Life Recent

In a dramatic shift from weeks and months past, I have barely fished in the past two weeks. That has been partly due to two broken 3wts and partly due to an unexpected resurgence of a will to work on my house again. So, instead of a Sage in my hands, I've wielded a Wagner paint sprayer. Instead of cutting tippets, I've sliced miles of masking tape. The work goes on...but so does fishing.

I was able to get back out to my friends lake-pond for some Sunday-afternoon water time. Not having my 3wts still, I brought the "boomer" 'glass 8wt out hoping to justify it with some big bass or perhaps even the-fish-which-I-dare-not-name.

I didn't quite justify the 8wt, but had a lot of fun. I even got my buddy to fish the fly rod some, and before it wore his arm out, he managed a few 'gills. I don't think I quite convinced him, but had I had something other than the broomstick, I'm sure he'd be buying into it right now.

I am continuing to read, learn, think and dream about rod building. I have my blank selected and am now in the process of researching and selecting the other components (I'm a hideous perfectionist). While I do that, I've started building a stand for threading guides and whatnot. I got the idea/design from the building book I'm reading, but being the fella that I am, I couldn't leave his design well enough alone.

It'll be made of a nice curly piece of Red Oak and instead of being screwed together, I opted for a stopped dovetail. The hold-down banding pins will be through-dowels with multiple placements to adjust tension. I'll use a traditional green felt in place of the more techy polypro or teflon. Fun, small project that is coming right along and keeping me in the fishing-game without actually having to fish.