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Custom Fly Fishing Rods by Chris Lantzy, Custom Rod Maker

Tom Morgan....

7/30/2013

Tom Morgan is a legendary rod maker best known for his years making bamboo fly rods & running the Winston Rod Company. If you could use one word to describe his life in fly fishing, I think it would be "dedication". Here is a man who has never let anything get in the way of his pursuit to make the perfect fly rod. His story is inspirational. You see, this talented rod maker has been paralyzed from the neck down for the past 17 years.

Those of you who have never laid eyes on a Morgan fly rod should really look them up. They are beauties. It's obvious that every detail is carefully labored over.

To me, Tom is best known as a designer of fly rods. Through the years he has invented & re-invented many rod tapers in order to see what can be done with a fly rod. Obviously he has a never ending list of questions he's spent his life answering. Because of his designs we fellow rod makers have been able to see what works & how rod tapers function when certain tapers are designed for specific applications. This alone makes Mr. Morgan's contributions to the sport extremely valuable.

Tom's life story is fascinating & inspirational to say the least. It's the kind of up-lifting story we all need to hear from time to time. What makes his story even more real to me is that it's not all the just the positive. Everyday Tom deals with challenges most of us can't even imagine. It's the fact that he still produces the quality fly rods that come out of his shop that is truly amazing.

A while back a friend sent me an article ESPN published about Tom Morgan. It is a very detailed, in depth look at this interesting man & his rods. I thought I'd share it with you here, as it's worth your time to read. You can read the article HERE.

Reel Seats: Up or Down?

7/25/2013

I sometimes get asked which style of reel seat is better, an up or a down locking. For the most part I tell folks to go with whatever style they like best. There are a few exceptions to this which I'll explain in a moment.

So we're all clear, an up-locking reel seat is just that - it secures the reel onto the rod towards the tip end of the rod. The fixed hood is located inside the end of the cork grip & the moving, or locking, ring / hood secures the reel foot closest to the butt end of the rod.

An up-locking reel seat

A down locking reel seat does just the opposite. One reel foot is secured inside an end cap on the very butt end of the rod while the other hood, or ring, is secured down onto the other foot.

A down-locking reel seat

The trend these days is to have an up locking seat. The vast majority of rods on the market today - especially by large manufacturers - is to use this style. Years ago it was the opposite & down locking seats ruled the day. You do still see down locking seats today, mostly on high end custom rods & bamboo rods.

If you asked a rod designer at a large rod company today for the technical reason why they use up locking seats more, they would probably tell you it balances the rod out better. As fly rods get lighter in overall weight, they want the weight of the reel closer to your hand. I suspect the real reason they use this style so much is more because of fashion. Hey, nothing wrong with that.

Mostly, I tell clients who ask that it really doesn't matter. A reel seat is normally 3 1/2" to 4" long. Moving the reel up or down an inch along the reel seat makes very little difference. So, pick the style you like most.

There are a few exceptions though.

On very light weight & very fast action rods, I suggest an up lock because on these rods even just the weight from the smallest reels will be felt. Putting that weight on the very end of a quick, light rod may make it feel unbalanced.

On heavier rods, such as big 8 weights for large bass that might have a more moderate action for example, I suggest a down locking seat. The larger & heavier the rod, the more I recommend a down locking seat in general.

I always suggest a down locking seat on bamboo rods, especially the mid-sized rods made for trout. I do this because it's traditional on bamboo rods & because it does tend to balance these rods out a little better, however either one of the two styles is acceptable. On really short & light cane rods it doesn't seem to matter as much.

So unless you've got a rod that is in one of the extremes in weight & size, or a bamboo rod where you want a more traditional look, that I say choose whichever style of reel seat that pleases you the most. Either way, a quality reel seat is a thing of beauty no matter which way you go, up or down!

Graphite Fly Rod Offer:

7/23/2013

For any of you in the market for a custom graphite rod with a moderate action, here is an opportunity you just might want to consider. For a short time I'll have access to discounted moderate action, made in the USA graphite rod blanks to make your custom rod from. These blanks are available at a discounted price, which I'm passing on to you.

These rods are black in color & are available in different sizes. You'll be able to order them in either Classical or Custom Series. The Classical's come with modern style stripping guides & light weight reel seats that have wood spacers & aluminum hardware. The Custom Series rods have high-end modern stripping guides by Hopkins & Holloway & have reel seats with Nickle-Silver hardware. The base price for each is:

Classical Series = $330 + shipping
Custom Series = $440 + shipping

Certain upgrades, like agate stripping guides, etc will cost a little more. Also, these rods will come with a one year warranty against defects from the manufacturer.

The rod configurations available with these blanks are:
2 pc:
-6'-0" 4 wt
-8'-6" 5 wt
-9'-0" 6 wt

4 pc:
-8'-6" 4 wt
-9'-0" 5,6, or 8 wt

If you're looking for a good custom rod at a nice price, please contact me to get your order in.

