It's hard for me to believe that T.F.M. has been around for almost eighteen years. When I think back to the beginnings of the Fiberglass Fly Rod Makers page, there was maybe a dozen or so builders, blank makers, and fly rod companies who worked with fiberglass. JP Ross Fly Rods & Company was on the list then, and remains so now as it features over 100 builders from all over the world.
Through all those years, Jordan, aka JP, has been a great supporter of what happens here, got a lot out of me on his podcast, continues to innovate with new glass tapers and fly rod series, a focus on conservation, and surrounds himself with artisans that both elevate his work while he exposes others to their talents.
A few weeks back, JP posted something on his social media pages that I felt deserved a share here. He wrote this right before a demo if his latest fiberglass fly rod, the 8' 8-weight Phat Glass, arrived on my doorstep to take with me to Beaver Island.
JP, thank you for the kind words and support through all the years. Thanks for everything.
Through all those years, Jordan, aka JP, has been a great supporter of what happens here, got a lot out of me on his podcast, continues to innovate with new glass tapers and fly rod series, a focus on conservation, and surrounds himself with artisans that both elevate his work while he exposes others to their talents.
A few weeks back, JP posted something on his social media pages that I felt deserved a share here. He wrote this right before a demo if his latest fiberglass fly rod, the 8' 8-weight Phat Glass, arrived on my doorstep to take with me to Beaver Island.
JP, thank you for the kind words and support through all the years. Thanks for everything.
"Dear The Fiberglass Manifesto,
From my research it looks like you made your first post on T.F.M. in 2008. I believe we started to chat around 2010, and by 2012 I was a regular advertiser and we have been pals ever since. We have come a long way. I remember one of the first rods we made was the Eagle Creek Special, a blank made by Mcfarland Rod Company. Shortly after that we released our first totally designed glass rod called the MUIR. It was a 7 foot 3-weight 5-piece and is still in production today.
I got news from you that you are going on a trip, and that trip sounds like a place that our new Phat Glass could be a great tool for you. I shipped you this rod on Thursday. Tracking looks like it should get to you Monday. Hopefully just in time. This is an early prototype Phat Glass made right before we went to full production. I made this rod for myself and put on a J.S. Kimball smallmouth bass reel seat. I was also playing with ideas to either rib or sand the blank and have chosen to leave the blanks sanded and gloss.
You may notice the rod is a little dirty, and that is because Panfish On The Fly just got done using this rod in Maine.
I hope you enjoy the rod, and perhaps decide to get one for yourself. Enjoy your trip and thank you Cameron for all the memories and support thru the years."
From my research it looks like you made your first post on T.F.M. in 2008. I believe we started to chat around 2010, and by 2012 I was a regular advertiser and we have been pals ever since. We have come a long way. I remember one of the first rods we made was the Eagle Creek Special, a blank made by Mcfarland Rod Company. Shortly after that we released our first totally designed glass rod called the MUIR. It was a 7 foot 3-weight 5-piece and is still in production today.
I got news from you that you are going on a trip, and that trip sounds like a place that our new Phat Glass could be a great tool for you. I shipped you this rod on Thursday. Tracking looks like it should get to you Monday. Hopefully just in time. This is an early prototype Phat Glass made right before we went to full production. I made this rod for myself and put on a J.S. Kimball smallmouth bass reel seat. I was also playing with ideas to either rib or sand the blank and have chosen to leave the blanks sanded and gloss.
You may notice the rod is a little dirty, and that is because Panfish On The Fly just got done using this rod in Maine.
I hope you enjoy the rod, and perhaps decide to get one for yourself. Enjoy your trip and thank you Cameron for all the memories and support thru the years."
And,
enjoy the trip to Beaver Island I did. There will be more on this trip
soon with a full pictorial post but I took one morning to walk into a area off
Garden Island with the Phat Glass to tangle with a few smallmouth bass who couldn't say no
to a white Kraft's Baitfish. The dart and stop retrieve of the fly was met with a pounce and pull of a few strong willed smallmouth. A fun way to start a morning and perfect place to put the smallmouth themed Phat Glass through its paces.
I have a known soft spot for short 8-weights and this has quickly come to be a favorite. So much so, JP Ross is working on a carp themed Phat Glass build that I'll soon call my own. More on that later...
I have a known soft spot for short 8-weights and this has quickly come to be a favorite. So much so, JP Ross is working on a carp themed Phat Glass build that I'll soon call my own. More on that later...
Visit the JP Ross Fly Rods & Company website, check out the new Phat Glass fly rod, and keep up with the latest shop news on Facebook and Instagram.
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