Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Soft Snow But Crowds & Cool - Skiing With Dave & Bill 29Dec21

Dave Sheldon and I met at Valdoro (his condo club spot) for indoor parking @ Breck and then met up with Bill Alexander at the bottom of Beaver Run. We skied many spots on good snow @ Breck but the lines got pretty long pretty fast. Bill left for afternoon work but Dave & I headed over to try the new Freedom lift off Pk 7, only to find it's line wasn't 0 minutes (probably just not integrated into the system yet), it was more like 15 mins in the singles line itself. Good day with young friends on a rare Coffin outing during holiday week but often crowded, cold and windy too.



Sunday, December 26, 2021

Christmas @ The Nest 26Dec21

Matt & Alexa came to the Nest for Christmas. We had a great time with a Dave dinner, Christmas Catan, gifts (including installing Alexa's crossbars and ski rack), spa, Zoom call with Letha, and more. Christmas day was nice weather for driving but the return trip was in snow again. Merry Christmas.


Friday, December 24, 2021

Real Snow On Christmas Eve 24Dec21

We are up in Summit to have Christmas and catch some runs - the plan sure worked as it's snow continuously since yesterday PM and today we awoke to over a foot of fresh! Good too because there have been precious few storms this season thus far. I hit Keystone and donned the low light Native goggles for a day, finally, in soft, and real, snow. I got some rope drops with deep stuff but the KS early trail system is such that to get them one needed to take the 2nd half via a road. Oh well. Heading home was a nightmare through Dillon as I70E closed and Dillon Ridge shopping center was mobbed with shoppers on the day before Christmas ~ CO 6 down the hill and into Silverthorne was mobbed and slow go. I got gas and probably improved my time being able to go through the shopping center. I got there finally and was thankful that the plow guy we use was just finishing up. Finally some good snow, though heavy and pretty crowded for CO.

It's still snowing pretty hard but before lightfall I cleared 14" off the deck and cleaned off the spa cover. I just bought an all plastic shovel to do the spa in hopes of not damaging the cover. The good news is that this is a solid test of the "snow melting" feature of my spa cover and it works. In a dumper like this it does not melt it all but the surface is warmed enough to clear some and keep the immediate contact layer water-like so clearing the rest doesn't require working ice. I'm pleased; it's recommended


Thursday, December 23, 2021

Blodgett Pk Is On Fire 22Dec21-23Dec21

Sheesh. We head for the mountains and the "fun" begins. On the 22nd a fire broke out on Blodgett Pk right near our house. We received pre-evacuation notices. We've already been rejected for home insurance and this won't help. It is being slurry-bombed and water bombed and contained to <1 acre so we are probably fine, but yeah. Our neighbors and freinds in Peregrine 'hood were all planning to come to Summit for an "our houses burned down" party but so for it isn't so.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Skiing With Dave & Alexa On The Solstice 21Dec21

When Kala and I arrived in Summit we faced an IT nightmare. Worst situation was the hot water heater (which also heats the radiant) was down - it would not ignite. We got through day one with fireplaces and pot belly stoves but had to warm water on the stove to wash. I checked it out and narrowed it to the ignition system but fortunately the Slopeside guys checked the igniter and replaced it. We have heat! Dave Sheldon came to spend the night Tue for some runs at KS on Wed. We had a great visit with fish tacos and IPAs, and of course music training on the NestT. We skied everything that was open, including a fallacious run down to the Ranger lift (thinking we could go further. It was a nice day with even some runs down North Pk trails (which were cooler but less crowded). About noon we caught up with Alexa Schwartz and her friend for more bombs down Dercum. Good day but EpicMix shorted me all the PM runs down and it can't be fixed anymore.