A Blast From The Past

7/20/2013

The other day while rummaging through some of my old fly fishing papers I happened to find an old booklet I had forgotten all about. Back in the day, Scientific Anglers (or just 3M as we used to call that company back then) used to put an information booklet in the box with their fly lines. In addition to containing useful information, it was also a way for them to advertise their larger fly fishing guide books that they used to publish.

The date on this booklet (& probably when I got the fly line it came with) was 1982. A lot has happened to fly fishing in the last 31 years, believe me. Fly lines & all other fly tackle have gone through a lot of changes since then. Still, the info in this little booklet remains useful.

I though I'd share some photos of the booklet with you here. I'll post some more of them again later so you can see how they used to market fly tackle waaaaaay back then (before the internet & cell phones. Yes, kids, there was a time before all that!!). I may be dating myself a little here, but hey, I got a really early start in this sport!! Enjoy this blast from the past.....

Choosing A First Fly Rod

7/19/2013

Choosing a fly rod for either yourself or someone else - like a youth or a friend you're introducing to fly fishing - can be a daunting task. Getting set up in fly fishing can be expensive when you consider everything you need to acquire: rod, reel, line, leaders, flies, boxes, vest, waders, etc. The costs can add up quickly.

The other day while at a large chain department store I happened to see a "package deal" of fly fishing equipment that included a rod, reel, fly line, some flies, & a fly box all for about $50. This price is appealing if your the one doing the buying because you don't want to spend a lot on a sport you're not sure you or your friend / youth may not stick with. Fly fishing equipment is just like anything else - you get what you pay for.

There are two pieces of equipment I would NOT compromise on for the beginner & they are the rod & fly line. Those are the two most important parts of all your tackle when learning to fly fish. You don't have to have the best on the market to start out, but you should buy the best your budget will allow. If this means spending less on a reel or vest, etc, then fine. Having a good rod & line will make learning fly fishing so much easier & fun.

The $50 fly rod in that package deal probably suffers from all the problems lower-end production rods are afflicted with. To name a few, they are:

1.) The rod doesn't have the proper size line guides on it & they aren't in the proper locations on the rod to shoot line easily. Large tackle manufacturers do this to save money & keep prices low. By eliminating a certain amount of guides used & not using many different sizes of guides they save a lot of money when making hundreds, or thousands, of rods.

2.) The rod has poorly made, cheap components on it - plastic reel seats, rubber winding checks, poor guide wraps, etc. Low quality components will not stand up to heavy use, nor do they (in most cases) balance the rod properly. This is not to mention that they look terrible, too.

3.) In many cases these "package deal" rods are too stiff, or fast-action, for folks learning how to cast & fly fish. Someone just starting out doesn't want or need a fast rod. You need to feel the rod loading when you're learning how to cast. You also need to see & feel how the rod bends. A more moderate action rod is best for this & what I think the beginner should have. (This was not a problem on most older production rods).

When you consider all of the above problems with those rods, you'd be better off making your fist rod a used one of better quality. Many of the older production rods of better quality are available at very reasonable prices - some for less than $50 (look HERE, for example).

Of course the best way to go for your first fly rod is to have one made for you by a rod maker. No, there's nothing pompous or crazy about having your first rod made for you. It doesn't have to be expensive at all, either. The benefit is that the quality of the rod will far surpass the price. Plus your rod will serve you well & you'll know that you're getting a good rod to learn with. It will be a rod even the most experienced anglers would enjoy using, so you know you'll never outgrow it. Of course if you've bought this custom rod for, say, a son, daughter, or grandchild & they don't stick with fly fishing then you'll have a really nice extra rod for yourself. Ultimately it will be money well spent. A good custom rod can be had for as little as $250 (Prudential Rods, for example).

Like I said, you get what you pay for. If you want to spend $50 for a poorly made fly fishing outfit & see a look of disappointment on your students face as they struggle to cast a line while watching a broken fly box floating down the stream, than go ahead & buy the "package deal". If you want a good quality fly rod at a great price than consider a better used rod, or a custom made rod.....or just contact me with your questions. I'll be happy to help you find the best rod for any beginning fly angler.

Wait Times for Custom Fly Rods.....

7/17/2013

So you've decided exactly what you want in a fly rod, but nobody makes a rod like that. So you go out & find a custom rod maker to make it for you. Now you're going to get the rod of your dreams.....someday. In this world of instant gratification that we live in, it's unusual to have to wait on something, especially when you're spending money. But remember, this is custom work we're doing here, like getting a suit made for you or having custom cabinets made for your kitchen. It takes time.

