Custom Fly Rod Build

Check it out!

If interested in having a custom fly rod built drop me message or email and we can make it happen. This rod is a 9 foot 8 weight with a fast action. The buyer will be using this rod to lay the smack down on some strong Icelandic trout and char!

Check out Whitewater Valley Flies to see fly rods that are currently available.

Trip Report: Lessons Learned

Yesterday and this morning I got out fishing with my buddy Sean. As we neared the end of yesterdays trip Sean hooked into a nice trout. He was standing over an undercut bank and the fish, a well educated trout no doubt, pulled Sean directly into the undercut snapping his line. Sean asked me how to fight a fish in that circumstance and I responded with something like, "well sometimes the fishes gonna win." A few short casts later and I found myself in the same situation.

To the left side of the stream there is a plunge pool (just upstream out of sight) and a deep undercut. Weeds choke the stream but there are a few good lanes to drift a fly through. I landed a few dinks before hooking into something substantial. This fish pulled my line deep under the bank. I could do very little to slow his progress so I leaned over the stream, placed my rod tip in the water, and tried to turn him. I kept my line from catching the rock and wood on the undercut. Eventually I was able to steer him out and Sean took the first opportunity he saw to net the beast!

 While we didn't lay a tape on this guy he must've been at least 18 inches. I'd venture to say he may have been the biggest fish in this section of stream. I was shaking with excitement and after a few shots he was returned to the drink.

Sean and I watched him recover for a minute or so before he disappeared into a clump of weeds. At this point Sean said, "so that's how you do it." He headed upstream to the next undercut and last spot of the day. He made a few fruitless casts before his indicator dipped beneath the surface. Sean set the hook and a decent trout swam directly into the undercut. Sean played that fish perfectly and I plunged the net under the slimy bastard before he could thwart our efforts. Sean's a quick study! That fish became his personal best brownie.

Today things were a little slower. We got out a little late, put in a little less footwork, but still landed well over a dozen between the two of us. Parsnip was everywhere and conditions were tough on this small spring creek. Sean landed a decent trout from this pool after threading the needle with a perfect cast. As we approached I spotted a trout of at least 16 or 17 inches chasing smaller trout from his spot under the crescent shaped clump of watercress pictured in the middle right of this photo.

It may be a bit before I get out fishing again due to work, family, and fly tying/rod building obligations, but stay tuned-you never know!

More New Inventory at Whitewater Valley Flies!

 I built this rod on a 9 foot 5 weight Hook and Hackle Xi blank. These blanks have a great faster medium action that can launch line through the wind with ease while still having a soft enough touch to drop a dry fly right where it needs to be!

 

I love the reel seat on this rod. The grip has a sweet look and holds up well to copious amounts of trout slime!

 

I have another rod, a 9 foot 4 weight built on an H&H FTX blank, just waiting for the guides wraps to be finished. Stay tuned as that will also be added to inventory at Whitewater Valley Flies!

Anyone interested in having a custom rod built feel free to contact me to discuss details.

New Inventory at Whitewater Valley Flies!

Head over to Whitewater Valley Flies to check it out! This rod is a 3 weight that was built on the same brand and model of blank that I use. I use the four weight version.

Stay tuned: I'm currently working on a four and five weight that I hope to add to my inventory within the next week or so! Feel free to email custom rod inquiries to me if interested in having a custom creation built.

Trip Report: Buildin' Rods and Catchin' Trouts

 

After getting a load of rain earlier in the week I decided to get a couple of new fly rods build to add to The Shop. I finished a 7ft 9in 3wt panfish/trout rod. As I type this I'm building another of the same size on the same blank because I'm loving it so much. I'm also working on a fast action 9ft 4wt and a medium/fast 9ft 5wt. Both of these rods are looking handsome! I've also got a good number of fly orders stacking up so today, even though it was sweltering hot, looked like my last day to get out fishing for a while.

With temps in the high 80's, bluebird skies, and a bad stain on the stream I decided to try my luck with the pink squirrel of prey like yesterday. Immediately, I snapped off on a decent fish. I continued upstream, landing smaller trout with consistency. I approached a promising looking hole, dropped my fly deeper on my indicator, and as soon as the fly hit the water the fight was on!

 This chunky brown put up a good fight. The picture doesn't do this fish justice as he measured just shy of 16 inches. He shot out of my hand as soon as I placed him back in the water. I continued to catch fish out of almost every hole. Most fish were pretty average until I hooked into this beautiful 14 incher.

After a good battle I released him to fight another day. The wind picked up about half way through today's outing but was no match for my medium/fast 4 weight! I only spotted three risers in around 3 1/2 hours of fishing. Afterward I headed to my favorite berry picking spot only to find that it'll be another week before there ready...

Trip Report: Hungry Fishes

After getting a few inches of rain at the beginning of the week I made a point of trying to find the first day of fishability on a local stream with hopes that bigger fish would be eating. What I found was just that! I arrived on stream at 6pm and fished until 830pm. Temps were in the mid 80's and skies were partly cloudy. Upon my arrival I tied on a Pink Squirrel of Prey and had at 'em.

 This nice trout came after I patiently fished a hole that has never offered up such a good fish. After a good fight he swam into my net. I'd guess he measured around 16 inches. I fished my way upstream catching some smaller fish here and there before losing a really nice trout to a deep undercut bank.

I wasn't about to let this guy do the same. I really put the screws to him with my Whitewater Valley Fly Rod (4 weight) and was able to steer him away from trouble. The pic doesn't do this fish justice but I'd guess he was around 16-17 inches. After returning him to the depths I continued.

This pointy faced brownie put up a great fight after sucking up the Pink Squirrel of Prey. I landed multiple fish out of most spots as the cloudiness of the water shielded my presence. 

 I landed at least two dozen fish today with most measuring between 11-13 inches with a few larger ones. There was steady caddis activity but very few fish rose to flies until around 8pm. I also landed one decent brookie but he flipped into the water before I could snap a quick pic.

Stay tuned: I hope to get out fishing tomorrow for a little bit but I have a number of flies to tie and rods to build so time may be limited:(

Trip Report: Caddis Madness

I got out fishing from 7 to 9 last night and 6 to 9 tonight. It was caddis madness! Caddis were buzzing around the surface, dipping down to lay eggs when I arrived. Fish were actively feeding under clouds of skittering caddis. I tied on a size 14 Gray Skittering Caddis and immediately began catching 'em.

 Trout fed in riffles, runs, and over deeper pools. They were everywhere! Some fish preferred the fly dead drifted while others preferred a gentle twitch. On my way back to the car I cast the fly down stream and pulled it back up which elicited a number of strikes.

 These were the big fish of the day yesterday. It was pretty cool watching such nice fish hit the dry fly! As I walked away from the stream fish continued to rise. All I could think about at work today was catching more good trout on dry flies.

 Again fish rose all evening to dry flies and the size 14 Gray Skittering Caddis took all fish! At one point I drifted my fly over a fish that I sat and watched for some time. He launched out of the water and when I set the hook felt nothing. Snapped!

After catching another load of fish this evening I spotted one decent riser on my walk back to the car. I tied on a Skittering Caddis and launched in a few feet upstream of where the trout appeared. He shot out of the water, I set the hook, and the fight was on. He put up a good one but he lost the battle!

Stay tuned: While I have a ton of flies to tie and a few rods to build I'll be getting out a few times over the next week or two.