Imagine Skwala Fishing

It's almost hard to believe that Skwala launched four years ago but when I think back to the many places that I've been over the recent years wearing and using their gear, it all starts to make sense.  They rolled out this one-minute video on social media last week and it's worth pressing PLAY for...

 

If you were to do a search for "Skwala" on T.F.M., you'd find a few dozen posts with new product release announcements, gear reviews, a visit to their headquarters in Bozeman, mentions from trip dispatches, and quite a bit more.  Four years in and I agree, they are just getting started.

 

Visit the Skwala website to check out their growing collections.  I have quite a bit of experience with many of their offerings and if you ever need an opinion, send an email.

P.S.  If you don't have a favorite Skwala dealer nearby, making a purchase through the affiliate links in this post will put a few coins in the T.F.M. piggy bank.  I appreciate the support.  Thank you.

TOM'S TIPS - How To Get Skunked

If getting skunked can happen to Tom Rosenbauer of Orvis at some far flung place, I guess I don't feel so bad about getting blanked from time to time, too.  It happens to the best and worst of us.

See more on the Orvis YouTube channel and check out the latest gear on the Orvis website.

IJUIN RODS - "The Glass" - If It's Fun, That's Fine!

On the short list of folks in the fiberglass fly rods realm that I would like to meet and spend time with, Kazutomo Ijuin of Ijuin-Rod is high on the list, not only since I am fully impressed with his work in fly rod design but even more so that the guy seems like he just wants to have fun.  Big smile, maybe a frothy pop or three, and have you ever seen him cast a 3-weight?  

This idea of "FUN" rolls over into his work in both taper design and the aesthetics of his builds, which can be seen with his reintroduction of "The Glass" series.  You might have first seen "The Glass" in a 2014 T.F.M. post, which is now taking on new life with Tomo offering this series in new colors and even a combination of colors.  Let your imagination go wild...

And, just so I'm not speaking out of both sides of my mouth from those who might remember a long ago T.F.M. post on picking out a fly rod for the blank color, I still stand by those words.  I will say that "In Tomo, I Trust" with all things fly rod taper design.  In the case of "The Glass", you could find your new favorite fly rod in a color choice of your own with a build made almost completely of fiberglass.  How cool is that? 

 

 

Tomo wrote...  "This model was released in sometime in 2014.  At that time, I wanted to use all of parts glass.  The stripping guide was made by hard glass.  And grip, reel seat, and tube were glass also.  This was all because my opinion is “If it’s fun, that’s fine!”  The look and action of the fly rod is a factor of the fun. 

Some people might feel this is a kind of art, but no matter how you feel, I think it’s good as long as the person is happy.  Now I renew this model as a colored model.  I think it’s good if the color spreads more fun.  Fishing fashion is also an element of fun.  Have fun fishing. Thanks!"

Interested in a "The Glass" fly rod of your own?  Reach out to Kazutomo Ijuin of Ijuin-Rod through the contact page and be sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram for the latest shop news.

THE MISSION - Issue 56

Offering a unique perspective on fly fishing and always free, the latest issue of The Mission is live and ready for a read through.  Enjoy...

 

 

CHECK IT.

KABUTO RODS - Model 4511 Joins the Two-Handed Rod Offerings

You might remember in the initial announcement from Kabuto Rods last September with the introduction of Model 67116 that it was hinted to two additional two-handed rod models would be coming in 2026.  The family grows with the addition of Model 4511, which is a 11' 4/5 weight, and then later this year, the Model 8120,  the 12' 8-weight, will join the group.

Both the Model 4511 and Model 67116 two handed rod blanks can be ordered in a list of colors to include yellow, dark yellow, brown, blonde, and black.  I'm not saying you're wrong, but it's tough to beat the richness of Kabuto Rods blanks in dark yellow or brown.

 

For those wondering about grain windows for each of the available models, Yasuyuki Kabuto provides this guidance...

MODEL 4511

Scandi - 250 grains

Skagit - 325 - 350 grains

MODEL 67116

Scandi - 400 grains

Skagit - 425 - 450 grains

Visit the Kabuto Rods website to learn more and follow along on Facebook and Instagram for the latest shop announcements.

Andy Mill on Tarpon Fishing Tactics And Technique

Ole Florida Fly Shop recently had Andy Mill give a presentation on tarpon tactics and this video is a great primer for all of us who couldn't be there.  Press PLAY and take notes...

STRUBLE - Campanella Partnership & Pre-Order Special

I mentioned it the other day in The People of Campanella post that Struble will be the exclusive partner with Campanella and will soon be offering a select offering of their fiberglass and graphite blanks.  

For a limited time, Struble is offering these blanks with a 10% off pre-sale discount.  Blank orders should ship in the next six weeks.  Give a look to their Struble Add-On Component Kit to help complete your build for a significant savings, too.

 

From the Struble website...  

Struble is proud to partner with Campanella Fly Rods of Iwate, Japan to bring their truly unique blanks to rod builders in the United States. 

Campanella blanks and rods represent the pinnacle of meticulous Japanese fly rod craftsmanship. Specializing in small stream 3 & 4wt rods, each taper has been painstakingly perfected on the rivers and streams around Iwate pursuing the native Yamame and Iwana trout that call those waters home. These blanks represent the ultimate opportunity to experience a purity of casting to and catching small water trout that is simply unmatched anywhere in the world.

These tapers are then built into blanks of uncompromising quality, as Campanella is one of the only Japanese fly rod/blank makers to design, roll, and paint their own blanks entirely in-house. This not only means these blanks are some of the most reliably handcrafted in the world, but also a stable supply of consistently excellent blanks not subject to the whims and schedules of factories nor third-parties.

In the end, it all comes down to fishing. Campanella's finely tuned, exquisitely sublime blanks will take anyone back and remind them why they loved fly fishing in the beginning before marketing campaigns, planned obsolescence, micro and nano resins, and casting competitions distracted us from why we do this in the first place.

We know these blanks will make for rods cherished and passed down for generations because they were made to fly fish.

Visit the Struble website for more information on the Campanella blanks that they will be offering soon.  Depending on the response, Struble may expand their blank offering in the future.