important rodmaker most people have never heard about; learn about the life of Amasa Ward, famed Hell's Gate guide and rodmaker; uncover the past of Will H. Cruttenden—gunsmith, rodmaker, and an important man in the early history of baseball discover the sad life and fate of George Morgan, Syracuse's master rodmaker-turned-hermit; learn how George W. Miner and Roy F.B. Shaver revolutionized light-tackle saltwater fishing in California with their exceptionally light yet powerful fly rods; and finally, read of Andrew Kull, the Wisconsin rodsmith and king of the bamboo musky rod who interviewed his potential clients to make sure the\ were worthy of owning one of his rods. Includes an introduction by noted collector James K. Garret! Almost all of this material has never before appeared in print!” (From the book’s back cover).


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That’s what this book is about. Now allow me to offer my opinion about it.

Published by The Whitefish Press in 2009 & now available in paperback, if you haven’t read this book yet & you have even the slightest interest in angling history, you owe it to yourself to get to know this book.

Books written about the development & history of the fly rod in America seem to start their narrative with Hiram Leonard & the bamboo fly rod. For whatever reason, historians of past generations have mainly chosen to ignore the rod makers who came before Leonard, or those who worked in the shadow these historians have given Leonard to cast over them. That is a shame. Fortunately, Larson has not gone that route with this book. There were so many more rod makers in American history than we are generally aware of today.

            “The truth is that there is a whole history waiting to be written about the American fishing rod. The story of rodmakers before Leonard is virtually a virgin forrest, but even after the advent of the six-strip cane rod, there are dozens, if not hundreds of individual stories to tell that, taken as a whole, contribute to a fuller understanding of the history and development of the fishing rod in America.”  - from the preface.

Larson doesn’t pick favorites, or choose what should be told or left out of this history like others in the past might have done. This book goes a long way to tell the deeper story of the American fishing rod. Dr. Larson’s work is very well documented as well, brimming with pictures, vintage ads, news clippings, etc. The researcher will also value all the footnotes Larson cites.

This book spans geographically from New York City to Philadelphia; from Oswego & Syracuse New York to Wisconsin & California showing how unremembered rod makers built rods in different parts of the country. Forgotten Fly Rods is, in my opinion, very well written & fascinating to read. With this book Larson has done a service to both the rod makers covered in this book & to those who read it. I highly recommend this book.

Good News: Forgotten Fly Rods Vol. II is due out soon!! To reserve a copy, or to get Volume I, visit
The whitefish Press.

Classic fishing bags now available:

1/24/2011

 
My dad just came up with these great fishing bags!! Both of us have never been happy with wearing vests when we fish. You know the problems: they get heavy, pull you forward, & at the end of the day your back & neck are tired (do I really need all that stuff with me along the stream? probably not, but I might actually use some of those gadgets someday). Dad makes all the accessories I offer for sale plus the rod bags that come with every rod I make. Of course I'm biased, but believe me, he does quality work!! These bags are no exception. Man, I love these bags & I think you will too. Read all about them on my accessories page.
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Fisherman's Accoutrements

1/22/2011

 
I'm not a art expert, but one of my favorite painting is "Fisherman's Accoutrements" by George Cope (1855 - 1929). He was an avid hunter, angler, outdoors-man, & a native Pennsylvanian who spent most of his life in the Brandywine River Valley in West Chester, PA.
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Text of Essay from :Master Paintings from the Butler Institute of American Art. Edited by Irene Sweetkind. Published by Harry N. Abrams, 1994. (Author attribution follows text)

"With happy memories of the past summer, he joins together the three pieces of his fly rod.... With what interest he notes the swelling of the buds on the maples ... and looks forward to the day when he is to try another cast! and ... with what pleasing anticipations he packs up his "traps," and leaves his business cares and the noisy city behind ....

Thus does the nineteenth-century writer, Thaddeus Norris, describe the delights of the "gentle art" of angling.1 Cherished as a gentleman's pastoral retreat from the clamor of urban life, the sport is commemorated in George Cope's Fisherman's Accoutrements. The West Chester, Pennsylvania artist, a skilled angler and huntsman whose career was devoted to painting subjects drawn from the Brandywine River Valley countryside, excelled in illusionistic still lifes of dead game and hunting and fishing paraphernalia.

In Fisherman's Accoutrements, Cope portrays no brace of trout from clear-running streams so prized by nineteenth-century anglers, but instead pictures the traditional equipment of the fly-fisherman, depicted in an orderly yet expectant array. Hung from a large brass nail is a jacket, the signature feature of Cope's hunt pictures of the 1880s and 1890s, overlapped by a net and split willow creel. The central grouping is flanked by a hat bedecked with hand-tied artificial flies, and a fly wallet set on a wooden shelf, whose stag's head decoration evokes associations with hunt and fishing clubs. Below these, another shelf supports the butt, mid, and tip sections of a fly rod, delineating a triangular composition whose opposite side is marked with a flask. Between rod and flask lie a tobacco pouch, pipe, and a book or journal, other appointments of the angler's contemplative recreation."-Elizabeth Jane Connell

I'm not sure if you can tell from looking at the image above, but by looking at a larger image of the painting - or, of course, the actual painting - you can tell that the rod isn't just any old fly rod, but a mortised fly rod. Could it be some old Phillippe rod lost to time? We'll never know but it's fun to imagine.

