The Fiberglass Manifesto

Scenes from Michi-Glass and Ken Frazee's Notes

2026-07-15T06:00:00.000-04:00

I have records of Michi-Glass going as far back as 2011 and this northern Michigan one-day long event bringing "Glass Geeks" together was first organized by rodmaker Mark McKellip, with Ken Frazee and Paul Frost taking over the reins this year. The other day I shared a T.F.M. post on floating with those two and left a stash of Japanese fly rods with Ken to be displayed at the event, which he reviews his notes below. Take a moment to slow scroll this post.

Ken wrote... "We had a beautiful day for casting and displaying fiberglass fly rods. Turnout was more than double of last year even given the late cancellation of four individuals who intended to display a decent number of their own rods or blanks. It was still a fantastic time given the collection of regulars, local anglers dropping in, several of the participants from Grayrock Rodmakers Gathering saying hello and a few fly fishermen who were new to trying fiberglass fly rods. Those attending came from Iowa, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio.

The day went fast with a dizzying array of modern and vintage fly rods on hand. The following makers or brand names of fiberglass fly rods were on hand and I'm sure that others could add a few that I missed, yet this is my recollection: Campanella, Conolon, Cortland, Browning, Fenwick, Fisher, Fred Paddock, Garcia, Glastech, Hardy, Heddon, Ijuin-Rod, Kabuto Rods, Larry Kenny, Lamiglass, McFarland Fly Rod Copmany, Tom Morgan Rodsmiths, Orvis, Paul Young Rod Company (yes in glass), Phillipson, Ramaglass, Scott Fly Rod Company, Seele, Shakespeare, St. Croix, Steffen Brothers, Three Jays, Tiemco, Wanigas, Winston, Mario Wojonicki, Wright & McGill, Yamame Fly Rods, and likely others.

The fly rods on hand ranged from 3-weights to 10-weight fly rods with the 3-weights being especially well represented in higher end well crafted fly rods. One could have limited themselves to just say 6-weight fly rods alone and had a full day of casting."

Ken continued... "A special treat was to be able to handle some of the finest fiberglass fly rods being made currently in Japan and provided by The Fiberglass Manifesto for the enjoyment of those attending the 2026 Michi-Glass gathering. Paul and I overheard many positive comments about the Japanese rods on display. Those attending had never cast any of these rods previously other than a few who had tried the Ijuin-Rod Yomogi in the past and some had never even seen images of the rods before so it was fun to see the reactions. Here are a few of my own notes from casting each...

CAMPANELLA LUNAR FLEX 6'6" 3-WEIGHT - This fly rod had the hallmarks of being made by those who care. The blank diameter was thin even for a 3-weight. Good tube and tube cover were included with the test rod. It would travel well as would the three section rods noted given the four sections. While well conceived and with a unique attractive blank color this rod would be best for shorter casts in smaller waters. Generally I like longer fly rods than this length; however, this rod would be fun to try on our trico hatch later this summer.

IJUIN-ROD YOMOGI 7' 3-WEIGHT - A well made handcrafted creation. Overall a fine casting fly rod. The green color paired with the hardware shown is especially attractive to my eye and blends naturally on many river settings. Finishing touches are tastefully executed from the rod to the packaging. This level of quality is admired. A good all around 3-weight rod for this length. Casting this model was a pleasure and if I had time to fish it could imagine enjoying it even more.

IJUIN-ROD SAKURA 7' 3-WEIGHT - This fly rod was the most interesting of the collection received. A beautifully created fly rod in all respects that when cast places one in a very calm frame of mind. Exceptional reel seat insert and beautiful rod bag. Just a joy to cast with its slower pace and exceptional balance. Would be best enjoyed with small flies for short to medium distances on flowing water. Have cast this rod from a moving raft and while wading. A better wading rod and all smiles when casting with feet planted on the substrate. This rod had my favorite grip of the bunch. Most all who cast this rod at the event from those new to fiberglass to those with large collections came away with a positive impression for its unique feel.

KENNEY FLY RODS 793S 7’9” 3-WEIGHT - The new team at Kenny Fly Rods got this one right. Experimental taper which should come to market. Having owned his 8’1” 3-weight and having tried his 733 3-weight previously, it was clear Larry had a good handle on this line weight. The new 7’ 9” version shown was another hit. I found this to be slightly different from the well regarded earlier creations and in a good way. Would seriously contemplate acquiring this model for our local rivers as the casting feel, length and quality checks many boxes. Others testing casting this rod at the event enjoyed it providing positive feedback which mirrored my observations. Also, it had a nice tube and tube cover for extra protection.

