Silver Creek and Unstructured Fiberglass

I just got back from fishing the Silver Creek for a few days. Low water have pushed larger fish into deeper sections of the creek, and the hatches were spotty. However, if you were willing to move around to avoid the gusty wind (which blew almost non-stop), you could enjoy fishing for selective trout over fairly reliable morning Trico appearance, followed by terrestrial activity in the afternoon. I mostly used my 8'3" #4/5 glass for this fishing, but also fished my Retrograph graphite models (here and here.) I posted more pictures from the trip in my other blog.

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Retrograph 865-4

Yes, a retro-graphite rod for a change, so another Retrograph joins the stable.!-) A fairly powerful 5wt, perfect for hopper fishing out West.

 

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After the Fishing Trip: Milenkovic Paradox 734 Fly Rod

I am back from very intense rod testing fishing trip. My favorite Driftless creeks were high and muddy due to lots of rainfall in the short period of time. That means fishing big flies under, so that fish could see them. I used mostly big, weighted leech patterns in sizes 4-8 and the little rod handled them without problem. For very short casts most would prefer it with the 5wt line. However, my favorite line for this rod is Airflo Delta Taper in 4wt.

You can now order Paradox 734 from me. I decided to offer new builds as two-tip rods for $1149 and will also offer them as single tip rods for $799. Insured priority shipping is included in the price (US addresses only). Please contact me for more info.

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Off to Driftless...

For some testing of Paradox 734. Will pack a couple of more 4wt rods for comparison and change of pace. L to R: Paradox 734, Retrograph 904-4 and DF 250-4.5-4

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Milenkovic Paradox-R 604 Fly Rod

The "R" is for "Reverse"- fly rod with split cane butt, fiberglass tip and mid-sections, and fiberglass ferrules. It is inspired by short rods which were popularized by Lee Wulff. This experimental rod has a pretty quick action due to softer tip/middle and firmer butt section. The fiberglass portion of the rod is "borrowed" from my Unstructured Glass 8' 4wt taper.

The rod casts best with WF5 line at short to medium distances, even though 4wt lines work too. With a heavier line it is very smooth and still has power to reach far out if needed.

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Paradox 734 Fly Rod - Casting Characteristics

I know that bottom pictures can't tell you much, but here are some opinions on how this rod behaves. I tested the rod with various 4 and 5wt lines and it can be described as a strong 4 or a 4/5wt rod. The tip specs are progressive and dampen quickly. While the rod casts a long line, it will throw lovely loops at short/medium distances with various 4wt lines-perfect for your standard dry fly presentations.

If you like little more feedback in your cast, slightly heavy 4wt lines (various Airflo, Rio Gold or SA GPX) work great. This would be a nice all-around choice when you need to swap a dry fly with a weighted nymph or a bugger. When you want to go for more distance, the glass butt section goes into play and with more line out, the rod starts to feel semi-parabolic, with that extra kick coming from the fiberglass butt.

Using 5wt lines on the rod will get the butt section engaged sooner, with less line out, but without the tip collapsing. Anglers who like deeper loading and more feedback from the rod might actually prefer it with a 5wt line.

The rod will be tested on a fishing trip to Driftless Area in a few weeks, so more details will follow on how it behaves in real fishing situations..

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Ferrule Plug

Ferrule plug design for Paradox 734.

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Paradox 734 Fly Rod - Weight

I took pictures of each rod section while resting on a scale. The recorded numbers are in grams. The completed rod weighs 90.09 grams (tip #1) and 89.84 grams with the second tip section. Both numbers equal to around 3.17 oz. With the use of cork reel seat and aluminum (rather than nickel silver) slip rings, the rod weight could easily be reduced to under 3oz.

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Milenkovic 734 Paradox Fly Rod

Paradox Fly Rod is inspired by Pezon et Michel's Vario-Power concept of using fiberglass butt and split cane tip sections. However, its sections are both of equal length and it features fiberglass ferrule rather than the traditional nickel silver one. Darkly flamed tips closely match the color of fiberglass. The tips are progressive and loosely based on Powell A formula and transition nicely into the butt section, made of phenolic tobacco fiberglass. Quick recovery of the tips is amplified by the flexibility of the butt, with a very positive dampening. It is a lively, yet punchy rod and the glass ferrule contributes to its feel.

The rod features rust and medium brown silk wraps, oxidized hardware, maple/double slide bands seat, single foot tip-tops and a Powell-style grip. Pictures taken indoors don't represent the true colors as well as the ones taken outside. 

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Paradox Taper in the Works

I have just finished and ferruled the blanks for my new project, a Paradox Taper bamboo-fiberglass hybrid fly rod. More pics soon, once the rod is completed!

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"Old Empire" Semi-Para Taper

I have just completed this rod on the very last "Old Empire" semi-parabolic blank. This limited series of blanks (10 rods in total) were designed to emulate Paul Young's Perfectionist taper in fiberglass.

The rod features lychee burl reel seat spacer with blued hardware, hook-keeper and guides, brown wraps with pale yellow single-turn inlays at the cork check and the stripping guide. I usually don't place hook-keepers on my rods, but it was done as a special request by the customer.

 

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