A couple of months ago Mike Kattner from Cane and Silk Fly Rods reached out and asked me to field test a fiberglass fly rod. The rod is built for small streams but may also be used on larger waters. The rod is beautifully made and he has done fine work on the classy but simple features which highlight the rod. The rod is a 6' 3 piece rated for a 2 or 3 weight line. The color is what Mike calls "Lizard Green", the color is very pleasing. It comes with a uplocking reel seat, and the cork handle is of cork that is not full of filler. The rod balances very well and the casting stroke feels "just right".
Mike does a beautiful job of highlighting the rod guides with the proper color thread. The overall finish of the rod is outstanding. I have not tried this rod on the stream but plan to very soon. The rod comes with a flannel bag, which is nice and soft.
3 piece with spigot furrules.
As you can see the rod is handsomely appointed.
Cane And Silk
Mike does some really wonderful work. Can't wait to see it on the water alongside some fall brook trout. :)
ReplyDeleteRalph Long
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Ralph you are very familiar with Mike work, I know you have several of his glass rods.
The tryout will start soon.
Mike is a great guy, I have a couple rods he's built and am in the process of having a 3rd finished. His work is beautiful and he's very willing to share info on his builds. Anxious to hear your report and to see some brookies with the rod. Take care.
ReplyDeleteChris MaineFly207
Anonymous
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Chris the man does top notch work. His rods fit my needs to the max, and the cost is well within reason.
A few CT streams are in the light.
You may have made a convert to glass, Alan. After reading of your enthusiasm for glass I went out to the barn and dragged out an old and neglected Fenwick FF806 and an ancient Wright & McGill Sunrise for some lawn casting; great fun! I may have to buy a new rod...
ReplyDeletemike
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Mike fiberglass is so forgiving and so responsive. They were my first fly rods and probably yours to.
The action on these Cane and Silk rods are so much better. Try one?
beautiful sunrise photograph on the mountain. The fiberglass cane is obviously super ..!
ReplyDeleteArmando Milosevic
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Armando it was very frosty that morning, but beautiful. The rod will get tested very soon.
Alan, I have been doing a lot of research on mikes rod and I have to say I've been impressed, can't wait for your reports because I think the new year I will be ordering one. The 7foot 6inch for a 4/5 intrigues me.
ReplyDeleteBrad Basehore
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Brad I'm sure you'll love one of Mikes creations. A great guy to work with, between the two of you I'm certain you'll come up with the rod of perfection.
Brad, I have 2 rods built on that blank in the Honey translucent. Love them both, but the one Mike just made this summer measures in at 7'4" and is a dream to fish with a Cortland 444 WF5F line.
DeleteThat's a very nice looking fly rod, Alan. The green blank is very pleasing on the eye. We will all be keen to hear how it performs on the stream.
ReplyDeleteToday's post inspired me to take out my only fibreglass fly rod(garage sale purchase)and attach a Southbend auto reel loaded with a WF6 line. Never fished it before and have to admit it casts very nicely. I cast a wet Zulu into the "Garden Pool" and caught a nice brown. I think I've caught him at least three times now--we are old friends! As well as the large native blackfish that I've caught twice now. Blackfish aren't supposed to take flies--maybe he didn't read the book!
Looking forward to your success with the new rod.
Kind Regards,
Steve.
Steve Hynes
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Steve I think I may have that same reel, I don't think it works though. Wet Zulu may you enlighten us?
I love it when certain fish don't follow the rules.
The Zulu or Black Zulu is a Scottish loch fly with black body with silver tinsel, black palmer hackle and a red tag tail. To me it looks like a squat version of the Black Woolly Worm, my favourite wet fly. The browns in the Badger Creek certainly like it.
DeleteIf you go to the "Fishing Small Streams" site for March 3 2015 you and others are talking about the fly and variations. Another very similar fly is the "Bloody Mary" developed by Max Christensen in Tasmania. I'd like to try a few of these as they can be fished either wet or dry with a few false casts. Sounds versatile.
Cheers,
Steve.
Steve I checked it out and the fly looks like a wooly worm. I fished a fly similar to it but it was tied with a green body and grizzly hackle with out a tail.
DeleteAlan
ReplyDeleteQuite simply a beautiful rod!!
TROUT1
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Pete I could not agree more.
Alan
ReplyDeleteEverything on this fly rod is an eye catcher, looking forward to your review. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill I gave it a try yesterday and was satisfied...more to come.
Gorgeous is what I'd call it. I'm sure you can't wait to get it out on a creek, that is if you already haven't.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark it does have good looks. Took it out for a trial run yesterday. Some thoughts on that later.
Beautiful looking rod. I love the color and look forward to a review of how it casts.
ReplyDeleteHoward Levett
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Howard the color is pleasing to the eye for sure. It's trial run was yesterday...more to come.
Alan - a very nice looking rod! It's nice to see people making them in more natural colors. I love my cane and silk 2/3wt this one should be a nice rod for those streams with a little more room
ReplyDeleteMark Wittman
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Mark I do find the color appealing, just the name should be changed from Lizard Green to Brookie Green.