TIEMCO GLASS MASTER 7’6” 4-WEIGHT - This rod had the most folks test casting it of any in the group provided. It has a feel easily identified and resonates even with those who aren’t experienced with fiberglass fly rods. It has a more traditional color scheme for fly fishing to most eyes; however, it has more of a factory built look to it compared to the other well crafted rods noted above. As a fishing tool you could do quite well with this rod. We enjoyed it on a float and a couple of the younger graphite anglers who stopped by inquired as to how to acquire this fly rod. This model is a good all around fly rod which makes fine casts. I believe Tiemco will do well with this series and it is a nice complement to their traditional fly fishing products.

A special thanks to the local fly shops in the Grayling area who each helped promote this event including Gates Au Sable Lodge, Old Au Sable Fly Shop, Drakes Fly Shop, North Branch Outing Club and Au Sable River Outfitters. If you are visiting this area fishing each of this shops is worth a visit and can connect you with the latest conditions and current hatches."

What a stellar report and I'm going to do my best to try to make it up for the 2027 Michi-Glass event.

R.L. WINSTON ROD CO. - FLY COUNTRY

2026-07-15T05:00:00.000-04:00

There is a lot going on in Twin Bridges, Montana with the recent announcement of new ownership of R.L. Winston Rod Company and the kickoff of a series of films dubbed "Fly Country". Press PLAY...

Look for future episodes of Fly County here and on the Winston YouTube channel.

P.S. If someone is listening, Winston making fiberglass fly rods has been on my wish list for years...

6 GOOD READS - The "Currier 500" Edition

2026-07-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

I happened on Jeff Currier's website this morning and was captivated by his most recent trip dispatches from France where he chronicled his attempt to catch his 500th fish species with the Wels catfish on the fly. Jim Klug of Yellow Dog Fly Fishing and filmmaker Chris Patterson were also along for the trip in hopes of making a film to submit for next year's Fly Fishing Film Tour.

There are actually nine different blog posts from this trip but I grabbed six of the best to share here...

ARRIVAL TO WELS CATFISH COUNTRY

FLY FISHING FOR WELS CATFISH

FLY ROD WELS MAY BE TOUGHER THAN EXPECTED

CHANGE IN TACTICS NOT ENOUGH TO CATCH THE WELS

WE HAVE A MOVIE - THE FISH GODS ARE REAL

A MOST MEMORABLE JAUNT COMES TO AN END

EXTRA CREDIT...
If you'd like a bit more, Jim Klug sat down with Jeff Currier at the end of their trip to France to record a WAYPOINTS Fly Fishing Podcast that is certainly worth a listen.

Congrats to Jeff on this angling feat of 500 species and getting it done with the Wels catfish. Keep up with Jeff's latest exploits on his blog, and of course, Instagram.

DUCK CAMP - The Guide's Guide: Nicky Mill

2026-07-14T05:00:00.000-04:00

In Duck Camp's latest The Guide's Guide feature, Nicky Mills of Mill House tells his story in his short but well done film. Press PLAY...

After you've enjoyed the film, give a look at the Duck Camp Summer Closeout Sale for up to 60% off their apparel and gear.

An Evening Float to the Oxbow Club

2026-07-12T06:00:00.000-04:00

As usual, last month's trip home to Michigan was a stacked dance card of time spent with family, rounds of golf with my dad, a last minute float on the Muskegon River, days on Beaver Island, and an invite to float the South Branch of the Au Sable River with Ken Frazee and Paul Frost, who worked together to organize this year's Michi-Glass event. I will always have a soft spot for the Au Sable River area since it is where I learned how to fly fish (way back in the mid-90's) and there is an unmistakable angling culture seeped in decades of tradition that I am drawn to. I may not care for fly fishing for trout as I once did, but will always want to spend time on these tannic streams in northern Michigan.

We met late afternoon at Smith Bridge, which is just off M-72. I had arrived a few minutes early, which gave me time to sort out of the back of the Outback (which was becoming a mess from a week on the road), loaded up a fly reel with a 5-weight fly line, picked a couple of fly rods to take in the boat, and grab a few beers for the cooler. Ken and Paul arrived together and put the driftboat went into the water. It took just a couple of minutes to sort everything out and we were on our way.

It was a shaping up to be a pleasant evening on the river but things were sort of stacked against us with a river that was still recovering from a massive flood event and a cooler than normal spring which was slowing the evening and nighttime hatches by several weeks. I think between the three of us we had five or six glass fly rods in the boat and all took turns casting a bit. We started with dry flies followed by a soft hackle and ended on small streamers, which did turn a few fish. Ken had a solid brown trout rush out from a wood pile and slash at his streamer, just like he was supposed to. There are few things better than dinner on the river and sandwiches, chips, and chocolate chip cookies on a slow flow corner of the river topped the evening off.

Just after dark we made it to the Oxbow Conservation & Fishing Club to find Paul's vehicle and trailer waiting for us. We could hear the laughter of a group of guys having a good time playing cards on the screened porch of the club house. We pulled the driftboat from the river and onto the trailer, sorted gear, and Ken, who's been a member at Oxbow for a number of years, invited us in for a drink. I didn't get to be as nosy I'd as I wanted to be as the room was wall to wall natural wood panels, taxidermy arranged over the large fireplace, newspaper clippings on cork boards, framed vintage photographs, and individual lockers behind the bar where members could keep a select few bottles of spirits to be at the ready.

