Building The Rodfather Brookie [drc #4 9ft 3wt 4 pc Fast ~ ERN 3.4 AA 67°] 26Oct20

With temps dipping to 0° and 5" of snow I hunkered down inside and finished the drc#4, aka the Rodfather Brookie. This is a custom built 9ft 3wt 4 piece rod built from a Rainshadow Revelation RX7 medium fast blank with matte charcoal coloring, a nickel silver REC NBS uplocking reel seat with removable fighting butt and Cal buckeye burl insert, and chrome stripping & snake guides & tip top. I wrapped it just as the Rodfather Cutty but in matching charcoal & silver, with spirals on the ferrules and thin accents on the guides and hopeful 16", 19" & 22" length markers. As described prior, I fashioned a disturbing spiral pattern into a custom full wells grip to match this rod. All in, parts are <$200 but with my time and vision, this thing is priceless. :) I've mated the GF Brookie 3wt to a Lamson Guru III 1.5 reel in silver loaded with SA Mastery MPX line, which weighs 1543 grains (first 30 ft) ~ this actually might be a little much for the  Brookie as when remeasured finished its 36" deflection point still occurs with just 30 cents, or 1160 grains. Mastery MPX lines are a half line weight heavy (3t is 1280 grains) so I may need to seek a lighter 3 weight as the Brookie is a nearly righteous 3 weight rod. When the snow clears I will know... nonetheless, it is light and balanced perfectly and swings sweetly. While I don't imbibe while rod-building, a little completion celebration was warranted and I chose the 4 Noses Science Project brewed with undisclosed experimental hops... hazy tastiness with a smidge of sweetness and floral nose.

 

Here are some images from the build out process and components. The REC reel seat with butt is cool and almost disappears into the similarly colored granite above... uh, that's by photography design yo. The grip was built from sectioned-glued-sliced cork rings in burnt and regular and then assembled on the mandrel in my vise with a tiny offset when adding each ring to the stack. I then turned the grip in my lathe into my favored full wells shape. The blank, guides and thread arrived and I could start wrapping.

The Physics Of Fly Rod Systems 21Oct20

"What you measure will change." But, will it really, if it's all just unadulterated physics and behavior is not involved? I regularly track stuff and results change but humans, often I, are involved. Here measurement needs to be fully objective, allow comparison and is pursued to document and understand. We may cast differently but we can find a common measure in spite of our style differences. "If you cannot measure it, if you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind." - Lord Kelvin.

I agree with Lord Kelvin and have been frustrated as a fly fisherman and custom fly rod builder that buying and specifying a fly rod, reel and fly line as a system can not be more objectively constructed. Aren't you too? It's not about what "feels" best for you really - it's what a rod will optimally cast - there is a balance, pace, and power in an assembled system which you as the caster must accommodate... or assemble something different, but it is objective and determinant when optimal. Let's go through this. Every fly fisherman has seen this classic "graph" (never posted with actual measures - just notions and marketing - WTF is "power factor?"). The 2nd image is from Orvis who somewhat characterizes the design/flex of their rods - but not with disclosed objective measurements.

So, we need to get down to real physics, and real empirical measurements, to determine how a given rod, loaded with a given line, will perform. Mainly that is to say, find what line will optimally load a specific rod to allow its longest cast, if you are able. Sure, buy the rod (with specs) and line (recommended for your rod) that meet your needs, but we should not have to guess how the combo may work. I wish I could demystify rod-line system performance for commercial manufacturers but they will obfuscate with marketing forever - or maybe they don't really know what I, and now you soon, know. The shape a rod makes under load is determined by two related factors: the stiffness of the body, its Intrinsic Power, IP (which is set by material and taper design) and the flex of the tip, its Action Angle, AA (also set by material and tip taper design). Here are the secrets/measurements...

1. IP - casts are longest/optimal when the weight of the first 30 feet of fly line (one doesn't cast a fly, one casts the line) is equal to the weight needed to deflect the tip of the rod 1/3 of its length.

2. AA - the angle struck by the (non-flexing) tip top at the deflection point above determines the "action" of the rod (very fast >70, fast 66-70, moderate fast 63-66, moderate 59-63, or slow <59). [Dr William Hannemann invented this most righteous measurement].
   

It is as simple as that - all rods should be marked with these two measurements (completely objectively measured) and we'd all cast better and choose set ups more wisely.  I've measured my entire quiver of rods, commercial and custom, and present them below. I use Effective Rod Number (basically real IP) for the measurement I took by actually measuring the weight required to deflect the rod tip 1/3 it's length.

