Blog Archives

Custom Fly Fishing Rods by Chris Lantzy, Custom Rod Maker

new available rod:

11/28/2015

I've just listed another rod on the Available Rods page of this site. This one is a very nice 7'-6" 2/2 4 wt bamboo with a very smooth slow / moderate action. The slower to moderate action of this rod makes it a relaxing pleasure to cast. I can see this rod on just about any trout stream, gently casting your wets, nymphs, & medium sized streamers with ease. Under normal casting loads, this rod will flex down to about the middle of the butt section. Give it a little more power & you'll feel it flex down to the grip.

This rod features:
-Screw locking, down-lock reel seat with a beautifully figured walnut spacer &, as an upgrade from Classical Series rods, Nickle-Silver hardware.
-Chromed stainless steel line guides, tip tops, & hook keeper
-Cigar shaped cork grip in a nice size to make for comfortable fishing all day long
-Nickle-Silver winding check (above the grip)
-Nickle-Silver ferrules
-Silk thread wraps in a rich, brown color
In addition to all that, this rod comes in a custom-made soft brown cotton flannel rod bag with black embellishment stitches. All of this comes with a black canvas-covered PVC rod tube with padded ends, zippered closure, & leather name tag describing the rod inside.

This rod has never been fished. It has seen a lot of action on the lawn, as it was used as a demo rod to show just how nice slower to moderate rods can cast. It is made up as a Classical Series rod, but with an upgrade of a Nickle-Silver reel seat.

For those anglers who like to relax & slow down a bit, this rod will feel very nice. It's smooth action & subtle good looks will make fishing & casting with this rod a true pleasure.

For more detailed photos & information about this rod, please visit the Available Rods page & feel free to contact me with any questions.

available mortised rod reduced!!

Also on the Available Rods page, please note that I've significantly reduced the price of the ebony mortised rod there, as a sale for the Holidays!! Here's your chance to get a gorgeous, elegant, great casting rod for a wonderful price.

This rod features:
-Gorgeous feather inlay above the grip where the mortising starts.
-Down locking, screw-lock darkened (or blued) Nickle-Silver reel seat with a rich walnut spacer.
-Blued Nickle-Silver ferrules.
-Red agate stripping guide in a blued Nickle-Silver bezel.
-Black line guides & tip tops.
-Black silk thread wraps.
-A wonderfully smooth moderate action.

In addition to all that, this rod comes in a custom fit brown (to match the walnut spacer) cotton flannel rod bag with black embellishment stitches. All this is housed in a custom made black canvas covered PVC rod tube with padded ends, zippered closure, & a leather name tag describing the rod inside

Tasteful & sophisticated good looks combine with a silky smooth action to make this rod the "luxury sedan" of bamboo fly rods!! Though never fished, this was a demo rod, so I've reduced the price significantly. Please contact me about this wonderful rod.

happy thanksgiving!!

11/25/2015

I hope everyone has a safe, happy, & healthy Thanksgiving!!

theodore gordon

11/24/2015

I would be remiss if I let this year pass without remembering Theodore Gordon, the father of dry fly fishing in America. He passed away 100 years ago in 1915, after changing the sport of fly fishing forever. We owe him thanks. This brief article will not focus so much on the man himself, but rather his accomplishments & how he improved the sport.

Theodore Gordon was born in Pittsburgh, PA in 1854 & died in the Catskills region of New York state (specifically, outside the town of Neversink) in 1915. He is considered to be the father of dry fly fishing in America, & certainly was the first in America to advocate fishing a fly on the surface that was specifically tied to float atop the water. He did this by taking from the English dry flies & adapting them to imitate specific insects he encountered on the streams of the Catskills.

Certainly fishing with a dry fly had been mentioned before Gordon in some American books, notedly by Thaddeus Norris & others. Debate can still be had at what was meant by the term “dry fly” back then (mid-1800’s). Some believe that the early American writers simply meant a wet fly pattern literally fished dry, so it would float on top. Regardless, Gordon developed & began what we today consider to be dry fly fishing.

