Custom Fly Fishing Rods by Chris Lantzy, Custom Rod Maker
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  • Split-Bamboo Fly Rods
    • Prudential Series
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  • Graphite & Fiberglass Fly Rods
    • Classical & Custom Series Graphite
    • Fiberglass Fly Rods
  • Available Rods
    • Available Reels, Accessories, etc.
  • Accessories (Bags, Cases, Wallets, & more)
    • Fly Wallets
    • Leader Wallets
    • Hand Stitched Leather Accessories
  • Designing Your Custom Fly Rod
    • Frequently Asked Questions
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    • Tackle Tips
  • About
    • Rod Making Philosophy
  • Links
  • Contact
  • The Pliant Rod (Blog & News)
    • Beyond The Rod Shop
Custom Fly Fishing Rods by Chris Lantzy, Custom Rod Maker

the pliant rod:

blog & news

the "state of the rod shop address"

12/30/2017

 
​As another year wraps up in the rod shop, I like to take time to share with you a review of the past year & tell you what I’m looking forward to in the new year. It’s my annual “State of The Rod Shop Address”.

2017 was the busiest year the rod shop has seen in a long time. It was a banner year with the introduction of my hand stitched leather accessories. It was a dream fulfilled to be able to make & offer these items. It took a lot of long hours & a lot of sweat to be able to add these great accessories to the catalog, but it finally was accomplished this year. From reel cases to fishing bags & now leather covered rod tubes, I’m now able to offer you some of the finest leather fishing accessories you can find. I’m also (to the best of my knowledge) the only craftsman working today that can make you a matching set of leather accessories & a rod that matches as well, all from the same leather & all made under the same roof from start to finish. I want to thank each of you who bought one of these items, as well as Fred Balling of the Perfection Reel Company. 
​I got to work with fellow rod maker Mike Buriak of Mountain Brook Fly Rods again this year. Mike enlisted me to make the rod tubes & bags for his awesome fiberglass fly rods. It’s always a nice to work with him & admire his talent & his rod designs. 
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​I’m not done with the accessories yet - I’ve got some new items & some improvements on existing ones to make next year as well. Be sure to keep an eye to this website for some really exciting offerings to come that will take things up a notch!
I was very blessed this year to make (if I may say so myself) some pretty awesome rods. I am continually learning from the folks who come to me to have a rod made. You’ve all taught me through the years different color & component combinations, what works, what doesn’t, & have really shown me your visions for unique & gorgeous fly rods. This year was no different. 

​I again enlisted the help of master engraver Glenda O’Donnell with her skills on this wonderful cactus engraving. How does she do it???
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​The newer fiberglass rods that are being made now are lighter & more responsive than those in the past years. Blank manufacturers are also making them available in a bunch of new colors, which gives us even more options when making a custom glass rod like this one I was honored to make this year:
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​As I said, color combinations are something you folks have really taught me a lot about, like this rod:
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​There were also some really nice bamboo rods that came out of the rod shop this past year. I’m so honored to be able to make these rods for you folks.
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​Next year I hope do even more! In addition to some different bamboo rod tapers, I’m planning on working a lot more with fiberglass. The glass rods of today are amazing to me. They are so much better than the old stuff I grew up on. Fiberglass rods have a special place in my heart & I’m excited to make some nice glass rods in the months to come. Keep an eye out on this website for some very cool fiberglass fly rods next year.

The fishing season started slow for me this year, but I made up for a sorry spring with a good summer & a fantastic autumn of fly fishing. There were some very memorable fish, too the memories of which will stay with me a long time. I had a blast on the streams & I’m really looking forward to next year’s season & hatches. 
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On a personal note, I had to say goodbye to a close friend & fly fishing mentor. He was the kind of guy that got along with everybody, because he was always so kind with his knowledge - & he knew a lot about this sport indeed. I was lucky to have known him & even luckier that he took me under his wing. I still think to pick up the phone & call him for a fishing report or to plan a meeting, but of course I can’t anymore. I miss him a lot, but I can’t think about him without breaking into a grin remembering something he said or did that made me laugh at the time. Rich, I can’t thank you enough for your friendship - we’ll fish again on the other side someday, buddy. 

2018 is shaping up to be as busy as last year was. I’m really looking forward to the work, too. I absolutely love what I do. Every day I’m happy to go to “work” on the rods & accessories you folks want. To me it’s both an honor & a blessing to do this & I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to do it. It’s because of you folks that I’m here, making rods & accessories. Thank you all so very much!! 

Last year was pretty good, so let’s all keep it going. Good Lord willing, we’ll meet back here again after a fantastic 2018, too!!! I hope for each of you that the new year is your best one yet!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

merry christmas!