Okay, so why then do rod makers have such different wait times for a rod. Well, it usually (& should) depend on their work load & the amount of rod orders they have. Also, what all goes into making your rod will effect how long it takes to make. Some rods are more involved & just take longer to make.

Now some rod makers have long wait times (two years or more in some cases) because they are in demand & have a lot of orders. Other rod makers like to have the rod orders pile up & then go into a frenzy of work, making several rods at once. This saves them both time & money in the long run. I don't do that. I'm always working on rods in my shop. I want to get your rod to you as quickly as possible without rushing & possibly messing something up.

Also, a rod may take a while to make for unforeseen reasons, like waiting for supplies to come in or (Heaven forbid) the rod maker makes a mistake & must go back to re-do something. Sometimes, especially with bamboo rods, a problem spot in the material may show itself while making the rod. One of the most noticeable obstacles the rod maker may encounter is a 'leaf node' in the bamboo. This is a place along the outside of the bamboo where a branch grew from the stalk of the plant. Obviously this part can't be used in a rod & must be worked around by the rod maker.

A Leaf Node

In addition to the amount of orders a rod maker has at any given point in time, you also have to account for the time it takes for glues to cure, varnish to set up, & just the over all time it takes to make all the different rod parts. All this adds up.

So what are my wait times for a rod? While they may change slightly depending on my work load, my usual wait times for a rod from the time you order it until it's complete, is normally like this:

Graphite or Fiberglass rods.......4 to 5 months.
Prudential & Classical Series bamboo rods.....7 to 9 months.
Custom Series bamboo rods.....9 to 12 months.

It's like they say about good things coming to those who wait!! In the end, the quality of rod you'll be getting is well worth the time it takes to make it. Try a custom made rod & I think you'll agree.

New Reel Cases

7/15/2013

The soft reel cases that were listed on the Accessories page have just been redesigned. This is a massive improvement!! These reel cases are now wool lined with a zipper closure. In addition to the better design, these cases can be custom fit to your specific reel!!

These new reel cases are made in my shop from American made materials. Some of the features of these new cases are:

-Made from durable duck-canvas & available in multiple colors.
-Wool lined top & bottom for moisture absorption & padding.
-Seams are double & triple stitched. These cases will NOT come apart.
-Heavy duty zipper closure.
-Loops for strapping to luggage or rod tube.

While custom colors are available upon your request, the standard colors for these cases are green, burgundy, tan, & brown.

I'm very excited to be offering these newly designed reel cases. For more information about them & to learn how to get a custom fit to yours (so it's made specifically for your reel) please visit the Accessories page. As always, if you have any questions about these cases, or anything else, please contact me.

Revisiting The Spider, or Skater Fly

7/9/2013

Earlier this year, I discussed the spider, or skater dry fly with you here. You can read those posts HERE and HERE. In those articles, I mentioned both how to tie them & a little on how to fish them. I'd like to mention them again because now that were really into the summer, they're great for summer trout.

Fly fishing writer A.J. McClane, in his famous book "The Practical Fly Fisherman" , writes in depth about spider flies. In it he sings their praises & says that they can be used to catch trout just about anywhere & at most times of the year. Well, I think he's right. Spider flies will bring up big trout from the depths during summer like nothing else. They are best used in the flat, smooth water that flows near the stream bank. At this time of year look for such a spot with a tree overhanging & providing shade. The trout will be positioned just below the overhang sipping any terrestrial insects, like ants, that may fall into the water. By the way, this time of year, I'm always looking for a dead tree next to the water that's infested with bugs. They fall off the tree & into the water, becoming trout food. It's also a plus that the tree adds cover & shade for the trout.

So basically, use these spider dry flies where ever you would think of using a terrestrial pattern. The added bonus of using these larger flies is that they're a lot more visible than, say, a size #22 ant.

Casting these flies can be a bit difficult because of their size & wind resistance, but it's worth the effort. On windy days especially, the breeze may actually push your fly across the water & mess up your drift. Not to worry though, that can be a very good thing. Unlike other dry flies where you're trying to get a drift with no drag, as to imitate a drifting insect (that doesn't have a leader attached to it), these spider flies will cause strikes when they move in an unusual way. Maybe it looks like a struggling life form on the water that would make an easy meal? Even if you botch the cast & drag sets in instantly on your line, let it finish out it's drift through your target areas on the water. The strange movement of the fly could very well excite the trout to strike it. This is a very nice effect these spider flies seem to have. So even if your cast, or the drift, goes haywire don't stress it. All is not lost & a trout may still take the fly. Essentially any of us, at all skill levels, can use these flies successfully.

McClane notes that trout tend to take these flies in an unusual way. They rise to the fly violently & jump out of the water to a degree, then take the fly on their downward plunge back into the water. So, if you try to set the hook too soon, you'll miss the trout. However, I've found that when trout strike a fly this way, they practically hook themselves. You just have to hesitate for a second & fight your instinct to set the hook quickly.

