#6 Fly Rods, a Breif History

Fly Rods a Breif History of the best thing ever Invented

Recently we took a nerdy deep dive into fly lines and their design, construction and History.   Today’s conversation is going to hopefully give you, the beginning fly fisherman, a better grasp of the modern fly rod, with :Fly Rods, a Breif History"

Me and my first Fly Rod

I feel it is important to be able to understand some of the history of the sport you are entering, and the lifelong journey you will share with like-minded fly fisherman around the world.

I have had the privilege to fish on different Continents, in different parts of this Big Blue marble we share. There is no doubt when you meet a fellow fly fisherman, there is an instant bond or comradery that you share. When you talk with an Angler from Costa Rica or Alaska, you will be able to share that spark of enthusiasm and knowledge you have learned about modern fly rods, and this great sport, (hopefully from articles just like this one).

  Today’s modern fly rods have revolutionized the sport of fly fishing. They are designed with cutting-edge materials and advanced technology to enhance casting distance, accuracy, and overall performance. Todays rods are typically made from lightweight graphite (carbon fiber) bound with hardened resins, providing increased sensitivity and responsiveness. They come in various lengths and weights, allowing anglers to target different fish species and fishing conditions.

Modern fly rods incorporate innovative features such as fast-action or medium-action blanks, ergonomic handles, and efficient line guides. They offer improved line control, effortless casting, and better hook-setting power. With their versatility and precision, these rods have become indispensable tools for anglers seeking to conquer rivers, lakes, and oceans with finesse and skill.

 The progression of fly rods can be traced back to ancient times, where primitive versions were crafted from natural materials like bamboo, reeds, or even bone.

These early rods were basic in design and lacked the sophisticated features of modern fly rods. As time proceeded, advancements were made, and materials such as wood, iron, and steel were utilized to construct sturdier and more functional rods. In the late 19th century, the introduction of split bamboo rods revolutionized fly fishing, providing improved flexibility, strength, and casting accuracy.

The 20th century witnessed further innovations, including the use of fiberglass and eventually graphite, resulting in lighter, more powerful fly rods that are still prevalent in modern fly fishing today.

Some of the earliest references to fly fishing rods date back to the book “Aelian’s Natural History”. Published in 200 A.D. by a Roman angler Aelian. The two-thousand-year-old text illustrates the Macedonian fishing technique in which red wool and homemade hooks were tied to wooden branches. The wood rods of this period were extremely stiff and heavy. These cumbersome casters remained the standard even during the time of Izaak Walton, author of one of fly fishing’s defining works, The Complete Angler.

In the 17th century, long and hefty branches began to evolve into more modern forms, with craftsmen hollowing fly rods to reduce their weight. Then came one of the most substantial developments in the history of the fly rods: as builders experimented with various types of wood and joined the pieces to create custom rods, the first ferrule systems came to be and made way for countless variations in fly rod tapers.

Fly fishing gained huge popularity in the 19th century. This was also the time during which rod builders made immense progress in splitting cane and creating tapers using beveling machines, leading to the birth of companies such as South Bend, Hardy Brothers, and Montague. Split cane remained the most popular and widely used material for making fly fishing rods until the early part of the 20th century.

The evolution of Modern fly rods began in the late 1940s, a chemical engineer named Dr. Franklin M. Davis developed a method to create fiberglass rods. His innovation revolutionized the fishing industry, offering anglers a lightweight alternative to traditional bamboo rods. In 1948, Robert Winther, a member of the Denver Fly Fishing Club, collaborated with Davis to refine the design and manufacturing process. They produced the first commercially available fiberglass fly rod, known as the Fenwick Fly Rod, in 1952. This groundbreaking development sparked a new era in fly fishing, leading to the widespread adoption of fiberglass rods in the following decades.

With today’s advancements in modern technology, several companies started taking part in the development and refinement of graphite fly rods. Graphite brought revolution to the fly-fishing industry.  Graphic is must stronger and more light weight than fiberglass and offers increased sensitivity to the Fly -fisherman. Improvements in rod design and the discovery of processes to create stronger, lighter fly rods have all contributed to a successful and positive evolution of the present-day graphite fly fishing rods. Boron was also considered as a viable material to create rod blanks, but for now, graphite remains as the material of choice and is most likely to be in this status for some time.

Rod Blanks

Now that you some of the back story or the early history of the fly rod that you are holding in your hand. The next time you step foot on the water’s edge you will be able to better appreciate the people and the History that came hundreds of years before you.

As you read about learning to cast a fly rod, or watch You Tube videos, you will more than likely hear the Author speak about the weight of the fly rod, or you will hear the terms, “action” what exactly do these means. Glad you asked.

The fly rod's weight (which you will always find on the rod blank) determines the appropriate fly line weight, designed to be used on that rod. For instance, a 5-weight fly rod pairs well with a corresponding 5-weight fly line. This balance ensures optimal load and casting efficiency. If you recall we talked about the “Bow and arrow example” this is where the term “Load” is coming into use. The “Load” that the fly line creates on the fly rod is a critical factor in making the fly-rod perform at its best.

To better illustrate let’s imagine you have a light spinning rod for Trout in your hand, the rod is 6 1/2 ft. long, and it has 6 lb. test on it, and then you attach a 12 oz. weight to the line. Do you think you will be able to cast it effectively? This would be equivalent to using a 2-weight rod, and a 10-weight line. Now let’s look at the spinning rod again. If you were to use a ¼ oz. weight on the light spinning rod, and you tried to cast it, I think you can see, the difference between the two examples.

The correct weight of the fly- line is critical to the performance of the fly-rod. Using the correct weight to rod ratio will greatly improve your fly-fishing experience.

In my next blog I will talk about the terminology regarding the action of a fly rod, and how it will affect your target species.

Keep up the work, and make sure you are having fun.

Cheers

Gary