Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} An interesting evening at the Tidal Basin
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Carl Zmola
Apr 29, 2012, 3:49:52 PM4/29/12
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On 04/27/2012 10:42 AM, Aaron O wrote:
> P.S. The rod did a great job and I'm very happy with it. The
> only hick up is that the older rod does not have as smooth action due
> to friction from the line going through the loops as the new ones do.
> If anyone has any suggestions on that, or any other tips on
> maintenance of an old bamboo rod, please let me know. Thanks
Aaron, Congratulations on the catches. Those catfish are great fun on
a fly rod, aren't they.
As to the "action" of your old rod. If the guides are rusted or pitted,
you should probably avoid using it. The old guides will act like
sandpaper or little knives on your fly line and really tear it up fast.
The test someone has told me is if you can pass pantyhose through the
guide without it snagging, it is ok. If it snags and causes a run, you
shouldn't use it. I've never tested it because I don't have old nylons
hanging around.
This rod probably isn't worth putting new guides on, but that is the
solution. Cutting off the old guides and putting new chrome plated
snake guides on.
If you want to try and smooth the existing guides, I would try fine
steel wool to get rid of the rust and pitted areas.
For advise on care of old bamboo rods and just some background on the
type of rod you have, search the old posts on Clarks Classic Rod forum.
http://classicflyrodforum.com/forum/index.php
Carl
> P.S. The rod did a great job and I'm very happy with it. The
> only hick up is that the older rod does not have as smooth action due
> to friction from the line going through the loops as the new ones do.
> If anyone has any suggestions on that, or any other tips on
> maintenance of an old bamboo rod, please let me know. Thanks
Aaron, Congratulations on the catches. Those catfish are great fun on
a fly rod, aren't they.
As to the "action" of your old rod. If the guides are rusted or pitted,
you should probably avoid using it. The old guides will act like
sandpaper or little knives on your fly line and really tear it up fast.
The test someone has told me is if you can pass pantyhose through the
guide without it snagging, it is ok. If it snags and causes a run, you
shouldn't use it. I've never tested it because I don't have old nylons
hanging around.
This rod probably isn't worth putting new guides on, but that is the
solution. Cutting off the old guides and putting new chrome plated
snake guides on.
If you want to try and smooth the existing guides, I would try fine
steel wool to get rid of the rust and pitted areas.
For advise on care of old bamboo rods and just some background on the
type of rod you have, search the old posts on Clarks Classic Rod forum.
http://classicflyrodforum.com/forum/index.php
Carl
Birdman
Apr 30, 2012, 6:42:41 AM4/30/12
to Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders
Pulling a dryer sheet through your rod guides can both show you if
there are nicks AND lubricate them. Use a new dryer sheet to lube the
guides, and a used one to test for nicks... (If you are fishing very
sensitive trout, might the fairly powerful artificial scent put them
off after many casts? Snakehead and cats won't mind... Any thoughts?).
If you still want nylons, dollar stores have cheap stockings, and they
are useful for many things.
I've found steel wool too messy and ineffective for smoothing rough
guides. Try 1200 then 1800 weight automotive sandpaper but watch the
varnish on the rod (though, really, such fine paper won't do much
other than take a bit of gloss off). Roll a small piece of the paper
up then use very lightly, like a file. Change angles, think like a fly
line, and go slow. Still won't polish the guides, but the rust and
nicks will be worked down substantially.
Tight Lines!
Mark
there are nicks AND lubricate them. Use a new dryer sheet to lube the
guides, and a used one to test for nicks... (If you are fishing very
sensitive trout, might the fairly powerful artificial scent put them
off after many casts? Snakehead and cats won't mind... Any thoughts?).
If you still want nylons, dollar stores have cheap stockings, and they
are useful for many things.
I've found steel wool too messy and ineffective for smoothing rough
guides. Try 1200 then 1800 weight automotive sandpaper but watch the
varnish on the rod (though, really, such fine paper won't do much
other than take a bit of gloss off). Roll a small piece of the paper
up then use very lightly, like a file. Change angles, think like a fly
line, and go slow. Still won't polish the guides, but the rust and
nicks will be worked down substantially.
Tight Lines!
Mark
Aaron O
Apr 30, 2012, 7:17:00 AM4/30/12
to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com
Thanks for the information, I will double check the loops but from first glance I do not see any rust or dents. This pole has spent the last 50+ years in it's original case in a basement. I don't think it was ever used until now. UI will definately check out your suggestions.
