What is your stand on Decs on fly rods? Many are against and many are for them. Persoanally like them but in moderation, just on the guides and hook keeper. Thinking about doing one, but just curious to what others think

Peter Douma
Poseidon Custom Rods
N.E.R.B.s

Do what looks good to you, but be advised that if you intend to sell custom fly rods, most fly fishermen are not huge fans of decorative wraps.

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

I build only fly rods, and almost all my customers want very little "bling!" Very small (1 - 2 wraps) trim wraps seem to be gaining popularity.

Fly fishermen tend to be more traditional in their approach to equipment as well as fishing.

Fly rods are traditionally "clean and neat". What does look good and is appealing to, at least some, fly fisherman are feathers down near the grip. See Terry Henson's work for examples.

I agree with Ken and Phil. I think feathers look appealing. If I want bling on a fly rod, I'll add a single metallic trim wrap to the guide wraps. I also like to use black frame/gold ring guides.

Not a great picture (cell phone), but i really like the feathers in this one: [www.rodbuilding.org]



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/23/2010 11:20PM by George Forster.

I agree with Phil, Ken and George. 99.9% of all fly guys want a sanitary looking rod. May I suggest 2 things you can use a. Jungle Cock feather pattern which I think can be cool or take a small fly hook without the tie ring and design a simple streamer fly. Also check out the photo section. No one is correct here. It is what is pleasing to you or your customer

Good Wraps Bob

I agree too. All the ones that I sell are clean/neat. I'lll put sometimes a little mettalic on the strippers but nothing more. I was just thinking about doing this for myself, to have something different.

Peter Douma
Poseidon Custom Rods
N.E.R.B.s

Peter -

My bad ... I haven't been keeping up with some of the "magic" work that's being done by a lot of people with feathers ... Better to search "feathers" for many, many examples of beautiful work.

A good hand written cursive signature is always simple and nice

Good Wraps Bob

I have see bugs ans flying ants used as decoration. simple and neat

Good Wraps Bob

The sheer elegance, length and lightness of a flyrod lends itself nicely to some handsome, color coordinated bling..... especially in the butt/handle area...in my humble opinion. By using singlefoots as the 'drop downs' and 'runners', the slight extra weight of a little bling in the butt section becomes a wash. The 'personal attachment' fisherman seem to apply to their flyrod is often of a higher nature than what they equate to their other rods. I believe that is related simply to the finess, single-hook, beauty and intimate simplicity of fly-fishing itself. Fly rods are rarely, if ever used in a 'dawn-to-dusk'- ' whip and strip' highly competitive, 'catch-the-biggest-most' -'win-big-money' competition. Some bling, enjoyed by the owner, can be a very peronalized addition to a 'favorite fishing stick'! I hope to post a few examples of fly rod bling in the photo section.

Yea Steve

It's like stepping out of -reality - and into another world

Bill - willierods.com

Different Strokes For Different Folks!

No Micros Here!

[www.rodbuilding.org]

[www.rodbuilding.org]

I build a lot of fly rods with Decorative wraps. It is up to the individual though. Sometimes people hesitate until they see the work, and witness the rod catching fish.