Parker Tribute rod finished

[Richard Flanders]

I find a big difference in how a DT vs a WF line works. The WF will cast into the wind better but you have to have a shorter and heavier leader to keep up with it or it will fall short. A WF also throws larger flies or streamers better, but once again a different leader may be required. I like DT lines for light rods and a delicate presentation of small slized dry flies and small nymphs. I'm using a 1.75oz 00-wt Sage and a 1-3/8oz 1-wt Orvis up here for grayling and find there is no way I can get a large nymph or streamer out with my long 4x-tipped leaders, especially if the wind is against me. Put a #18 dry on and they go out like magic, even doing a roll. Soooo fun! At my most recently discovered grayling 'hawg hole' I was using the 1-wt and had to stand in the river with brush on both sides. All I could do was flip then side cast a small nymph out into the current, roll it a few times to get some line out then just let the current take while I madly stripped line out.... all the way to the backing, then all the way to the knot. The nymph would swing into the long eddy hole along the river bank and I'd start slowly bringing it in and, almost without fail, a nice fat and colorful 15-17in grayling would grab it and I'd have all my line out and a long fight to bring them to hand. It was very fun in a current that strong with a rod that light. I have a DT line on all my reels save for one 5-wt that casts into the wind like a rocket when needed. Seems that DT lines have fallen out of favor and have my own opinions as to why. I prefer DT for most of my fly fishing and don't see any reason to change.

Dave that rod is absolutely gorgeous. What a great project.