Hello, Fiberglass Flyrodders.
I live on the Front Range of Colorado, and the nearest trout stream is the St. Vrain River. (Geirach never lets on what a tough piece of water that is. In most places you risk breaking your neck before you can get your feet wet.)
I started fly fishing about 12 years ago, then put it down for several years. I've been at it again for about two years. I've been buying gear lately, mostly reels, mostly on that auction site. Ryall is my current favorite. I started tying this year, too.
Somewhere along the line I realized that faster (this year's premium graphite rod) is not always better. Now that I have two fiberglass rods and one bamboo rod, I can see that my backcast is a disaster, and I need a casting coach.
Seriously, and without too much attitude about graphite, which certainly has its uses, maybe that fast 5wt was hiding some problems by acting like a big, straight lever. I'll report back when I've had some instruction.
The current fiberglass arsenal:
- Diamondglas 7' 4wt 2pc
- Heddon Mark V 8467 8'6" 8wt
I admit, they're recent arrivals, and I've only lawn cast either of them.
One other note, I got a moderate case of tennis elbow this summer, and I'm working the last of it out with daily exercises. Heavier rods (8wt +) still make me cringe, tho.
OK, I think that's my introduction, except to say that writing has never been my best thing, and I probably won't ever be one of the people with 1000+ posts.
Cheers.
Mark