This painting is part of the permanent collection at The Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio. The "Butler" has reproduction rights to this image & you can purchase a high quality (framed or unframed) print of this painting on quality archival paper. In addition to this painting, the "Butler" is also home to many other important works of American Art. They have a woderful website worth checking out.




The Fly Fishing Show

1/18/2011

 
It's time once again for the largest fly fishing show in the world to be held at the Garden State Convention Center in Somerset, NJ January 21, 22, & 23. If it has anything to do with fly fishing, it will probably be at this show.

The Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) will be there offering free instruction on fly casting, fly tying, & knot tying. Also attending the show will be an enormous number of tackle manufacturers, dealers, fishing guides, etc many of which, I'm sure, will be offering "show specials" at a lower price. You can also find just about any book or DVD on fly fishing available, plus fly tying tools & materials.

Also, there will be many fly fishing celebrities at the show as well offering seminars on a wide range of fly fishing topics. Some of them include:
-A.K. Best
-Lefty Kreh
-Dave Whitlock
-Ed Engle
-Bob Clouser

For more information about the show, the seminars, how to get there, & anything else you need to know if you plan to attend, visit the show's website. If you're going have fun!!


The Pflueger Medalist

1/17/2011

 
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The Pflueger "Madalist" fly reel is an example that old, vintage tackle doesn't have to be expensive. For those of you looking to start a reel collection, the Medalist is a great reel to start with. They have been made for decades - since the 1930's if I'm not mistaken - and can be found at many flea markets, garage sales, or auctions all over the country. Plus, it seems that there are always some for sale on ebay.

From the 1930's until the early 1980's the Medalist was made in the USA. In the 80's however, production was moved overseas & since then the quality of the reel is not nearly what it used to be. Collectors of these reels each seem to have their favorite era of production, but the golden age of the medalist seems to be from the 1940's through the 60's during which time many were made.

The only problem with the Medalist fly reel is the foot, which doesn't seem to properly fit any rod's reel seat you're likely to find. Fortunately, this problem has been solved by the One-Pfoot company that specializes in making replacement parts for vintage & new Pflueger Medalist reels. If you have one of these reels laying around & need to get it back in working order, these are the folks to talk to.

Of course Pflueger is a company with a very rich history & there could be volumes written about the history of all their products, the Medalist included. If you would like to learn more about the different Medalists through the years, or would like to try to identify when one was made, here is a very well written overview of the medalist production history. Also, check this out for another quick look at the Medalist

The Medalist is a workhorse of a reel with a great history that you can start your collecting adventures with because it won't break the bank to buy one, - yet. Collect them, use them, they're one of my favorite reels.

J.D. Wagner selling vintage fly tackle

1/11/2011

 
Jeff & Casimira, while rod makers of a deservedly great reputation, have also been in the vintage tackle business for some time. However, they now have a ton of old tackle up for sale on their website.

I've fallen in love with this Maxwell era Leonard they have available:
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They also have a Thomas & Thomas "Specialist" available for sale. In my opinion T&T rods are hard to beat in looks. They are positively beautiful rods. Look at that beautiful brown color:
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Maybe the best deal of their vintage offerings is a 9' 3piece, 2 tip Heddon rod that is in good working condition for only $150. That's a great price!!

Along with the many bamboo, fiberglass, & graphite rods listed on their site, they also have many reels too. You can also see a never - used limited edition Wheatley fly box, plus much more.

To see what I'm talking about, check out their vintage tackle pages by clicking HERE & also HERE.

The Pliant Rod

1/11/2011

 
Hello. Welcome to The Pliant Rod. Here is where I will list all the shop news I've been listing on the website. I decided to use the "blog" format because in addition to the news from my own shop I plan on adding other tid-bits of info you might find interesting.

This will not be a typical "blog" in that it won't be a journal of my fishing or rod making adventures - however I'd love to hear about yours. No, this will more or less be a place where I will mention certain things I think you might enjoy. Some of it won't be "news" but more like a look at an old book I think deserves mentioning or a person (past or present) that I feel you might like to hear about. Of course some of this will be about rod making, news from my shop, etc. I also would like to cover some info for the beginning fly angler. None of it will be lengthly; just little quips here & there posted from time to time.

I hope you check back often & let me know what you think.
- Chris Lantzy

    The Pliant Rod

    News from the shop of Chris Lantzy, Custom Rod Maker along with industry news, profiles of interesting characters, reviews, history, & whatever else strikes our fancy. Your comments & feedback are welcome. Please email me your thoughts.


    These rods are available right now. please Go to the "Available rods" page for more details:

    7'-6"
    3/2, 4/5 wt
    classical series
    ​bamboo

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    6'-4" 
    2/2, 4/5 wt
    ​classical series bamboo

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    10'-0", 4 pc, 5/6 wt
    ​custom series graphite

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    hand stitched leather accessories

    Cases, bags, & other fine heirloom quality leather angling accessories.
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    DISCOUNTED REEL CASES
    ​(IN LIMITED SIZES & COLORS):

    To see what sizes & colors are listed, please visit the Available Reels & Accessories page.
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    NEW!! SEE MORE ROD PHOTOS!!!

    Please visit my Flickr pages to see even more rod photos including those available for sale, different rod features, & more. I'll be continuing to add photos there, so check it often. 

    Watch Some Videos!!

    Take a look into the rod shop & see some rods in living color motion pictures!! Check out my youtube videos. 
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