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Rodfather Quiver Update And More Musing On Fly Rod Measurements 20Dec21

Much has changed over 2021 in the Coffin quiver of fly rods. I have built many, sold some, and gifted some. For my quiver it's a never-ending "task" to fashion a complete set of fast graphite weapons for any water I am likely to approach - that all look cool AF and perform similarly, meaning they are Rodfather custom rods I've made. I fear though that I am there. I have go to entries (shown in green) for rods from 1wt to 6wt and many have manufactured backups (shown in blue) if one were to be out of rotation for repair. These are augmented by several specialty rods in addition, all Rodfather versions (shown in red). Specialties include: a two-handed micro-spey rod, a euro-nymphing rod, and a 10' 5wt mending demon rod, and finally the un-special super-special rod, the Rodfather Colorado, an ultra-cool universal use ERN 6 weapon that can do anything from small dries to heavy nymphs to big streamers all on the same day. But how do I know these things in advance of field trial? As to weights in hand, and swing weights, my rods are a skosh heavier than manufactured rods (of the same line number) - but cooler and often more capable. Anyway, that's the current lineup as we bridge years.  

All this above is well and good. Yet, in addition, I "like" fly rod kits that are balanced well (center of mass) to the front 1/4 of the handle where my index finger acts as the fulcrum on casts. And I "like" rods which have a tip action angle of 68°-72° 'causing those to toss the line sweetest and truest. And I "like" lines very well matched to a given rod's power, for distance. But why? I am a guy who believes true objective measurements of physical systems capture expected performance... there is no "feel" or "what you like" in being the best or optimal. I know I am missing a measurement of fly rods (systems really ~ meaning including reel and line) that can lead me to a more complete definition of objective performance... that is swing weight. While I know the total weight and balance points of my fly rod systems (and that is not shown in the graph above at all, though I do have it elsewhere) it is extremely important but insufficient. I want to capture the effort needed to cast optimally with a properly loaded and well balanced system objectively. I know absolutely from experience that some comparable weight and speed rods which are "properly" balanced & loaded are "easier" for me to cast. I will ignore line slickness and guide sliperiness for the time being and only use smooth variants of the same SA lines in measuring. I am approaching my next measurement step as a static mechanical measurement, despite knowing the system is fabulously dynamic. I am studying the physics and ways to measure swing weight but have not yet landed on an acceptable static model. Too, I need it to be simple... as ERN and AA are simple objective measures for fly rods which immediately provide the exact line weight line you should buy to load the rod well. I will also delve more deeply into balance and the need to buy the right reel (just weight-wise) to make carrying and casting "likable," aka the least effort. This is all research and, of course, measurements, for next time.

Monday, December 20, 2021

Building The Rodfather Headwaters [drc #14 6'6" 4pc 2wt FAST] 20Dec21

With the RFEC matching the RF4A well (same blank vendor, color, and similar action), they'll serve as gifts this season. I went back to the design lathe for a 2wt to add back to my quiver, 'cause who can be without such a versatile stream & alpine lake tool? Enter the Rodfather Headwaters, again a 6.5' 4pc like Jim's but this time based on an alternative Chinese blank (just to try something new); the Revelation is an IM7 graphite piece and is a smidge lighter. Compared to Jim's RFEC built out though, the RFHW is ~1oz heavier due to primarily my handle choice. It is still just 2.8oz, but that's equal to Andy's RF4A 3wt which is a heaver blank, uses the same reel seat, and is 1'3" longer. Lesson: the coolest custom handles I turn are ~1oz heavier than regular cork rings and should be reserved for 4wt and higher rods. The RFHW measures out as a true fast 2 wt at ERN of 2.8 and, despite intermediate modulus graphite, an AA of 68° It's matte dark grey. I turned a custom full wells handle for this and mated it to the same reel seat as I discovered for Andy's 4A ~ a nice piece sporting a channeled maple insert. I also discretely picked a set of 7 chromed single foot guides from Batson Forecast for light weight and matched those with a chrome Forecast stripping guide, tip top, hook holder and winding check. Had to go to Netcraft in OH though to get this stuff (post-script, I still prefer Snake). I wrapped the whole thing out in a sharp contrasting Colorado sunshine yellow color-stable nylon. This is an ultralight beauty and right balanced when mated to the matte black Sage Click ultralight click & pawl reel with Rio Trout LT DT2F. I'll need to run short leaders to cast sharply with only 6.5' of rod but that makes it all the easier to dodge willows and shoot under brush. I still managed line fantastically and made over 35ft super clean in the back yard - it is a fast rod but loads fine above 10 ft of DT 2wt and it remarkably light outfitted with the Click reel. It won't see true field use till the headwaters' streams (10 Mile, Blue in Breck, Ark below Leadville, etc.) or the alpine lakes (Mohawk, RMNP, etc.) open up next spring/summer, but I am confident of performance from test sessions. I built a new smallish acrylic tube and bought a sock that I cut down to size; Kala resewed it nicely. The RFHW is ready for hiking  to the smalls... and so are Jim & Andy. Completion was celebrated with a fine brew from Weldworks - a DDH variant of their fine Juicy Bits.


