HOW about Fly Fishing? Let's see your outfits . . .

[Matt Crunk]

It's a sport that I've had an interest in for years, and am just now starting to get into. Been reading up on it a lot lately and just bought my first fly-rod over the weekend. This sport for me has a lot of vintage appeal.
So let's see your vintage fly gear: Rods/Reels, Creels, Nets, Vests, Waders, Canoes?

[Oldsarge]

Tell you what. I'm headed to Ontario, Canada next month to essay battle with the voracious Northern Pike. I'm packing my 8 weight and a bunch of bizarre home tied flies that I hope will attract their toothy attention. If it works, I'll post.

(I even tied some flies that just might catch walleye . . . maybe)

[fortworthgal]

I love fishing, but don't fly fish... however, my husband does! He's been an avid fly fisher since long before I came along. He has quite a few vintage rods & reels, and at least one vintage creel. Most of the gear he actually uses is new, though. I'll see if I can dig up some photos to share! We have a lot of fun hitting the rivers and lakes together, even though I'm just a lowly lure-fisher.

[RBH]

I was hoping this one would have some great post.....

[Doublegun]

Hi, my name is Doublegun and I have a problem....

Been fly fishing for almost 40-years. At last count I have 23-24 rods and a dozen reels. I am a big fan of IM6 graphite rods made by Winston, I have a handful of fiberglass rods bit I have a real problem with bamboo. They just keep multiplying in my closet. Prodigious little buggers....

I'll try to get some photos posted of rods and reels. Given I spend so much time here I guess it's no surprise that I have a passion for fishing with bamboo. I don't own any Paynes, Youngs, Leondards or Dickersons. With the exemption of one old (1958) Orvis rod all of my bamboo rods were build by artists I know personally. Now, I don't go completely vintage; no greased silk lines, no wicker creel (I'm strictly catch and release), no old tattered vest and no old canvas wading pants. Mostly I wade but I like working an Old Town canoe back into quiet water and on the AuSable river system I love fishing out of a traditional AuSable boat.

I'll see what I can come up with in terms of photos.

[rocketeer]

Go Go Go you fly fishers! other than a trawler its the only way to catch fish, some nice rainbow Trout, well salmon as well I suppose but I don't know how you catch those.
Fishing a sport? No not in my book, I wouldn't give em a chance, the sooner the fish is on my plate the better.
I see carp are popular now, I suppose it's all about size with that fish but why throw them back? Those Eastern Europeans have the right idea. And all those stupid bite alarms? Special scented bait? Just sit back and watch your float.
Yes you fly fishers, tie the fly, fool the fish, catch it and bash it then serve it up nice and fresh.

Either that or get in a trawler and catch England's favourite takeaway, Cod n Chips.

[PADDY]

In Scotland. Fly Fishing Trout. Very rural so poor Internet when achievable ( this sent from iPhone att top of a windy hill, middle of nowhere! Bliss ..!!!).

[RBH]

WOW Paddy... I hope you let us in on more!!!

That is one sweet photo.

[bulldog1935]

This looks like the place for me to check in.
Hi, I'm Ron Mc, introducing myself to the forum.
here's the signature I use on a couple of other forums, which are principally fly fishing.
Shotguns and flyreels are jewelry for men
I guess I can't use a photo in a signature here...

I collect and fish vintage cane and venerable glass rods.
I collect and repair vintage fly reels, especially between-the-wars reels made by JW Young of Redditch.

I live in the Texas hill country, and have been fly fishing here, the Rockies, and the coastal flats for 40 years.
We fish 12 months/year here, we have the southernmost tailwater trout fishery, which made John Ross' America's 100 Best Trout Streams. I'm on the board of our TU chapter, and fished bamboo on television with TU On the Rise and KT Diaries.
Years ago, I became jaded with graphite rods and disc drag reels and felt completely insulated from the fish and fishing.
The first time I hooked a 20" rainbow on a vintage bamboo rod and click-pawl reel, my reaction was "oh crap, what am I going to do now?" I remembered why I did this in the first place.
I found a place for my vest - on a hanger on a pegboard, where I use it as a filing cabinet - and I fish out of a Chapman bag.

(sorry about the nylon rain shell - will get that fixed...)
but the photo does show what brought me here. That floppy Stetson kangaroo looks like that after only two winters. Tired of smelling like a wet kangaroo and spraying starch on the hat, I broke down this year and had Art make me a Journeyman in pecan beaver

I came by my love for hats fairly - my grandfather was never outdoors without a hat. I'm an outdoor person, fish, kayak, shoot, bicycle and I too wear hats - and so does my daughter


enough of that, here's what you really want to see - fly rods

Leonard #39 Fairy Catskill (c. 1920) and Pflueger Golden West (c. 1920) with a NM brown


Heddon #14 Thorobred (c. 1940) and Meek 55 (c. 1940) with a Guadalupe (TX) rainbow


Fred Thomas Special (1932) with Young Pattern 15a reel (1940). The reel was also sold as the Thomas Special reel.


modern tackle with a classic look and feel
Quiet Loop Japanese glass with CAPS classic reel (and another Texas rainbow)


there's plenty more where that came from.

I enjoy your board and all things classic.

oh, and I also like my cigars

candela wrapper - classically known as American Market Select

[m0nk]

I fly fish quite a bit, and even tie my own. I have mostly modern gear and apparel, though.