Sometime in the late 1800’s Gordon began to fish upstream. This was at a time in America when almost all fly fishing was done with a wet fly swung down stream. He probably got his upstream idea from the English angling author of the time, Frederic Halford. Gordon found this upstream tactic to be very successful & must have written to Halford in England.

It was around this time that Halford sent Gordon a number of English dry flies. Gordon soon discovered that there were two problems with these flies: 1.) they imitated English insects, not those he saw hatching on the streams of New York; & 2.) They were too delicate for the rough water of the Neversink, being made for the smooth waters of English chalk streams.

Gordon, believing in the theory of imitating a floating insect & fishing it upstream for a drag-free drift, began to experiment. He began to create different patterns to imitate his native insects. He used a wide range of feathers & hackles as well, all to find what would work best for the flies he envisioned. The result he eventually came up with was what we now call the classic “Catskills style” dry fly. Thus, he was probably the first to fish a true modern dry fly, as we think of them today, in America.

Today Gordon is best known as the originator of the Quill Gordon pattern, but that’s hardly his only contribution to American fly fishing. He’s considered in the history books to have been a hermit living along the Neversink, & indeed he was in many ways. He didn;t get out much mingle, except to fish & hunt, & had few close friends. He suffered from consumption (tuberculosis) & was frequently in poor health which is likely a reason for his lack of social interaction. However, he was one of the most read angling authorities of the time. From 1890 & on he wrote articles & reports for The Fishing Gazette & for Forest & Stream magazine beginning in 1903, sometimes under the name “Badger Hackle”.

In addition to his correspondences with Halford, Gordon also wrote many letter to G.E.M. Skues in England, an innovator of the nymph fly. The two became good pen-pals & had a friendship via post. This shows Gordon’s desire to learn as much as he could. You see, at the time in England there was great debate about the best methods to fish. Some anglers were dry fly purists & followed the ideas of Hlaford, while others felt that sub-surface was the way to go & took the theories of Skues as gospel. Sometimes the division between the two schools of thought was not casual, & some anglers were vehement about which way was better, wet or dry…...

…..And here we have Gordon, from across the ocean communicating, befriending, & learning from both men! So while Gordon is considered the father of dry fly fishing in America (& indeed he is), he didn’t limit himself to only one method of fishing. It would seem that learning about the fish, their natural world, & catching them were his primary concerns.

As you can imagine, he had a reputation as a very accomplished fly tyer. It’s known that later in his life he would derive his modest income from tying flies & it’s understood that he had many requests for his flies. His writings & letters are filled with his wish to find better feathers, hooks, & other materials.

In 1947, angling author John McDonald published a large collection of Gordon’s letters & articles in the book, “The Complete Angler”. Here we have the largest collection of Gordon’s writings in one place. To read this book is an enlightening experience. It shows how angling at the turn of the century, & anglers themselves, were not all that different than today. Gordon’s character & love of fishing come through the years in his writings in a very timeless way. To read his letters & articles (reports) we do NOT get the tone of a master angler expounding his knowledge. Instead we get an angler, for sure an expert, who is asking questions, wondering, & speculating about fly fishing. Down to earth & fascinated with the entire game - you won’t find a more dedicated student of fly fishing than Theodore Gordon was. At times he tells of how fishing was in earlier times (late 1800’s), which is interesting to any angling historian. Other times he makes speculations & theorizes about the future of the sport. It’s amazing how many of his speculations came to be true.

