I have too many fly rods...said nobody ever

[Phil Yearout]

A quote from a member here ! The story: I bought this near mint Heddon reel from another member, and then I had to find a rod to put it on. Looked at a bunch and finally settled on a Heddon #17 (known as the Black Beauty but this one not marked thus), 9' 2-1/2F. It's rated as a 7wt and the reel is just too light for the rod, very front heavy and lawn casting it wore me out. So right now that rod wears a Medalist 1498 which is better but still not quite right, and it has yet to see the water. A work in progress...

In the meantime the member I got the reel from came up with the rod it had been on, a marked Black Beauty 9' 2F rated as a 6wt. Both tips have sets but we came to a pricing agreement that I hope was fair to us both, and the reel works much better on this rod. I haven't decided what to do about the sets but yesterday I pulled out the straighter of the two and took the thing fishing. OK; I know it ain't a trout but when you're trapped in the central time zone you take what you can get. First fish...



I will say that 9-footers are a lot of rod for me, but both throw a beautiful loop, much better than my average casting deserves! So thanks to member #1 for the reel and rod, and member #2 for the quote (he also asked for the pic).

[Andy]

Phil, great post! I just acquired a Jim Downes 7'6" #4 cane rod and what a beauty. I also have a Phillipson Pacemaker that is a nice old rod. I find that the Hardy Cascapedia works many times, at least that's the excuse I have to buy one or more. The Hardy Lightweight reels are too light. I also have a Pine River inexpensive 7' #4 that is a smile maker catching bass and bluegills out of my pond on. I have been selling off fly rods like I do my guns:

Sell one then buy two. Somehow my inventory increases instead of going the other way.

Tight lines!!

[Phil Yearout]

Andy, in bamboo I have an RL Winston 7'6" 4wt with a Hardy Marquis reel that I love, a cheap Chinese 3wt that's fun, an Orvis Madison with a Battenkill reel that I fish as a 5 and a South Bend 290 that I fish as a 6. All are shorter rods which seem more comfortable for me, but I gotta admit, these slow 9 footers sure do cast beautifully and throw a lot of line easily.

Add in four glass rods and eight graphite and it's always a struggle deciding what to fish!

[George Lang]

Well I guess I must be a " Nobody" because I do have to many fly rods and reels and they have sat idle way too long so now they must go. Right now I am looking for an outlet to sell most of my fly gear except for one or two.

[Andy]

Phil that Winston setup sounds tasty : ) I like 9' in graphite or composite and 7 and a half feet in bamboo if I had my druthers. Enjoy them.