Some things jump out.... Especially for very fast rods, weight designations are understated regularly; my six weight Orvis Helios measures out as optimally loaded by a 7 wt line and my "5 wt" Sage X could bear a 6 or 7 wt line. Even my 2 wt is more like a 4 wt in strength, despite it being the slowest rod in my quiver (though a half inch was snapped off the tip and that may have changed it's performance from the original). Fly lines are held to comply with AFTMA standards and if a rod manufacturer says their rod is a 5 wt, then a mid-spec AFTMA 5 wt line would weigh 140 grains and implies an Intrinsic Power (IP = 10*line weight + 60*AFTMA #) of 1700 grains for the rod. A rod of lower measured IP would be under-powered to throw the 5 wt line and conversely a rod of higher measured IP could be cast more efficiently with a heavier line. My measured ERN could be similarly stated in grains and is a comparable, but observed measure. Since rods (and blanks) are marked with line weight, I used that as my Y axis. Rods are not marked with objective measurements to my knowledge, except for my Rodfather series henceforth. Here's my Rube Goldberg setup to take measurements. I'm using Hanneman's Common Cents approach - I know how much a penny weighs (for strength, IP, or ERN) and if my rod tip top is level when undeflected then the angle struck at 1/3 length indicates measured action (AA).

Mates know I cast the shit out of any given system I wield... so aggressively in fact that I'm believed not capable of a Euro-nymphing day ~ frankly thus far that's proven true. I find the power curve of a rod - that is for what they are designed ~ even when cranking a 1 weight on remote creeks.

Cold Blooded Cannibals - On The PT 21Oct20

I tested the PT again today. Gorgeous fall day on the Front Range; it's one of several fall days we'll have in the Rockies (two days from now the low will be 7° and snowing). Fishing was similar to my last outing, I caught mostly fry like these and saw no sign of the "real" fish despite good BWO and midge hatches. Flows are still right at ~100cfs but turbidity of water is evident from lake turnover. So where are the big boys & girls? My assessment is that they are eating their fill of the fry and ignore all bugs, as that's beneath them right now ~ after all, trout are cold blooded cannibals at the end of the day. The fry included rainbow and both Scottish and German browns ~ I should look up what CO F&G has done here as to stocking (why we still do this is a bit beyond my ichthyology understanding I guess). So, the PT is not ready except for those fishing trout-like streamers, crayfish and leeches - which I will do on my next trip to this area. My sense is the pre-spawn browns on the freestone Ark would be much more fun right now - gotta make the longer trip.

 

 

I left very early and blew out the sprinkler system in COS. I stopped at Coaltrain on the way for a load of beers while here on the Front Range. I scored some great DDH hazies from Cerebral; highly recommended. And, "it's back;" the experimental dankness from La Cumbre for autumn 2020, Project Dank is as ever, superb (I didn't even buy them out this season so get some while you can).

Reina Del Cid And Dynamic Range 19Oct20

I've now listened to almost all of Reina Del Cid's CDs (that is, Cordova's original songs) as well as many of their Sunday covers and collaborations on YouTube. I'd call most of the original material Americana at core but it rocks. The playing is great; what fine accompanists her mates are, especially Toni Lindgren. Rachel's singing is gorgeous start to finish each time. And, the writing is even better, what forward, frank and bittersweet love is offered ~ she's truth-telling observations and therefore only a smidge vulnerable, but some. Spectacular works.

I also measured the dynamic range of all the tracks (one CD still in the mail) and find the production refreshingly void of loudness manipulation. Not unexpected for bare acoustic work, but still sweet to encounter. The exception is Rerun City - a more "rock" sound with full drums and lots of electricity ~ she must've manipulated on this one, but returned to form thankfully on Morse Code. Not that Rerun City is bad, just studio modified rock vs more pure acoustic. Too, we know the disruptive models she's using to produce and distribute - which is remarkable as the quality is very high. Reina Del Cid is unencumbered in so many ways.

UPDATE 25Oct20 - The Cooling CD arrived and as expected, it is excellent. But also, being produced in a more rock styling at Pachyderm Studios, does have loudness elevation applied. Not a big deterrent to listening as again, you get RdC and all the singing, playing and writing. 