Theodore Gordon’s contributions to fly fishing are immense. We can look at the development of the sport by using him as a divider: before Gordon & after. Many of the tools & tactics of the sport have changed since his time, but in many ways we still fish with the methods he developed. His flies, techniques, & vision were ahead of his time. It would be a shame if he, & his contributions to fly fishing, were forgotten.

ranking fish

11/18/2015

I was reading a report the other day about a study that was conducted comparing men & women fly fishers. This study looked at how they fished to see if there were any differences between the two genders. One thing the study claimed to have found was was that male fly anglers tended to target one specific species of fish when they went out fishing (trout, bass, carp, etc), while female anglers claimed to be happy with "whatever was biting" that day. Now, I get a little concerned about anyone trying to explain, or find, any differences between male & female anglers. After all, the fish on your hook doesn't really care what gender you are. Plus, I'm a guy who was taught as a kid how to fish with a fly rod by both my mom & my dad. But it got me to thinking, am I happier with catching some fish more than others?.....

I guess I am, though I'd like to think I'm not a stickler for any rules. I fly fish for all different types of fish: trout, bluegill, crappie, bass, carp, etc. So when I get on the water I do usually have a certain type of fish in mind for that day. Okay sure, but what if I'm fishing for bass - am I disappointed if I happen to catch a crappie instead? Well no, I'm not.

I will admit that I am first & foremost a trout angler. So if I ever caught a trout while fishing for something else I'd be pretty stoked about it. What if it were the other way around: I'm fishing for trout & catch a bass? I'd still be pleased with my catch, but I guess not as much.

If I accidentally catch a fish I don't normally get on a fly, that's cool, too. For example, I've caught catfish on a fly. Since I don't actively pursue them it's pretty neat & special when that happens. The only exception to that, for me personally, are suckers. If I'm trout fishing & happen to catch a big sucker I'm not really going to celebrate that. But if I'm trying to catch suckers (try it sometime - it's not as easy as you'd think) they always seem to elude me & are difficult to target. That would be about the only time I'd be jazzed about catching a big , fat sucker.

Fly fishing, as a sport, has really grown over the last few decades. It's not just about catching trout anymore. In fact if it swims, chances are there's someone out there trying to catch it on a fly. I think that's cool - we each have our own thing. I just find it funny how we each look at it. I guess the old saying is true: "one angler's junk fish is another angler's prize". Whatever type of fish you try to fool with fur & feather have fun & good luck!!

j.f. kernan, artist

11/16/2015

I like looking at old prints, or advertising that features fly fishing as a theme. Whenever you see an old painting on a vintage magazine cover or ad, you think of Norman Rockwell. He was probably the most famous, but there were other artists working in the same style as him who were very good in their own right.

One of those artists was J.F. Kernan (1878 - 1958). Just like Rockwell, Kernan's work focused on middle-class life in America, or as he described it "the human side of outdoor sports, hunting, fishing, and dogs." He was born in Massachusetts & would attend the Eric Pape School of Art in Boston & even teach there for a while, too. His work would appear on the covers of most major magazines between the 1910's to the 1940's. His art was seen on the covers of such periodicals as The Saturday Evening Post, The Country Gentleman, Outdoor Life, & many others including different calendars & advertisements of the time.

Below are a few of his works that I really like. His sense of humor & artistic abilities really make these works enjoyable. You can almost step into these scenes yourself.

rainbow trout spawning

11/13/2015

Every year, the PA Fish & Boat Commission stocks over 3 million trout. They also raise these fish from eggs in their different state hatcheries. That's a lot of fish to raise & take care of. So, how do they do it?

The video below shows the processes they use to fertilize trout eggs & how they raise the fish from eggs to fry. It's a very interesting 'behind-the-scenes' look at some of what goes into raising all those trout.

Filmed at the Huntsdale hatchery in Carlisle, PA this same thing happens at state hatcheries across Pennsylvania. Some hatcheries even allow for visitors. To find a PA Fish & Boat Commission hatchery near you, click HERE.

