"FLY RODS ARE LIKE CORNISH PASTIES-BOTH ARE BEST MADE FOR LOVE RATHER THAN FOR MONEY"
Quote from the 1974 classic TROUT MAGIC by Upper Peninsula of Michigan author John Voelker (aka Robert Traver)
A few weeks ago I received an email from Cameron Mortenson suggesting that I take a ride down and pay a visit to a rod builder by the name of Dwight Lyons, or better known for his accomplishments as F.D. Lyons. Dwight Lyons is a well known rod builder and masterful bamboo restorer who lives nearby in Portland, Oregon. Cameron had noticed that F.D. Lyons had posted one of his builds for sale and in good faith thought I might be interested. So I figured what better way to educate myself on fiberglass rods than to pay him a visit and see what the buzz was all about. I contacted Mr. Lyons and set up a date to take a gander at his wares.
Thursday was the day we set. I hopped into my truck and drove down to his home and workshop. When Dwight answered the door bell I instantly sensed that he was a man that was assured and comfortable within himself. He escorted me down the stairs into his workshop. It was not by any means a large production facility like one might expect from a man that has been building and refinishing rods for thirty-five plus years. Instead it was a rather small space filled with character from the old nine piece Leonard bamboo rod sitting protected in a glass case to the volumes of classic books such as TROUT by Ernest Schweibert. There was also an array of beautiful bamboo rods hanging from his drying rack on the wall. His workshop walls were adorned with fly plates of salmon and steelhead patterns tied by personal friends and acquaintances. This was the real deal and I felt fortunate to be standing where a true craftsman performs his magic.
Dwight apologized for his messy desk, but all I saw was the desk of a man who loves what he has chosen for his life's work. I instantly took a liking towards him. He was down to earth and humble. We sat in his office and shared mutual stories of common rivers we have both fished. He showed me some photographs of one of his fishing trips on the Methow river in Washington with him standing in a river with his beloved bamboo rod in tow. Time flies when two fisherman get together and start recollecting and I could have easily overstayed my welcome. It would have been easy to have sat there all day with Dwight. He is a man with a rich history of fly fishing the rivers here in the northwest. 
Next we headed outside and he handed me one of his seven foot four weight gems. The blank was a site to behold as it had a gorgeous caramel colored blank with it's dark burgundy nylon wraps, red agatine stripper guide, and nickel finish frame. Already I knew this was a blank that would be all too sweet with my recently acquired vintage CFO reel. Not only was it beautiful but it cast like a dream and I could have been easily swept off my feet with the action and allure alone, but I felt I needed a little longer rod and perhaps a jump up in line weight. It was when he handed me one of his favorite rods, an eight foot five weight, that I almost lost it. When I loaded it up I could swear a bolt of lightning came down and struck my hand and melted it to the cork. It was simply one of the sweetest rods I have ever cast. I vaguely remember asking him, maybe pleading with him, to please build one for me. He looked at me and must have sensed the panic in my eyes. He agreed but told me patience must be exercised. Dwight Lyons first love will always be bamboo, but he still has a soft spot in his heart for fiberglass. I was happy he did. 
Nowadays Dwight wants to focus his rod building on fine cane. He knows what goes into an exquisite rod and I feel fortunate to soon be a recipient of a glass rod with the name "Dwight Lyons" written across the blank. The whole experience of spending that day with such a gentleman and true master of the art of rod building has spoiled me forever.
Cameron had asked me to give him a call after I left Lyons place just to fill him in on how things went. I dialed his number and when he picked up the phone I gleefully told him I just ordered a custom build from Dwight. I almost sensed that Cameron had a devilish smirk of satisfaction on the other end of the line as if to imply "Welcome to my kingdom, I finally got ya".
F.D. Lyons has a limited number of glass blanks left and after the are all gone so will a bit of fiberglass history since he will then be strictly concentrating on his love of cane. Guess I will have perhaps in time spend another afternoon with Dwight down the road, but for now I know its going to be a long winter waiting so I must exercise my patience as requested by the master. 
As John Voleker once wrote those wise words about finding the rod made from love, well I found it, but does anybody know where I can find a good pastie around this neck of the woods? Oh, I almost forgot, Cameron is from Michigan originally and he probably knows where to find one, just like he knew where I would find that special glass rod. Cam, thanks for steering me into your glassy kingdomDwight Lyons can be reached through his website at www.fdlyons.com.
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