Latest Restoration Project - HI Featherweight

Well, haven't posted in awhile but have done a couple of restorations.  Tying Peacock Ladies & Reservoir Whores for Drycreek Fly shop has filled a lot of free time as well.  
This rod is nice quality Horrocks Ibbotson, 4 piece with cane in great condition and what seemed like 100s of intermediate wraps.  I am sorry I did not get better quality on the before shots.  The rod had been exposed to heat and was gummy, dark & blistered in quite a few spots.  I was able to match the orange thread exactly so that shows how much the varnish had darkened.  I have to admit I undercharged for this restoration, but I feel good in bringing back a classic rod that is very fishable.  I will post pics of an HI Chancellor I restored at the beginning of the year when I get done with my latest batch of flies.

Montague Rapidan, 7.5 Ft "Tournament Action"?

Finally had time to do a rod that was going to be mine!  I found this rod in a secondhand store when I first moved to Tucson about 17 years ago.  My plan was to restore it and replace the Orvis Battenkill that I sold a couple years ago.  Restoration jobs and rods that I restored to sell kept getting in line.  The letters "AT" in gold on the butt section were a mystery, I posted pictures on The Classic Cane website and it baffled the members.  This is a rod made by Montague, the cedar reel seat was offered in this model.  Research showed that the company did make some Tournament Action rod and that remains the most likely explanation as all indications are that the letters are original. 
This is a sweet casting rod and it will become small stream first choice.  If I slow down, it handles a 4 weight, but for all-around use I wil string it up with a 5 wt.  I will be very careful with it, but it is nice to know I have the backup tip.  I will christen it on Grant's Creek in a couple of months. 

"Noris" Fly Rod, European

This one took forever!  I did several other jobs in between but honestly put off work on those infuriating intermediate wraps.  I had to do 4-6 at a time and then put coat of preserver to keep from "exploding" (unwrapping, a common problem when you only do 4-5 wraps of thread).  I have to admit I do like the signature wraps on the butt section and I really like this color combination, olive & red.  Had to replace every guide and I re-stained the reel seat.  From what I can find online, this was made by DAM of Germany (?).  Tentative casting before I started work indicated a DT6 or maybe a WF5.  I will try to add some notes after I cast it.  Not sure if I will post this on EBay or try to sell it locally. 

Recent Work

Recently finished another "Smuggler" pack rod.  This one was missing the tip but the client had found a regular tip section that could be used.  It kept the entire rod from being packed in a briefcase or suitcase as originally designed, but still cool.  Wish I could have found a ferrule to make a replacement tip section, but they are so small and this is only the second I have come across in 20 years of restoring.  Every ferrule was loose pinned on this rod, but it cleaned up nicely.  Don't know if he plans to fish it, but a great conversation piece.

I also finished a dozen Peacock Ladies for the local Fly Shop, Dry Creek Outfitters.  I was happy to help Eric who mentioned he didn't have a regular source for these.  I used Super Glue Gel as an undercoat for the peacock herls hoping that it will help their durability.  Hope they sell for him.

 

Arrivaca Lake, April 8, 2015

I was so happy to see the water levels back up and the State did a great job with the new dock.  The day was a bit cooler that I expected and I think the water was not quite right for full fledged action, but I still had fun catching 5 14-15 inch bass, fat and healthy.  All were taken on Crystal Buggers with a sink tip line.  The fish would immediately burrow into the hydrilla necessitating the need to winch them out and peel away the greenery.  All mine were taken in shallow water near the shore, but I did see some spin fishers taking them from the reeds.  The water was a bit greenish, algae bloom?  I don't think I will make it back before the fall unless I hear of the water rising and clearing.  It should be a great fall here!

 

First Gila Trout!!

With only a couple of weeks left in the short fishing season for this special little creek, we braved the road and make the tough little hike.  Snow on Mt. Graham made for a scenic approach and the numerous willows only made it more satisfying when I caught my first Gila Trout.  I never touched or took it out of the water and was very lucky that stayed in the slower water long enough for me to get a couple of pictures.  A very healthy, plump fish.  I lost another one  and we spent the rest of our time exploring to see how many pools were fish-worthy.  Dead fall and thick willows on almost every pool mean the majority of these fish will lead unmolested lives.  It was so nice to break in my Shakespeare Diana 6 1/2 rod (it will be restored to original colors later this year) and my Daisy Heddon Reel matched nicely.  My special thanks to my fishing buddy Rod McLeod who led me in and actually was part of the team that helped stock these threatened fish into the stream 5 years ago!

 

Quick Winter Fishing Trip - Rose Canyon Lake

It was time for a quick getaway and rain in the recent weeks meant water should be flowing into this small lake just 30 minutes from my house.  It was, it was also cool and breezy.  Despite the bright sun, I could see my breath most of the day.  The fish were not working at the inflow, so I scouted the south shoreline.  Saw a few working and brought in my first fish of the season (a brown, they get a bit bigger each year).  Have to love technology, 45 minutes earlier I was printing my fishing license.  I was the only one on the lake, and the view was so nice that I stopped to eat and just take in the views.  I could tell the fish were starting to get a bit more active as it warmed, but decided to hike out and get down the mountain, there were scones to be made!

