The Semi-Para rods
A while back, I cast a unique old bamboo rod. It was really well made and beautiful, but what really stood out was the way it cast. I had a chance to fish it as well and it was a real joy. One of the parts that stood out was how responsive to casting just a few feet of line was , then out to the outer range of fishing distances (45ish feet). When I was able to fish it what struck me was how fun it was. It wasn’t the easiest rod to cast at first but when I got the rhythm, it sang. It kinda reminds me of listening to Mississippi John Hurt. The first notes and you’re looking for some kind of togetherness in the music then you stop thinking about it too much and then it just comes together. These new Semi-Para rods are like that. The way I describe them is that they have a double-hinge to the taper through the syncopation. The first hinge is around the junction of the first ferrule where the butt and mid sections join. The second hinge is around the 18” mark down from the tip. This means that there is a stiffer tip and softer mid. Practically speaking you can pick up and put down line easily, accurately and intuitively. When I hand one of these rods to someone curious about them they take a minute or two to get it but then all of a sudden it comes together and the rhythm sets in and you get a solid groove going without thinking too much. That meditative, joyful nonattachment when you are in the water is what helps us to tune in and forget all the peripheral nonsense that doesn’t apply in that particular moment. That’s fishing. And these rods help to guide you to that place of joy.
The Semi-Para lineup is comprised of a 6’3” 3wt, a 7’3” 3wt, and a 7’4” 4wt. I’m thinking of possibly doing a longer one, but haven’t nailed down those plans quite yet. Any ideas?
The 633. This rod, as I mentioned in a previous blog post about fishing mall streams in Montana, is for the narrow, sidewalk width streams where you have maximum tree cover, like you’re casting in a hallway. Bow and arrow casts, roll casts, and overhead casts all day long. Small fish are typical, but it can handle 17” cuttroat diving into bankside roots as well.
The 733. This rod in particular shines with a longer leader for fishing to spooky fish. It has a softer feel to it and is perfect with a single dry fly or a dry and a small emerger following behind. Smooth and delicate roll casts. Gentle open-loop overhead casts as well as quick laser-accurate point and shoot pocket water casting. Long, clear, and calm pools to selectively rising trout in the Driftless.
The 744. This is the do-it-all Semi-Para. Medium-sized sized faster water with faster pick up and lay down to get your drifts to flow right or throw a small loop mend. This rod has a little more of a progressive feel to it, but the hinges are still there and are tangible when you need to mend a slightly longer leader. If I were fishing somewhere I’ve never fished, I’d grab this rod. It can do it all and can handle the bigger fish and is still fun with the tiddlers.
These rods boil down to what I love most about fly fishing. They are simple, easy to fish, functional, and fun.
Depending on how I build them, these will start around $875. Adding an agate stripping guide, ventilated grip, a wood seat, etc. would increase the price a little bit, I recently listed several of these for sale, but I have decided to discount them, starting today, as an introductory offer to this new series of rods.
As always, feel free to contact me with any questions. I’m here and happy to help. And if you’re in the Winston-Salem, NC area, feel free to come by the shop to cast. I’m near a park that is great for that.
Thanks for reading along!
Chris