Joe, I really enjoyed your article. It was really well written and I truly appreciate your efforts. Thanks for taking the time to chronicle your small rod purchase. For what it’s worth, I’m going through the same pains myself now.
David K. Spencer
Welcome to the club David. 
Donald
Great article Joe, I felt like I was in the store with you and for a minute there I thought you were going to tell us you bought both rods.
“If it was easy anybody could do it”
Timothy S. Furey Sr.
Hey Joe,
Another fine article. I’m eagerly
awaiting the on the water follow up. First
RW and now Joe. The temptation mounts.G
Warm regards, Jim
Jim
Steady my friend. Repeat after me. I don’t need a 1wt. I don’t need a 1 wt. I don’t need a 1 wt.
Hey Angler Dave,
I’ve been doing that for a while now.
I gotta admit Joe got me thinking again with
his article. Just seems to me, if I can
buy a 4 weight for $100, I should be able to
get a little 1 weight for only $25.G
Warm regards, Jim
Maybe you can, Jim. I picked up a little 2 wt for $59 when Redington was discontinuing their RS2 series [and replacing it with the RS3 series]. That rod has been a workhorse!
Donald
Guys, I’m just happy to be building a three weight! Maybe I’ll get there, maybe I won’t. This baby looks like a very nice rod. An H $ H IMwhatever6. JGW
Hey Donald,
Believe me buddy, I watch for those
sales like a hawk! As a retiree on a
modest fixed income, I can save money a
lot quicker than I make it now. My latest
find was my Diamondback 3 weight on a
closeout sale at Cortlands factory store.
Sweet rod at a sweet price.G Warm regards, Jim
It is Joe’s fault. I order a 1 wt to build.
I don’t want to outgun him nest time we go fishing.
Rick
Rick
Not you too!
Rick - what blank are you building?
Donald
I got a little (7’) Cabela’s Clear Creek 1 wt. Man is that thing limber, even for a fly rod. I had hoped to get out with it this week, but it looks like next week before I can get it out. If we keep getting 70+ degree weather, we might be out of the midge season by then… <sigh>
Ed
I went with a Dan Craft blank.
Rick
Hi Guys!
Sorry I’m so late responding; since my divorce and recent breakup with girlfriend, the only computer access I have nowadays is, ah, when I’m (dare I say this)…at work. Oh well…it’s break time. Isn’t it?
FTroop, you have NO IDEA how close I came to buying both rods.
As for actually using the new rod: Stay tuned; I went fishing Tuesday afternoon with the 1-wt. the only rod in my canoe, and with zero expectation of success. Things didn’t quite turn out like I figured. There’s a story in the pipeline right now.
Clue: Rick Z. is gonna make me come down with pneumonia before the crappie spawn arrives.
Joe
“Better small than not at all.”
Don’t blame me. Your supposed to be a big boy. Just becasue you don’t have someone curtailing your fishing.
Actually my wife says if I am dumb enough to be out, it is my fault.
Rick
Looks like I’ll outgun Jim when he gets down this way if he uses the 3 weight or less. Lowest I go is my little 6 foot/4 weight (I always have nightmares about breaking that little rod on a 7 lb. LMB or 30 lb. Grassie). If the wind is bad though, its 8 foot/7 weight time for me .
Robert B. McCorquodale
Sebring, FL
“Flip a fly”
Anytime I felt someone was seriously trying to curtail my fishing, it’s backfired on them.
Seems when a person since childhood is constitutionally agreeable to going fishing at the drop of a hat, not much encouragement (positive or negative) is needed for him or her to head for the water.
The difference being: positive encouragement reels us back in, where negative encouragement sooner or later breaks us off.
Joe
“Better small than not at all.”
HI Joe
I enjoyed your story a lot. Your dilemma was very similar to mine when I decided that my four weight was too much of a war club to use on the noble brim. I emailed my fellow South Carolinian, Jim Hatch, for help and got several very complete and helpful responses outlining my options. It never ceases to amaze me how generous FAOLers with their time and advice.
It’s just a good thing that I can only deal with Cabela’s through the mail because if I’d been in your situation, I would have had a great moment of weakness and bought both rods. Then I would have been forced to tell the director of finances that it was a two-for-one sale.
But I do have a birthday coming up in May and if the #1 weight is that much different from the #2 weight… Prime brim time… I may own both a #1 and a #2 very soon. 8T
Hey Thumbster,
By all means, if you perceive that the
1 weight will increase your pleasure
quotient while bream fishing, you should
own one. Life is too short, and a $99 rod
is not going to break the bank. I think
the occasion of your 61st birthday should
be commemorated with just such a gift. If
you like, send me your phone number and I
will explain the particulars to your wife.
I can certainly see where such a rod could
be a real joy on those little stunted
bream up in your corner of the state.G
I celebrate my 61st on 13 April. I’m
thinking the TFO Series one 2 weight might
be more appropriate for my waters.G My
bream are not stunted, although they perform many.G My gut feeling is that
best bream fishing here will occur during
the period of 3 to 10 May of this year.
The most and biggest bream of the season
will be gathering in large numbers in pre
spawn stage on the North and West shores
of Lake Moultrie. The fish will be
feeding heavily before going on the beds
to spawn. Most will be in waters of 2 foot
or less. They will readily eat a grey
thread midge, a scud, or a green weenie. I
realize you are still a worker bee but if
you can shake free during that time frame
I’ll reserve a seat in the boat for ya.G
Warm regards, Jim