Blog Archives

Custom Fly Fishing Rods by Chris Lantzy, Custom Rod Maker

leather fly wallets on sale!!

11/27/2018

Just in time for the Holidays, the leather fly wallets have been reduced in price to only $33 each!! These are one of the most popular accessories that I make in my shop. They make fantastic gifts, & especially good stocking stuffers. As anglers spend the cold winter evenings sitting at the vice, tying up flies for the next fishing season, they're going to need a place to carry those flies & these leather fly wallets are a great place to house all those wonderful bug puppets.

In addition to that great news, I've just added some more leather fly wallets to the current stock available. In fact, there's a new wallet made from a gorgeous tan colored leather.

The leather in this wallet is very soft & supple. It feels great in the hand & isn't overly heavy, which is good when stuffing your fishing vest or bag with heavy fly boxes & other items.

It has a distinguished pebble grain with some distinct 'range marks' on the leather - places where the animal rubbed up against a fence, got scratched, etc. These naturally occurring marks give this wallet character.

With just a quick, casual glance, there's no mistaking that this is a real leather fly wallet, & not one made from some fake synthetic material.

The tan color of this leather is fantastic. Compare it neighbored to a black leather fly wallet & see how nice it looks.

You can find this wallet listed on both the currently available fly wallets list, or on the Holiday Gift Guide as well. If this particular fly wallet isn't your favorite don't worry, I currently have fly wallets made from eleven different types of leather for you to choose from!! There's a leather there for every taste. Please look them over & take your pick. At the new, reduced price this is the perfect time to stock up on these hand made leather fly wallets.

If you have any questions, or to reserve your fly wallet, please contact me & I'll be happy to help you. If you see a wallet you want, let me know as in some cases there might only be one of a particular leather available.

To read more about the design of these wallets & how they're made in my shop, please click HERE.

To see more photos & read more info about them, including all the other accessories I make, please visit the Accessories page.

happy thanksgiving!!

11/21/2018

I want to wish you all a very healthy & happy Thanksgiving. May it be filled with tons of what makes you happy!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!!!

new video: Trout streams & custom fly rods

11/19/2018

I just put together another video for you to enjoy. It's just a 2 minute slide show of some gorgeous trout streams & some custom fly rods I've been honored to make. There's some video of the streams mixed in as well.

The idea behind this video was that we'd have something to watch on those cold winter days that are surely coming. When the snow is falling & the wind's howling outside we can sit back & escape for a couple of minutes by visiting some beautiful trout streams & looking at a few fine fly rods. Enjoy!!

If you liked that video, be sure to check out all my other ones over on my YouTube channel. There you can see more videos like this one, but focusing on different topics like bamboo fly rods or take a look into the rod shop & even see some of the accessories that are made in my shop as well. Thanks for watching!!

hand stitching leather, in the round

11/14/2018

Owning a quality leather fishing accessory that has been made completely by hand is a joy. Every time you use it you'll admire the fine craftsmanship that went into making it. One special point of interest in hand made leather goods is the stitching. When you see a hand stitched leather item you'll note that it is a cut above anything that was made by machine. You know that a lot of time, attention, skill, & work went into making your accessory - that it was made individually & not mass produced on a machine in a factory.

One example of hand stitching leather would be a round case of any kind - a reel case, a rod tube, etc. There are different styles of stitches traditional to leathercraft, & a round leather item typically uses two different stitches to make. Recently, I was in my shop making up some cases for the gift certificates I offer. These are a perfect example as they are a simplified version of the leather covered rod tubes that I make. Let's use this as an example to show you what goes into making round leather cases by hand. The finished cases are a great way to present a gift certificate:

To begin making a round case, a piece of leather the necessary size for the job is cut from a large hide. It's chosen for its grain (if any) & for its aesthetic qualities & strength, so it must be cut from the best place of the hide. Once the working piece of leather is cut, the stitching marks are laid out on the leather. In this instance the holes for the thread & needles are punched before the leather is wrapped around the tube. You'll see why in a minute.

In leather work, a diamond shaped awl is always used to punch the holes for the thread. This diamond shape is key to giving the stitches the proper shape, so each stitch lays down at an angle. In addition to looking good, this also gives the stitches more strength.

Once the holes are punched, I can then wrap the leather around the tube I'm covering. Some rubber bands hold the leather in place while I work.

Now that the leather is secure & the edges have been dyed & burnished, the stitching can begin. A long piece of very heavy thread is used to do this. It has two large leather needles attached at either end & both needles will pass though each hole in a certain & specific order. This is called a double butt stitch.

