The Last of 4 - Montague

Okay, it took a while, but the series is finally done.  Easily the most intermediate wraps I have ever done and honestly it was tough to wrap more than 30 minutes at a time.  I would do 5 or 6 groups at a time then put the preserver on.  There were several times I knocked off a wrap as I moved on.  This is an older Montague, I am guessing Calcutta Cane instead of higher grade Tonkin just because the age and quality, but don't know for sure.  I do like the way the color differences show up with the new varnish.  In between Band gigs, I am going to get to the stack of unfinished rods in my collection.

First of 4

Here is the first of 4 rods I am restoring for a flyfisher who inherited the rods. I made a snap judgement when I first saw the rod due to the wrapping - I generally see this rainbow thread on low quality rods, but this is a very good taper and good bamboo.  The garnet thread blended in very nicely with the ferrules, a very attractive rod once redone.

 

South Bend Bamboo

Here's a basic rod I did for a client.  A entry-level model produced in the last years of bamboo rods.  It was splintered in the middle of the tip section and male ferrule of the tip was missing as well.  I was able to repair but it kept a slight set.  Luckily, it will just be for display.  I'm not sure why the before pictures went to portrait orientation, but you can see the difference.  I have always liked the color of South Bend's flamed (?) cane. 

Good Friday Fishing - Arrivaca

Wanted to make a quick return to Arrivaca, I was bit worried it would be too tough to launch if the water was any lower.  Luckily a channel had been cut by regular boats.  It was a very pleasant day and the period around sunset was gorgeous, no wind (which may have hurt fishing a bit since my finning and casts created the only ripples) but I didn't get the twilight bite from last year.  Still a very good day with a couple of bluegills thrown in.  Root-beer and Olive crystal buggers were the only producers, the fish were fatter than the previous trip.  Hope we get some rain soon.

Southern Arizona Bass on the Move

It is just starting at Arrivaca, but it is starting.  The water is a bit higher, but float tubers may need to launch from the shore instead of the ramp.  The lake picture is near the north shore close to the spillway area.  I didn't arrive until 2:30, but didn't catch my first bass until 5.  Just like last year, a root-beer colored crystal bugger was THE fly.  I was using a six-weight with an intermediate line (I have to confess, I used a plastic vs. a bamboo rod - it feels good to get that off my chest) casting tight to the banks and retrieving.  They are hugging the rocks and shade, but if you see one swirl, cast there as quickly as you can.  This one was a touch over 20", work them in fast once hooked, they love to jump off.

Beating the Groundhog Day Crowds

 The lake near my house is only a 30 minute drive but I wanted to see my little stream during our stretch of warm weather.  Just the perfect flow and I wanted to use my 7 1/2' Rapidan with my newly acquired Heddon Daisy 310.  The rod could so use a couple of more guides, but with Triangle Taper 5 it is perfect here.

 The snowmelt must make the water too cold to bring the fish into the usual pools, and nymphing the deeper runs produced nothing and didn't see a fish until I got to "Big Mel's" place.

This trout is easily spooked and I thought I had done it again when I kicked a rock after spending minutes easing my way down the bank.  The only saving grace was that Mel had risen to eat something at the same time.  I patiently waited about 5 minutes and saw him/her cruising again.  I flipped my Shop Vac in while Mel was facing downstream and lifted slowly.  Just as I wondering if the fly was in the right lane I had a take.  Luckily it was a good hookset and I was able to her in after a few runs under branches & rocks.  Of course my camera ran out of batteries just after this shot, but it's just as well (but I still regret that one butterfly picture).  Easily the largest hybrid I've ever taken here.  



A Winter Visit to Rose Canyon Lake

A beautiful sunny day in Tucson so I was hoping the road and path would be open to the lake. There was snow on the ground and the melt had water flowing in. Browns were stacked up at the inlet, but the shallow water made them very skittish. I wanted to try the 9 foot Granger with the DT6 Sylk line - a bit much of a rod for the small browns, but it came in handy when I moved to the small shoreline on the southwest side. Trout were rising but I caught them all on soft hackles and Zug Bugs. My 8 1/2 foot Heddon #13 just loves a Triangle Taper 5 wt. It's so nice to be able to slip away for some nearby fishing, but I have a hankering for smoked trout so I may try for the Rainbow stockers next.

Montague Fishkill in Progress

An elegant 9.5' rod that was part of a bundled buy. I wasn't able to cast it in its original state, but it is a light rod and I am thinking it will have power and delicacy with a 6 wt. line. The varnish was totally shot and I still have some polishing left to do on the fittings, but I really like the color of the cane. The yellow silk thread should pop when complete. I am about to give the butt a final clean with 0000 steel wool, then the alcohol wipe before I tackle those intermediate wraps. 

 Okay, got in the finished shots.  Really like the way it turned out, an elegant 6-7 wt. rod.  I will probably try to sell at the next OPTU swap meet.

Granger Favorite 9050

Okay, time to return to the confessional. This is one of the first rods I ever received in trade for a restoration job. I was living in Corpus Christi, TX at the time. It was 18-19 years ago (before my youngest was born. I restored a JC Higgins rod (it had heavy sentimental value) and got to keep the Granger. I was just starting out and didn't keep any notes or photos as I do now. I think it was in rough shape and I don't think the name stamp had survived. I used a (now) hideous combination of brown with tan trimming and I couldn't pull off the thin intermediates so they were twice the size. I used the hand-rubbed tung oil (the last time). I now know it is a 9050 by using a caliper on the ferrules, I also know it was made between 1935 and 1938 because the reel seat is marked "Pat. Pend". Luckily I more or less followed the intermediate pattern and I was able to use Michael Sinclair's marvelous book as a guide. The grip is new and I to trim a bit more, but wanted a slightly larger diameter, if I ever sell the rod, I will turn down to original specs. I totally respect these classic rods now and will change wrap colors only on the most generic rods or if I am replicating a sentimental repair job. I implore any of you just starting out, if you have to refinish/restore, stay true to original colors, save the decals/stamps even if only a trace remains. I took the rod to Yellowstone last year and appreciated the power while fishing the Lamar & Soda Butte on windy days. It was blind luck I stumbled into this rod - Grangers and Phillipsons have become my favorites, bar none.