Received the new Elkhorn Monday and finally got a chance
to really look at it today! [Andy was the Winner of the May
'06 Drawing for an Elkhorn, 4 wt 7'6" 2 pc, 2 tip bamboo rod.]
First impressions are important things in life and I got some
great ones! First of all, when JC sent it to me, he put it
in a piece of 2" PVC pipe. The rod case fits perfectly in the
pipe and is well protected during shipment.Thanks JC!
The cap on the rod case comes into view first and it is
very nicely done. Good solid brass, threaded very well
and tight, fitted perfectly to the case; another well-done
touch there.
Bringing the rod out of the case, I was impressed with the
rod bag. Since I'm always in uniform on duty, this really
caught my eye. It is like starched and ironed kahki and once
again, well done. No extra threads or anything hanging from
the fabric, just a sharp looking outfit.
Now the rod!! OH YEAHHHHHHHHHHHH!
This is not the first "boo" rod I have handled and I have
studied the building of bamboo rods for several years. A
bamboo rod is an engineering masterpiece, in my honest
opinion, and this one is right there too. No glue lines,
the barely visible nodes are properly placed, and the
light colored finish is perfect! Just look at the burl
in the reel seat and those silver rings! QUALITY ALL THE WAY!
I build custom 1911's and spend a good amount of time with
calipers in my hands so I measured the rod in several places.
TOTAL UNIFORMITY! A smooth taper throughout the length of
the rod which will carry the stress right on down into the
butt of the rod when fighting a good fish. Great balance!
Love that slow rhythmic action. I've been building glass
and graphite rods for over twenty years and will have to
slow down my cast and let the "Big Thompson" do all the
work. The thread work is excellent and the calipers reveal,
once again, total uniformity in the length of the guide wraps.
The wraps are beautifully, simply, elegant, befitting the
masterpiece that a well made cane rod is.
I will be purchasing the Elkhorn Classic reel to complement
this rod. Through the fifty six years of my life, I have
learned that it costs more to go less than first class. The
Elkhorn Company has the reels that will fit and compliment
this rod and there won't be any guessing or wondering if
the reel feet are too thick to fit the reel seat, etc.
I've cast the Cortland SYLK lines with John Channer, a builder of
fine "boo" rods, and love how the line "whispers" as it goes
through the air as opposed to the louder "swish" that the
plastic lines make. Cortland doesn't make any junk in their
products, so I know the SYLK line will be a perfect match.
Thanks Elkhorn and all the FAOL sponsors!
Thanks Ladyfisher and JC! ~ Andy Carr (Buttermilk)
ELKHORN
2230 West First Street
Building D
Loveland, Colorado 80537
Phone: (970) 227-4707
Fax: (970) 278-1885
Email: info@elkhornflyrods.com
Website: Elkhorn
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