Saturday, December 18, 2021

Building The Rodfather El Cheapo [6'6" 4pc 2wt] 18Dec21

What's the least expensive graphite rod I can make? With some gifting desired for Yoho's quiver, a down weight rod is appropriate. I sought a new objective in rod-building...  what's worthy of our smallest waters and is pretty low cost. So, think 10 Mile Ck along I70, or the very headwaters of the Ark, or RMNP streams draining the glaciers, or even Grape Ck. So, for ~$60 in parts, I built the Rodfather El Cheapo for Jim. The components include a Chinese 6'6" matte green 4 piece 2 weight high modulus fast graphite blank, a cool Chinese aluminum gunmetal real seat with "blonde" cork insert, a pre-turned reverse wells cork handle, and a gunmetal guide kit. This thing is ultralight and righteously fast and while roll casting won't be too great, he can wend his way through any kind of streamside brush. I finished El Cheapo with electric green thread to work with the dark green matte coloring. The rig measures out at an ERN of 2.8 and is pretty damn fast at an AA of 72°; it is also well balanced as I stayed very light in the reel seat area and click & pawl reels are just feathers. The completed rod weighs just 1.75 oz. Strange such a short rod wasn't made as a 3 pc but the ferrules don't seem to deaden the action at all. I even found leftover plexiglass tubing for a rod tube. I think the objective was well met but Jim still needs to load it up and get some time on the streams.



Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Building The Rodfather 4A [7'9" 4pc 3wt] 02Dec21-15Dec21

I wanted a gift for Andy Holley to thank him for taking me to Rainbow Falls this year. I haven't seen him wield a 3 wt yet so I built the 7'9" Rodfather 4A for him. This is the first Rodfather to leave my own quiver. The RF4A is drc #13, a righteously fast (AA 77°) and strong (ERN 3.9) matte green 3 weight weapon that I hope he enjoys. I based it on a Chinese graphite blank so it's not a very expensive build, except of course if you consider my time and mad skills. It'd mate well with an inexpensive reel like the Piscifun Sword 3/4 (in balance pic) loaded with a "heavy" 3 wt line like the SA Mastery MPX or Amplitude Infinity. One keen aspect of the 4A is that, because Andy is a fly tyer, I dyed and embedded two grizzly hackle feathers onto the rod near the handle and signage. I used inexpensive and light single foot guides mostly, and chose a light aluminum reel seat with maple insert. The handle is a simple cigar of decent cork rings with a mayfly burned into the top. The whole thing is wrapped with electric green thread which kind of disappears under the epoxy. No fighting butt this time ~ I've never seen Andy use one. Rod balance is good (with the Sword reel) and casting is powerful and very smooth for a smaller rod... it'll be perfect for anything from SPlatte in 11 Mile Canyon to Gore Ck in Vail to the Ark headwaters below Fremont Pass.


Monday, December 13, 2021

Best Fish of 2021 13Dec21

Here are the best fish I caught this year so far. I've had a strong but not epic year with many fish over 20 inches. I hit a couple triples, landed a number of 23" cutbows, and scored my first Palomino.

Spawning 20" Male CutBow On Ark Mar21
Nice 24" Male CutBow On Ark Apr21
21" Male CutBow On Ark @ PT Apr21
20" CutBow On On SPlatte @ 11 Mile May21
22" Female CutBow On SPlatte @ 11 Mile May21
Triple On Trout Ck (incl Palomino) Jun21
18" German Brown On Blue @ Green Mtn Jul21
23" Male Slab CutBow On Blue @ Green Mtn Jul21
22" Female Slab CutBow On Blue @ Green Mtn Jul21
Triple On Gore Ck Sep21
Nice 19" Rainbow On Gunnison Sep21