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Custom Fly Fishing Rods by Chris Lantzy, Custom Rod Maker

labor day

8/31/2019

I hope you all have a safe & relaxing Labor Day, & if you must be at your job over the weekend I thank you for being there.
Have a great Labor Day, everybody!!

I fish a soft hackle wet fly a lot. It's my favorite style of pattern for many reasons. They're also pretty simple to tie, no matter what the specific pattern. Hungarian partridge feathers are a typical hackle feather used on these flies. These feathers can be a little tricky to work with &/or to get the results you want tying with them. There are a few tricks you can use & the video below shows a pretty clear, straight forward way to handle them.

Partridge & orange, partridge & green, partridge & yellow, etc, etc these three patterns can cover most of your year along the trout stream. Take just a few minuets to learn these quick tips on tying with partridge.

(I'm not affiliated in any way with the dealer who made this video. I show this only for the advice this video demonstrates).

new bamboo fly rod available

8/20/2019

I recently listed a new Classical Series bamboo fly rod to the listings over on the Available Rods page of this website. This one is a 7'-0" 2 piece / 2 tips, moderate - fast action rod made for either a 3 or 4 wt line.

The moderate / fast action of this rod is perfect for those who like a slightly more brisk rod. This rod's action could easily be described by that old term "dry fly action" - though casting with wets, nymphs, & some small streamers is also a delight with this rod. You will comfortably cast this rod all day long as it's light in the hand & very responsive.

This rod features:
-Moderate / Fast "dry fly" action which is also great for wets & nymphs, too.
-Screw locking, up-locking reel seat with aluminum hardware & a gorgeous maple burl wood spacer.
-Reverse half Welles grip.
-Nickle-Silver winding check (ring above the grip).
-Nickle-Silver 'strap & ring' style hook keeper.
-Chromed, stainless steel stripping guide, line guides, & tip tops.
-Nickle-Silver ferrules.
-Dark red silk thread guide wraps tipped in black silk.
-Custom fit black soft cotton flannel rod bag & a black canvas covered PVC rod tube with padded ends, zippered closure, & leather name tag describing the rod inside - also made to a custom fit for the rod.

This fly rod will cast well with either a 3 wt or a 4 wt fly line, depending on your preferences. With a 4 wt line, the rod would be a little bit slower than with a 3 wt line. For example, if I knew that I would only be casting dry flies on the rod that day I might line it with my 3 wt fly line. If, on the other hand, I might also be casting wet flies or nymphs along with dry flies, I'd probably use it with a 4 wt line that day. This is a pretty versatile rod & the livelier action is perfect for those making the transition from graphite fly rods to bamboo.

For more information & to see more detailed photos of this fly rod, please visit the Available Rods page.

If you have any questions about this rod - or anything else - please feel free to contact me.

photos from you!!

8/15/2019

By far, one of the coolest things about being a full time rod maker is all the nice people I get to meet & interact with. It's the biggest "perk" of the job. I get really jazzed when folks share with me their fishing stories & photos from all over the world. I can't tell you how awesome it is to get an inside view of the fishing in places I've either never been to, or places I was at once but haven't seen in many years.

So, if you're using any of the fishing equipment I make - or even if you're not - I'd love to hear all about your fishing adventures & see any photos you want to share.

Casey's Southern Appalachian Brook Trout

One other reason I like to hear from folks & read about their fishing, is to learn how they caught their fish & what works for them. You see, that's my little secret - I get to learn from all of you!! It doesn't matter how many decades I've been fly fishing, I know that I can learn from everyone. So, what works for you might also work for me on my local waters.

Terryll's Poudre River (Colorado) Trout

I hope that you've all been having a fantastic summer out there on the water. I hope it's been filled with lots of fun & great fish bending your fly rod. I've added a few photos to the Beyond The Rod Shop page of some folks who shared their adventures with me. If you have any stories of photos you'd care to share with me, please feel free to contact me. I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks to all of you who keep me in the loop & share your knowledge & fishing with me. I appreciate it more than you know!!! Good luck on the water!

ted williams & the atlantic salmon

8/6/2019

Here is a fantastic old movie featuring the baseball legend Ted Williams fishing for Atlantic salmon. In the video we get to see, & have Ted explain, the gear he uses, the flies he ties, his casting techniques, & all the preparation he put into his fishing. You can see the work ethic that he put into his baseball playing is the same that he applied to his fishing. He was a very skilled angler indeed.

If you have half an hour, sit back & enjoy this gorgeous & fascinating look back at some great fishing for the beast that is the Atlantic Salmon!

the pliant rod:

labor day

Tying With partridge feathers

new bamboo fly rod available

photos from you!!

ted williams & the atlantic salmon

The Pliant Rod

leather accessories

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SEE MORE ROD PHOTOS!!!

Watch Some Videos!!

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