GOING AROUND AGAIN

July 26, 2010

I know intellectually that things go in cycles, the weather, the economy, styles of clothing and how many feet of shoreline are exposed on the Great Lakes. Of course there are various fads, hot cars, sports which seem to grab the attention of the public, and there are certain films which strike a chord, music of one sort or another. Give it a few years and it comes back around.

Back when I (and lot of others) was a kid fly fishing was pretty much out of the reach of most. You could buy a fly rod at the corner hardware store, and before mass produced bamboo the rod of choice was a telescopic steel rod. They weren’t cheap, about $25 in the 1930s. (About $326.29 in today’s dollars)

That’s pretty much what was. Bamboo rods became produced in factories and more people fished with them. And there were a lot of very private fly fishing clubs. Some actually still exist while their founders are long gone - thinking especially of the Henryville Club and a mass of others in the Catskills and Poconos. Private family clubs as well, the family spent the whole summer in these places. The clubs with really wealthy members tended to last through things like the big depression, but the numbers were fewer. 

Then the Second World War came along, as part of the war effort, the US Government installed a ban on bamboo from China, called the Embargo. That pretty much killed what was left of fly fishing in America. We were at war anyway and it seemed improper to be seen having a great deal of fun at nearly anything. This was a very austere period.

After the war the men came home, many with the GI Bill in their pocket. They got an education or trade and put America back to work. They had a little money and some time to recreate. There were some neat advantages which came out of the war - plastics, fiberglass, and nylon - can you say spinning rods?

The first fiberglass rods were made on a wood form which was left in the rod. They were a little heavy, but they eventually figured out how to make it hollow and they were very popular. Fly fishing took another hit. There were still some very wealthy gentlemen, particularly in the East, who still fished their bamboo rods at the private clubs.

Anyone could use a spinning rod. Nearly everyone had a rod and a point and click Zebco reel. Most of the kids in the 50's and 60's had just that. They learned to fish with it and there are probably some here who can still lay their hands on one.

Shakespeare developed the very popular Wonder Rod, made of white fiberglass unmistakable - but a real fly rod. I know there are still a few around; I cast one a couple of years ago at a fish-in. Great fun, but my lame shoulder wouldn’t take it for long, they are heavy.

Fly fishing got healthy again when Orvis made their first graphite rod, the Far and Fine. I still have one and I know some others are around as well. I cast that rod in a class years ago in Livingston Montana attended by the head of marketing at Orvis, Don Owen. He told me it was designed by Wes Jordan to feel like the best cane. I loved it.  Sometime later Don sent me that rod and I have cherished it.

At about the same time Scientific Anglers took a big leap and produced and marketed a series of fly rods (made by Fisher) and matching “Series” reels and the appropriate fly lines, of course. . SA did more to promote affordable fly fishing than any other company in America.

“Scientific Anglers developed the system fly rods in the late 70’s. These rods were matched to a System reel (a rebadged Hardy Marquis) and a matching fly line. The rod blanks were made by Fisher. The fiberglass System fly rods (and reels) were the finest tackle sold by SA.”  Quote from https://https://fiberglass-fly-rods.pbworks.com/Scientific+Anglers

My husband Trav bought his first bamboo rod from Orvis in 1968 for $100 bucks. Not cheap then either, in today’s dollars [$626.34].

In this country right now we have more bamboo rod makers than at any other time in our history. The cost of a good cane rod has come down, although the “masters” can still charge $3,000 and up. You can buy a kit (available in the late ‘60s from Orvis) and ‘build’ your own for around $350 for just the blank from ElkHorn.

I’ve pushed for affordable rods since we first started Fly Anglers OnLine, and I’m seeing something which disturbs me. For many years fly fishing was described as a “Rich Man’s Sport” and it sure looks like we’re going there again.

For example, when Sage bought Redington the top rod was about $200. In checking their website today the average is $399.

TCX Sage, $800 and up.

G Loomis, MaxGLX $660.

Hardy Angel, $1,000.

St. Croix, Legend Elite $410 - 480 (better).

ElkHorn, EX Series $239.

Albright, 249.99.

TFO, Mini Mag $200 - 300 range.

These are ‘average’ prices. Yes I know some do have introductory outfits, my point being we are right back to being seen (and rightly so) as a rich man’s sport. That doesn’t exactly bring people running to their nearest fly shop to take up fly fishing - especially in an economy which is still struggling.

Just maybe it’s time for the manufacturers to get rid of their high-priced ad agencies (Or give them a new set of orders) and get the pricing of fly rods, good fly rods, down to what the average person in the country can spend without busting the mortgage payment.

It’s not the fly shop’s fault; they don’t usually have the power to set prices on name fly rods in their shop.  The fault is with the manufacturers.

They just don’t seem to get it - or worse yet, maybe they really want to be part of a dying rich man’s sport.

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