Custom Fly Fishing Rods by Chris Lantzy, Custom Rod Maker
  • Home
  • Split-Bamboo Fly Rods
    • Custom Series
    • Classical Series
    • Prudential Series
    • Mortised Fly Rods
    • Rod Tapers
  • Graphite & Fiberglass Fly Rods
    • Fiberglass Fly Rods
    • Classical & Custom Series Graphite
  • Available Rods
    • Available Reels, Accessories, etc.
  • Leather Accessories
  • Designing Your Custom Fly Rod
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Overveiw of Making A Split-Bamboo Rod
    • Tackle Tips
  • About
    • Rod Making Philosophy
  • Links
  • Contact
  • The Pliant Rod (Blog & News)
    • Beyond The Rod Shop
  • Home
  • Split-Bamboo Fly Rods
    • Custom Series
    • Classical Series
    • Prudential Series
    • Mortised Fly Rods
    • Rod Tapers
  • Graphite & Fiberglass Fly Rods
    • Fiberglass Fly Rods
    • Classical & Custom Series Graphite
  • Available Rods
    • Available Reels, Accessories, etc.
  • Leather Accessories
  • Designing Your Custom Fly Rod
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Overveiw of Making A Split-Bamboo Rod
    • Tackle Tips
  • About
    • Rod Making Philosophy
  • Links
  • Contact
  • The Pliant Rod (Blog & News)
    • Beyond The Rod Shop
Custom Fly Fishing Rods by Chris Lantzy, Custom Rod Maker

the pliant rod:

blog & news

new leather fly book

3/27/2019

 
It's been a very busy winter here in the rod shop & in between rods I've worked worked out some new accessories that I've always wanted to make. One of those is this newly designed fly book:
Picture
As you can see, this book is made from a thicker, sturdy leather in a traditional chestnut color. It features two side panels that help to protect delicate flies from getting crushed & also will keep anything from falling out of the book. There's nothing like reaching your hand into a pocket to find a loose fly - ouch! You won't have to worry about that with this fly book.
Picture
The thick wool lining inside the book will hold plenty of flies & it's thick enough to wick away tons of water from your flies. Plus it adds plenty of padding to protect delicate hackles, wings, & tails. 
Picture
While these fly books are perfect for streamers or larger salmon flies, you could store any size of nymph or wet flies in them as well. The gorgeous, flawless leather is infused with waxes during the tanning process to make it water resistant - water will bead up on the outer surface of these books.

These books are available in two sizes:
-Small: 4" x 6" x 2" thick
-Large: 6" x 8" x 2" thick

For more information & to see more detailed photos, please visit the Accessories page of this site. If you have any questions, please contact me. I think anglers are really going to like using these new leather fly books. 
Picture

spring discounts!

3/21/2019

 
Well, we've made it to spring!! In order to celebrate (& clear out some items that are taking up space in the rod shop) I've reduced the price of all available rods & some select accessories as well. 

At this time the available rods include this 6'-4" bamboo fly rod. It's one of my favorite & versatile tapers as it can be used on small streams up to medium sized rivers. It's got a great action & would be a great addition to your rod arsenal. 
Picture
Also listed now is this 4'-4", one piece bamboo "Banty" rod. Among ultra-light fly anglers this rod is very popular. As it's a one piece rod, there's no ferrules to interrupt the action & it's a great rod to use for small, tight quarters but you can also catch lake bass on it, too!
Picture
Maybe the best bargain among the available rods is this 10'-0", 4 pc, 5/6wt Custom Series graphite rod made on a Thomas & Thomas DNA switch rod blank. What's truly unique about this rod is that while it's made on a switch rod blank, it was made up with a traditional grip & reel seat for single handed casting. This is a great rod for high-stick nymphing, or in any conditions where you need more line control on the water. This rod will roll cast like nobody's business, too. Check out the rave reviews about the T&T DNA switch rods & I'm sure you'll like what you see. Finished out in high end components -including an agate stripping guide - this rod is the highest grade of graphite fly rods I make. At this new reduced price it is a great bargain. 
Picture
In addition to rods, I've also reduced some select accessories, too. These leather fly books are great for holding a ton of flies, or larger salmon flies. Check them out on the leather accessories page.
Picture
Picture
On the same page as the fly books above, you'll also find a couple of leather fishing bags. These are perfect for a day along the stream & now you can get them at a bargain. I have only one of each, black or tan. 
Picture
Picture
If all that wasn't enough, I'm continuing to list select overstock canvas reel cases at a steep discount. These are offered in a bunch of different sizes & colors. Once these overstock cases are gone, they're gone, so check them out! You can see all these discounted reel cases on the Available Accessories page.
Picture
Picture
If you're looking to add a new rod to your collection or you just need a great accessory as you gear up this spring for another season, be sure to check out all these bargains. If you have any questions about anything, please feel free to contact me & I'll be happy to help you out. 
HAPPY SPRINGTIME!!

leather clam shell fly reel cases

3/18/2019

 
Picture
I've just added another case to my list of accessories - a leather clam shell-style fly reel case!

​These cases are made from heavy 9 oz vegetable tanned leather in a traditional chestnut color. The leather has been treated for a smooth, flawless appearance & feel. Each case features a Sherpa lining inside to both wick moisture away & protect your fly reel.
Picture
A brass stud closure makes it easy to open & close the case. These cases are constructed with mitered corners of the leather for seamless edges & stitched in a traditional box stitch to last for a lifetime of use. ​
Picture
These cases will hold any reel up to 3 1/2" high x 2 3/4" wide (from back plate to top of handle), accommodating both regular & wide spool fly reels.
*more sizes coming soon!

