Insane has taken up the ol’ ball and chain. I advised him to run away to Montana and be a fly-fishing guide, but he’d have none of it. Apparently he’s “in love” with Katie. And so, on Saturday, May 17 the two were wed at Oak Park Baptist Church in Huntsville, AL. Pondering Insane’s personality traits might lead one to question whether Katie should not be the one carrying the nickname “Insane,” but we’ll just try to think about more pleasant things. I was suckered into being a groomsman. TVangler contributor Jason Kelley showed up in a suit! I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t actually shaken his hand. He and I both agreed that our outfits weren’t suitable for fishing, but we’d be willing to try it if given half a chance (we weren’t). It was quite a day. We’ll try to post a few photos later. The newly weds should be in Jamaica by now.
Feather inlay on the 6 wt rod I built for my father. Ring-neck pheasant and brown rooster hackle.
I am finally getting caught up on my rod-building work. Over the last two weeks I managed to finish up my father’s 9′ 6 wt fly rod and my own 7’6″ 4 wt fiberglass fly rod. I’m including photos of my father’s rod with this post. I’ll try to get some of my fiberglass rod for later in the week. You can see the feather inlay on Dad’s rod to the right. I used two feathers from a ring-neck pheasant and a brown rooster hackle feather. I didn’t quite get all the fibers sorted like I wanted, but I think it turned out nicely. I used a maroon silk thread for the windings with a beige silk trim band, which complimented the feathers well. The blank is a 9′ 2 piece Rainshadow RX6 blank. It’s deep blue with a nice medium fast action. I used chrome snake guides and a chrome stripper with ceramic insert. I wanted to use an agate stripping guide (because I think they’re cool), but Dad said he planned to use it for bass as well as trout. I reluctantly decided the ceramic insert would hold up better to a 6 lb bass running out all his line and backing. The reel seat is an REC nickel silver piece with black ash insert. Handle was bought pre-shaped from Angler’s Workshop. Dad’s planning to use this rod during our Yellowstone trip. In fact, every fisherperson going on that trip will be using one of my rods at least part of the time, so I’ll really begin to see how they perform in the real world. This rod was promised to Dad at Christmas. Only five months late. I’m mostly happy with how it turned out. I like the colors and feather inlay. The silk thread is really classy. My finish work is getting better, but I still had a wider overrun on a few of the wraps than what I’d like, and the line of the overrun on one of the guides wasn’t even. I wouldn’t have made much of a surgeon. The hands just aren’t steady enough. Overall though, I believe it’s my best work to date. You can see other photos of the rod below. Click them for larger images.
I’ll be using my fiberglass rod later this week. Jacqulyn and I are going on a short backpacking trip in the Smokies over Memorial Day weekend. We’re going to one of my favorite creeks. I’m not telling where, not specifically anyway. I’ll be stringing up the rod with my Thebault silk line, recently purchased from Olaf Borge. I’ll let you know how both rod and line perform for me. My standard Cortland peach will act as a backup when the silk gets waterlogged. We’re thinking of eating a couple trout, assuming we’re blessed to catch a few large enough. I need this trip. I’ve not been fishing in several weeks. Busy at work, at home and even busy with hobby-related tasks. It’s bad when the hobby becomes like just another job.
I’m working on an 8 wt bass fly rod for my brother, and a friend has entrusted me to do some repair work on one of his favorite bamboo rods, leading me to question his mental state. Truly though, I am honored that he’d think of me for the job, and I’m excited to tackle it. After that I have possibly four more rod-building jobs lined up, but with no set deadline on them. On top of all that, I’m trying to tie flies and build leaders for the group heading to Yellowstone in July as well as take care of reserving hotels and rental cars for the trip. Maybe I should be a fly-fishing travel agent?
Handle area on Dad's rod, still mounted in the drying motor.
Stripping guide on Dad's rod.
One of the snake guides.
Take care,
Nathan
Nice Rod!! Almost as nice as my suit. What a wedding. When I arrived, I thought to myself,”I am glad I got married in Vegas.” Then it was over, I looked at my watch, and it was quicker than mine! I could not belive it. Sorry I didnt stay for the reception, but all that roll tide stuff caused a bit of nausea. I was going to put a hog sticker on the Xterra, but my wife appeared on my shoulder and talked me out of it.
