Wooden Fly Rod Update

As snowy weather settles in, a fly angler’s thoughts typically turn to winter projects. Cleaning and lubing fly reels, replacing fly lines and leaders, and re-stocking fly boxes are generally at the top of the list. But aside from the usual maintenance duties, there is also time to work on some of the more pie-in-the-sky type projects. One such project that I started last winter was the build on my fourth wooden fly rod (see How to Build a Wooden Fly Rod under Gear Guide). This new rod will be a replacement for my 8’ 4”, 5 weight wood fly rod that started to split last summer.

Building wooden fly rods has definitely been a learn as you go endeavor – some of the rods that I have built over the years have eventually succumbed to the strain of casting, either developing cracks or breaking. Most of the rod failures can be traced back to flaws in the original blank or poorly designed tapers. Despite the setbacks, I currently have two wood rods in my arsenal that have survived the test of time and that I have caught many good trout on. The one that I use most often, a 6’ 6”, 3 weight, is meant for working small streams but I recently had it out a few times on the North Ram during the low flows of late September. The other rod is the first fly rod I built; a 7’ 1”, 6 weight. It is a little clunky to cast but it gets the job done – and I like the look and feel of the solid wood grip.

The rod blank that I cut last winter has been casually seasoning (i.e. drying) in the garage all summer and will be ready for construction by March. I plan to start sourcing materials to complete the new wooden rod next week – I will compile a list of the tools and parts needed and post it next chance I get.

Desperate Times

I was pushing the envelope and I knew it.

The weather on Saturday was certainly far from ideal for fly fishing. Hell, it was far from ideal just for driving. But as I continued on through near white out conditions at times, I kept desperatly hoping that there would be a break in the weather - just enough to wet a line, maybe hook a fish or two, and collect a few bugs. It was a valiant effort, but in the end I was forced to turn back about 20 kilometers west of Rocky Mountain House due to decreasing visibility and ice starting to form on the highway.

Every now and then even a die-hard fly angler has a rational thought.

Stretching Out the Season

I was hoping to sneak in another trip to the foothills this weekend but I see the forecast calls for a high of 1C and snow. I have fished in conditions like this before - sometimes it can be magical, and sometimes miserable. Right now I am on the fence. I will be keeping an eye on the forecast, and we'll see how desperate I am come Friday.

Memories of streamside lunches and lazy summer days