Institutions like the Oxbow Club, and there are other historic clubs and lodges dotted around northern Michigan along these noteworthy rivers, are such special places and have done so much on the conservation front to protect the Au Sable River and the Manistee River, along with the surrounding branches and creeks. The fight and commitment to the health of these rivers is admirable.

After a drink and talking with a few members at the club house, we drove back to the parking lot at Smith Bridge so I could get my car and then made our way to Ken's home on the North Branch of the Au Sable River. One of the neat things about Michigan in the summer is that it doesn't get dark until well after 10:00 pm but it sure messes with your head as it doesn't feel as late as it really is. 1:00 am (or even later) kind of sneaks up on you.

Ken showed me to the guest room and gave me a quick tour of their home, where just a few weeks before, the river had jumped the bank during an incredible snow thaw and rain event which brought the river up to the doorstop of his porch. He was at the house that weekend and watched overnight as the river continued to rise, passing through the woods and around all sides of his home. Fortunately, it stayed inches deep but still gave them quite a scare and cleanup afterwards.

The next morning, while Ken made us breakfast, I went through a few fly rods, which you'll hear about in the report from Michi-Glass, that I brought to leave for the event. These were a collection of notable Japanese glass favorites in 3-weight and 4-weight and I lined up two Iwana fly reels with 406 Fly Lines so they could be test cast or even fished during the weekend of the event.

I greatly appreciate Ken's generosity on inviting me for the overnight and also to Paul for letting me take the backseat of the driftboat. These northern Michigan experiences are always a thrill, even if the bug hatches and trout aren't being cooperative. There is always next time...

HOWLER BROTHERS - END OF SEASON SALE

2026-07-12T05:00:00.000-04:00

Didn't summer just begin? Even so, Howler Brothers has kicked off their End of Season Sale and if you like 60% off their latest collections, it's worth a look.

HEED THE CALL

PANTHER BRANCH BUGS - How to Fish the Carp Kwan

2026-07-11T06:00:00.000-04:00

Okay, we've given you some time to get a few Carp Kwans whipped up on the vise and in this post, Brandon Bailes of Panther Branch Flies is going to give you a primer with the techniques and gear (fiberglass fly rods!!!) on how to effectively fish this pattern.

Brandon wrote... "How I fish the Carp Kwan varies greatly on the watershed I’m fishing and the water depth and clarity but there’s no wrong way really. Typically though, I use the tried and true “Drag N' Drop” technique but with a subtle tweak to the presentation. The difference in my approach is I try to drop the fly a little further out from the fish and have it on bottom, crawling slowly and because of the wide EP fiber body it creates a nice visible mud trail that carp simply can’t resist as it comes into their view! But if you stop the fly completely, then the Skworm tail will be standing upright with subtle movement from the hen saddle and that makes an ideal target for a tailing fish. The EP body also slows the flies descent as it's dropping through the water column which can be deadly on suspended fish that are cruising and not actively tailing. I have also had fish eat them in the surface film by Mulberry trees by simply sneaking close and high-sticking the fly or doing a contact drop so I can control how slow the fly falls. To me, that’s what makes the Carp Kwan so versatile. It can be taken as a mulberry, clam, tadpole, crawfish, worm cluster...you name it, they just eat it! And because of the signature trail the wide EP body leaves, its easy for both the fish and angler to follow, which leads to more fish in the net!

As far as terminal tackle, I may be the minority here but I use leaders built to be no longer than my rod (7.5-8 foot) so I can present the fly as accurate as possible and not struggle to turn over super long leaders but I know plenty of anglers that can stretch out the leader lengths and still maintain good accuracy. As far as fly lines go, I will say that I thought for a few years there was not a better fly line for carp than the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Smooth Infinity Warm but after trying their new Amplitude Smooth Carp line, I’ve been sold on it! It just does everything well from roll casts up close, to making quick “ pick up and shoot” casts, to the long range casts. It does it all without feeling clunky or aggressive.

And lastly, you really should fish the Carp Kwan with a glass stick to maximize its effectiveness. Joking, sorta... I do love glass for everything but especially carp, since you can put a lot of pressure on the fish and turn them without worrying about busting tippet. Oh yeah, and it's just plain fun!!!"

Follow Panther Branch Bugs to keep up with his latest flies, tutorials, and time on the water.

DOWN HOME BOATWORKS - Dave's Chuck Box Plans

2026-07-11T05:00:00.000-04:00

Do you need a weekend project to keep you busy? How about building a Dave's Chuck Box to keep your camp kitchen straight. Dave Zielinski of Down Home Boatworks has added a new set of plans for this chuck box to his list of wooden boat plans that he offers.

