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Articles by Lewis Chessman
A Leonard 'Graftek', 9' #9, c.1974.
Hi, Folks. I crossed a line last week when I bought a rod not to fish, just to have. I had watched this Graftek pass through unsold at about $110 on eBayUK incl. p&p and when it reappeared, starting price c.$30 cheaper, the following week I resolved to have a go. I've been collecting early graphite rods for a few years now, usually 8 1/2 ft - 9 1/2 ft, #5 or #6 and in that time I've maybe seen two other Grafteks come to auction and certainly none as tidy as this one.
Pseudo Warranty for your St Croix Legend Ultra 9’ 6-weight
$50.00 Check price Nashua, New Hampshire So, I have a St Croix Legend Ultra 6 weight 9’ fly rod, well, I have the top three pieces. I purchased this with a lifetime warranty. When the wood insert swelled completely occluding the reel seat, I called.
The Alexandra
The fly is actually what caused my minor rant in General Fly Tying Discussions about Crazy Glue. First try was a beauty but the tail became brittle with glue and broke off like glass. Second one was a beauty although I forgot to put the cheeks on it .... Third one and so on and now I'm looking to see if I have some long peacock sword to add to the wing. And @dtaylo1066 last fall someone posted regarding the cost of hooks for steelhead / salmon tying.
Rod tube oxides
Anyone else had an issue with the rod tube cap seizing in the tube due to oxidation? Had an old Orvis recon aluminum tube seize solid. Needed a couple of heat/cool cycles and a set of stilsons to get the cap off. Its never been anywhere near salt water so was a bit of a surprise. It had only been a couple of months since last use, much longer and it might have been an angle grinder job.
A 'Broughton Orrell Boron' (Rodon) Rebuild.
Hi, Folks, and Merry Christmas to you all. 'Tis the season to be rolling, as we all know. I don't usually show my builds on the NAFFF unless they have an American history, and this one certainly does. I have a nerdy interest in early carbon fly rods and a few years ago purchased two Ted Simroe Boron/Graphite rods from sweet&salt. They are both beautiful made, understated yet high quality, and I'm proud to own them - but reluctant to fish what I consider collectors' items.
You know you love fly fishing when……
The word "love" is kinda funny. I do have moments where I do really have that feeling of "i really love this" but it has little to do with the actual fishing. It has to do with being in a special spot at a great time. I'm just as happy watching a 20 inch trout feeding as much as fishing for it.. or better yet watching/ coaching someone into such a fish. I have little in the way of affection for actually fishing i do it because it's a big part of who I am.
Orvis Rocky Mountain fly rods
The RMS rods shared the same blanks as their premium rods. The reel seat featured a Walnut insert compared to the Premium rods that utilized Cocobolo. Below is the Rocky Mountain series from the 1992 Orvis catalog. They did appear in the 1991 catalog however I cannot confirm if they were introduced that year or in 1990 as I do not have that Catalog. I do have a 1989 catalog and the Rocky Mountain series was not in it.
NFC 11ft 2wt
I used this 'chart' from I think Custom Fly Rod Crafters. I used 'light wire' snake guides (I find with my casting stroke, I get less 'tangles' than with single foot guides'--you can always use single foot guides, then place a few double foot snakes for the last 2-3 guides below the tip-top). I did place one additional 'stripping' guide on the first blank section, simply to assist line management (Pretty common to see in a Euro rod, as your 'line' is really simply monofilament).
Old Sage Rod
I'm pretty sure I know what it is because I own one. I picked mine up at a fly club silent auction for 5 dollars. I won't spoil the fun and let others guess what rod it is. Neat stick, I have caught lots of great fish on mine!
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