You might recognize this butt stitch: it's been used through the ages by shoemakers. You'll see this stitch on a traditional pair of shoes or boots on the back of the heel. Go ahead, take a look at some boots - you'll see what I mean.

Okay, now that the tube has been covered with the leather, it's going to need a cap. Leather rounds of the proper size are laid out on a larger piece of hide:

Once these rounds are cut out, the thread holes are marked out on them, indicating where each stitch will go. This ensures that I get even stitches all the way around the case. Since this is all work done by hand, I don't have the luxury of a machine marking out the stitches for me.

Attaching the round top & bottoms to the case is done using a box stitch. Again, this is a very traditional leather stitch that you will see on leather items that are stitched at their corners (where they might have corners). To see an example of a box stitch, look at any leather box, such as a tissue box cover or a covered jewelry box. Again, two needles & a long thread are used to make this stitch.

To finish this gift certificate case, all that's needed is to make a cap. The cap is made the same way as the body of the case we just discussed, though the tightness of the leather & the fit of it are much more crucial in the cap. Otherwise, the cap is made exactly the same way. Once the edges of the top & bottom caps are dyed & burnished, the case is complete.

Could all this stitching be done much faster & easier by machine? Sure, it could & there are some folks who make these cases (some quite renowned I'm sure you've heard of) that do just that. They don't take the time to make each stitch by hand, they just run it through a heavy-duty leather sewing machine & are done in no time. I don't do it that way. I take the time to stitch it by hand because it's worth it. Once glance will show you that these cases were made by hand, with traditional methods & painstaking attention to detail. I think that if you're going to purchase a quality leather fishing accessory, you want the best & the best, as they say, 'don't come easy'. In the end, it's the attention given to all the details - including each individual stitch - that makes owning a leather case truly special & something to cherish. That's why I do it this way.

the holiday gift guide!!!

11/10/2018

It's getting to be that time of year again when we all start looking for those gifts to give this holiday season & I thought I'd get a head start on things (for a change) this year. Well, if you want to give a special angler in your life a really great gift - or maybe you're an angler shopping to treat yourself - take a look at the Holiday Gift Guide.

There you'll find all kinds of ideas. Each item would make a really neat gift to give this year. Plus, there's something there for every budget, too. No matter if you're after something small to fill a stocking with, or you're after a truly memorable gift that will be cherished for a lifetime, you'll find it all (& everything in between) on this year's Holiday Gift Guide.

Some of the gift ideas listed there include:

the mini pack

This is a brand new offering - an accessory design that's truly unique that anglers are going to love using along the stream. This canvas Mini Pack is perfect for those times when you’re going light & don’t want to wear a vest or carry a fishing bag. This is a truly unique fishing accessory - there's not another like it anywhere. Keep all your essentials (tippet, leaders, nippers, etc) all in one place with quick & easy access while you're fishing with The Mini Pack!!

leather fly wallets

Always a popular gift for fly anglers, leather fly wallets are one of the most popular accessories I offer. With 6 to 8 fleece-material pages, these tri-fold wallets are a classy way to store your favorite submursive "bug puppets". I recommend barb-less hooks for flies stored in these wallets. They have two pockets - one in front & another in the back - to store leaders, etc as well. The leather is top quality - always. The variety of leather is always changing so many options are available. To see the different currently available fly wallets, please click HERE

matching leather accessories set

This is the perfect gift if you're not sure what to get an angler. That's because it is unique, truly a one-of-a-kind & there's only one set available. This is a 4 piece leather accessories set. Each accessory in this set was made from the same hide of leather, right in my shop. This makes for a perfect matching set which includes a hand stitched fishing bag, a leader wallet, fly wallet, & mini fly wallet - all at a very steep discount. For this set a premium, rich brown leather hide was chosen. Each accessory will stand up to a lifetime of heavy fishing.

hand stitched leather fishing bags:

These are two great, classic looking fishing bags perfect for a day along the stream. Step back in time with either of these traditional fishing bags. I have one each available of black, or yellow (butter) leather.

fly rods:

Want to give your special angler a fly rod that's already made & ready to go fishing with. Be sure to check out the Available Rods page to see what's currently listed there.

have a custom rod made for them!!

For a truly memorable gift that they'll remember for a lifetime, get them a custom rod all their own!! By making the down payment on a custom rod (or paying in full, if you prefer) you will reserve a place on the production list in the rod shop for their custom fly rod.

Here's how it works: You & I discuss what grade of rod you'd like to give them & I might have a few simple questions for you to help me figure out what they need in a rod. Then after you've made the down payment, or paid in full, I'll mail you a special certificate that states a custom fly rod has been ordered in your recipient's name for you to give them on the special day. Think of it as a gift certificate for a custom made fly rod.