I'm not handy in a workshop but do see how one of these would be fun to build and certainly to use.

Interested in a set of plans for this or a boat project? Reach out to Dave through the contact page on his website. Follow along with his latest exploits on the river or in the shop on Instagram.

FLAT CREEK RODS - Announcing the 15th Anniversary Fly Rod Series

2026-07-10T06:00:00.000-04:00

The other day, Ben Casarez of Flat Creek Rods tagged me on Instagram in his announcement of his 15th Anniversary and the limited edition fly rod series that he'll roll out over the next several weeks. It's hard for me to believe that I have been writing T.F.M. for 18 years and it's neat that this website is part of the history of many of the fly rod builders that have been featured here over the years.

Would you believe when I started T.F.M. that the Fiberglass Fly Rod Makers page had maybe a dozen builders listed? Check it now if you haven't and it's nearly ten times that number now.

Ben is celebrating this milestone with the release of three handpicked fly rod tapers in 3-weight, 4-weight, and 5-weight with a limited run of each. He is starting this series with five 3-weight builds built on a 7' three-piece McFarland Rod Company Spruce Creek blank.

This series is going to be something special and this first look at the 3-weight confirms it.

Ben wrote... "After months of planning and work, I’m excited to introduce the first rods in the Flat Creek Rods 15th Anniversary Series. The 3-weight release begins the celebration, with the 4-weight and 5-weight models scheduled to roll out later this week and next.

7’ 3 Weight, 3 Piece Glass

In 2008, after building several Lamiglas glass rods, I discovered Mike McFarland’s Spruce Creek blanks and ordered two 7’ 3 weights—sparking my love for building and fishing glass. Cameron Mortenson even featured a blog post on one of those first builds on The Fiberglass Manifesto way back in 2009.

To honor that beginning, the first anniversary rods use Mike’s evolved Spruce Creek taper: smooth, balanced, and full flexing. An ideal small stream rod, it handles dries and dry/dropper rigs with ease.

Features include a lemon yellow blank, Snake Brand guides, Joe Arguello agate stripper, translucent and red silk wraps, 6” flor cigar grip, shop turned mesquite insert, and Lemke LC7 down locking hardware (NOS). One rod will have a Lemke LC14 slide band set (NOS) with a cork insert. Includes custom rod sock and tube. Limited to five rods and priced at $775 shipped."

Learn more on the Flat Creek Rods website and follow along with the latest shop news and announcements on Facebook and Instagram.

FLYLAB - Carp Are Difficult to Pattern

2026-07-10T05:00:00.000-04:00

I've been on somewhat of a carp bender over the past month or so with a day trip up to North Carolina, a few days on Beaver Island in the middle of Lake Michigan, and then back to North Carolina last week for a morning with Dave Fason. In short, I am captivated by carp and all of the environs where they thrive on diets that range from bugs, berries, crayfish, clams, vegetation, and even chasing down other fish.

Kirk Deeter's recent Flylab article, Carp Are Difficult to Pattern, is a good read and also points to his book, The Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing for Carp, which I highly recommend for your library if you don't already have a copy.

Give Carp Are Difficult to Pattern a read and let me know where are you are fly fishing for carp this summer. What are they eating right now? Last week for us it was little dark purple berry flies and Carp Kwans of various sizes and colors. Figuring out the "code" is just part of the fun.

A STROLL WITH SLED: JUNE

2026-07-08T06:00:00.000-04:00

I guess this is at least the third episode of "A Stroll with Sled" from Schultz Outfitters that I'm aware of and these short films mix one part fly shop/good fishy dude with a sincere highlight of their local fishery month by month of what works and what didn't. I hope they keep these coming.

Visit the Schultz Outfitters website, maybe book a trip, and click subscribe to the YouTube channel.

HOWLER BROTHERS - Privateer Dispatch - Week 3 & 4

2026-07-08T05:00:00.000-04:00

The Howler Brothers boys are back with their latest dispatch that takes them from Oregon through California on two weeks of hijinks of all sorts. A fun read for sure...

Check out the Privateer Dispatch of their last several weeks on the road and make sure you're following along with their latest exploits on Instagram and TikTok.

PANTHER BRANCH BUGS - How to Tie the Carp Kwan

2026-06-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

The other week, I made a trip up to North Carolina to carp fish with Dave Fason (T.F.M. post) and the only fly that we fished that day was the Carp Kwan from Brandon Bailes of Panther Branch Bugs. Dave has long been sold on this fly for his local carp lakes and he has a fly box full of this pattern in various colors and sizes. I quickly became a believer on it's effectiveness when we found a carp mudding on a shallow flat, I made a misguided cast a bit too far to the left, and it still lunged out of the slit to slurp in the fly from several feet away. Who says that carp have bad eyesight? This one sure didn't.

When I got back from the trip, I asked Brandon if he'd put together a step-by-step post on how to tie the Carp Kwan and he not only provided the information and images for the post below, but we'll follow this with a how to fish the Carp Kwan post in a few days, which should not be missed.

