Blog Archives

Custom Fly Fishing Rods by Chris Lantzy, Custom Rod Maker

Is There A Generation Gap in Fly Fishing?

1/28/2014

I've heard this question posed before but never gave it much thought. Then the other day I happened to see a somewhat famous fly fishing guide on a daytime talk show introducing the audience to the sport/ The guide said something like (I'm paraphrasing here): "what do you picture when someone mentions fly fishing; an old grey-haired dude smoking a pipe along a stream, right? That's boring. I go fishing for the adventure. The way I fly fish it's very athletic & adrenaline-packed."

Well, okay. That sounds fun & exciting & I'm all for it but let's not be so quick to call that pipe smoking angler boring. In fact if we stop to talk to this fellow we might just find he's an interesting character (& maybe even a little crazy). Who knows, we might learn a lot from him. How boring can he be anyway? After all isn't he trying to catch the same fish we are? All this got me thinking about the question of a generation gap between younger & older anglers within the sport of fly fishing.

I guess the answer depends on your perspective, but as far as I can see there isn't much of a gap. Sure, there's always anglers who give people who are different than they are the 'ol fish eye - but it's that way everywhere in life. For my take, I've known some young people who were more closed-minded than some folks three times their age. I really don't know how much attitude has to do with age - experience yes, but not necessarily age.

Anglers young & old share more in common, I think, than any differences they might have. We all get excited at the possibility of tricking a fish with fur & feather. We all enjoy the places we fish. Most of us are, at a minimum, a little bit insane - at least to the non-angling portion of the population. There's even more that young & older fly anglers have in common & when I begin to add them all up in my head I start to wonder why the question is even being asked.

There is one extra responsibility that falls on the shoulders of older anglers & that is to share what you've learned & to encourage the youth to take up the sport. Like it or not, younger folks are the future & if we don't get them fly fishing what will the sport be like in the next generations? Will it still be here?

There's a popular tackle ad that says something like, "on the water we're all the same". I tend to agree with that. Why focus on somebody's age at all? I think what's probably important for all of us is to be kind & courteous to the other anglers we encounter, while learning & sharing as much as we can regardless of how old or young we might be.

Soft Hackle Fly Tying Video

1/22/2014

I recently saw this video showing how to tie a soft-hackle pheasant tail wet fly. The techniques used here will be useful on just about any soft-hackle wet fly - of which there are hundreds.

What I like about this fly, meant to imitate mayfly nymphs, is that it combines many of the materials in one fly that really seem to fool trout. It looks like something & nothing all at the same time. If you've been wondering about soft hackle flies, this is the clearest explanation I've seen showing how to tie them.

Leaders: Making Your Own

1/20/2014

These days we have the convenience of knot-less tapered leaders. Many even come with a connecting loop for ease of changing them. But it wasn't always this way. For the discriminating fly anglers of yesteryear, who wanted their leaders to perform a particular way, it was necessary to make up your own leaders. This is generally accomplished by tying different lengths of mono-filament line together of various stiffness & diameters into a full length leader.

The advantages of doing this are obvious: you can create a leader to specific tasks of fishing. You can dictate how quickly or slowly a leader will turn over during the cast. You can make a leader to perform for specific conditions & locations, too. The possibilities are endless. Of course you have to know, or find through trial & error, the correct formula to make the leaders you want & there's the trick.

Through the years many folks have developed different formula for leaders for different uses & the angler's preference comes into play, too. That's why you might find different leader formula designed for the same goal. It's all personal preference.

For example, shown below is one leader formula for dry fly fishing by the legendary "dean of fly fishing" George Harvey. Here Mr. Harvey has designed a leader to land on the water with some slack in it in order to prevent drag from setting in on his line too soon. All sections of leader are usually connected together with a nail knot.

4x Leader:
10" of stiff .017" thick nylon, to this add:

18" to 20" sections each of
.015"
.013"
.011"

Then attach tippets of:
12" of 2x
18" of 3x
22" of 4x

This makes a 9 ft 4 x leader.

If you've never tried making your own leaders, perhaps you want to give it a try. You can search through books or the internet to find various formulas but the real fun comes from designing your own to accomplish what you want. Mono-filament line in small diameters on large spools can be had at a fair price & of course you'll need a range of tippet sizes. Then sit down & give it a go.

It might be a good idea to get a set of calipers or a micrometer with either a regular or digital read out so you can measure existing leaders in your vest. Then you'll have something to compare your leaders with as you come up with new designs.

Who knows, you might just invent your new favorite leader for your favorite section of stream that will help you to catch that pesky brown trout that's been eluding you? At the very least it's a fun way to spend a cold winter's evening.

Getting Started In Fly Tying

1/18/2014

I know a lot of us tie out own flies. It's a wonderful hobby that can keep us involved in our favorite sport when we can't be on the water. It can really help us to get through the long winter. However, there are still some folks who don't tie their own flies. Maybe they've just recently been bitten by the fly fishing bug, or just never had the time before to give it a go. With that in mind, I thought I'd give just a few recommendations on where to start if you're new to fly tying.