Rodfather Previews The Brookie In New Shades 17Oct20

I'm workin' on another 9' fast action 4 piece fly rod - a 3 weight - The Brookie. Here's a preview of the new tool outfitted with a Lamson Guru III 1.5. The blank is a Rainshadow Revelation in charcoal and I'm reprising use of the keen REC nickel reel seat, but this time with a matching California Buckeye Burl insert. It's all beige, charcoal and chrome/silver. The "disturbed spiral" custom grip on this rod was turned down today after much sectioning and strategic gluing of burnt and natural cork. Yeah, I'm sporting the brand t-shirt and some new ('cept for the lenses) Costas ~ my Mantras finally started deteriorating and I had to repurpose the 'scrip lenses into a new pair. Timing was key as Mantras have recently been discontinued; the only frame I could score was black. NP - better than buying a new shape and paying more.

The PT Is Not Ready 15Oct20

I figured with "fall" conditions from a low pressure system, the PT would be worthy. It's not ready and there are things I hate about this place. Turbidity was high & viz was bad, as while flows seemed stable by the data, they seemed higher to my eye; others must've thought fall was here too as it was a smidge crowded out of Nature Center. Fishing was < meh as a result, just footlongs like this; mostly caught on Purple Reign. No sign of browns on redds; not even a sign of fall breeding redds (of course there are no brook trout here). Again on the Arkansas as yesterday on the So Platte, I saw and caught a bunch of fingerlings (stocking?) and it was kindof of a pain. Though - It might've been why this "guy" was fishing there right with me. Maybe that's why many other humans were there too - back east we had mobs on stocking days as the PA fish & game at the time managed too many streams as stock and eat, which was weak. Anyway... another thing I hate is the disrespect, especially in the St Pk, the image is of the junk I gathered and tossed was just within 15' of my parked car at Valco. WTF are folks thinking?

 

 

Fall In 11 Mile Canyon 14Oct20

I didn't fall in, it's fall and I was on the So Platte in the 11 Mile Canyon section. Flows were kicked up to ~120cfs, so that's good; the bottom of the river is choked with skunge, so that's bad; the browns are on their redds getting randy, so that's good; it is still a pretty crowded place and I did not get to fish a number of notable spots, so that's bad; it was a gorgeous day, so that's good. I caught a number of fish but didn't film but one due to battery outage. Here's a nice 17" cutty  caught on Jimi's Axe. The cutbows & rainbows were about this size too and again on the keen purple & black starling bug. I missed one really nice larger cutthroat who threw my bug. In total strangeness I caught several fingerlings today - that's never happened to me in 11 Mile. I picked up ORB's Azacca Solo Series IPA for my October allotment - very good, especially in a sublime environment like 11 mile Canyon in fall.

The Week With Jim And Visiting Boulder & Summit 09Oct20-11Oct20

I completed the Yoho-trifecta with a round of golf with him and Wilkes in Lafayette. Warm but fine day on the links. Prior days were riding and fishing.

After dining and gaming with Tom & Les in Boulder that evening, Kala & I headed to Summit for errands. I put the sails away on Mon Ami before an early fall storm rolled in and dumped a wet 6" on us.

Rainbow Falls With Andy Holley & Yoho 08Oct20

Jim and I were hosted by Andy Holley today at Rainbow Falls Mountain Trout private water. Wow. We caught many good fish on the stream sourced from a spring and as an effluent from their pond structure. The stream is like many steps down over tiny falls and good holes. While it was pretty crowded, Andy directed us sharply to great spots and while the water was low and slow, it was cool enough and feeding fish were observed all day. There's a ton of fish biomass at this place. I mainly caught rainbows, including a couple 20"ers, on #22 CDC BWOs. Plenty of times I thought I needed my bigger net but couldn't carry it as we were simply wet wading and I didn't have "the belt." I did catch one nice brown ~18". I caught the 1st big fish on my 4th cast of the day on a purple reign midge and my Godfather Cutthroat snapped during the end of the fight. While I still landed him with a broken rod, I am pretty disappointed in the flawed blank. There were no etchings on it as it was just the 4th good cast of its life. Hmmm. I used the Sage One for the rest of the day, without incident. We had a number of double hookups but not any triples.This was a really fun day fishing; thanks Andy! Of course we took him to Cerberus once back in town. Now, what to do about the drc #3?

 

UPDATE 14Oct20... CTS NewZealand acknowldged the flaw in the blank and will replace it. The vendor is recovering my guides but still, I have to rebuild that section. We'll see; I was SO hopeful of that blank and I may need to find an alternate.