Just like a fly rod, the choice of a fly reel is a pretty personal thing. We all have different opinions & ideas of what we like in our tackle. Take the fly reel - some like a more modern style reel & the features that come with it, while others prefer the simplicity & traditional looks of a classic 'click & pawl' type of fly reel. 

When you're fly fishing for trout & other similar fresh water fish (like bass, bluegill, etc) the reel typically functions mainly as a holder for your fly line. Drag systems need not be intricate or complicated (naturally this is a different case when deep sea fishing or other large game fish pursuits). 

Now, there's noting wrong with using a more modern fly reel with a more complex drag system if that's what you like, but for trout fishing you don't really need it. To that end, you might want to look at used, classic 'click & pawl' style reels. 

The video below sums all this up very well. I like the presenters concise thoughts on the matter & I agree with him on this issue. If you're looking for a good fly reel for your trout fly fishing, than by all means take a look at some classic reels. 

The other day a friend showed me this video, in which "expert" fly fishing guide Hank Patterson warns us of a new threat to the outdoors - indoor people spending time outdoors! I found this video to be pretty funny & I thought you would, too. (Warning: there's some adult language in this video, so you know). 

​Sit back & contemplate the wisdom of Hank Patterson!!

Megan Boyd was a famous Scottish tier of Atlantic Salmon flies. She lived a simple life out in the countryside, about 3 miles from the nearest small village. That didn't stop folks from all over the world coming to her cottage to ask her to tie flies for them - including Prince Charles, himself. 

She was the inventor of many patterns & became world renown for her abilities in fly tying. In her career she took on a few pupils to teach them the art & it is very interesting to hear what they have to say about her. She was even recognized & awarded by the Royal family of the UK in her lifetime. 

This video below is a beautifully made documentary of her life & work. In it we get to know her better as to who she was & how she made those gorgeous flies that anglers sought from her. It is a fascinating & well told story where we get a look at some of the gorgeous landscapes & rivers of Scotland.   

Just before Thanksgiving, a good friend shared this video with me. I, in turn, shared it with a few other friends & now I'd like to share it with you all here. If you have about an hour of time to spare, I think you're going to enjoy this film.

If you're here reading this, you're probably already into fly fishing - or have a loved one who is - & so you already know all about the sport. But when fly fishing get the attention of the larger portions of our society, it's always nice. Hence, this story that aired on CBS News late this past summer. 

I like this video if for no other reason than to see Joan Wulff. In her 90's, she's still out there & getting it done. Way to go Joan!!!

So sit back & enjoy a few minutes of the main stream media showing the non-anglers what it's all about!

From time to time, I like to feature other rod makers here to show you some of the processes that go into making a custom fly rod, & all the other aspects associated with the craft. I want you to see just how much goes into a custom fly rod & the lifestyle of making custom rods. In the future I plan to bring you even more of this information by showing you more rod makers, both past & present.

Who better to feature here then Jeff & Casimira of JD Wagner Rodmakers? They are highly skilled & knowledgeable rod makers who have been at this for a while now. Of course, I'm very biased, as I consider both Jeff & Casimira two good friends & our friendship goes beyond fishing & rod making. That's because they're two of the nicest people you're ever going to meet!! (like I said, I'm biased towards my friends). 

But all that aside, the video below - made when the television show "A Craftsman's Legacy" featured Casimira & Jeff for a full episode - does a very good job of taking us through the all the steps of how a bamboo fly rod is made by hand. By the end of the video you'll get the idea of just how much detailed hand work goes into making a rod & the time involved. It's not easy to make a bamboo rod, but with the proper guidance almost anyone can learn & make their own. I think A Craftsman's Legacy did a good job of getting that point across. 

Even if you're not the least bit interested in making your own bamboo rod, the video below will give you a better appreciation of what you hold in your hand when you fish with one. If you've never tried a bamboo rod, be prepared to be inspired to try one as you watch this episode!

Bamboo rod makers (myself included) owe a debt of gratitude to Hoagy B Carmichael (son of the famous song writer), for documenting on film & in print the methods & techniques of rod maker Everett Garrison. The video below is of the documentary Carmichael made of Garrison in the 1970's (I believe). 

The book that Carmichael put together of Garrison's rod making was responsible for the resurgence of bamboo fly rods in the 1990's - though the book had been published twenty years before. I don't think you can find a full time rod maker today (again, myself included) who hasn't studied that book intensely. In it you will find all the information you could ever want or need to learn how to make bamboo fly rods. Some have referred to it as the bible of bamboo rod making. 

No matter if you make bamboo rods or not, if you have any interest how they are made this video is fascinating, in that we get to see just how Garrison would bring a rod to life - from the raw bamboo to the completed product. What's more, we get to look over the shoulder of the man who really helped to advance the craft of bamboo fly rod making. 

