Need some gear for your fall fly fishing?.....just contact me & I'll be happy to help you out in any way that I can.
I hope you all get a chance to wet a line this fall & land some nice trout that will be decked out in their beautiful fall colors!!
blog & news
Well, it's that time of year again here in Pennsylvania. Soon the PA Fish & Boat Commission will begin their fall trout stockings!! This is done to add fresh adult trout to the streams for enhanced sport during the autumn months. Not all the streams that got stocked with adult trout in the spring will get trout this fall - only certain streams all across the state. So, if you're planing a trip here in PA for some of our fantastic autumn fly fishing, then please check the Commission's webpage that will give you where & when the trout will be stocked. While there, you can also get a ton of info about trout & other fishing opportunities in PA.
Need some gear for your fall fly fishing?.....just contact me & I'll be happy to help you out in any way that I can. I hope you all get a chance to wet a line this fall & land some nice trout that will be decked out in their beautiful fall colors!! I spent a late night in the shop last week processing & examining all the bundles of new bamboo that just arrived. Boy, it looks like some great cane!! I can't wait to dig into it & start making some more fly rods!!
Need a custom fly rod? Just contact me to discuss what you want your rod to be. I often get asked questions about vintage tackle by folks looking to learn more about an old piece of tackle they've acquired. For those of you interested in automatic reels, here's a re-post of an article I wrote a few years ago..... Automatic fly reels have been mass-produced by many manufacturers throughout the twentieth century. As a result, there are many of these reels floating around out there in all the places that one will find vintage fly tackle. To me it's very interesting how some anglers dislike these reels while some others swear by them. Either way, nobody can deny they were, at one point in time, very popular.
The first automatic fly reels were side-mounted affairs. The first patent for these reels came back in 1880 by Francis A. Loomis from Onondaga, NY. The next year Loomis got help with his designs & credited James S. Plumb from Syracuse with half of his second patent in 1881. These two formed a firm called Loomis, Plumb, & Co which started manufacturing the first automatic reels. These new reels caught on quickly among anglers & soon they were making them in nickle-brass, three finishes in bronze, & other metals. In the mid-1880's they sold their company to another called Yawman & Erbe who continued to make the reels exactly the same. Of course they did make changes in later years, one of which included a key-winding method for the tension of the spring. These were called "Improved Automatic Reels". They were available in only two sizes. Soon after 1910 Yawman & Erbe sold their company to Horrocks-Ibbotson who took the patterns & machinery to their factory in Utica, NY. The first reels that H&I made were called "The Y&E Automatic Reel". H&I made them with that name on them until sometime after 1923. Because these reels were so popular from the very beginning, many companies got on board with making their own automatics. Many tried to find success, but the man that would be the most successful making automatic reels was Herman W. Martin, a jeweler from Ilion, starting in the 1890's. Martin made these reels in four sizes - already offering anglers more options than previous makers. These reels were produced by a company called "The Martin Novelty Works". They were very well decorated with etched filigree on the face plate. Sometime after 1907 or 1908 the company changed it's name to "Martin Automatic Fish Reel Company". In 1921 the company moved to Mohawk. The reels made there were plainer than the previous ones with simple trim bands on the face. Over the years the reels went through further changes, but the newer reels are less sought after by collectors. You can still buy reels by this company today - we now know it as "The Martin Reel Company". Throughout the twentieth century many companies put their names on auto reels including South Bend, Shakespear, Pflueger, Meisselbach, & others. The most collectible of all these reels are the earliest ones by Loomis & Plumb, Yawman & Erbe, & Martin Novelty (with the filigree). Ever since they came on the market automatic fly reels have been a source of debate among fly anglers. Some anglers who advocate the use of single-action reels feel that the autos are unsportsmanlike to use. The push of a lever immediately re-spools the line & quickly puts a tight line on the fish, giving the anglers a fast advantage. Of course these reels are heavier than a normal single-action reel, which is another aspect that some anglers disapprove of. However these reels won the respect of many fly anglers. One of the more famous advocates for automatics was E.C. Powell, the well respected angler & rod maker. In his "A Discourse on Trout Angling & Tackle" he states: "The old school of expert anglers use a single action reel & condemn an automatic as unsportsmanlike. I have always believed this opinion was formed without practical knowledge. This much I know, that if you learn to use an automatic you will find it hard to get along with an ordinary reel again as you will find it too slow." It seems to me that anglers, whether they like automatic reels or not, seem to have their minds made up about them. To each their own. Some of you will find an advantage in using them & others will not like them at all. You can, of course, still buy new automatic fly reels today, though they may not be of the quality that some of the vintage reels were made with. Regardless how you feel about them, they were very popular among fly anglers not so long ago. With so many of them made & available on the used tackle market, you should have no trouble finding a decent automatic reel to try them out on your rod - if you're so inclined. More than just a novelty or a passing fad, automatic fly reels have developed & evolved through the years, just like all other types of reels & tackle. The history of how they came to be is, to me, fascinating. My good friend & very skilled fly angler, Terryll from out in Colorado recently shared with me this chart. It helps show what size flies, in general, you can use with different weights of fly line. I've seen other charts like this before, but none laid out so well & clearly.