Break out your vise and tie you up a few dozen of the Carp Kwan.

Brandon wrote... "Over the past few years I have become quite addicted to carp fishing for several reasons but mostly because I love redfish. I’m 6 hours from the salt and need a regular fix! Naturally carp fill that void since they tail, fight hard, and feed very similar to their salty cousins.

My dear friend and mentor, the late Dave Whitlock, described these fish as having some of the best attributes from permit, bonefish, redfish and cutthroat...on top of being a “Super Fish” by their ability to thrive in all kinds of environments. What’s not to love about them?

So when I sat at the vise to come up with a pattern I immediately drew my ideas from my redfish fly box...Kwan flies specifically. I knew I needed to downsize and add a few things to make it "carp-worthy" and I can honestly say that this is the only pattern that I got right on the first try without a thousand tweaks. It’s honestly what I fish 99% of the time and has worked in a variety of conditions because it looks like lots of different forage but not one specifically."

DESIGN FEATURES AND RECIPE:
The EP fibers provides a light weight body, good silhouette, and makes a more noticeable mud cloud when crawled on the bottom due to the wide shape. Skworm tail material is used because it doesn’t collapse like regular chenille but also a dirty little trick, the tail being elastic makes for a good slingshot when a bow and arrow cast is needed when fishing heavy cover into exact spots.

HOOK - Tiemco 2457 size 8

THREAD - UTC 140
EYES - Medium Dumbell or Large Bead Chain Eyes
DUBBING - Cohen Carp Dub
BODY - EP Fibers
HACKLE - Hen Saddle
TAIL - Nash Flyworks Skworm Chenille

STEP 1: Attach bead chain eyes using UTC 140 thread and space the eyes back about a hook eye length.

STEP 2 - Cut and singe a piece of Skworm chenille that is 1.5 times as long as the hook shank. Attach the tail and secure it to the halfway point of the hook bend.

STEP 3 - Take a small amount of Cohen Carp dub, preen it to align fibers and cut into thirds.

STEP 4 - Take the dubbing and create a dubbing loop, spin it up, wrap the loop until just before being even with the hook point.

STEP 5 - Tie in a hen saddle feather and palmer forward, including a turn or two of the “fluff”. Wrap back on the feather until just short of the hook point.

STEP 6 - Begin tying in sparse amounts of EP fibers. “X” wrapping each stack, one right next to the other until there’s no more room.

STEP 7 - Finally for the trim job, I make a straight cut on each side that’s roughly double the length of the bead chain on each side. After that I trim the top and bottom the fly to be as flat as possible. Finally with a pair of curved scissors, I round the front and back to create the desired shape.

STEP 8 - GO FISH! You now have a finished Carp Kwan!

Follow Brandon on Instagram and if you'd rather have him tie you a few flies, send him a DM.

BLUESKY FURLED LEADERS - Back & Better Than Ever!!!

2026-06-30T05:00:00.000-04:00

Longtime T.F.M. readers should remember BlueSky Furled Leaders, and hopefully even have a few of their furled leaders in your kit. What you might not know is that for years now, Nathan Register has been going through a series of health setbacks which sidelined the business and understandably greatly affected his family. They have recently announced that BlueSky Furled Leaders is back in business with Kayla Register, Nathan and Rebecca's daughter, taking charge of this "Made in USA" business.

If you'd like to learn more about Nathan's kidney transplant journey, take a few minutes to watch the trailer, the short film, or the entire story on YouTube.

To kick off this announcement, and the upcoming Independence Day holiday, BlueSky Furled Leaders is offering 25% off all their furled leaders through July 12, 2026, using code "JULY4" at checkout.

From BlueSky Furled Leaders...

"We’re so excited to let you know that BlueSky Furled Leaders is back and better than ever! We’re still making those amazing, handcrafted, high-quality furled leaders we’ve been doing since 1999. As a family-run business, we’re super passionate about the outdoors and fishing, and we’re thrilled to keep sharing that love with you.

Our family, led by Nathan and Rebecca Register, has always been dedicated to making tools that make your casting and outdoor adventures even better. While Nathan is stepping back, we’re so proud to announce that our daughter, Kayla Register, who just graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay , is taking over the company. With Kayla at the helm, we’re staying true to our roots—same great product, same great family, and everything still made by hand in the USA.

At BlueSky Furled Leaders, we’re still all about helping you succeed. Our furled leaders are made with the same care and skill that have defined us for over 25 years. Whether you’re catching trout in the High Sierras or exploring saltwater marshes, we’re here to help you enjoy the outdoors as much as we do.

If you have any questions or want to share your fishing stories, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We’d love to hear from you! Thanks for your continued support, and we can’t wait to be part of your next big catch."