Aaron
On a side note, Were you both able to read my whole story about the events on that night (the parts before the P.S.) ? After writting and then posting it, It looks like someone deleted it from the forum on two occasions. It has not shown up on my computer at all but both of you guys seemed to have seen atleast part of it. Nothing on it seemed inappropriate to me in any way but I don't know why else it would have been removed.
Daniel Davala
Apr 30, 2012, 7:34:18 AM4/30/12
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Aaron,
Your post got caught in the "moderator's cue" for some reason, kind of like when a non-spam email gets stuck in a spam filter. It looked like you had made the same (duplicate) post several times with only minor modifications, trying to get it to post. Many times when a post gets stuck in moderation, a poster will make several attempts in a row and they all stack up waiting for approval. Usually, I will just scan to see if that is the case and allow the latest one through rather than posting all of them to avoid multiple/duplicate posts. There was nothing inappropriate at all, my apologies if something was left out or if the posts were in fact, all different. They looked 99% the same to me. I definitely do not and will not ever "edit" anything written by a member. I thought it was a great story too, by the way!
Dan Davala
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Aaron O
Apr 30, 2012, 7:44:12 AM4/30/12
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Hey Dan,
Thanks for the heads up and welcome back, Hope that were trips went well. BTW Thats exactly what I did (posted once, noticed it did not post after a couple hours and posted again.) And I thought fishermen were suppost to have patience... think again :)
I just love the sitcomy but true idea that some family in another country has a photo of me posing with a fish and I couldn't get the same photo.
See ya,
Aaron
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Daniel Davala
Apr 30, 2012, 7:46:28 AM4/30/12
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Maybe we can find their travel blog and download the photo!
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Gmail
Apr 30, 2012, 7:51:50 AM4/30/12
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I will call my aunt and uncle and get the pics.
Aaron O
Apr 30, 2012, 8:18:25 AM4/30/12
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LOL!!!!!
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GBurgFisher
Apr 30, 2012, 10:29:58 AM4/30/12
to Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders
Aaron
Your rod was likely built for use with silk fly lines and has much
smaller guides than a modern rod. Silk lines, the predecessor of the
aerodynamic PVC floatillas most of us are launching today, are thinner
and guides were smaller to match. You have a few options. Buy an
expensive high maintenance silk line. Pick up a cortland sylk line
which is a made to imitate silk and as such has a thinner diameter. Or
you could strip, re-wrap, and revarnish the rod with larger guides.
I've refinished several older rods. It's a rewarding but time
consuming venture. If you want to go that route I would be happy to
provide some insight on steps, etc. Just shoot me an email.
Andrew
Your rod was likely built for use with silk fly lines and has much
smaller guides than a modern rod. Silk lines, the predecessor of the
aerodynamic PVC floatillas most of us are launching today, are thinner
and guides were smaller to match. You have a few options. Buy an
expensive high maintenance silk line. Pick up a cortland sylk line
which is a made to imitate silk and as such has a thinner diameter. Or
you could strip, re-wrap, and revarnish the rod with larger guides.
I've refinished several older rods. It's a rewarding but time
consuming venture. If you want to go that route I would be happy to
provide some insight on steps, etc. Just shoot me an email.
Andrew
Aaron O
May 2, 2012, 9:52:49 AM5/2/12
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Andrew,
Thanks for the info. Your exactly right. The loops are smaller and that makes perfect sense about the silk lines. I guess I will put this pole on the back burner for a while. With this being such an old pole and my fathers to bat, I don't see myself re-looping it. I may try and set up some kind of display since I also have the original flies in the wooden case and the original case for the pole. I will keep my eyes out for one of the cortland silk lines for future use.
If anyone is curious, I could bring the flies to the next Beer Tie if anyone wants to see them. They have never been used and most look in good shape but considering the age I don't see myself using them. Let me know,
Aaron
Dalton Terrell
May 2, 2012, 10:12:47 AM5/2/12
to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com
You might want to contact Rod & Reel Repair in Arlington, he can certainly replace the guides. It is run by an older fellow with supposedly not so stable hours, so call before you go, but he apparently does good work for extremely low prices. I have not used his services, but he has come highly recommended here before.
Dalton
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