Monday, December 28, 2015

Retrograph 904-4

Written by flyfishingunlimited on 11:07 AM in Graphite, Micarta, Retrograph with No comments

I decided to revisit the graphite medium and complete another "Retrograph" (the ubiquitous 9' 4wt, USA made blank). To see my earlier "Retrograph" builds in action and some enchanting limestone creek scenery, please see this post.

The Forgotten Build

Written by flyfishingunlimited on 12:59 PM in Old Empire Glass, Unstructured Glass with No comments

I finished this rod a couple of months ago for a friend in Canada, took photos of it, but forgot to post them. A classic looking build on my "Old Empire" semi-para taper with cigar grip and cap and ring seat. The spacer is spalted maple. Wraps are done in medium brown silk with small spiral wrap in red/silver jasper thread by the inscription.

Milenkovic 804-4 "The Green Machine 2nd Ed."

Written by flyfishingunlimited on 11:59 AM in 2015 models, Rods for Sale, Unstructured Glass with No comments

Latest Works

Written by flyfishingunlimited on 4:55 PM in 2015 models, Conquistador, Saltwater, Unstructured Glass with No comments

A pair of 8'6" 8/9wt "Conquistador Taper" glass rods.

Milenkovic 804-4 "The Green Machine"

Written by flyfishingunlimited on 4:01 PM in 2015 models, Rods for Sale, Unstructured Glass with No comments

8' 4wt 4pc Fiberglass Fly Rod

The rod features Powell grip, oxidized nickel silver double slip rings with stacked bamboo insert, blued Snake Brand guides with matching carbide stripper and tip top. Wraps are primrose yellow YLI silk with single turn goldenrod inlays. Handcrafted rod bag and bronze aluminum tube round out the package.

Milenkovic 835-4 "Brown Trout Edition"

Written by flyfishingunlimited on 11:20 AM in 2015 models, Unstructured Glass with No comments

This rod was a special order for a long standing customer.

In the Works...

Written by flyfishingunlimited on 7:13 PM in 2015 models, Handles, Unstructured Glass with No comments

Conquistador Taper 868/9-4 Fiberglass Fly Rod

Written by flyfishingunlimited on 11:51 AM in 2015 models, Conquistador, Saltwater, Unstructured Glass with 2 comments

Conquistator Taper meets False Albacore

Written by flyfishingunlimited on 12:12 PM in Albacore, Conquistador, Saltwater, Unstructured Glass with No comments

Just got back from Martha's Vineyard, chasing false albacore with my Conquistador 9wt and 10wt prototypes. Modern big glass fly rods are lots of fun with fast and strong fish, and also very forgiving for jetty angling. I posted few more photos from the trip in my other blog.

Back From Rod Testing Lab

Written by flyfishingunlimited on 6:36 PM in Driftless, Dry Fly Taper, Trout with No comments

Here's the obligatory rod/fish photo from my trip. For more photos of Driftless Area limestone streams see my latest photo essay.

Gone Fishing!

Written by flyfishingunlimited on 11:52 AM in Driftless, Dry Fly Taper, Fiberglass Blanks, Prototypes, Unstructured Glass with No comments

I've just finished a rod for personal use. The blank is a Dry Fly taper prototype (250cm #4.5) based on my 8'3" #5. This one-off build features uplocking sliding band with tobacco fiberglass insert, ventilated Ritz grip and all titanium hardware. Guides are thin wire Recoils. I'll be fishing it on Driftless spring creeks later this week.

Short Story About Two Three-Weights

Written by flyfishingunlimited on 12:02 PM in Old Empire Glass, Trout, Unstructured Glass with No comments

Back in 2007 I built this little Lamiglas 7' 3wt 4pc rod. I wrote about it in this post in my other blog. With the little help of Facebook, I was able to find its current owner, Vladimir Petrovic, who fishes it happily today on various streams in Serbia and other parts of the Balkans. The pictures of Vladimir and little Lamiglas were taken on Serbian river Gradac by Dragan Jovanovic, who was kind enough to let me use his photos for this post. The Gradac is full of beautiful browns and also holds some native grayling. Judging by the grin on Vladimir's face, it seems that he is thoroughly enjoying the old Lami.

Fast-forwarding to the present time, I have just completed the last semi-para 7'6" 3wt blank from the last year's batch of blanks. As you can see from the photos below, this is a Garrison-inspired build. I wonder where will its future owner fish it eight or ten years from now?