Visit the BlueSky Furled Leaders website to check out their offerings and use discount code "JULY4" now through July 12th for 25% off your online order. Follow along with the latest shop news on Facebook and Instagram.

Mark Erickson's Rodmaker 24/7 Glass Spey Review

2026-06-28T06:00:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, I posted a write-up from Shane Gray of Graywolf Rods on his Rodmaker 24/7 Glass Spey blanks and soon after, I received an email from Mark Erickson who passed along that he had built one of these blanks up and would follow-up soon to share a short review and photographs of his experience.

If your interest is perked on this glass two-hander blank, then read Mark's review below...

Mark wrote... "Here's a quick-and-dirty write up on the Rodmaker 24/7 11' 5/6-weight Glass Spey fly rod I built up and finally got on the river for some angling. I purchased it last fall and took my time pulling together parts and completing the build. I'm an ok-not-great rod builder and went with a minimalist design for the rod. I got the blank in matte clear and built it with a full metal reel seat, off-the-shelf switch grip, and snake guides, all sourced from Proof Fly Fishing. The built-up weight of my rod is 8 oz, which sits in between the 10'8" 3wt and 11'10" 6wt Echo glass Spey rods, which weigh 6.5oz and 9.2oz, respectively. To me, it feels denser/heavier than the two Echos. After I completed it, I did a little lawn casting to check out the balance. I found my Hardy St Aidan reel to be a little too light, so I went with a a Hardy Marquis Salmon 1 reel."

"A few weeks later I got it on the water for a couple of sessions on my annual trip to the McCloud River. I mostly use two-hand rods to throw streamers with Skagit setups, so I went with a 330 grain Airflo Skagit Scout head, 10 foot T-8 tip, and a mid-sized Skulpzilla. This setup is on the lighter end of the grain range that Shane publishes for the rod, but it's what I have so I went with it. I’m no great shakes as a caster, but I had easy time getting this setup to load and fire with Double Spey and Snap-T casts. The rod and reel combo do feel on the heavier side, but the balance feels good to me. A friend who is a much more experienced two-hand caster than me tried it out and said he liked it and thought it would be a good Klamath rod.

On the McCloud, I swung the Sculpzilla through a run that has a deep section up against a rock wall on the far side and I had no trouble bouncing the Skulpzilla off of the wall. I got a couple of grabs and landed a bass of all things. I swung through another run with similar results - a couple of good tugs and something big that I hooked and fought for a while but came off before I got a look at it. There aren’t too many glass trout Spey options out there and the price point of this blank makes it the budget option. I put my rod together for probably about $300 including shipping costs - less than the cost of competing blanks. As a five piece rod, it’s also uniquely packable. I’m looking forward to finding more places to use it, possibly on the Trinity at the end of September skating dry flies or riffle-hitched muddlers for summer Steelhead."

Visit the Graywolf Rods and Rodmaker 24/7 websites to learn more about the Spey Glass blanks and remember to use discount code "TFM15" for 15% off your online order on either site.

THE PERRY PORK - Miki Prawn for Riffle

2026-06-28T05:00:00.000-04:00

I don't know why exactly but out of the half dozen The Perry Pork films that I've shared here, they've always fit into the content flow on a Sunday. Take twenty minutes and enjoy this tutorial.

Visit The Perry Pork website for more and be sure to follow along on YouTube and Instagram.

6 Good Reads

2026-06-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

The weekend is here and with it, a six-pack of good reads to ease you into your Saturday morning.

GARDEN & GUN - IN THE BEGINNING THERE WERE BREAM

FIELD MAG - Q&A WITH STEVEN WEINBERG

CALIFORNIA FLY FISHER ON YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

LOON OUTDOORS - KEN MORRISH ON SUMMER TRAVEL TIPS

ATOLLAS - FLOOD TIDE PRIMER

THE OLD GHOSTS - THE BUDDY'S GOLF TRIP

In the Forest there was a Stream...

2026-06-27T05:00:00.000-04:00

Judging from the comments, I'm not the only one who appreciates Rolf's unique take on fly fishing and videography. So good. Enjoy this one...

Dive down a rabbit hole on the YouTube channel and on the Rolf Nylinder website.

HOWLER BROTHERS - Privateer Dispatch - Week 1 & 2

2026-06-22T06:00:00.000-04:00

I am home after almost two weeks in Michigan and while playing catch-up with my email inbox, I came across the first dispatch from the Howler Brothers Privateers. This summer's twosome, Joe Buceti and Graham Mcalister, started their trip in Austin and are working there way across the west.

It's been a few years since Howler Brothers gave away the keys to the van and Joe and Graham are making the most of it to "Heed the Call" with this unique opportunity.

Check out the Privateer Dispatch of their first couple of weeks on the road and make sure you're following along with their latest exploits on Instagram and TikTok.

LOON OUTDOORS - When Fishing Stopped Being About Me

2026-06-22T05:00:00.000-04:00

This one has got me all in my feels. Happy (belated) Father's Day to all the dads out there.

