THINNING THE HERD
As I was putting away one of my fly rods after a recent trip, I got to thinking about the different rods that I own. Now depending on your perspective, if you were to take a look at the number of fly rods I have, you might think that I own too few or have acquired too many. And some of you would argue that you can never own too many fly rods. Whatever side of the stream you are on sooner or later you’ll ask yourself, do I really need this many fly rods not to mention do I really want that many fly rods.
Personally, I don’t think I own a lot of fly rods. Without mentioning manufacturer or maker here is my list. (I use to own a 9’ 7wt and another 9’ 8wt but have sold those within the past year.)
7’ 4wt 2/2 bamboo (recent purchase)
7’3” 3wt 2 pc graphite
7 ½’ 6wt 2 pc glass
8’ 5wt 2 pc graphite
8’ 6wt 3/2 bamboo
8 ½’ 4wt 2 pc graphite
8’8” 5wt 3 pc graphite
9’ 6/7 wt 2 pc graphite
9’ 6wt 4 pc graphite
8’8” 8wt 4 pc graphite (recent purchase)
Let’s break down the list and see which ones must stay and which ones (if any) are worth the consideration of being culled.
The 7’ 4wt bamboo has become my go to trout rod for fishing the spring creeks in the Northeast part of the state. It is a joy to cast and was built by a local builder and I have always wanted one of Steve’s rods. Besides, I just bought this rod, so it would be silly if not dumb to want to sell it. The 8’ 3/2 bamboo was given to me 45 years ago by my dad (who didn’t fish) so that one stays. I plan on getting it restored over the winter and intend to fish with it on a more regular basis. The 8’ 5wt was a Christmas gift from my wife. I would never consider selling that rod. This rod has become my primary fly rod when fishing the local ponds for bluegill and smaller largemouth bass. And in late summer when the rivers are low makes a nice rod for smallmouth bass as well. I’ve also enjoyed fishing for trout with it in the spring creeks of NE Iowa and to in Colorado.
This past summer I bought the 8’8’ 4pc 8wt so I wouldn’t even consider removing that one. I’ve fished with it a few times and although it is an 8wt it is light in hand and casts like a 6. I think this could very well be my go to warm water fly rod for smallmouth, largemouth and northern pike. That’s 4 out of 9 fly rods that are accounted for. That leaves the 7’3” 3wt, 7 ½’ 6wt, 8 ½’ 4wt, the 8’8” 5wt and the 9’ 6/7 wt.
The 7’3” 3wt was a gift from a rod builder friend that use to live in the area. I was over at his house one day and he just up and gave me the rod. It was one that he had built before he got bit with the bamboo bug and started building rods out of the “lovely reed”. I have tried to like this rod, but it is a bit odd. The tip is somewhat longer than the butt section, so it requires an 8’ rod tube. I am not sure who the maker of the blank is because there are not markings. It is a pretty rod with a brown/burgundy colored blank, tan thread wraps, blonde reel seat and silver rings. And my Battenkill BBSII reel (platinum) looks nice on it. It seems to cast a 3 DT line well. I have used it for bluegills on those rare occasions when there has been no wind and I have taken it to fish the spring creeks for trout. Still when I have cast or fished with this rod it has not spoken to me like some of the others. If it hadn’t been a gift the decision to cull it from the herd would be easier. Still I could live/fish without it.
The 7 ½’ 6wt glass rod is one that I had built back in the late 70’s. It was the first fly rod that I purchased. Although I don’t use it that often it does go along on trips to the Driftless in the winter. I figure if I were to break a rod this one’s demise would not be agonized over as much as say the 7’ 4wt boo. My 9’ 6wt 4 pc is my primary smallmouth rod. It would be a sin to even consider selling it. Not unless I decided to replace it with a new rod with a little bit faster action.
I bought the 8 ½’ 4wt a year or so ago thinking I needed an 8 ½’ 4wt rod. Note the word needed. I have taken it to the ponds for bluegill and to NE Iowa trout fishing. And although it is a functional fly rod, it tends to be a bit long when fishing the tree lined spring creeks. This was an impulse buy and could become an impulse or well thought out cull. Besides, I would have been better off buying an 8’ 4wt. Or at least that is what I have told myself.
The 8’8” 3pc 5wt is the most expensive fly rod I own and the one I fish with the least. I bought it a few years ago when I worked at a local sporting goods store with my employee discount. Still it was the most money I have spent on a fly rod. It is a moderate action rod and is a joy to cast and does speak to me. I guess you could say that I and the rod are one. I have taken it on a few trips to Colorado and it has performed flawlessly. I even fished with it a time or two for bluegills on the local ponds. Still I am not so sure that an 8 ½’ faster action 5wt rod might not have been a better choice. This too was an impulse purchase, but would take some justification to sell it. Still I could be persuaded. The manufacturer has replaced this rod with a newer version and it is beginning to take on a “cult” like following.
Finally there is the 9’ 6/7 wt. I bought this fly rod from a shop in Denver CO back in 1990. It was the first graphite fly rod that I owned. And I have fished it with it for trout out west and for just about any warm water (excluding Northern Pike and Musky) species that swims. I have kept it as a back-up in case my 9’ 4pc 6wt were to break. But with the warranty the newer rod has and the time it would take to get it repaired or replaced the need for a back up no longer seems to be a priority. This one could go.
So there you have it. Out of 9 fly rods, I could survive quite well without 3 or maybe 4 of them. Those that I would definitely keep would be:
7’ 4wt bamboo
8’ 3/2 bamboo
8’ 5wt graphite
9’ 6wt 4pc graphite
8’8” 8wt 4 pc graphite
With those rods I feel I could pretty much fish for any species that swims within the borders of the United States and even in some of her coastal waterways. Some years ago Tom McGuane had the unfounded opinion that after doing inventory on his fly rods, he would be well equipped to fly fish for anything that swam within our borders and coastal waters, with a 9’ 6wt and 9’ 8wt fly rod. Now if two fly rods would suffice McGuane, then a lesser mortal should be able to get by with four or five.
But who am I kidding? Would I really be able to thin the herd? Still if I sold off a few there would be room for that 7 ½’ 2/2 5wt Orvis Battenkill Madison grade bamboo fly rod that I’ve always wanted. Hmmm. Maybe just maybe……………………..