For more information & to see more photos, please visit the Accessories page.

If you have any questions about these cases, please contact me. 
Picture

leather fly wallets: new & improved

3/12/2019

 
Picture
Over the many years of making leather fly wallets, I've often considered different ways of improving them. Now I have. These improvements take these wallets to a whole new level of quality & elegance. These new fly wallets have the same basic design & size of the ones I used to make. However the quality of the materials they're made from is now much better than in the past.

The leather of these wallets is a natural vegetable tanned leather in a rich mahogany color. It has a very rich grain marks throughout. It's been waxed & buffed so it's smooth to the touch - a pleasure to hold in hand. As it's tanned with all natural vegetable materials, it has that rich leather smell, too. It's a pleasure for all the senses. 
Picture
But the higher grade leather isn't the only improvement I made. Now, the inside of every wallet is lined entirely with a soft black suede leather. This gives the inside of the wallet a distinct look & helps to protect items you keep inside. These new wallets are a pleasure to the touch both inside & out.
Picture
Still not satisfied with just these better features, perhaps the biggest improvement I've made to these wallets are the pages. They are now made from 100% wool felt in a natural oatmeal white color. Thick & durable, each page features a scalloped, or pinking, cut edge to facilitate easier turning of the pages & to keep the edges from fraying over time. Hooks with, or without, a barb will store well in the wool felt.
Picture
Picture
​Every detail has been attended to in these new fly wallets. The stitching is done in a heavy duty black thread that ensures these wallets are made to last for a lifetime of use. Every edge of these wallets are dyed black & polished for beautiful finished edges.
Picture
These new leather fly wallets are among the best you'll find. It would be a treasured possession of any angler to add to their tackle collection & they make fantastic gifts for any special occasion. 

For more information & to see more detailed photos, please visit the Accessories page of this site. You should also feel free to contact me with any questions you might have.
Picture

​REMAINING STOCK OF OLD STYLE FLY WALLETS ON SALE:

I used to make these wallets from a variety of different lesser grade leathers & with a fleece-like material for the pages that would not hold barbed hooks. They also had no inside lining of suede as the above wallets do, so raw leather showed on the inside. They are the same size & basic design as those described above, just without these marked improvements of the new wallets. In order to eliminate my old stock, I'm reducing the price of these older style fly wallets.
To see the current list of available old style wallets, please visit the Leather Fly Wallets page of this site.

evaluating old bamboo rods

3/4/2019

 
I sometimes get questions from folks about older bamboo rods that they've acquired, wondering what they have & what it might be worth. While I'm no expert on vintage tackle, I am more than willing to help folks identify old fly rods (if I can) & tell them what I know. 

Often, I'll advise these folks on the best ways to sell their vintage rods, if that's their aim. When it comes to selling older rods I point them to some trusted dealers I know who have honorable reputations.

Before you contact anyone about your old rods, there are some things to look for which will help both you & the expert identify & estimate a value. These things are fairly easy to ascertain, so spend a bit of time studying the rod before you reach out to any dealers or experts.

Here are just a few key things to look for when evaluating an old bamboo fly rod:
1.) Identify any writing on the rod &/or logos, stickers, or labels. This is very valuable info to give the expert. 

2.) If the rod has 2 tip sections, note if they are exactly the same length. If they're different by even a half inch this could indicate that the rod has been worked on at some point & a tip top replaced.

3.) Look to see that all the thread wraps are the same color. They should all be look almost identical. If one or two are a little brighter, or darker - or if the varnish over them seems a bit different, there's a good chance a guide has been replaced.

4.) Examine the ferrules for cracks.

5.) Study the varnish over the rod shafts to see what condition it is in. Is it flat & smooth all over, or is dry & cracked like alligator skin?

6.) If the rod has a bag or a rod tube, be sure to look for any labels that match any information on the rod. 

These are just some of the points to look for when evaluating a vintage bamboo fly rod. It's a great start for you when contacting an expert for help. Armed with this information, the expert can save a lot of time in research & will have a better idea of just what you might have.

Also, be sure to take photos of the rod. These are a great help to any tackle expert. Be especially sure that your photos include these parts of the rod, as they help the most to identifying it:

-Any writing or labels on the rod, usually fond above the grip
-The grip
-The reel seat
-The ferrules

As far as values go, only a very rough estimate could possibly be made without the expert physically handling the rod. That means if you're looking to sell your rods you should choose a dealer that you trust, so be sure to research anyone before you send them what might be very valuable tackle. 

Armed with this info & these photos to show, you'll be that much farther ahead when you contact a vintage tackle expert for their advise & help in identifying your old rod.

    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.


     leather accessories

    Cases, bags, wallets, & other fine leather angling accessories.
    Picture

    instagram

    See more photos from the rod shop & stream sides!
    Picture

    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. 
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Angling Art
    Angling Art
    Angling Profiles
    Books & Videos Etc
    Books & Videos Etc
    Books & Videos Etc
    Books & Videos Etc
    Favorite Flies
    Fly Fishing
    Fly Fishing
    General Angling News
    General Angling News
    Industry News
    Industry News
    Shop News
    Shop News
    Tackle Tips
    Tackle Tips
    Vintage Tackle
    Vintage Tackle

    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.