I just built two rods on Forecast blanks that I got from Hook&Hackle, there service is second to none… Both rods were 4 piece 9’ 9 weights. One was built as a fly rod the other as a spinner. I was not too impressed by the fly rod with a 9 wt line it seems wanting for a 10wt line which I don’t have at the moment.
The spinner version casts and fishes well but what blew me away was when I put my 9wt. fly reel on the spinning rod. This $38 blank throws a nine wt. line better than the best fly rods I ever casted with.
My question is this… Will I look like a fool fly fishing with my spinning rod? Does anyone else out there ever fish with this type of set up?.. FB.
I’m inclined to think those folks fishing the “correct” gear will look foolish next to the guy fishing with a fly reel on a spinning rod, which performs better than their $700.00 broom handles. My father used to fish with a spinning reel on a fly rod, and I would never think for a moment he looked foolish.
To hell with how ya’ look … you don’t think the fish will care do ya’?
Best O’ Luck,
Mike D. [url=http://battenkill.tripod.com:fd614]http://battenkill.tripod.com[/url:fd614]
Amen Brother!
Regards
nam
F Bob,
IMHO, the ONLY time one should consider what another thinks about his gear, is when that OTHER is the Game Warden.
On some water, that means you are limited to the types of flies, # flies, no lead etc. etc.
The rest is just marketing and hype. Sure I have a few “big name” rigs, but I can’t honestly say if they catch more fish, or if I have more pleasure casting a Sage instead of the Cortland.
If it gets the job done, it’s fun and it’s legal … Why not.
Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/:e88d7]http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/[/url:e88d7]
I caught a perch once on a stick, a piece of string, a safety pin, and a worm from a pile of cow dung I kicked over. That was back when I was a Huckleberry Finn kind of kid. But…I fish wherever, when, and how ever I want to. Some things I am told will not work, I think about it and my mind says, well I think it might. Soooooo…I sometimes just have to find out for myself. Your question about looking like a fool has never ever even entered my mind. Guess that’s what makes horse races.
Jim
Farmer Bob, for a while I fished certain problematic ponds with a short little ultralite spinning rod that threw a 5wt very nicely. I could stand under trees and cast side-arm between them, and often under them. It had one too few guides, but other than that it was delightful close in. That’s where all the fish were anyway. Still have the rod, but the ponds are far away. 
If spinning rods had been invented first, fly rods would probably look a lot different!
I wouldn’t give it a second thought.
Jim
Sure you’ll look foolish. Who cares.
Then again don’t we all look foolish, dressed in our waders with vests, hats, nets,wading sticks, hats…
jed
go for it! speaking of looking ridiculous, i was talking to a neighbor about fishing and she said, “you know, sometimes at the river mouth i see this guy fishing early in the morning and he has this big basket strapped around his waist! He is so funny looking!” Without hesitating I told her, “that would be me.” i then explained the stripping basket to her.
I’d venture to say that alot of folks wouldn’t even catch the mismatch.
Elliott W.
I tie flies to give the fish something to laugh about.
Mr. Castwell,
I just got to tell you…reading your post just made me feel good and I just sat here and broke out in a big, most comfortable feeling wide grin. Thanks (good thinking on your part…I had no hat or shoes. yes…barefoot) Your post did me good, thanks for that
Jim