Visit the Loon Outdoors website to see the latest gear to round out your kit.

A Day That Was Maybe a Little Too Nice

2026-06-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

I was on the road by 5:00 am heading north to meet up with Dave Fason to explore one of his local lakes outside Greensboro for carp nosing around on the flats. Everything from the weather app to sun coming up to a cloudless sky told me that it was going to be perfect. It was going to be warm with little wind and we'd have full sun all day long. I texted Dave that maybe it was going to be a little too nice. I ended up being right and it's a bit humorous now that I am writing this while on a weathered out morning on Beaver Island, Michigan with rain and wind keeping us from going out until the afternoon.

Our guide friend Patrick Hayes had a couple of hours free and we all met at the boat ramp, tossing all the gear and fly rods into the Towee. We motored across the lake the first spot and Dave stepped on the poling platform. It was just moments before Dave called out the first carp and the rest of the morning and into the early afternoon was more of the same.

The fly of the day was Brandon Bailes's Carp Kwan, which we'll be sharing a step-by-step tutorial on T.F.M. soon. I had a carp bolt out of a cloud of slit to smoke the fly that was being stripped two foot away. Impressive to get that much of a carp's attention on this fly.

The lack of success of the day could be blamed on the weather but in reality, my fly casting and placement of the fly in proximity of the many carp that we saw was way less than stellar. It actually had me thinking that I should practice fly casting more than I do and even invest in come casting lessons. I brought my "C" game to a place that really deserved an "A" game. Next time...

Follow along with Dave's latest photography and fly fishing projects on Instagram. And, if you ever find yourself in Greensboro and want to book a trip, give Patrick Hayes at Mended Fly Fishing a shout.

TOM'S TIPS - How to Fish Big Rivers

2026-06-18T05:00:00.000-04:00

Here's a quick tutorial from Tom Rosenbauer of Orvis on how to break down fly fishing large rivers.

See more on the Orvis YouTube channel and check out the latest gear on the Orvis website.

C. BARCLAY FLY ROD CO. - An Afternoon in the New Shop

2026-06-03T06:00:00.000-04:00

A few weeks back I needed to be up in Greensboro for a dinner and as I planning the trip up, I reached out to Chris Barclay of C. Barclay Fly Rod Co. to see if he'd be around and if I could stop by the new shop for a visit on my way through. Chris texted back that I was welcome to stop by and that he should be working in the shop for most of the day. I arrived just afternoon noon and after a quick glance at the shop, we walked across the street for a poke bowl and a chat. We returned to the shop and over the next couple of hours, Chris worked on several fly rod projects while I quietly snapped photographs which you can slow scroll through in his post. I appreciate Chris's generosity in letting me stop by and the conversation.

After a few years of C. Barclay Fly Rod Co. being somewhat in flux without a real shop, Chris happened on this new space while visiting his local guitar shop. He asked if they were aware of a shop rental around and was offered their largely unused three-room basement. This could not have been more perfect since it's provided a "Dirty Room" for making dust turning cork grips and wood reel seats and then passing through a curtain into a "Clean Room" that feels more like a lounge for wrapping and finishing fly rods, with a desk, work bench, and couch. The entire space is comfortable with more than enough room for Chris to work, and often a playlist of Guy Clark, Charlie Parr, Jeffery Foucault, Gillian Welch, Gregory Allen Hess, Derrick Trucks Band, Mississippi John Hurt, Billy Strings or others can be heard playing in the background.

After years of building fly rods at his home or in a couple of different backyard sheds, having an actual shop that's a fifteen minute drive from his home has helped Chris create some needed work-life balance with actual "shop hours" instead of living around half-built fly rods in various stages of completion.

Looking back through the T.F.M. archives, the first mention of Chris Barclay was in 2012 with a post on bluegill fishing with a McFarland Rod Company Spruce Creek 7'6" 3-weight that he had just built. A little over a year later, Chris launched the C. Barclay Fly Rod Co. website announcing his first offering, dubbed "Barclay Glass", which was a 7'2" 3-weight on a translucent "Brown Ale" blank. There have been quite a few changes since then but it's interesting looking back how many of the design features remain wonderfully the same.

Chris reflected on gaining experience and confidence from mentors which included Art Mayfield, a handful of members from the Fiberglass Flyrodders forum who pushed him to continue, and James Green at the Orvis Rod Factory, who provided him with blanks, hardware, and thread. He was interested in fiberglass fly rods but sold several guitars to purchase Paul Young Granger bamboo fly rods which he deconstructed to see how they were put together. Through the years, Tomo of Ijuin-Rod has been a tremendous influence and friend, pushing him to develop his own style and to stick with it.