Even though this film is over forty years old (at least) not much has changed in bamboo rod making since that time. Many of the steps & processes shown here are what I find myself doing everyday, even now. It reminds me just how timeless rod making (& pretty much everything in fly fishing) is. Because of this, I really enjoyed watching this great documentary. I hope you do to. 

These days, the common progression for a fly angler through their fishing gear journey is to start out with a graphite fly rod. This is the rod they learn how to cast with & it's the rod they use in the beginning. It's the rod they fish as they fall in love with the sport.

Then, sometime later, they begin to learn about other types of fly rods like bamboo & fiberglass. Between the two (cane & glass), fiberglass is much more accessible because of the price. They hear about the feel & sensitivity of fiberglass fly rods & how they compare to bamboo & become intrigued. This is why, for most folks, their first custom rod is often a fiberglass fly rod.

I've even heard fiberglass rods referred to as a "poor man's bamboo". I do NOT agree with this sentiment, as they are two different types of rods with different characteristics, but I understand the concept, particularly when you compare fiberglass to modern graphite fly rods.

Typically, once an angler fishes with a fiberglass fly rod, there's no going back. The feel of casting the line with a glass fly rod is one that can become addictive. More & more they find themselves picking up their glass rod & leaving the graphite rod at home.  

Some of us (like me) who grew up fishing a fiberglass fly rod will often go back to them for sentimental & practical reasons. I still fish fiberglass rods myself & always will no matter how many bamboo rods I own. 

For those of you new to fiberglass, they're not the slow buggy whips they used to be. They have a lightness in hand & yet retain the sensitivity & feel we love of fiberglass. There are limitations to fiberglass as it's used in fly rods - think line sizes & rod lengths - which is why you don't see many 9 ft 2wt fiberglass fly rods.

There's nothing like a good comparison & in the video below, Tim Rajeff does a great job of describing & showing us some of those differences. Check it out as it will describe the technical aspects quite well in a very clear way, showing you a side by side comparison of graphite & fiberglass fly rods. 

The Pflueger Medalist is, by far, one of my favorite vintage fly reels. When folks ask me about a good reel to pair with a bamboo or fiberglass fly rod, the Medalist is always one I suggest. You just can't go wrong with them. 

One problem these reels have for some anglers is how the gear in the drag system is oriented. If you prefer to reel in your line with your left hand, as I do, on some models of Medalists you're going to need to reverse the gear to have the drag work properly. This isn't a big issue & it's not nearly as complicated as it might seem. In fact, its a lot easier to show you than to explain it. The video below does a great job of doing just that. 

Take a few minutes to review this video before you attempt this for the first time. Once you get into the job you'll see how easy & simple it is. Now you can enjoy your Medalist reel with any hand you like!

Some of you may have come across a bamboo fly rod marked as "Sharpe's of Aberdeen" as the maker. You can sometimes find these rods kicking around at yard sales & flea markets. You can certainly see them offered by vintage tackle dealers on the web, too. 

Sharpe's was / is a Scottish rod & tackle company & they have been around for a long time. Many of their rods were mass-produced, but on the better side of what you probably think of mass-produced rods. Some were impregnated rather than coated with varnish. Often you'll see them with the Farlows name on them. Farlows is a famous retailer in London dealing in fly tackle, as well as many other things.

One thing that trips up some new rod collectors is when they see a Sharpe's rod & notice that the but section is shorter than the tips. That's not uncommon in these rods, as they made many models with staggered ferrules. The video below does a good job of explaining this. 

I'll write more about the history of Sharpe's when I have the time, but the video below shows some of their rods - from very rare to the more common rods - & a few of the reels they made as well. What's nice about the products Sharpe's made is that it provides a step up for the beginning tackle collector. They are good, very usable rods that you can collect & fish with today.  

The Professor is a traditional wet fly that you're probably not going to read about on all the latest fly fishing news sources. It's been around for a very long time. That doesn't mean that it still doesn't catch trout. It does. It's one of those classic wet fly patterns we should all have with us along the stream. 

The short video below is very good in my opinion. I really like it for a number of reasons. First, the skill of the tier is excellent & he does a good job of showing you how this fly comes together. Second, he's using the old style silk (or you could use gut) leader. This is old-school, folks, before hooks had eyes. It is exactly how this fly would have been tied back in the day when it was a new design. Third, in addition to giving you some tips on how to fish classic wet flies, he shows you what this fly looks like underwater, in the drift. That kind of information is invaluable. I don't think we, as fly anglers, do this enough - really looking at our flies in the drift. Knowing that can make a world of difference.