The fly rod lineup going forward
Hey Everyone! Thank you so much for the enthusiasm and support ya’ll showed after my last post. It’s always reaffirming and overwhelming to hear what ya’ll have to say. I heard several stories of folks who know of or have met Wayne. It’s a small world.
This past weekend I drove up to Syria, VA, just outside Shenandoah National Park, for the Blue Ridge Bamboo Gathering. I got to see some old friends and made a bunch of new ones. The fishing was fantastic. The tackle was incredible as well. Paul, my friend who puts it on, and has for years, runs a fantastic event that is laid back, interesting and fun. Y’all should consider going next spring!
Shop News. I’m narrowing my offerings. Going forward, I’ll offer a small, focused lineup of what I consider to be my very best, most useful rod designs. I’ll be updating the offerings here and on socials very soon. New website pics, unique rod details, etc. Also, know that while I am focusing and standardizing my lineup, I’m still happy to work with each client to make your rod unique and meaningful for you (don’t forget about all that amazing guitar wood!).
The Blue Ridge Special. This is the 6’8” 3wt 4 piece do it all small water rod. I’ve built more of these than anything else and it’s what I reach for most. This rod has caught a vast and unusual array of fish, even carp and some salty species (not that I suggest it, hear that Mr. Warranty Voider?? You know who you are.)
The Driftless Special. 7’2” 4wt 3 piece. This is a rod I came up with after fishing the Driftless area of Wisconsin. I love shorter rods and when you get the right kind of flex profile you can do more with them than expected. Casting to spooky trout with plenty of reach and delicacy.
The General Practitioner. 7’9” 4/5wt 3 piece. This is a general purpose trout and warmwater rod. Great for any skill range and an essential western rod. This one makes for a great first fiberglass rod.
The Big Stiffy. 8’ 6wt 3 piece. I’ve tried to think of a more inclusive name for this rod but nothing comes to mind yet, open to ideas. This rod works great for a wide variety of fishing. You can speed it up with a 5wt line and it gets trouty when you do that. Smallmouth and largemouth bass. Heavier duty trout fishing when working with some wind, fishing the hex hatch. I’ve built a few that are salt safe and have caught some snook, bonefish, reds and baby tarpon.
New models. I am going to add two more models that I am currently developing. I’m taking some cues from previous rods on these and am really excited about them. More on those later. Stay tuned.
Color. All rods are a color I call Sunrise Yellow and are unpainted natural e-glass. This is a similar color to some of the rods I made last year and is very ‘lemony’ in hue. They are a little bit translucent and they really light up in the sun. I’m really happy to be working with this fiberglass material. It’s light, strong and beautiful and works really well with my tapers.
Fly shops. I’ve always enjoyed working with fly shops to keep rods on their shelves for the customers that come through and fish those areas. I’m talking with a few shops now and hope to have more details on those later. For now, I’ve got rods going to the BIghorn Angler. With the help of my friends John and Pete there, we designed two rods that work especially well for their waters. These are the Bighorn Special 8’ 5wt 4 piece and the Western Spring Creek 8’3” 4wt 3 piece rods and are available through them. If you’ve never fished the Bighorn, it’s an incredible experience. We hope to go back this year.
Pricing. Lots of changes with supply costs and I’m working to take into account the increases, my time, and a few other things. I want to make my rods so they are affordable to anyone who wants one. In the past I’ve sold myself short so I want to be careful to balance what’s needed and necessary with what my efforts are worth. Previously I’ve taken trade ins from reels to rods to bartering work. I am still willing to consider this but sometimes it just doesn’t make sense. I’m willing to talk through it, so feel free to ask.
With my updated pricing, I’ll be offering three different build grades. Builder’s Grade (ultra simple), Standard grade, Deluxe grade. All include cap and ring seats. Dual slide band seats, agate stripping guides and other fanciness are available. Just ask.
Standard Grade: partial or full wood seat insert, carbide stripping guide, accent tipping at front of grip, ferrules, tiptop, and 12 or 14” measurement wrap $995 for 3 piece, $1035 for 4 piece
DeLuxe Grade: wood seat insert, agate stripping guide, accent tipping at every wrap, and 12 or 14” measurement wrap $1245 for 3 piece, $1285 for 4 piece
Builder’s Grade: cork seat, carbide stripping guide on models 7’ and longer, all clear wraps (this grade is my personal preference) $945 for 3 piece, $985 for 4 piece
Limited Series. In the past I’ve offered small runs of limited series rods and it’s something I really enjoy doing. After some consideration, for 2026 I will offer 5 each of these two previous models. The 6’6” 2wt Gila Special and the 7’7” 7wt Jackpot. Keep an eye on my Store for when preorders are open for those.
Building on other’s blanks. I’m still willing to do this so please contact me for ideas, availability and pricing.
Conclaves. I love doing these. They are fun and offer great opportunities to fish new water and meet some great folks. It’s been a while since the last one and some folks have been asking when I’ll do another. California, Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Maine. All possibilities and I’m actively thinking about how to make it happen. They are labor intensive and I’m thinking about how to spread the load. Stay tuned and feel free to holler with your ideas and willingness to help make it happen!
How to order. Someone recently pointed out to me that it’s not very clear how to order a rod so I want to make sure it’s clear and streamlined. I’m taking preorders for all rods above. Links to preorders are in the webstore where you can put a deposit on your rod model of choice. We’ll talk through the details on how you'd like your rod to be built. The balance will be due when the rod is complete and ready to be shipped. The wait time is usually 6-8 weeks and could be longer or shorter depending on supplies and styling. The best way is to contact me is to send an email.
Social Media. I’m not crazy about social media but it seems to be a great way to keep regular updates going. Feel free to follow along on Facebook and Instagram for random shop pictures and stuff like that. Links at the bottom of this page.
Thanks so much for coming along for the ride! I’m grateful to be able to make rods for y’all and hopefully help everyone enjoy a little more light each time you fish one of the rods I’ve built. As always, feel free to holler with any questions, comments or stories. Stop by the shop if you’re in the Winston Salem area (contact me first to make sure I’ll be here).
Chris