My local trout stream.

     My local Brown Trout stream. Not what it used to be, more crowded than it used to be, but still pretty much in the back yard. I could walk to it if I had to. Enough fish to make it worthwhile and some big fish too. Small and very rugged. This is where I learned to fish for Wild Brown Trout. It made me a better fly fisherman. It's tough and the skunk comes often if the conditions aren't right. I wouldn't trade it for any other stream.

No, I won't tell you where it is.

Creek resident caught on My version of a PHY Midge.

New Beveler some splitting, fishing, roughing

     Finally got a Bellinger Little Giant Beveler. This thing is awesome. What a time saver. Also did some splitting and roughing while varnish is drying on some rods.

New beveler. Yessss.


Here some pictures of node work. This and straightening are the hardest and most time consuming part of bamboo fly rod building. (In My opinion anyway).

Picture of a node that was sanded after pressing.

The end result in a finished rod.

Half a culm split into 12 strips.

2/1 Rod roughed and ready for heat treat.

Still Wrapping

Wrapped up two rods today. You can see the difference in the color of the silk when the varnish is applied. Two rods here wrapped identical to each other. Shown before varnish is applied.

Shown here after varnish.

Notice the tipping on the top of the ferrule tabs. It can hardly be seen because of the blueing of the ferrule under the transparent silk. Although not very noticeable, it is there and I took the time to add this little detail. 

These rods will get dipped in a varnish tube next.

Wrapping Rods Today

Wrapping rods today.

Signature Wraps ready for varnish

REC Stripping Guide

The White Flies are on in Western PA

Grips Turned

Turned out some grips this morning. Two 5" grips for two 7' rods. These are turned to final dimensions. They will be touched up again though after the rods are varnished.

Lathe #3 used for turning grips.

Nice close fit where the cork meets the cane.

Simple yet functional 

Grips and ferrules fitted and glued

     Grips and Ferrules fitted and glued for #421509 and #421510 (MZ's Rod). Ready to wrap now. Also added some shop pictures. Always thought it was interesting to see the inside of a builders workshop. Here are a couple.

Fitting ferrule on the Sherline

Cork ring clamp.

Homeade cork ring clamp. Very easy and cheap to make one.

My rod rack. Some of my rods. Some in progress. 

Two of My three lathes

Some planes and cut offs from rods