I hadn’t been to the Maryland fly show since when it used to be at the Md state fairgrounds.
Now I’ve got no excuse it’s held in the next town up i95 from me ..
Been buggin Carlz about a few of his rods for like over a year.
Like this Johnson profile 400 and the lil 7ft Cortland Fr2000 asymmetrical taper (it’s so sweet)
We were supposed to meet up at this show in October but it was pushed back.
I was so stoked to finally meet up last weekend at Carlz booth.
His table was chocked full of all kinds of goodness and goodwill .
His hype man/sales associate Zeppo-Va was in full effect . ( I wanna fish with these guys!!)
I impulse bought this minty fresh Johnson executive 4pc in its orginal Geniune/faux pleather case.
I had been dying to get my hands on this LL bean/Cortland rod ever since Carlz told me about it .
I’m a super east coast rod geek so the Ny/Maine connection just speaks to me .
It’s a beautiful rod with incredible action.
I love the almost a burgundy blank it’s not brown like the fr2000 rods .
It’s kinda got a color that reminds me of the Berkley Parametrics color .
It’s very cool also that this rod was once owned by member grassnglass.
Well fellas I can guarantee you this rod has found it’s last home.
I am also honored to be the proud owner of Ratface’s Phillipson R76 that was redone by The Glassmaster ..
I will dedicate a post in more detail about this very special rod.
I had a great time at the show learning about Hardy reels from Mr Hoagy Carmichael.
Got to check out the Hardy/Abercrombie & Fitch “silent check” reel that came in the Banty kit .
I would have bought it for my banty ,
but I blew all my cash at Carlz table. lol
Got to check out a lot of cool bamboo rods at the show.
I hung out over at the Gunpowder River Rods booth chatting with Doug the owner for a hot minute.
Very nice rods indeed
There was one bamboo builder who had a really cool old stress/flex chart from like 1923 of a Parabolic rod.
My buddy Ken and myself got lots of intel on some new spots up Western Maryland.
(That alone was worth the admission price)
It was also super neat to see Rappidan’s complete set of Hardy/Scientific Anglers system reels . He even had the huge salmon Sa system reel.
I scored a couple of vintage lines and few boxes from his diverse selection
Oh and Carlz I’m buying that 4pc fenwick from Rappidans booth mate..
I was down to my last $40 ,when I walked by this beautiful Presidential Gold Cup rod 8.5ft 8wt Wonderod
Seller was negotiable on price he said.
I told him my sob story of Carlz taking all my money.
Mr Stan took pity on such an addicted angler such as myself ,so he took the offer of my last $40
When I brought it home and dated it it just happened to be made my birth year of 1970 .
Super score !!
I left the show a lil early to take my buddy Ken back to his house to coach his daughters game. ( he scored a sweet featherlight rod)
I swung by my house to grab some rods came back to the show to take Zeppo-Va fishing but he had already left to go back to Va .next time for sure…
I stayed til close & watched Carlz gear for him as he packed up .
Carlz and Mike McFarland were looking for a place to get some Maryland seafood .
I sent them to a joint that serves the best crab cakes in the uppper Chesapeake.
Hopefully they had a great meal so when I call Mike to get one his blanks maybe I get a discount .
Before I bounced ,I took the time to say a big thank you to Mr Wayne Grauer for putting this show on .
We’ll get the word out for next year so hopefully we get a serious contingent of “glass heads” to meet up .
Til next year..