Friday, March 15, 2019

THE LETTER - A Fenwick FF705, Destiny & Mojo

There are a lot of reasons why I write The Fiberglass Manifesto and sometimes I'm given an insight into other angler's experience with glass fly rods which I always get a kick out of.  

The other day I received a page and a half long handwritten letter in the mail (which is weirdly uncommon in the age of email) from Mike Conklin.  He sent along a letter to say thank you for the couple freebie T.F.M. decals that I had recently sent his way and also included a story of a beloved Fenwick FF705 which had fallen into his hands after years of wanting one.


Mike wrote... 

"Cameron, thank you very much for The Fiberglass Manifesto stickers!  They are already displayed on my rod tube of the Fenwick FF705.

I just wanted to drop you a line and say thanks for The Fiberglass Manifesto site.

I grew up in the 60's and 70's.  As a boy, my dream rod was a Fenwick FF705, but as funds were short, I could never afford one.  So I fished various fiberglass rods, Berkley, Diawa, Ike Walton, etc. but never got the FF705.

Fast forward forty-five years to last summer and a friend called me as his mom had passed away and he was cleaning out the house.  He said that there was some "fishing stuff" in the basement that he was going to sell and if I wanted anything for "free", to come over.

As I sorted through all the junk rods, I saw the brown blank and famous butt wraps.  It was my childhood dream rod, the FF705.  It was a K-Series dated from 1971 to 1973, when I was 11-13 years old and it was in mint condition!  Destiny?  Luck?  

My first time out with the rod and I caught two nice brown trout from a small stream that I have caught and released wild brookies and some stocked rainbows, but never a brownie...

I now believe that this rod has a special "mojo" and I do believe it was destiny that "we" were brought together.  The rod casts a DT5F as smooth and accurate as any fly rod I have ever fished.  I am truely looking for to the next season and seeing what other "mojo" my dream rod has in it!

I just wanted to share my story with you and say thank for the stickers and your website.

Tight Lines,

Michael T. Conklin"


Thanks Micheal, I really appreciate you taking the time to write and I hope that you continue to enjoy your Fenwick FF705.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

I still use my old Fenwick 7' 5 wt. bought in the early 70's. I would agree that a double taper performs best on it (and many other rods, but that's another story). Have worn out several sets of guides and many tip tops. Since it has been rewrapped it doesn't look original, but casts as smoothly as ever.
jhjazzbo@hotmail.com

Old Smuggler Fly Fishing said...

Nice story! Someday I will have my Fenwick FF 7'5wt.