Fly Fishing with Doug Macnair

Fly Fishing with Doug Macnair
Product Updates
“A New Day for Fiberglass; A Great Day for You”©
Doug Macnair
Most of you won’t recall the days of the Fifty’s with firsthand knowledge; those that do join me in a senior’s
fishing club of old goats fully capable of entertaining our
audience with endless stories of Man’s many battles with
Friend Fish, our friend and enemy. (I note that
members of the Administration would be quick to warn
that few of these “Tales of the fish” are true; on the
other hand, I would be quick to remind that few, if any,
of this select group seldom tells the truth (does anyone
in Washington, D.C., ever?).
One story we old-timers will tell you is all about the arrival of the white rods
with the crimson wraps following World War II. Personally I think the Fifty’s
were the rebirth hey-day of lots of things like affordable homes, new cars,
TV, and certainly, fly-fishing. Seems to me these were moments in time
very much like Camelot: in the case of fly fishing, Man once again asserted
himself as a superior being to Friend Fish. The Fiberglass fly rod had arrived
along with some new fly lines. Almost the entire sport fishing industry
bristled with vibrant energy and almost every manufacturer came out with a
line of fiberglass fly rods.
From my point of view, the clear winner in this contest of yesterday was the
Wonderod manufactured and marketed by Shakespeare. A white rod with
bright crimson wraps, the Wonderod stood out wherever it appeared. And, I
would be remiss if I failed to mention the Wonderod showed up just about
everywhere. Perfect? No. A “too” long Wonderod quickly became “too”
heavy and clumsy. According to the media, however, to reach out and touch
someone you needed a 9-footer that could easily throw over 110-feet.
(Gee, that’s about the same distance achieved by today’s $800 to $1,000
graphite’s.)
The blessings of fiberglass then and now are many: the material is tough
and rugged; maintenance is simple and even being put away wet isn’t a kiss
of death; finally, fiberglass is inexpensive – and remains so today. And I am
happy to say, the Experts learned a lot about other things such as the taper
of the blank, wall thickness, and blending other materials such as carbon
graphite.
Today’s fiberglass rod is quicker, faster, lighter and far more efficient than
yesterday’s. That, of course, is what this article is all about. (Now, if
someone would revitalize my back like they have done with fiberglass rods, I
would be totally happy.)
I am pleased to introduce to all fly fishers with an eye to things such as
quality, durability, affordability, “fish-ability,” and likeability the latest
addition to the Angler’s Roost inventory: the KlassicGlass series of
fiberglass rods. Thus far four rods are available.
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8-ft., 3-Piece.
7½-ft., 3-piece.
7-ft., 3-piece.
6½-ft., 3-piece.
Before going further, I think it’s fair to offer my impressions from watching
and listening to others over the years all rolled in with my own experiences.
As a general rule in fishing rods, fiberglass is heavier than a corresponding
rod made of graphite. So be careful when thinking of the perfect fiberglass
rod from the perspective of a fisher of graphite. Even Charles Atlas would
tire of casting a classic long rod on an otherwise perfect day of sun, fun, and
fish on the water.
For rods made of fiberglass, and for that matter bamboo, I tend to favor
those in the range of 5 to 7½ feet. They are more maneuverable, less tiring,
quicker, and, in my view, more accurate. I know that most of you believe
the secret to long casting is a long rod, and to be sure, the length of the rod
is important but a bevy of other things also enter into the final equation.
I’m reminded of the true story of an American fly fishing icon. His name is
Lee Wulff. A skilled outdoorsman known for his efforts to assure
environmental safety of the Atlantic salmon, he was an extraordinary
lecturer and speaker. His series of salmon flies will live forever. He was also
a noted rod designer for Garcia-Conolon, his specialty were the shorter glass
rods he favored in his pursuit of the Atlantic salmon. Without question, Lee’s
fishing career clearly evidenced that of all others, he was their nemesis. His
casts of 80 to 85-feet with his little 6 to 7-foot bamboo or glass rods caused
many an American fly fisher to put aside their long European 2-handed rods
for a little 6½-ft. Garcia glass rod. Lee passed in 1991 leaving behind a
living memory of the man who revolutionized fly fishing.
Before mentioning how John‘s new rods perform let me show you a few
sample pictures.
Considering the economy that seems
to experience higher prices with each
passing day, John has set the price at
$99.99. All rods are shipped with
an additional fitted tip, and equipped with very good cork, quality snakes
and agate guides, spigot ferrules and hook keeper. Take a hard look at the
double lock downloading reel seat. Not only is it of the highest quality, it
also lends a little weight when the reel is attached to give you better control
and balance – and that my friends, enhances your cast.
Not only are these rods pretty, they are identical in fit, features, and finish.
In the picture with the blue background, I added two sections from the
second evaluation rod for purposes of demonstration only.
How do they cast? Just great, just great – thank you very much. These
rods move line quickly, easily, and accurately. To be sure, you will probably
have to adjust your timing when lifting your line into the backcast. A few
practice sessions (on land, not on the water) and you should become
accustomed to the rhythm of these moderately fast rods.
If you do as I suggest, I believe you will find surprising improvements in
your cast. Just remember: Watch your backcast! A failure to do so
simply means that you will continue to “cast-in-the-dark” never knowing
what your line is really doing… Sad to say, you have my regrets!
I also experimented with both rods by over-lining one line weight. In both
cases, I was delighted with the results. The tad of extra weight loaded deep
into the butt section and when the power was released on the forward cast,
the line went smartly down range. You might try underlining, too. Dropping
one weight ought to put you into the 30 to 45-ft. range, my target for closein work. You may have to work a little more deliberately to get the line out,
but delicate casts are the result and these gems are worth the trouble.
To summarize my thoughts, John’s KlassicGlass rods are probably the best
value available on the market today. It’s very difficult for me to understand
the difference I would acquire by buying one of the affluent class graphite’s
for 800 to 1,000 dollars as opposed to one of these rods for 100 bucks.
You be the judge!
Addendum: John mentioned that if the KlassicGlass series meets with
success, he is considering a
custom shop for rods made of
KlassicGlass tailored to your
needs and specifications. The
rod displayed here is a
sample. With a much better
action, it reminds me of my
old 6-ft. Wonderod. If the
idea appeals to you let John
know your thoughts.
You can reach John at (716) 565-9838 or email him at [email protected].
Better yet, visit his Web Site, www.theanglersroost.com.
-30© Copyright: Douglas G. Macnair, 2014.