Getting your first fly rod is an intensely personal moment. Mine was a one-piece fiberglass model handmade with care and patience by my grandfather.

It was a beautiful thing – a tawny blank of indeterminate weight with black wraps or maybe brown and a wooden handle. Matched to a 7 weight floating line, it seemed to do a great job of casting. I was just getting into fly fishing and was being tutored by one of my best friends.

Although it was undoubtedly a great rod, I remember most of all being embarrassed that my friends all had two-piece rods that could fit easily in the trunk of the car – mine stuck out the window! To their credit, not one of them made any comments – those were good friends.

I went on to own many other rods but I don’t think I will ever forget that first fly rod. Continue reading “That First Fly Rod & A Boy’s Journey To Fly Fishing”