First, the best place to look for information is from fellow anglers. Check with local fly shops, Trout Unlimited chapters, & sportsmen's clubs to see what's going on in your area. Many groups & shops offer fly tying lessons for beginners - usually for a small fee to cover the cost of materials used, etc. This is a great place to start because nothing is better than having someone who knows what they're doing showing you the ropes. You'll meet new people & get to see flies being tied.

The next aid for you would be a good book or two. You'll want some books on your shelf as you tie for references to check back with as you progress. There are tons of books about fly tying out there & many of them are good. So, I'll just suggest a few to get you started.

1.) "The Complete Book of Fly Tying" by Eric Leiser. This is one of the best books for beginners & intermediate tiers. It has everything you need to know & is a book every fly tier should have.

2.) "The Orvis Fly Tying Guide" by Tom Rosenbauer. A good book with fantastic color photos showing all the steps. Plenty of info here with a chapter on tools & a reference guide about feathers, hooks, etc.

3.) "LL Bean Fly Tying Book" by Dick Talleur. Another good book that takes you from the beginning. This book is geared towards the beginner, but has good info for all. It will give you a good foundation for your fly tying.

Finally, the internet is loaded with websites, articles, & other info of all kinds regarding fly tying. You can even meet fellow tiers from all around the world, seek advice, & get encouragement. A simple internet search of fly tying will keep you looking into things for years.

Fly tying is a nice activity that will enhance your enjoyment of the sport. You'll learn a lot about fishing by doing it &, I'm betting, become a better angler because of it.

Choosing A Fly Reel

1/16/2014

Getting a new custom fly rod is fun. The entire process of designing the rod, hiring a rod maker, & then seeing what you envisioned come to be is a very cool thing. Often times, when anglers decide to get a new special rod, they decide to get a new reel to complete the outfit.

There are a few ways to go if you're looking for a new fly reel to go along with a new rod: buy a new reel, get a vintage reel, or have one made for you. You'll have to do some thinking & a little research before you decide on the reel you want, but it will be effort well spent in the end. I'll just touch on some of your options here.

Vintage: This is fine on a new custom rod. The proper style & make of reel will go well with a bamboo rod, but don't deny your graphite or fiberglass fly rods either. You'll have to do some research to find the make & model of reel you want. Maybe there's a company who's story & history you like (Grandpa always fished with this make of reel, etc); or maybe there's an older model of reel that just looks like what you've always wanted. You get the idea. Your decision should also be based on both looks & function. When buying a vintage fly reel, it's very important to find a reputable dealer & to ask them any questions you have before you buy.

New: Nothing like starting fresh for the entire outfit of rod & reel. Here, you should be careful of cheap imitators who make their reels look like vintage, collectible reels. "Replicas" are not the same as the real vintage items & you should be careful of reels labeled as such. Some of them are made with very cheap parts with no company to stand behind them.

Instead, look for legitimate reel makers working in the style you like. This could be a single craftsman reel maker or a larger manufacturer, but you need to make sure that they warranty their reels & will stand behind them. I'm not affiliated with any reel makers, but names like Hardy Brothers & Peerless come to mind.

Custom: Just like rod makers, there are reel makers out there who can & will make a reel to your specifications. It usually isn't cheap, but if you want something truly custom this is the way to go. Ask around & search out a competent reel maker to work with, just as you did with rod makers.

When purchasing a new reel, you need to consider style. A large arbor aluminum reel does not traditionally go with a bamboo fly rod. If that's what you really want, fine. Just know & understand the styles of fly tackle. Also a classic style reel will go nicely with any fly rod - bamboo, graphite, or fiberglass. Just make sure after you've found the "look" you like, that you get a reel that will function well & hold up & that fits within your budget.

Finally, make sure the new reel fits your new rod. This is usually nothing to worry about, except when buying some rare vintage reels especially. There are industry standards to the angle of reel feet, but these are rarely followed. Also, you'll want to know the weight of the reel when you're looking around & have an idea of the weight you need to balance out your rod - which, of course, depends on the type & size of fly rod you have.

Common sense & a little research will get you a reel that will round out your new outfit & a reel that you'll be happy to fish with.

Another Fly Rod Video

1/15/2014

Last fall I posted my first video on youtube. It was an interesting process & I'd like to explore the video format even more in the future.

Well, I just posted another short video. This one shows some of the behind-the-scenes things that go in inside the rod shop where I work. I hope that you enjoy it.

A Little About Fly Lines

1/14/2014

I've talked about fly lines in the past, & since I get asked about them often, I thought I'd touch on them again.

Choosing which fly line is best for your purposes can be a difficult decision. These days many manufacturers sell their lines, & describe them to the consumer, based on the fishing situation the line is designed for. It wasn't always this way & at first I thought this type of marketing was just a ploy to sell more fly lines. However, I've come to realize that these lines for specific types of fishing may not be a gimmick after all. Let's consider that for a moment.

In the fly line industry, line weight is determined by the weight (in grains) of the first 30 feet of line. After that 30 feet, line makers are can taper their lines anyway they want to. Plus, different manufacturers make lines with different cores that effect the line's stiffness & different coatings that effect the line's slickness. All of this, naturally, can change how a line casts dramatically. So you see, not all four weight lines, for example, are the same.

