Having only been wrapping rods for about 3-4 years or so now, I was wondering exactly how much Clemens going out of business hurt the rod building hobby/industry for those who were involved when Clemens was in its prime. I guess a better way of saying it is how much was lost when they went out?

I ask because they were the first place I ordered parts from, and I had their catalogue and ordered some grips I still love but can't get anymore. Shortly afterwards they went out of business and I still to this day see new things around that either Clemens carried or designed that you can't get anymore (latest being the flea flicker blanks). Kinda sad if you ask me. Like that white duck I accidentally ran over this morning. Can't change it, no sense on dwelling on it, but still kinda stinks.

On some of these items, why didn't anyone else take over selling them I wonder?

Phil



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/20/2005 08:43AM by Moderator.

By the time they went out they were so many other rod building supply houses that not much was truely lost. Mud Hole (and others) offer most of the same specialty tools and there is a greater variety of rod building products on the market today than even during the heyday of companies like Clemens, Bullard, Simmons and Bingham (the latter two are still going strong). As someone who has been buying rod building products for going on 30 years, I can tell you that I have access to a lot more items now than at any time in the past. Obviously, some products come and go, but overall, there's plenty more out there these days. This truely is the golden age of rod building.

I do find it sad that old time, well established companies are having a much harder time staying around these days. But this all comes down to what to amounts to some very poor trade practices on the part of the rod building industry itself.

..................

Phil,
Like many things if I remember right, alot of the Clemens grips and stuff were on the way out already because it was all a custom product and the suppliers didn't want to mess with the small production quantities anymore.

I think if you will get a copy of the Anglers Workshop catalog you will be amazed at the amount of product and tools within. I guess by the time I was actively involved in rod building Clemens was no longer a major player so I really did not miss anything. Anglers has always had most of what I needed.

From an equipment and parts standpoint you will find there is always someone there to pic up the slack and keep the supply line going.

The sadness is the fact we as a community (of rodbuilders) are missing a forefather. He shared his ideas and helped put together conventions early in the game. I personally miss and respect all those who have gone before me and helped pave the way. Like all things in life things change and the old is replaced by the new but it doesnt necessarily mean we have to forget. His books are a proud part of my library and I still recommend them.

It started downhill the day Dale sold out and was no longer there. Within just a couple years it was not the Clemens that most of us knew. For me it's been gone for like 15 years at this point. I think Bullard went out about that same time or just before. But many new places have sprung up to fill the void.

Thanks guys. I guess the Clemens I had dealt with wasn't the true Clemens place after all. It sounds like most of the items are indeed still around from other places, save a select few items.

I did order the Anglers Workshop catalogue and look forward to its arrival, thanks.

All in all, interesting thread to see how people felt about Dale Clemens overall. 15 years ago I was 12 and a custom rod was still a mysterious and wonderful thing to drool over at the local tackle shop - never did I think I'd be able to wrap my own. Thanks to places like this board, Mudhole and my favorite local shop, and to the owner of a place called "Fish Road" in Yokohama Japan, who sat me down, even with a bit of a language barrier, and walked me through wrapping my first two rods, rod-building has become as much of a hobby as catching fish. The satisfaction I get out of seeing a rod I built truly perform well under a big fish is awesome.

Phil

I really wonder how large they were at one time. I didn't start building rods until about 1998 or so and even then I never heard of Clemens until they were out of business. I had seen the book but didn't realize a place of business with the same name was around until people started talking about them closing. Guess I came into the game a bit late!!!

I knew about Clemens from buying Live Body from them to tie McMurry Ants - a coupel of years before thinking about building rods. I never heard of building rods, all I knew was Ugly Sticks don't break. After havin gthe catalouge sitting there collecting more dust than before I got it (lol), I read through the front section where they show you how easy it is to do. Bought a couple #4 per foot blanks, some guides - and XL Rods was born. Of course, next step was purchasing the Clemens books, from another defunct company which I could walk into & see & feel components, and actually see butt wraps & the entire process: Manhattan Custom Tackle.

The other company I ordered from, was Anglers Workshop. USed to but fly tying stuff from them, nobody I saw could compete with their prices on Flashabou or Krystal Flash, and I ended up ordering from them as well as Clemens.