Knowing Chris for all these years, I can say that he's firmly stayed on script designing and building some of the finest light line fiberglass fly rods for small streams. There has been the occasional 6-weight or 8-weight but his wheelhouse is in the 3-weight to 4-weight realm, maybe stretching into a 5-weight. I didn't know it until this visit but Chris is colorblind and he would forgo the brown blank color for a color that he can actually see. Over the years, his blanks have been a few different shades of yellow which he described these variations as "Mango", "Lemony", "School Bus", and "Sunrise Yellow", all which remind him of cutthroat trout that he's caught on trips out west.

What's next for Chris? He is continuing to settle into this new shop space and imagining future opportunities, like an open house gathering to bring "Glass Geeks" together from time to time. He hinted that he and his wife might end up out west for part of their year and he was figuring out ways that he could build fly rods with a mobile shop. And then there are new ideas of fly rod tapers that he's still working through the prototype process of. He's also simplified his the Synthesis Series lineup and made some price adjustments, too. You can read about this update on his recent Smallwater post.

The future is bright for C. Barclay Fly Rod Co. and this new shop is a spark that will carry him forward. Longtime supporters and a growing group of enthusiasts of his fly rods go a long ways in this, too.

While this post is much longer than typical, I figured that you might enjoy seeing an in depth set of images. I had a good time capturing these photos and there were just too many not to share.

Visit the C. Barclay Fly Rod Co. website, don't sleep on his Smallwater blog updates, and follow along with the latest shop news on Facebook and Instagram.

Need more? Consider joining the C. Barclay Fly Rod Co. Enthusiasts Group on Facebook, too.

PATAGONIA - Tying the Classic Pheasant Tail Nymph

2026-06-03T05:00:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite books from last year was Pheasant Tail Simplicity and the trio of Yvon Chouinard, Craig Mathews, and Mauro Mazzo teamed up again for this Patagonia paperback which is full of stories, techniques, and fly tying recipes with step-by-step instructions.

In this short film, Mauro Mazzo ties the Pheasant Tail Nymph.

Order your copy of Pheasant Tail Simplicity on the Patagonia website or pick one up at your local book store or fly shop.

Want to jump ahead and watch other Pheasant Tail Simplicity videos? You can find them on the Patagonia YouTube channel.

GRAYWOLF RODS - The Rodmaker 24/7 Glass Spey Explained

2026-06-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

In the latest email blast from Graywolf Rods this week, Shane Gray shared a recent 11' 5/6-weight Glass Spey build and even though I've been aware of this Rodmaker 24/7 blank, I hadn't seen one built up. I asked Shane to put together a few notes on this fiberglass two-hander blank since I figured that I couldn't be the only one who might be intrigued with this unique offering.

Shane wrote... "For the past couple of years I’ve been offering an 11' 5/6-weight fiberglass Glass Spey blank through my Rodmaker 24/7 line, and it has quietly become one of the most consistently loved blanks I sell. I’ve moved dozens of them now, and the feedback has been the same across the board: smooth, powerful, and a whole lot of fun to fish.

I figured it was time to share a little more about it with the T.F.M. crowd...

WHY I BUILT THIS BLANK
I wanted the Glass Spey to not be a novelty piece — something you could actually fish all day, travel with, and trust on real water. The result is an 11'0" 5/6-weight UNI S‑Glass, 5‑piece blank with a 325–400 grain window (add ~25 grains for Skagit). It’s compact, tough, and has that deep, honest load that makes glass Spey so addictive.

Each section is 29", so it packs into a 2.5" × 30" tube, which makes it a true travel rod. The ferrules are double‑reinforced, tip‑over‑butt style, and the blank weight comes in at 4.8 oz — light for glass in this category.

It’s available in brown or matte clear, and both finishes look great wrapped up."

HOW IT FISHES
This blank loads deep but recovers clean. It’s not a fast graphite rod pretending to be glass — it’s a real S‑Glass Spey that rewards timing and gives you that full‑rod bend you can feel right down into the cork. It handles compact Scandi and Skagit heads beautifully, and it has enough backbone to turn over real fishing tips without feeling clubby.

THE GRAYWOLF RODS BUILD
I also offer a finished Graywolf Rods build on this blank, and it’s become one of my favorite two‑handers to assemble. The build includes:

Red/orange silk wraps tipped black
Lemke LC25EX extended‑body seat
11" fore grip + 4 5/8" rear grip
Custom black cotton bag with a Cordura tube

It’s a clean, classic Spey look — nothing flashy, just well‑balanced and built to fish.

WHERE IT FITS
This rod shines for trout Spey, small steelhead, and any situation where you want to slow down and enjoy the cast. It’s forgiving, it’s durable, and it has that “Glass Grin Factor” that keeps people coming back to it.

I’ve been really happy with how this blank has been received, and I’m proud of how it performs on the water. If anyone in the T.F.M. community has been curious about glass in the two‑hand world, this is a great place to start."

Interested? Remember to use code "TFM15" on Graywolf Rods and Rodmaker 24/7 websites for 15% off your online order. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram for the latest shop news.