Is there a particular brand of line I recommend? No. If you ask me I'll tell you the kind & type of lines I use for the type of fishing I do, but I don't endorse (or design my rods for) any brand of fly line. Bottom line, pun intended, is that you have to ask around & try out different lines to see what will work best for you. Do your research.

I also get asked which type of line is better to use, weight forward (WF) or double taper (DT). My answer is that it depends on the type of casting you'll be doing. For shorter casts of 10 or 15 feet, it doesn't really matter - both will do fine. If you're going to be doing a lot of roll casting (like I do) than you're going to want a DT line. DT's roll cast better than WF's because the WF'S don't have enough weight, or mass, behind the tip of the line to roll out line in a roll cast easily. The weight in a WF line is all at the tip of the line, not behind the tip, like in a DT.

For long casts where you'll be shooting out a lot of line, the WF is better & easier to use. I always say that if you're going to be putting a lot of line in the air (to measure your cast) go with a DT. If you'd rather shoot the line out, rather than put it air born in your false casts, go with a WF line.

So basically in theory, WF lines shoot out line a lot easier, but DT lines roll cast better & are a little easier to aim. For beginners I suggest a DT for those reasons. If you're an experienced angler than go with what you know & what suits your casting style. To each their own.

Available Rods Sale

1/13/2014

Over on the Available Rods page, I've recently reduced the price of most of the rods listed. Here's a chance to get a good rod at a great price with no waiting. There's a variety of rods available which would cover a lot fishing situations & styles of fishing. Bamboo, mortised bamboo, graphite & fiberglass rods are all available so there's something for everyone.

Here's some of the rods:
1.) 6'-4" 5 wt bamboo = $500
2.) 7'-6" 4/5 wt mortised bamboo = $550
3.) 7'-0" 4/5 wt mortised bamboo = $450
4.) 9'-0" 4 pc, 5 wt custom graphite = $250
5.) 8'-0" 2 pc vintage restored Berkley fiberglass = $50

If you're interested in adding another, unique fly rod to your arsenal, than please check out the Available Rods page. Also, remember that I offer a lay-away process where you can opt to pay half the price down & the remainder in 30 days.

If you have any questions about the rods you see listed, or anything else, please feel free to contact me. Thanks folks!!

Fishing Auctions

1/11/2014

Just as there are fishing shows throughout winter, the spring time will bring many fishing specific auctions. That's a ways off yet, but if you're a serious collector you need to start planing what you want to go after in these auctions early.

If you search around the internet, you'll find different fishing auction companies. The two that I'll mention here are the bigger ones that seem to offer quite a bit of variety. Rods, reels, books, & paraphernalia of all kinds including old flies, catalogs, creels, nets, etc can be found. Most of these auctioneers release there catalogs a month or so before the auction, so you can plan ahead.

Crossroads Angling Auction offers a lot to the angler & they show 'teaser' pictures of some of the stuff they have ahead of time. Their auction will be going off April 25-27, 2014.

Lang's Auction is probably the biggest in the nation (& the most attended / watched) of all the angling specific auctions. Lang's also offers a store where you can buy some items in the normal way (no bidding) periodically at different times throughout the year. Lang's spring auction is scheduled for May 17 & 18, 2014.

Both companies offer a "discovery" auction of different items that could include just about anything (except the really collectible items) that usually go off before the main event. They also offer you a few ways to bid which include over the phone, in person at the auction, or online in real time & you can also submit a bid ahead of time by mail.

You never know what will be up for bid at these & other auctions. If you're a collector, or are after something specific, then it's worth checking them out. Auctions can be fun & exciting but these fishing specific auctions are almost always educational, too.

Fish Hatcheries

1/9/2014

The work of raising fish at a hatchery never really stops at any time through the year. Hatchery workers are always working with fish in different stages of development. It's the work these folks do that provide so many anglers the opportunities to fish on stocked waters, especially for trout.

A well run fish hatchery is a very efficient, well-planed operation. The fish must be ready & grown by the time stockings come around. Disease & parasites must be kept out at all costs. All in all it's a lot of work by highly trained experts.

These days hatchery workers have more knowledge & technology available to them than before, but overall the general process of raising fish is the same as it has been for decades. In the video below, from the 1950's, we look at the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission's different hatcheries & workings as they were back then. I think you'll find this both informative & entertaining.

Many of Pa's hatcheries are open to the public. Perhaps you may want to spend some time this year visiting one of them. For a list of Hatcheries in PA, as well as more info about the Keystone state's hatcheries, click HERE. A visit & tour of one of these facilities will be time well spent that could really add to that special fishing trip this coming season.

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Is There A Generation Gap in Fly Fishing?

Soft Hackle Fly Tying Video

Leaders: Making Your Own

Getting Started In Fly Tying

Choosing A Fly Reel

Another Fly Rod Video

A Little About Fly Lines

Available Rods Sale

Fishing Auctions

Fish Hatcheries

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