True Love
(Based on a true story)
By Michael K. Villa, Rodmaker
Welcome back to the never-ending saga of common
sense in choosing a bamboo fly rod. I will be featuring
my wife, Diane (whom I love), and how on this particular
day in August of '97, I found out just how much I loved
her. Diane and I have three beautiful daughters and six
terrific grandkids. Now, back to my story.
After making numerous split cane bamboo fly rods, with
my very own hands, I had one that was the ultimate fly rod.
Yes, this beautiful 5 foot 3 inch 4/5 weight one-piece
rod was the one. My wife and I had packed up and moved from
the Sacramento area to Ventura. The fresh water is not as
common here in Ventura as it was in Northern California, so
I needed to make a new smaller rod for myself, or so I thought.
Well, after we settled in our new location, we set up shop.
Priority one for me was to start working on my new 5 foot 3
inch bamboo rod. It was not long before this baby was ready
for the test. You see, when we make a rod, Diane and I discuss
things like reel seats, cork handles, color of silk and the
type of wraps to be placed on each rod. As you can see by now,
I love bamboo. When each bamboo rod is complete we take it out
for a test run.
Diane and I take our finished rods up to the park to test
them out. We compare notes with one another. This helps
us to make better rods. I put on a fly reel with a 4-weight
line on it. I then ran the line up through the guides and
up through the tiptop. Yes, my new split cane bamboo fly rod
was finished. I pulled off 25 to 30 feet of line and began to
load up the rod. I knew this was it! In my excitement, I made
only 4 or 5 false casts in order to hurry so Diane could try
out my new rod. Before I knew it, she had made 5 or 6 false
casts herself. Much to my surprise, Diane had only one word
to say.
" MINE!!!" For about 1.5 seconds I had brain fade and
said, "OK"! When my brain checked back in, it was too late.
She had claimed ownership of the new rod.
I asked her, "Out of all the rods we've made, and all the
rods we've cast over the years, why was this the one you
had to have?"
Her answer was, "It's MAGIC". Today, Diane's rod has
an inscription on it that reads, "Especially for My Wife Diane."
True love at it's best.
Good days on the river! Yes, you can email
me. ~ Michael K. Villa, Rodmaker
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