Report 8/05/06

[ecce38]

While only measuring 16", this guy was one fat spud. Sorry for the poor photo quality (camera phone, forgot the real camera). While he was the biggest today, I did manage to land several of slot limit size. People, I think in a couple of years fish like this could be the norm, not the exception. As for fly selection, this guy was hooked on a BH pheasant tail. However, the remainder of the day I fished Bryce's TDM (blue dun). Nailed a ton of fish with it.

[Danoinark]

Nice fish Ecce. And nice rod. Did you custom build that cork with a wood inlay?

You know I am so darn close to Beaver but have never fished it. I should just come over and try my luck.

Dano

[ecce38]

Yes, Dano, it's a custom rod. A friend and coworker of mine built it for me. He did all the wood work and designed that grip. Here are some close up pics of the other sections of the rod. Notice the middle pic which shows the double guide design nearest the reel seat. Because of this feature, I probably get 5 more feet of line on my cast Not to mention it makes the act of castings much easier overall. I'm surprised other rod makers haven't picked up on this. It's not a big secret.

[Danoinark]

ECCE, very nice indeed. I am a big fan of the "shooter" rods. The history of those if you didn't know can be traced to Bob Brunsell. He is the developer of the Brunsell Little Shooters series of Rods that are commercially sold by www.dorber.com . They are in Flippin, Ark. This series of 4 to 7 ft rods are manufactured with double the guides. So a 7 ft rod would have 15 guides including the tip etc. He used oversized stripping guides. The theory is that the more guides the less chance of the line having slack along the rod causing friction, thereby it's easier to "shoot" line. Dorber will make you a "shooter" in any length and wt. rod. I am a proponent of Dorber for many reasons. They make their own blanks, they use very nice components, reasonably priced, but more importantly nice folks to do business with. I have built rods on their blanks and purchased their factory rods and have been satisfied. I only mention this because I like doing business with local companies especially if I can espouse their honesty. If you check that website you will find the story of the Lil Streamer rods. Bob Brunsell passed away a few years ago. He was a Wisconsinite that moved to the Ozarks to be near the White River. I am very lucky to have a copy of a book he authored called the Brunsell Chronicles. It is a series of essay's that he wrote on flyfishing where he imparts his knowlege of the sport and more about the "shooter" rods. It would be well worth it if you can find a copy of this now out of print book...

Now some will disagree and say that adding more guides will add to much weight to the blank causing the rod not to cast as well. Its my opinion that you may trade a slight increase in rod weight for less friction of line against blank a tradeoff if you can cast more line with less effort.

Here is the link to the Brunsell story from Dorber http://www.dorber.com/flyrods.html

Dano

[Danoinark]

I mean't to add that I like how he did the feather inlay's. What blank did he use?

Dano

[ecce38]

Wow, Dano, I didn't know all that. Thanks. I'm not a rod bulider but I'll pass this info on to my friend who is. He'd love to know about this, if he doesn't already. Sometimes Andy will build a rod for me for free just so I'd test it and see how good/bad it is. Needless to say, I don't mind at all. They've all been good so far I'm happy to say. As for what kind of blank, it'z a St. Croix Legend, two piece. I think it's discontinued now.

[Crippled Caddis]

ecce38 wrote:

< I'm not a rod bulider but I'll pass this info on to my friend who is.>

While you're at it direct his attention to Brunsels' theories concerning guides at: <http://www.grtu.org/newsletters/april1997/GUIDROD.APR.htm>

I've long used oversized double strippers on my rods. I started out @ 30 years ago using the double loop wire spinning rod guides that gather and direct the line and they still work fine but are getting harder to find.

I have a couple of experimental rods underway at present, one, a 5 1/2' fiberglass using the Brunsel guides theories, and another a 6'8" fiberglass using ceramic lined stripper and single-foot ceramics the rest of the way to see how well the different concepts work. It will be interesting. In both cases they will use the very minimum of thread to secure the guides and minimal coats of spar varnish in lieu of high-build epoxy finish in order to 'take up the slack' of the added weight of the guides.

Dano failed to mention that he has recently acquired a couple of the original Brunsel rods so he can now be considered our 'resident' Brunsel expert. CC

[retroaction man]

Nice to see people posting in this section of the site. Fished last weekend and the blue duns were working great. I also had luck with red/silver migdes. Its my fave time of the year to fish and i cant wait to get out tom morning.

[Crippled Caddis]

retro-man wrote:

<Fished last weekend and the blue duns were working great. I also had luck with red/silver migdes.>

Red thread midges with silver bead and wire in a # 16 were the preferred choice today on the Spring river in N. central Ark. While taking off my gear at the van @ 2 PM I noted that the BWOs in @ a #22 were starting to show up in the parking lot also. It's 'just that time of year'! And I DO so love it! The only down side is that next week I'm scheduled for cataract surgery, kids are coming for Thanksgiving and the river will be crowded with holiday flyfishers, but the following week should be all mine!;o) CC

[chub minnow]

Maybe this will inspire you to fish the White more often!

big_brown.htm

brook.htm