To make the presentation of the certificate really extra-special, the gift certificate can come rolled up, scroll style, in a hand-stitched leather tube much like a round document or print case. This is a really nice touch & will make giving the certificate to that special angler even more special!! Please add $10 for this special presentation case. While the leather used may vary, here is what it looks like:

After you've surprised them with the certificate, the lucky angler can contact me & the two of us will work together to design the rod exactly how they want it, with all the personalized customization just for them.

The normal policies apply here, where the second half would be due only after the rod is completed, giving you at least a few more months to pay the rest of the rod price. Naturally, I would mail you hard copy receipts for any payments you made for your records.

Of course, if you know what they're going to want their fly rod to be, that's fine, too. I'll mail you the special certificate so you can present them with it while they wait for their rod of a lifetime to be made!! A custom fly rod is sure to put a smile on any angler's face!! Please contact me to discuss a special fly rod for a very special angler.

but wait, there's more!!

You'll see even more great gift ideas listed on the Holiday Gift Guide. In addition to those listed there, don't forget about all the other items I offer as well. Reel cases, leather leader wallets, rod bags, & mini fly wallets - there's so much more to choose from.

Please note: the last day to ship items in time for Christmas is December 20th. I would need to receive your payment before then (by check, money order, or paypal). After that, higher express shipping charges will apply.

Also please know that some of the items listed here are one-of-a-kind. In some instances there is only one of a particular item available. If you see something you want, please contact me to reserve it. While I try to keep a good supply of accessories in stock, should you need an accessory custom made for you, please plan ahead so your special gift can be made in time for delivery before the Holiday. In most cases this will be a 1 to 2 week wait time for custom orders. These are not mass-produced. Each item is made in my shop to our exacting standards.

need advice? i'm here to help!

I know how confusing it can be to pick out a great gift for an angler, especially if you don't fish. What do you get your special angler? Which item is the best one? I understand. If you're confused or uncertain about a gift idea you have for your angler & don't know where to turn, please feel free to contact me. Ask me any questions you have - even if it's about something I don't offer. I'll be happy help you out & give the best, honest advice I can. I want each of you to have a good experience this Holiday season.

new accessory now available!!!

11/5/2018

I am very excited to introduce the newest item in my line of fishing accessories:
The Mini Pack!!

With four expandable, accordion-style pockets, each with a velcro closure, it can hold just about all the essentials you’ll need along the water: tippet spools, leaders, floatant, nippers, a small fly box, etc. There’s room enough in here for everything. Since each pocket has it's own closure you can access only the pocket you need at any time without worry about anything falling out of the pack when open. Two snap closures on the flap allow you to keep it closed securely no matter how much it expands or how full you fill it. The swivel hook allows you to attach it to your vest, shirt, or belt. It can be hung from a lanyard & it could possibly even fit in a shirt or pants pocket, too.

There’s even a back pocket on the pack for holding your hemostats, pliers, or other hook-removing tool. A strap keeps the tool secured in the pack, but easily pulls open for quick access when taking a hook out of a fish’s mouth.

Tenkara anglers are going to love using this pack, as well as any angler who wants to keep the bulk of what they carry with them down. Going on a long hike to a hidden favorite piece of water? This pack is perfect for that. Fishing guides will also enjoy this pack, too as it keeps everything you’ll need for your clients close at hand. Do you wear a chest pack, but don’t like all the bulk & the size of them? This pack is exactly what you need.

I am so happy & proud to offer The Mini Pack to you. It's truly unique accessory, there's not another like it on the market. A lot of time & hard work went into the design of this accessory & we'd especially like to thank anglers John Svahn & Terryll Monroe for their help & inspiration in creating these packs. Thanks, guys!! The Mini Pack wouldn't have been possible without your help!

To read more about these packs & to see more photos, please visit the Accessories page.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you have about The Mini Pack.

All this & more will easily fit into The Mini Pack!!

the pliant rod:

leather fly wallets on sale!!

happy thanksgiving!!

new video: Trout streams & custom fly rods

hand stitching leather, in the round

the holiday gift guide!!!

the mini pack

leather fly wallets

matching leather accessories set

hand stitched leather fishing bags:

fly rods:

have a custom rod made for them!!

but wait, there's more!!

need advice? i'm here to help!

new accessory now available!!!

The Pliant Rod

leather accessories

instagram

SEE MORE ROD PHOTOS!!!

Watch Some Videos!!

Categories

Archives