The Loop Rod, A modern day version

I started on this a few weeks ago, when I read the Fly Fishers Craft. The concept is as old as Dame Julianna and Sir Isaac Walton. Using a rod of fair length and limberness, with a line of 15 yards and a leader of 9 feet, with one or more flies, one could catch fish. Now with that said, the old rods were made of different species of wood, one being lancewood, which I haven't the feintest idea of where to get some of that. Also I don't know much about braiding horsehair or silk for fly lines, so I'm still learning about this and turning this into a modern day project to kill some time and relive the old days of fishing. With that I opted for modern day materials, Fiberglass, Cork, Rubber, to create my own version of the Loop Rod.




Behold the Loop Rod, ready to go out on the town, it's line hanging from the switch, by the door, ready to go. Just add a leader, flies, and some trout waters for a day of fun. Notice the cane or walking stick shape, sort of hides the fact that I am going to go fishing, but the unsuspecting may think I'm out for a stroll with a new hiking or walking stick.

Here's more of the modern day Loop rod, not to be confused with LOOP Rods. (More on them later)



The butt, a rubber doorknob style cap press fit over the cork tape grip.



The other end of the cork tape grip, not pretty yet, but taped until I can figure out what I want to do about a decorative wrap, if any. Maybe I'll just shrink tube the end, as a possibility.



Another Doorknob Style Rubber End Cap, press fit over the telescopic rod end.



Once removed, the rod pieces can be pulled out and friction held in place to give the rod a length of 9 feet. Notice the metal rod tip, a small loop inwhich to tie or handshake connect the loop from the line.



And what shall we use for a line, well they used horse hair for fly lines with braided loops in the ends. I don't have the patience to braid horse hairs or make loops. So I turn to Cortland.

Slip the loops on the 15 yard fly line, (Cortland 5DT Floating) and go out and enjoy. Just attach a leader to one end, and the other loop to the rod tip. Casting is more of a roll cast or spey style cast, not too much overhead double hauling casts on this one.

Scouting New Places

I decided to take a little side trip on the way in to work. This had to be one of the best days in March, slight breeze, sunny, and in the 60's.

Hit the A1 Site pond in Westborough MA

Nice place, unfortunately you need to portage the canoe in to get to the water.

And the trees and stumps make navagation by boat really tough.

But it's fun to watch the Purple Line of the MBTA cruise by headed to Boston.

Too bad I had to go to work, I could have stayed out here all day.

One note, if you do drive down to the water's edge, beware that you need either a good ammount of speed or 4 Wheel Drive to get out around the ruts, the boulders, and the trees before you hit the pavement.

Slight Disapointments....

Here's a condensed version of my latest disapointment.

I ordered a Rifle It / Shelf It overhead shelf for the GMC a month ago from Cabelas.

It came in Tuesday.

I tried to install it late Tuesday Night.

Nothing lined up perfectly, except for the sun visors....

They were right at my eye level and couldn't see the road without looking below the sun visor.

Needless to say, the pictures in the catalog are deceiving, the shelf sat down 3" below the top of the windshield....

Back in the box... Looks like another road trip to Cabelas.

The New Canoe

I decided that this year I needed to get into the remote areas a little better. So I went out and bought a 12' Radisson Canoe from Pelletiers Sporting Goods in Jaffrey NH. I was thinking of a longer canoe, but at 34 lbs, you can't beat it for carrying it across fields and through the woods.

And of course if you get a new canoe, what's next.... The maiden voyage.

From the shore of Jenks Reservoir, Bellingham MA.

"It handled beautifully in the wind, tracked straight, and stayed afloat even when I switched to the rear seat" (big mistake....almost swamped the stern)

I saw this on eBay........

I saw this on eBay, a neat little truck camper for sale, too bad the auction ended before I could bid on it. Someone is going to have a blast travelling with this one.

Nice 8 foot camper, with jacks and propane.

And an Icebox and sink....

The dinette converts into a bed... Definately an 80's pattern on the cushions.

And a stove built in to heat your food. What else would anyone need.... other than a toilet?

This is definately giving me ideas about how to build my fishing camper, like the 1955 PM drawings and plans.

Road Trip

Yep, Road trip, to............

Cabelas in East Hartford CT and across the street....

UConn's Stadium.

Worse part is having a Cabelas this close to home makes my wallet shrink!!!

Loop Rod, Sort of.....

What is this... A cork in a length of graphite tubing?

Actually no, It's the first 3 sections of a 12 foot 4 section Shakespear Panfish Telescopic Rod.

Each section fits inside the other and telescopes out when needed. These 3 sections will be the blank for my modern day loop rod. Just tie a fixed length of line on the end, add a leader and fly, any you have a modern day version of what Walton, Webster, and countless others in the past have used.

For a more modern approach to this, check out this thread:

http://www.sexyloops.co.uk/cgi-bin/theboard_07/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=5;t=5887;st=0

Next is the lines to use.

Stay tuned......

A Surprise from the F&S Huntress

I was surprised yesterday when I opened my e-mails. I saw the name, Kim Hiss a.k.a. the F&S Huntress, in the sender column, and what was even more surprising was the e-mail itself.
I was the weekly F&S Huntress Gear Giveaway winner. Wow, That's cool. And my prize, Muzzy 4 Blade Broadheads and Tinks Scents. Wow, what a surprise. And I was surprised, as I wasn't trying to win anything, just contribute to the blogs and earn more stars under their new revamped site. So far in 2 months I've gotten over 13,000 points and a 3 star rating. Not too hard, but it does take time.

I've added a link to Kim's Blog. Click on F&S Huntress in the Link box or click here:
www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/fshuntress

And for more Field and Stream stuff, check out the revamped site at:
http://www.fieldandstream.com/


Now for some more fun. I've been reading the book A Fly Fishers Craft, and getting more info and ideas. Sad part is the more I read and think about it, the more it may become a reality. So next up.. The Loop Rod.

Also I haven't forgotten about the Truck Campers, I've got to put the new refrigerator in th Sunline when it get's warmer and I can take the cap off the truck. As for the truck camper buildup, that's going to be back burner until summer, maybe build up the shell by fall.
More to come.....

A Fly Fisher's Craft

I read about this book last year, and was on my want list within the next couple years. But I was surprised by my girlfriend one night last month. She was at Building 19, a discount closeout store that deals with closeout and discontinued items, like books, furniture, cookware, clothing, etc. , and found this book in the rack.


An excellent source of information about fly fishing, with historical references, and modern day approaches. After reading this, I've set off to try and build a modern version of the loop rod.

Field and Streams First Fly Swap

Sorry about being away from the Blog, too much work and too much snowfall the last few weeks.
But there is news, good news.

First the wonderful folks at the USPS delivered a package today.

It was from the First Ever Field and Stream Fly Swap.




Enclosed was my foam fly box with flies from:

BuckHunter, Liotus, 3WGT, Swimswithtrout, Etangls, K.Florian, Kucho, K.Kosovich, K.Goetz, and Myself Sportsman Matt

Some really cool fly patterns for the first ever F&S Fly Swap. Also a piece of history, as I was involved with the very first fly swap on record with Field and Stream and it's other readers.