This group grew out of a classic bamboo rod forum didn't it?...I think so anyway.
But this is where I usually log in. So this is were I speak, when I feel I have
something to say.
I just bought a Shakesepeare Wonderod for 12 bucks, on Ebay. It came today.
That was my first flyrod (although not even close to my first fishing pole)
when I was 12, back in 1960 or so.
They aren't terribly good rods. The ferrules were poor and the rod
itself was a bit soft. But fiberglass is so much more durable than graphite they
do last forever. I bought it mostly for nostalgic reasons. I will fish it some. I'm sure of that.
Slow rods are better for multiple wet flies because their slow action makes
a wider loop, which keeps 3 fllies in a row from tangling too often. And I do like
to fish multiple wet flies a lot.
I also like fiberglass rods in general. Winston made a few, way back when, that collectors
really like these days. Tom Morgan has a one of a kind prototype he calls his
"Unity with the Universe" rod. Tom liked to toss unweighted girdle bugs with it,
and then to pull them back in with the infamous--or perhaps not so infamous
Morgan Twitch. For all the wonderful bamboo and graphite creations Tom has given
us (he's still giving too, for that matter) he liked that glass rod the best, for that kind of fishing.
I've had the rare pleasure of casting that only one in the whole world work of art. Sure is a nice
rod. It almost casts itself.
Tom's got a whole new line of fiberglass blanks coming out soon, including a pretty
good replica of the Unity with the Universe rod. They aren't available yet.
And I don't think they'll ever be available as finished rods.
Just as blanks. I've cast all of them. I and a bunch of others helped assess the evolution of
the tapers for these rods over the past few years. I don't think my opinion
counted for much. Certainly not when compared to some of the all star guides, store owners
and rod builders who also got to test them. But at least I did get to put my hand on these wonderful rods.
And boy I sure do like them. Bamboo has its own magic. I won't even try to go there.
I don't have the standing to say anything of value on that subject. But I will say this:
I think fiberglass makes a better trout rod than graphite. Graphite is too quick
and too brittle. Ultra-fast graphite hotrods are great for punching Crazy Charlies 70-90 feet out into
the South Andros Island wind. But they're not much good trout fishing.
The clock has come full circle now. Graphite has found its well-deserved niche.
But its overshadowing of fiberglass is about to come to an end.
Perhaps I've overstated the case. There is a place for both. But the niche fiberglass
fills best is the niche most of us participate in most of the time.
But this is where I usually log in. So this is were I speak, when I feel I have
something to say.
I just bought a Shakesepeare Wonderod for 12 bucks, on Ebay. It came today.
That was my first flyrod (although not even close to my first fishing pole)
when I was 12, back in 1960 or so.
They aren't terribly good rods. The ferrules were poor and the rod
itself was a bit soft. But fiberglass is so much more durable than graphite they
do last forever. I bought it mostly for nostalgic reasons. I will fish it some. I'm sure of that.
Slow rods are better for multiple wet flies because their slow action makes
a wider loop, which keeps 3 fllies in a row from tangling too often. And I do like
to fish multiple wet flies a lot.
I also like fiberglass rods in general. Winston made a few, way back when, that collectors
really like these days. Tom Morgan has a one of a kind prototype he calls his
"Unity with the Universe" rod. Tom liked to toss unweighted girdle bugs with it,
and then to pull them back in with the infamous--or perhaps not so infamous
Morgan Twitch. For all the wonderful bamboo and graphite creations Tom has given
us (he's still giving too, for that matter) he liked that glass rod the best, for that kind of fishing.
I've had the rare pleasure of casting that only one in the whole world work of art. Sure is a nice
rod. It almost casts itself.
Tom's got a whole new line of fiberglass blanks coming out soon, including a pretty
good replica of the Unity with the Universe rod. They aren't available yet.
And I don't think they'll ever be available as finished rods.
Just as blanks. I've cast all of them. I and a bunch of others helped assess the evolution of
the tapers for these rods over the past few years. I don't think my opinion
counted for much. Certainly not when compared to some of the all star guides, store owners
and rod builders who also got to test them. But at least I did get to put my hand on these wonderful rods.
And boy I sure do like them. Bamboo has its own magic. I won't even try to go there.
I don't have the standing to say anything of value on that subject. But I will say this:
I think fiberglass makes a better trout rod than graphite. Graphite is too quick
and too brittle. Ultra-fast graphite hotrods are great for punching Crazy Charlies 70-90 feet out into
the South Andros Island wind. But they're not much good trout fishing.
The clock has come full circle now. Graphite has found its well-deserved niche.
But its overshadowing of fiberglass is about to come to an end.
Perhaps I've overstated the case. There is a place for both. But the niche fiberglass
fills best is the niche most of us participate in most of the time.
