Shortly after starting rod making I cast a delightful PHY Midge, the parent of the Black Fly.
Using Hexrod I stretched it to 6’6” and beefed it up to a 6-weight. The goal was a rod that would cast well in close when fishing from a pram or canoe. It worked very well, able to cast with little more than a furled leader as well as roll-casting well. Most people that have tried it really liked it, several people have made it as a six and some have made it as a five. Several of Don & Nancy Taylor’s students have made it. Most of its use came at evening when landlocked salmon were rising near the boat. I fished it with a half of a 6DT peach line. I use the past tense because after more than a decade as my most-fished rod I fell on it and splintered the butt section. That led to the creation of the Son of Black Fly. A more versatile rod, the length stretched to 6’9” and the butt beefed up and the tip convexed a little. It does not cast as well in close as the parent rod, though it still does well, and it reaches further and is better fighting heavier fish.
So, if you’re interested here are the tapers:
Black Fly, .070, .078, .096, .115, .129, .146. .163, .178, .194, .208, .222, .235, .247, .254, .260, .260. #12 ferrule.
Son of Black Fly: .068, .084, .096, .115, .129, .146, .163, .178, .190, .209, .222, .235, 247, .260, .270, .278, .278. #13 ferrule.
Who knows, one of them may strike your fancy, Henry.
Black Fly Taper
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SamNielson
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Re: Black Fly Taper
#2Thank you for posting these. Did you rebuild the Black Fly rod or let it go? Just curious. I like the story.
Sam
Sam