Take a look at some of the work that goes into raising the stocked trout we catch.

thank you, veterans

11/11/2015

Today is Veterans Day, so please remember to take a moment & thank those who served in our Armed Forces. To all of who who served, thank you!!

the original adams dry fly

11/10/2015

The Adams dry fly as we know it & see it has many different forms. The basic recipe can be changed & altered to suit just about any situation by using different colors, etc. It can be, & is, tied in any dry fly style: parachute, Catskills, Wulff, on & on. Perhaps the most common style is the Catskill style.

Legend has it that the first Adams was tied by Leonard Halladay of Mayfield, Michigan back in 1922 for his friend Charles F. Adams of Lorrain, Ohio. It's believed that Adams was the first to fish the pattern, thus the fly's name. Halladay was a fishing guide & most likely guided Adams on fishing trips to Michigan.

Today we know the Adams mostly as a very generalized mayfly imitation. It looks like no specific mayfly while at the same time it looks like a lot of different mayflies. However, it's thought that the first Adams fly could have been tied to copy some type of grey caddis.

There's a lot of controversy over the design of the wings of the original Adams. Some believe that the wings were divided & slanted forward, towards the eye of the hook. Others think the wings were divided but slanted back, delta-wing style. What we do know is that the body was grey in color, the hackle was like it is today, & the wings (whichever way they pointed) were the same, barred color we still use. It's believed that the tail was made from golden pheasant tippets.

No matter what the exact pattern was originally, there's no reason why you can't try them with wings going in either direction. Personally, I like the idea of the delta-wing style. I think that might work very well for my local caddis, when I'm not in the mood to try an elk hair caddis dry.

The Adams is a very versatile pattern that can be adapted any way you want or need. The fact that there's disagreement over the original pattern just proves how many different ways you can tie this fly & have it still be productive in fooling fish.

fish 'em while you can

11/6/2015

I hope that you're all getting some time in to enjoy some good autumn fly fishing. The weather in this part of the world has been absolutely beautiful, & we're all hoping it holds out. No matter, soon it will be steelhead time, it's a good time for bass on the fly, & the trout have been providing anglers much fun as well.

Landing a cased caddis!!

So, as you go out to fish this fall, remember, I'd love to see your photos! Share them with me & I can post them on the Beyond The Rod Shop page. I'd love to hear a good fish story as well. Just contact me with all your photos.

Those autumn leaves might be beautiful to look at on the trees, but they're a real pain in the rumpus when you hook one on every cast!!

Accessories, Rods, & other stuff:

Don't forget, now is a great time to get your accessories orders in for Holiday gift-giving. This will give us plenty of time to make up anything we might not have in stock, or to customize your accessories for you, all in plenty of time for you to be ahead of the game in your Holiday shopping this year.

Just contact me anytime for all your bags, cases, wallets, & other fly fishing accessory needs. Plus, don't forget that any angler would love a new fly rod. Please check out the rods listed on the Available Rods page to see what's available with no waiting. Check back often, as there will be more rods being posted there soon.

I hope you all get a chance to get out there & wet a line before winter gets a hold of us!!! Good luck on the water everybody, & remember, you should all feel free to contact me anytime.

the Lefty & bob interview

11/3/2015

Here is a pretty cool video clip of outdoor writer Charlie Meyers talking briefly with Lefty Kreh & Bob Clouser. Lefty is a legendary angler, teacher, & writer who has traveled the world fly fishing for every fish imaginable & then some. Bob is also a famous angler who is best know for developing the Clouser flies. He's also a fishing guide & a fellow Pennsylvanian. Both gentlemen represent many years of fly fishing. So it's pretty neat to hear them talk in this fun, relaxed, & intelligent interview by Mr. Meyers.

Sit back for a few short minuets & enjoy....

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.

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

There are currently no available rods for sale. I will be adding more rods here very soon, so please be sure to check back often. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me to inquire about the next rods to be listed & with any other questions you might have.

hand stitched leather accessories

Cases, bags, & other fine heirloom quality leather angling accessories.

NEW!! 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.

the pliant rod: