Blog Archives

Custom Fly Fishing Rods by Chris Lantzy, Custom Rod Maker

watch where you're going!!

8/28/2017

My parents always taught me to look both ways before I crossed the street. Of course the lesson there is that you should always pay attention to your surroundings & where you're walking. Recently that lesson came into play for me.....

The other day I was walking along a trout stream, negotiating my way over some tricky terrain (tree roots & rocks), while simultaneously looking at the flow of water in the stream, picking my spot to enter the water, when I looked up & saw this about 6 feet from my head!!!.......

I stood perfectly still, watching & being sure to make no sudden moves that would shake the tree. While these paper wasps were busy at their work, they paid me no attention - thank goodness!! I took a moment to snap a few pictures with the camera & then slowly backed away. Later, as I came to the stream from a different angle, I told myself "roll cast only here - no backcasts!!!" I'm so glad I happened to look up when I did.

Hope you're all getting some fishing time in this late summer!! Be safe out there & watch your back casts!

lefty on fly fishing

8/18/2017

In the very short video below, legendary angler Left Kreh talks about the equality that fly fishing imposes anglers. I couldn't agree more with him. The one thing that always amazes me about this sport is how it brings people from so many different backgrounds together. The fish will rise for the rich as well as for the poor; for the old & the young alike.

It's always good to hear from Lefty. After all these years spent in fly fishing & the outdoors, we would be wise to take what he says into account.

bass on poppers

8/10/2017

Fly fishing with poppers for smallmouth bass in the summer is some of my favorite type of fishing. I love the hard-fighting action of these fish & their strength. They can give you some fantastic sport, for sure.

I like to go after these bass in streams & rivers. In fact, some of these bass will be in the same places I fished for trout earlier in the year. The methods are the very similar to trout fishing as well, but poppers are their own breed of fly & require a few different techniques then "normal" flies. Of course, I like to pursue bass in ponds & lakes, too but there's just something about the moving water of a stream that makes fly fishing for bass so much fun.

If you haven't ever tried your hand at fly fishing for bass, you're missing out. They are not easy to catch & require planing & skill to fool. Read up about smallmouth bass & then go after them. If you haven't before, you will have a new respect for these fish. To me they are what the dog days of summer are all about.

Here is a short video showing you some of the techniques you'll need to think about when you fish for smallies with poppers:

In the spring of the year, I'm probably a trout purist, but in the summer some of the most fun I'll have all season long will be going after these feisty bass (& other warm water fish). They'll have any angler smiling from ear to ear on these hot summer days & nights!!

new leather fly wallet available

8/1/2017

I recently acquired some new leather that makes for fantastic fly wallets. This is a oil-tanned leather, meaning it's impregnated with oil. Furthermore, the tanner has treated this hide by "stoning" it, meaning they have roughed up the surface of the leather. This makes it a much stronger, tougher leather that will hold up to the weather & years of hard use.

You've no doubt seen this leather before. Through the years it has been used to make everything from cowboy chaps, to saddle & equipment bags, even some hiking boots - anything that needs to hold up against harsh outdoor conditions in the nastiest of weather. Naturally, it makes for a great fly wallet, too!!

For those of you who like their leather items to have that aged, weathered look, this is exactly what you've been after.....& the smell - get that subtle, heavenly, classic leather smell every time you open the wallet!!

For more information about these wallets, & all the other accessories made in the shop, please visit the Accessories page. To see a current list of all the different leather fly wallets available right now (there's eleven different types of leather wallets listed right now), please click HERE.

If you this piques your interest & want to see even more fine accessories, please visit the Hand Stitched Leather Accessories page to see some truly unique items.

As always, if you have any questions at all - about anything - please feel free to contact me & I'll be happy to help you.

the pliant rod:

watch where you're going!!

lefty on fly fishing

bass on poppers

new leather fly wallet available

The Pliant Rod

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

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

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

hand stitched leather accessories

DISCOUNTED REEL CASES
(IN LIMITED SIZES & COLORS):

NEW!! SEE MORE ROD PHOTOS!!!

Watch Some Videos!!

Categories

Archives

the pliant rod:

watch where you're going!!

lefty on fly fishing

bass on poppers

new leather fly wallet available

The Pliant Rod

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

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

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

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

hand stitched leather accessories

DISCOUNTED REEL CASES ​(IN LIMITED SIZES & COLORS):

NEW!! SEE MORE ROD PHOTOS!!!

Watch Some Videos!!

Categories

Archives

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

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

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

DISCOUNTED REEL CASES
(IN LIMITED SIZES & COLORS):