Well Guys,
I've posted about 10 times or so now and I'm not sure when the "newbee label" wears off but I have a question for you experts. Exactly how many fly rods do I need? When I made my 1st fly rod, I was 17 years old in 1969, it was a Fenwick 9' 2 peice 6 weight which I still have. Although I only started the habit up again a little over a year ago, I've built about 10 fly rods, some for family and friends but most for you guessed it, me! I don't really know how many store bought rods I own but I have also started giving them away as an excuse to make more. So guys, where does it stop? Do I go pro? I know I'm surely not that good after seeing some of the masterpieces that you guys have made! So what do I do? How do I explain this addiction to my wife? Will my family and friends show up for one of those interventions or will the de-programmers kidnap me in a moving van? I just wondered how the rest of the crowd manages this highly addictive activity???
Thanks in advance,
Your friend in S.E.Fla,

Snooker Pete

I tell my better half that when she quits decorating the house with her collections and starts throwing or giving away the shoe collection and "I'm saving this oufit to wear when I get skinny collection", come talk to me.

You need 23 fly rods. It would be hard to get by with less.

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

Pete,

I started building fly rods in the early 60s. Sometime around 1990, my beloved wife asked me how many fly rods I needed. She told me I had one for each finger. So between my day job and her comments I stopped for about 10 years. In 2000 I returned to building rods again. I can also say that even if you extend your fishing to almost all fishing types from pan fish to saltwater monsters so that you have a flyrod dedicated to each type of fishing, you will still want to build another rod. This is an addictive avocation which can also become a vocation.

When I retired in 2001, I decided to begin selling my rods. In 2002 I opted for a business license to enable me to buy components at a lower cost. By selling rods, I am able to continue to build new rods each year withoutputting too much pressure on our family budget. I also try to limit my business so that I stillhave time to fish. Unfortunately Rodmaker Magazine and this forum bring me so many new ideas that the urge to build a new rod is irresistible.

You can also donate rods to chariable organizations and even offer rod building classes at your local highschool or community college. This will also provide you rod building opportunities. Good luck and enjoy your addiction--it is perfectly harmless except on your pocket book.

Mike Blomme

I agree with Tom, and believe it may be 25 by this time next year.

you should get back to it.

I don't know about how many fly rods but I have 37 surf rods (13 blanks) 5 boat jig type rods and a few fly and freshwater. My father only fishes fresh now (83 years old) but has over 100 rods. I have know idea why but he does!! I just got a old Harnell from him to restore!! You can never have to many!! Can you??

Tom's and Joshua's numbers sound about right. In other words, they are about 20 rods more than I thought I needed before I began building my own! There's a guy who posts on here named Matt Davis who signs off with "better to have and not need than to need and not have." That's brilliant!

I started by building a fly rod in about 2001 as I needed something different from my factory rods. I recently completed my 64th rod, (not all fly rods) since that time and have several blanks beckoning now. Like others I sell one on occasion but give away or donate many and have a few standing in corners that have yet to be fished. I have no idea how many remain on hand presently as knowing such might cause me to rationalize that I have enough.

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"

The answer to "how many is enough?" or as I hear, "how many fishing rods do you need?" is always...ONE MORE!

I only have six fly rods and I think I might build a few more for myself. This doesn't count the fly rods I build for others, today I wrapped thirty Sage rods and tomorrow I will wrap fifteen more. The low number of personal fly rods is due to the fact that I don't fly fish.


Thomas F. Thornhill

Why stop with fly rods?

You know it might be a bit much when you have to go buy bigger rod racks and more transport tubes for your rods because there's no more corners to stand them in.

But you need them. And if you need them, you want them.

Think about this - you never leave home without a minimum of three rods - two for all the possibilities of the day you have planned, and one for a spare. And that's just for a half-day trip to the local lake or pond. You don't know what the surf will be like this morning or this afternoon, so you need a rod for each possibility. You have no idea if there will be 'cuda in amongst the dolphin and grouper you were originally going out for, but that's three different rods - plus spares.

Every customer we've had who takes delivery of his new rod, says the next one he wants is - - - (fill in the blank) before he even leaves the shop. We don't even ask anymore. We just build 'em.

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods

48-one in two, three, four and five pieces in weights 1-12-if my wife says anything, I merely point to her shoe boxes. Extra rods if using fiberglass!

It reminds me of an old lollypop commercial…One, Two, Three…The World may never know.

I'm with you!! Sound like you and me have the same mindset.

Well Guys,
Thanks for all your advice! I got a little bit from all of you and I'm going to use a combination of all your combined knowlege as you guys sound like you've figured out how to build your cakes and fish with them too! or was that eat your rods and fish with your cakes? I think I'm more confused than when I started! I guess I'll just go w/ the flow and keep pumping out rods for Charity (which I've already done) give some to family and friends, maybe sell or trade a couple and aim for the perfect number of rods to keep for myself!
Thanks again,
You guys are the BEST!

Snooker Pete

10 fly rods? That is a "starter set" dude.

One is too many...Then again, I'm center pin/float rod freak!

Paul