H.L. Leonard Boat Rod

Here's a grand old Boat Rod from the Leonard Rod Company, a restoration for Robert Glennon.  The reel seat is stamped with Wm Mills & Sons which acquired an interest in the company in 1878.  What's cool is that the stamp indicates a manufacture date between 1879 - 1887.  From what I've read these trumpet or bell guides were used up to the 1920's.  Very honored to work on this rod, but I will say those intermediate wraps (4 wraps wide) were a total bitch to wrap and keep on.  This one took forever and I appreciate Robert's patience. 

Montague Kingfisher

Here's an interesting Montague rod I just completed and delivered.  These wrapped grips are always intriguing, I may try one someday.  For some reason, only one of the tipping/border wraps survived.  Good thing, otherwise it would have been a pure guessing game on the color, there just isn't much information on the color combos.  This will be purely a display rod, but it was quite attractive when done.

Intermediate Wraps!

 I'm writing instead of wrapping only to take a break!  I'm in the middle of the restoration on this "Noris" rod, European, probably made by DAM.  In case you are not an insider, the intermediate wraps are those place between the guide wraps, originally to reinforce the glue, other times purely for decoration, always to annoy the wrapper.  There are over 100 intermediate wraps on this rod. I have to do them in stages so I can apply the first coat of preserver to keep from 'blowing out" (coming unwrapped) when I accidentally touch them.  I am lucky that these are thicker than most, 6 wraps each so they are not as fragile.  The rod will look pretty cool when complete, but I understand why some restorers/builders charge $1 each for these!  As you can see by the first "before" shot, this bamboo is a nice, light color.  Check back soon.

Heddon - Bill Stanley's Favorite 1 3/4F

Have had this rod for a few years, and have tried to replace the reel seat with the original Heddon parts.  I just could not remove the reel seat without warping it after boiling water and did not want to risk it even on the "parts" rods that I had.  Since I was going to keep it anyway, I broke down and used a modern reel seat.  The light wood was not my first choice, but the only one I had on hand that would fit over the bamboo without shaving it down too much.  I also went back to the original maroon & gold silk wraps.  Good news, my newest lacquer, thinned 50% had no bleed through.  The bad news is that it changed the colors.  I would have loved if it would have stayed true but can't wait to fish it.  Just tried it out, does well with a WF5 Sylk line.  I will give kudos to whoever redid this in brown & tan, they did a great job with the tipping, nice and thin.  I do know the varnish must have been polyurethane - I could not remove from the writing with alcohol and it would not sand worth a crap.  Luckily I was able to peel it off once I removed the adjacent varnish.

 

South Bend 12 Restoration

Here's a very nice Pre-WWII rod from South Bend (judging by the decal) that is lighter than my other SBs.  I found this rod a local antique fair and had put off restoring it for almost 2 years due to band & other jobs that came in.  Honestly, I dreaded all the signature wraps on the butt and did it between the last 2 repair jobs.  I went with silk thread and had some bleed through despite 4 coats of color preserver (you can see the black thread under red in the second restored shot), but the the translucent red looks so nice on the light-colored cane I can't be too disappointed.  This rod casts a 5 wt. Sylk line very nicely, will try the Triangle Taper as well.  My next project is restoring an 8.5 ft. Bill Stanley's Favorite that was redone in brown & yellow.  I already removed the original reel seat which was cracked and missing the bottom hardware.  Hmm, this is the first personal rod I have restored in almost a year.

Southern AZ fishing - Arrivaca 8-21-13

Wow, the fishing reports were "Just a bit outside!!".  I read access was difficult, but that should read impossible unless you have a float tube you can carry over your head for few hundred feet - think of an old movie with a safari.

May 2011

August 2013

First cove left of boat Ramp 8-21-13

The first 2 pictures are of the same basic area, the third is the first cove just north of the launch area.  I could see water in the distance, but there was algae on the surface.  The good news is the fish will be relatively unmolested IF they survive.  The only good news is that the vegetation on road into the lake was lush and green.  A sign of recent rains, but I suspect we will need a near-biblical downpour or two to bring it back up.  Then we can hope for some hippos to wash in and clear some vegetation.  Ah, no cosmic topwater bite this year.  I will hope for rains and the survival of the bass & bluegills here.

Recent work - HI Cascade & South Bend 469

Here's an HI Cascade I recently shipped to CO.  A rush job for a birthday.  These are pretty good rods and one of the few deals you can find now with all others shooting up.  I have one of my own I will get to one day - soon I hope.

 One regret, a bit of the name came off when I was taking the varnish off with a q-tip before stripping - made one too many passes.

Here is one of my rods that I finally made time for.  It's a combo spin/fly rod, a friend found it for me in a garage sale.  A good choice for hiking up to a trout lake when you're not sure if you'll have to nymph or use power bait.  I haven't had a chance to cast, but bet will will use a 6 or 7 wt. line.