12/23/2017

 
I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas!! May your Holiday be filled with peace & joy - & I hope that Santa fills your stocking with a lot of what makes you happy!!
Merry Christmas!!!
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new fiberglass fly rod available

12/20/2017

 
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I've just listed another rod on the Available Rods page of this website. Made on a Blue Halo rod blank, this new, never - fished fiberglass fly rod in now available. It has a very smooth & progressive medium-slow action that can flex down to the butt section. It is light in the hand & very responsive with a sensitive tip. You can easily feel this rod load & unload during casting. ​
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​This rod would be right at home on small to medium sized streams. You're going to love casting dry flies on this rod. With it's relaxed action you'll be gracefully placing your dries right where you want them, watching them fall to the water like the down of a thistle. However, don't count this rod out for wets & nymphs as well. As sensitive as this rod is, you'll be able to feel every rock & pebble on the bottom or the drift of the water in the stream.
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​This rod features:
-Gorgeous cappuccino colored fiberglass rod shafts with a smooth moderate-slow action
-Uplocking, screw lock reel seat with aluminum metal for reduced weight & a Walnut wood spacer
-Reverse half Welles cork grip
-Nickle-Silver winding check (above the grip)
-Beautiful brown, real stone agate stripping guide in a Nickle-Silver bezel
-Chromed, stainless steel line guides, tip top, & hook keeper
-Light brown silk thread guide wraps with black tipping throughout 
-Tan colored flannel rod bag with black embellishment stitches, custom made to the rod
-Brown canvas covered PVC rod tube with padded end, zippered closure, & leather name tag describing the rod inside made specifically to fit this rod
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This reel seat features a special locking band. The reel foot fits in the inlet in the band. This really locks your reel onto this rod for added security.
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These modern fiberglass rods are truly remarkable compared to those of times past. Improvements in materials make them light in weight, extremely responsive, vibrant in action & yet they retain that classic fiberglass feel. 

To see more photos & for more information about this fly rod, please visit the Available Rods page. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me anytime.

Start the New Year off with a new fly rod that I'm certain you'll love to fish!!
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helping out the nwtf

12/12/2017

 
Earlier this year I was approached by Randy Gaskins of the National Wild Turkey Federation about making a special fly rod for their national convention next winter. I was honored by the request & so went about making a rod that will be part of a larger fly fishing package they will offer at their convention.
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The rod I made is a 4'-4" 1 pc, 3/4 wt "Banty" rod. This is by far one of the most popular small stream rods I make. Anglers who like to go light in their tackle seem to really love this rod taper. While it's perfect for small streams where obstacles are close, it can also be used on open waters for all kinds of fish.
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This rod features:
- All cork grip  reel seat w/ aluminum slide rings for reduced weight
- Mirror polished Nickle-Silver butt disc at the end of the rod
- Nickle-Silver winding check above the grip
- Chromed, stainless steel line guides, tip top, & stripping guide
- Orange silk thread wraps with fine black tipping
- Comes in a custom made brown rod bag
- All housed in a custom fit canvas covered PVC rod tube with padded ends, zippered closure, & leather tag describing the rod inside
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The NWTF does a lot of good work all across the country not only for hunters, but for everyone that enjoys the outdoors & cares about the environment. That certainly includes us fly fishers. Natural, wild habitat that turkeys flourish in are also the same places where healthy trout & other game fish will be found. We're all in this together.

If you can attend the convention this year, great! If you can't make it there, please consider supporting the NWTF in any way that you can.

steelhead fishing in PA

12/5/2017

 
Every fall, when the water temperatures in Lake Erie drop & the rains fill up the tributary streams, the steelheads move from the lake into the tribs, providing anglers with some of the best steelhead fishing in the country. Here is a brief video showing this & the efforts that the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission take to ensure that this fantastic fishing opportunity will continue in the future.

custom fly rod gift certificates

12/1/2017

 
Many times in the past, I've made custom fly rods for folks who received them as gifts. Perhaps you want to give a fly fishing loved one a special rod for the Holidays that will be made just for them? Maybe a co-worked is retiring or a student is about to graduate? No matter what the special occasion may be, you can get that angler a custom fly rod made to their specifications - even is you have no idea what they'd want!!
​For a truly memorable gift, you can give that special angler in your life the gift of a custom fly rod. Bamboo, fiberglass, or graphite rods - there's a special rod for every angler.

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 at the Holidays. 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 will come rolled up, scroll style, in a hand-stitched leather tube much like a round document or print case. While the leather used may vary, here is what it looks like:
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​​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.

If you prefer, you can make only the down payment for the rod at the Holidays. 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.
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For even more gift giving ideas, including leather fly wallets, fishing bags, leader wallets, & more be sure to visit the Holiday Gifts & Sales page of this website. There you will find a bunch of great angling items at all different price levels.

If you need any help picking out that perfect gift for your special angler, please feel free to contact me & I'll be happy to help you out.

I hope your season is merry & bright!!
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    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:

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

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

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

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    hand stitched leather accessories

    Cases, bags, & other fine heirloom quality leather angling accessories.
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    DISCOUNTED REEL CASES
    ​(IN LIMITED SIZES & COLORS):

    To see what sizes & colors are listed, please visit the Available Reels & Accessories page.
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    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. 
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