These flies don't tend to do well on fast, riffled water. I think its because that type of water doesn't give the fish a good view of the fly, even with it's large profile. Either way, this effective fly will have you fishing the smoother water.

So, as you head out for some summer trout, be sure to tie up & bring along some of these dry flies. They could make for a really fun day & some great fishing action.

Warm Water Fly Fishing

7/8/2013

I've said it before, but I feel really bad for any fly rod angler who's never spent time trying to catch some of the warm water fishes like bass, bluegill, crappies, etc. If you haven't tried these fish before, you don't know what you're missing. If you're a spin cast angler than you owe it to yourself to try a fly rod the next time you go out for these fish, too.

In my opinion here's the secret to fun times while warm water fly fishing (regardless of what you may have read in magazines or seen on TV shows): the fish don't have to be monster sized in order for you to have a blast catching them. Hooking into 9" small mouth bass or even sunfish 4" across can give you so much sport you'll be grinning from ear to ear. This is especially true if there are a lot of fish around & you adjust your tackle for the situation. These fish are are much more abundant in most places than the cold water fish, like trout for example, so they're a great way to introduce a youngster, or any beginner, to fly fishing.

In choosing a fly rod, I look for a slower rod. You don't necessarily have to go with a two weight rod to make a 5" bluegill feel like a shark. A 6 wt rod can do that - assuming its got a lot of flex & bend to it. This fishing is a great opportunity for an old fiberglass rod or that lower-priced production bamboo rod that hasn't come out of its tubes in years. I like using older glass fly rods for this type of fishing, but that's just for personal & sentimental reasons. No matter what rod you choose, look for one that bends easily. You might have to adjust your casting for the slower rod, but so what? Why be in a hurry? Just leave your high-end dry fly rod at home. You won't need it.

You also won't be needing any expensive or fancy fly line or reel either. A simple single action reel to hold the line will do fine. It doesn't have to be the smoothest reel you own, as you won't be using it much. You'll land most of these fish without putting them on the reel.

As for fly lines, again you don't need anything too fancy. In fact your line is going to be getting in the mud & the green nastiness floating in the water so maybe keep the expensive line you use for trout at home on your nicer reel. Even a level floating line will work for this, as you won't be casting extremely far.

Choosing a leader for this fishing is easy. Yes, you could put on a tapered leader (knot-less or otherwise) or you could just use about 4 to 6 feet of level mono-filament of around 6 lb test. Careful presentations & long, delicate casts are not going to be in store when you're casting poppers or streamers with a ton of hair &/or fur on them. The leader is going to take the brunt of the abuse & a spool of plain mono is cheaper than tapered leaders - & you will be going through a lot of leader material in the waters that these fish sometimes call home.

When it comes to deciding which flies to bring along, I like to carry an assortment of poppers in all colors. I also wouldn't be without woolly worms, buggers, & some mudler minnows either. Color can be very important to these fish on some days while at other times it seems to make very little difference - at least in my experience. To be safe I like to have a bunch of different colored flies on hand as well as a few flies with some flash & shine tied into them.

It's most likely going to be hot & muggy when you're going after these fish so go lightly. Maybe wearing a vest filled to its maximum capacity isn't a good idea. Stay hydrated, too & don't get sun burned.......all those things your Mother told you about playing outside in the summer.

The fish like I'm talking about here live just about everywhere. Most of us have access to them. Not only will they be in some of the places where you were catching trout this spring, you'll also find them in ponds, lakes, streams, & rivers, too. Maybe you don't think you live in close proximity to good fishing water, but I'll bet these fish are closer than you think. Does your city have a park with a pond? Do you have a golf course nearby? I'll bet if you look around you'll find a place close by where you can do some warm water fly fishing.

Independence Day

7/3/2013

This July 4th, The United States of America will celebrate their 237th birthday. The grand experiment in self-governing continues. On this day, let's take a moment to think about just what the Founders did back then & what they accomplished. Let us also remember the many sacrifices our fellow American's have made to ensure our freedoms.

With that in mind, I'm sharing this link to the text of the Declaration of Independence......read it by clicking HERE.

The Declaration doesn't take very long to read & what better day to look it over than on Independence Day. In light of recent events in the news, perhaps it's time we all gave the meaning of that document some serious thought.

I hope you all have some time over this long weekend to get some fishing in, enjoy your friends & family's company, & relax. To all of you I wish a safe & happy Independence Day!!!

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the pliant rod:

Tom Morgan....

Reel Seats: Up or Down?

Graphite Fly Rod Offer:

A Blast From The Past

Choosing A First Fly Rod

Wait Times for Custom Fly Rods.....

New Reel Cases

Revisiting The Spider, or Skater Fly

Warm Water Fly Fishing

Independence Day

The Pliant Rod

leather accessories

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