CFFC Arts of the Angler Show & Auction Nov. 6&7 2010

I will be exhibiting at the CFFC 'Arts of the Angler' show in Danbury, CT this coming November 6&7. I attended this show for the first time last year and was very impressed with the quality and feeling of the show, so this year have opted to set up a table exhibiting my rods and techniques. There will also be an auction as part of this show which I will help to coordinate. Items available will be viewable on the CFFC & Museum website this fall before the auction. There will be one of my brand new rods, most likely an 834-2 df HB (six strip) as part of this auction. Provision will be made for mail-in bids and phone bids for those of you unable to attend. Please check the CFFC website this fall for more specifics. I am excited to be part of this auction since it will be a true 'live' auction with the opportunity to actually view the items being bid on, unlike what has happened lately with all-internet-only auctions.

John McDaniel and 23" + Rainbow from the Henry's Fork, July 2010. Photo by Gary Franke

Latest Version of the 834-2 df HB Special

On our recent trip out west I was testing the latest incarnation of my spliced joint 834-2 df Special and spent some time with my old friend John McDaniel. John is a well known angler and guide on the Henry's Fork of the Snake River in Idaho. Before we headed home, I asked John if he would be good enough to keep the two spliced joint 834-2 df Specials I had brought with me and spend some time fishing them as I was eager to get his opinion on the rods after actually fishing them extensively. This would be particularly valuable to me because of John's expertise and knowledge as well as the demanding nature of the fishing on the Railroad Ranch section of the Henry's Fork. The photograph above is of a beautiful, deep, 23 1/4" Rainbow John caught using one of the rods I left with him. Following are some quotes from John excerpted from a letter he sent me about fishing one of the rods:

"I have invested 24 hours of actual casting time on the Ranch with the '2010 rod', the one with the bright reel seat, and hooked 10 big fish. (See the photo for an indication of Ranch fish quality this year. The fish in the photo was 23 1/4 inches long, and 5 3/4 inches deep. As you can see, the fish holds the depth for most of its length. I must admit I was tense as fish the size of the one in the photo took me well into the backing as I held the light rod. No problems with any of the strong, athletic fish.

The word that comes to me when I describe the rod to other anglers - who always wander over to see what I am doing when I wrap the sections of it together in the parking lot - is 'effortless.' I feel like I am expending no energy when I cast. After a month of casting a four weight plastic rod, there is no question I can achieve a more delicate presentation with your rod.

What has been astounding has been the way this rod allows me to drive the line into the fierce winds we have had in the last week. I was shocked by the manner in which the rod propelled the long (eighteen foot) leader under the wind. It seems uncanny the way the rod provides a final surge of power at the end of the cast."

John has written a book about his experiences over many years fishing the Railroad Ranch and this book should be published soon.