I entertained the idea of going to the Smokies this weekend, but my backpacking gear is limited/old, and I figured the front country sites would be a mad house. Have fun, and eat a trout for me!
WOOPIG!!
Jason
Jason,
Should have added that pig sticker. I wrote in a big War Eagle on Dewayne’s driver’s side. Not to mention the entire Xterra was covered in bull head drawings (private joke…don’t ask) that made it look like Dewayne is a Texas fan. There was some revenge involved. It felt good.
I fully expect to have company at our backcountry site, but it shouldn’t be anything compared to the frontcountry campgrounds. Should be able to find a little bit of solitude anyway. Plus, we’re heading up on Thursday, so we should at least have a day or two of quiet. Take care,
hawgdaddy
Well if I would have seen all that, I would have put a few pigs on there. When I passed by it, there was only Just married on the back. Was not sure if a sticker would have been proper.
At one wedding when I was a youngster, a guy told us to put watermelon rinds under the wheels. His theory was the car would simply sit in place, wheels spinning on the slick rinds. Reality saw watermelon rind shrapnel rocketing out behind the car into the waiting crowd.
Awesome.
Sorry I missed the festivities (in Mobile during the nuptials), and doubly sorry I missed Jason in a suit…
Your rods are looking good. I like the feather inlays. I have read about them but you don’t see them on bamboo rods. I have thought about putting one on a rod tube. I am one that is never satisfied with plane and simple I always want to try something new. Have fun in the smokies. Where planing to move and I want to make one more trip to the Little River before we do.
Matthew,
I mostly enjoy a “classic” look on rods, but I do like the feather inlays on plastic rods. Lends them a classiness they otherwise seem to lack. I have seen a few feather inlays on bamboo rods, but I’m not crazy about them. I prefer a simple signature wrap or even just a winding check wrap. Russ Gooding at Goldenwitch sometimes places feather inlays on his bamboo rods. He does great work, but I’m still not crazy about the feather inlays on bamboo.
Thanks for the compliment. I feel like I’ve come a long way since doing that rod for you a while back. I hope you’re moving where the mountains are high, the air is clear and trout swim the streams. Take care,
Nathan
Nathan,
Did you have a shivaree for Insane and (suitably) blushing bride? In the Maritimes, they still do it up right — only the greatest stealth permits the married couple to escape.
Kudos on the rods. I’ll bet the fellow with the bamboo rod is sweating now — what sort of feathers will you use?
Reed
Reed,
No shivaree, but we did something almost as good. We painted Insane’s Xterra with all sorts of innuendo inappropriate for women and children and sent them on their way amidst a shower of sudsy bubbles.
I have it direct from the source that the fellow with the bamboo rod is apparently not sweating it out, although he quite possibly should be. I’m not sure which feathers to use. What do you think about ‘possum feathers?
Nathan
Do buzzards have cdc feathers?
Guys,
I’ll just say, I’m in Jamaica right now and you’re not….The Xterra is already bathed and back to new! MMMMMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Deep Sea fishing Friday morning, so I’ll try to take a few pics. Katie says don’t mess with “her” Xterra anymore!!!
Hawgdaddy,
Have me a cup of coffee waiting on Tuesday, I’ll need it….The inner bull is worn down!
later,
Insane
Insane,
Just give us the phone number of your room and we’ll call when our flight arrives in Mobay! We’ll all bring sleeping bags – Katie won’t even know we are in the room (shhh!).
Plan on it, we’ll bring the coffee, but you pay the bar bill!
sooner,
Nathan
FYI,
The above comment was perpetrated by our friend Reed. He apparently had too much coffee and conceived this idea to scare Insane a little. He told me to discreetly delete it, but I found it too funny to send into comment oblivion.
hawgdaddy
hawgdaddy,
I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself!
Have the remains of Insane arrived in the office?
Reed
Reed,
Of course not. Insane called in “sick” today. He played it up really well. In his best sickly, gruff voice, “Hey, man, I just don’t feel good…[cough weakly]…I don’t think I’ll be in.”
hawgdaddy
He must have gotten to close to some of the local Jamacian trees!!
…uuuuuuuuhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmm………
cough…..cough…!
Must have been something in the water…..I think we will pull through, maybe another day or two will do it….
….uuuummmmmhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…..
someone get the stringer….I mean, I need some more bed rest!