I know that I'm often guilty of using the wrong fly on the wrong line. I tend to do it in early season or in high water conditions when I decide that I want to offer a larger fly to attract the trout's attention. So I tie on a larger streamer, even though I'm set up to fish medium sized wets or nymphs. Then comes the cussing from me as I botch cast after cast. What I should do in those instances is change fly lines. Someday I'll get smart. Now, keep in mind that this chart, as good as it is, is only a basic guide. These are not hard rules. You can go over in fly size probably one to two hook sizes on each line listed without too much problem, depending on fishing conditions. Also, there's a little more gray area between species. I would not necessarily put a steelhead in with a 12" smallmouth bass. No, that smallie would go into the "Trout in most situations" category. So apply some common sense when using this chart & it will do the trick for you every time. Thanks for the chart, Terryll. Even though the summer flowers are still in full bloom, it's a good time to start planing some fall fly fishing!! It's been a very busy summer in the rod shop & we're all ready to help you gear up for this autumn. The sewing machines & hand planes have been busy cranking out everything from leather fly & leader wallets, fishing bags, rod tubes, & new fly rods. Why, right now over on the Available Rods page is recently listed this brand new fiberglass fly rod that would be perfect for all kinds of fishing situations. Decked out with an up locking reel seat with a beautiful rosewood spacer & real stone agate stripping guide, this classy rod is ready for trout, bass & a bunch of other types of fishing. Please see the Available Rods page for more info. Why not stock up on some nice leather fly wallets? These wallets are among the finest on the market today &, at these prices, are by far the best value in quality fly wallets. With eleven different types of leather wallets to choose from in stock right now, this is a great time of year to order some. How about some handy mini fly wallets? These things are so versatile & a great way to keep all your most-used wets, nymphs, & streamers all within easy reach while you fish. Working all summer to make them, I've got a bunch of green & brown in stock. Soon the leaves will be changing & the air will be crisp. Hatches will return & the trout will come back to the main streams. While you're planing out your autumn fly fishing, please know that I'll be here to help you all out the best I can.
So if you need a new fly wallet, leader wallet, fishing bag, or any other of the Accessories made right in my shop, please contact me. If a new rod is on your wish list, I'd be more then happy to work with you on the rod of your dreams. It was a busy, hard-working summer & I'm all excited to get into my favorite season of the year for fly fishing!! I hope you are, too. Fly anglers who don't go after bass are missing some fantastic fishing. Those of us who are mostly trout anglers think of the bass as a summer time fish, but in fact the fishing time for bass extends well into the fall.
Just like trout, there are optimum water temperatures where bass feed more actively. I was telling a friend earlier this summer that the water during our nasty, extended hot spell was too hot to fly fish - even for bass. That came as a surprise to him as he was under the misguided notion that I used to be - that bass will feed well in even the hottest of stream temps. Well, no just like any fish they have temps that will speed up their metabolism. Smallmouth bass metabolisms perform at their highest in water temps that range from 67 degrees F to about 71 degrees. Optimum temps for largemouth bass tend to be in the neighborhood of 65 to 78 degrees. Of course, you should take these temps with a grain of salt. Bass that live down south in hotter water temps will naturally be conditioned to those higher temps & will feed actively even when the water is in the 80's. Up north, (like me here in PA) not so much. Some studies have shown that when the water gets to 50 degrees or lower, smallmouth bass 12 inches or smaller will stop feeding. When the water gets too hot for bass, they will move to find cooler waters. This can also mean shallower water, too - in the shade. Bass love the shade all times of the year. You'll find smallmouth bass in places where the bottom is rocky, sandy, or has a lot of gravel. Largemouth bass will also be in those places, too but you can also find them where the bottom is muddy or silty. Smallmouth require fresher, cleaner water - more so than largemouths who can take dirtier water & can even live in coastal streams. It's a good idea to fish for any bass around structures - weed beds, sunken logs, large rocks, & underwater rock shelves. They love to sit quietly & ambush their pray. Pound for pound bass are some of the most fun you can have at the end of your fly line! I've just listed a brand new fiberglass fly rod over on the Available Rods page of this website. I think you're going to like this one!! This rod is an 8 foot, 2 piece, 5/6 wt fiberglass fly rod that you can take just about anywhere. It would be perfect on most small to medium/large streams & will cast dries, wets, nymphs, & streamers all very nicely. Smallmouth bass & trout of all sizes are what I had in mind when I made it, but bluegill, crappie, even smaller walleye would be a load of fun with this rod. Basically, I wanted a good fiberglass fly rod that could pursue all kinds of different fish, with a wide range of flies, in many different locations. If you're looking for a rod like that, than this is the rod for you. This rod features: -Chromed stainless steel snake-style line guides, tip top, & U-shaped hook keeper -Reverse half Welles style cork grip -Up-locking, screw-lock reel seat with a gorgeous, highly figured rosewood spacer -Nickle-Silver winding check above the grip -Real stone red agate stripping guide in a Nickle-Silver frame & bezel -Beautiful red silk thread wraps tipped in orange silk throughout the rod -Custom made red cotton flannel rod bag with black embellishment stitches, made for an exact fit to the rod -Custom made black canvas covered PVC rod tube with padded ends, zippered closure, & leather name tag describing the rod inside If you're new to fiberglass fly rods & have been wondering what all the fuss is about, here's an excellent chance to get started in them at a price that won't break the bank. If you're an old hand at glass rods, than I think you're going to enjoy fishing this versatile fly rod. It has a very nice progressive action that makes it easy to cast & control the line. The rod just feels good in the hand & you can feel it load & unload without ever having to look over your shoulder while casting. Plus with this rod, you can go from tossing large hair bugs to delicate dry flies with no problem. It's just a good, all-around rod. To see more photos & to read more about this fiberglass fly rod, please visit the Available Rods page. If you have any questions about it, or if I can be of any other help to you, please contact me anytime.
Get your fall fly fishing started right with this beautiful, versatile glass fly rod!! |
The Pliant RodNews 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. Celebrating two decades of making custom fly rods!!
leather accessoriesCases, bags, wallets, & other fine leather angling accessories.
See more photos from the rod shop & stream sides!
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.
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