WINNERS ANNOUNCED - Thanks to everyone that submitted comments on this giveaway post and the three winners are...
I've known Tom and Alexis Brodhead for years now and always admired them for taking on such an interesting venture as 406 Fly Lines on retirement. Not many would take on a fly line project where they used heritage taper designs to create a modern fly line that many who use glass and bamboo have grown to appreciate.
Tom and I were trading emails recently and he mentioned that their company had been around for almost eight years and I asked if he'd tell their story in this post. Tom also offered up three fly lines that we'll give away too. Scroll down for all of it.
Tom wrote... "Well, it will be eight years this March since we first started 406 Fly Lines and to quote an obscure band "What a long strange trip it's been"...
The idea came about after a day on the Yellowstone River in 2014, using the latest and greatest graphite rod and ending up with me putting it down 'cause it was just struggle to fish with. I pulled out my old WT's and Paradigm's and rediscovered fishing can be fun again. I found The Fiberglass Manifesto and glass became my new favorite. I couldn't find a line that I liked so figured I'd make my own. I mean, how hard can it be?
As it turns out, pretty hard. I tried the main fly line players and the only one to respond was Scientific Anglers. They worked with us to refine our profiles and were supportive through out the process and continue to support us today. Eight years later we're still here and making lines and lots of new friends.
There are things we could have done better but I wouldn't trade those times for anything. We learned so much and are forever thankful to everyone who took a chance on us in the beginning. Alexis and I can't express how grateful we are to our customers and friends for believing in us and helping us grow. We have seen the business grow from being just glass oriented to increasing our focus on bamboo to the point where it's a 50/50 split between glass and bamboo fanatics.
This year we'll be at the Bamboo Bash in Tennessee, Grayrock in Michigan, and the Northern Rodmakers Gathering in Wisconsin and we plan on attending more gatherings in the future.
The last couple of years have been hard on small businesses like ours and it's been a bit of a struggle but we're soldiering on. We've made adjustments to our inventory and added things that we thought people would like which compliment the lines like the Harvey Style Hand Tied Leaders. We're also reintroducing our Spring Creek Rod with a new builder and new hardware. It's an 8'9" 3-weight glass rod with a downlocking Limba reel seat and will be on the website this spring.
Thank you for coming along with us on this journey. We appreciate it and are glad to be part of this small niche in fly fishing."
Next Monday, March 13th, 2023, we'll pick three random winners and each will receive the fly line of their choice.
Questions? Send an email to thefiberglassmanifesto@gmail.com.
Check out the 406 Fly Lines website and if you're looking for a new fly line, both the WF's and DT's are ones to look at. You know you deserve a freshie to start your spring fly fishing with.
49 comments:
Currently set up with 406 4wt line on a 4wt Ross Colorado LT on Bob Hallowell's 8'1" 4wt fiberglass rod, best damn dry fly rig ever!!! So if I were entering into a giveaway contest, would have to go with the 4wt line!
I'd use a 406 4wt. line on a new Epic 7 1/2 ft. 4 wt. fiberglass rod that I built up this winter. I'm from Minnesota, so I would use it in and around the Driftless area here in the Midwest.
406 3DT spooled onto my Colorado LT paired with my Superfine Glass! Orrrrr a 5DT on my Martin/FF75 combo!
406 lines are my go-to on glass rods. I’d love to try a 406 DT3 on a McFarland 683 or Lamiglas 703 for small brook trout streams in GA and NC. I’ve also been itching to try a 406 DT4 or WF4 on a Steffen 3/4 and North Fork Composites 764 for wild rainbow/brown trout and redeye bass in GA and AL.
I'd choose the 406 WF in 5wt to put on a Sage reel and new Echo Badass Glass rod, then chase mostly bass & small carp on the local waters here in Indiana. Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Brodhead on the company's 8-year anniversary and thanks for the giveaway
I would try the 406 dt 5wt to try on the Steffens 8' 4/5 I just finished.
I plan on having Greywolf build me a 5 wt McFarland GTX so I would spool up a 5 weight WF on my vintage Hardy Princess and promptly take it down to the James River here in Richmond to catch a few smallies on some hellgrammite changers.
I'd get the 406 Dt 4wt! I have it on my 7 ft 4wt C Barclay glass rod right now and it's absolutely the best line for this rod!!
Love it, and I fish alot of small warm water creeks in Arkansas and have fished it in Colorado last year and going again this year
I have a dt2f from 406 I received when I bought a fly rod from Tom. I'd really like a new dt6f for my C.Barclay LS70 for fishing in the Minnesota Driftless
The 406 DT3F and my Steffen 7323 create a true small stream dry fly system and one I can properly roll cast on the tree lined River Nidd in Yorkshire. I’m now really curious how a WF3 would perform with a duo rig in my local UK
406 DT4F on a 7'9'' 4wt McFarland Spruce Creek. I'm moving to WI in a few months and this would be a dreamy dirftless rig.
I'd have to go Vintage WF7. I have an 8ft eagle claw glass rod I've modified into a small switch rod. It would be great for whipping around little steamers to lake run fish
I have a WF5 on an original Abel TR1 paired with a Scott F 8'2" 5wt and love it. I've got a Winston Retro glass 7' 3wt that is screaming for a DT3.
I’d love to try a vintage dt 4wt on my new to me trout smith 8’ 4wt.
I have an old Fenwick 8'6" 6wt looking for a new DT to try out!
Gonna pair a 5DT with my Graywolf Trout Smith 7'6" 5wt. Hope to throw some small streamers at river smallmouth in the Ozarks in the upcoming months.
Vintage DT 4 wt spooled onto my old Lamson LP2 for my Steffen 8.0 ft 4/5.
I’m looking to replace my 6 wt floating line on my Orvis 6’6” fiberglass rod. It’ll go on my vintage Orvis Battenkill click n pawl. I use this setup to fish for creek smallies and small stream trout.
I’d love to try a DT4 on either my Barclay 784 or on my Paddock 794 Lemon Drop. I fish these rods in the WI driftless.
Pleased to see some of the new options in fly lines, and I need to try a 406. I'm thinking a Vintage series DT6 would go swimmingly with my Orvis Superfine Glass, and spooled up on my vintage J.W. Young Landex reel!
Been looking for a line for a recently acquired Orvis Battenkill bamboo salmon rod.sounds like the 8 wt. would fit the bill in either WF or DT. It's paired with a vintage Orvis Multiplier. Can't wait to fish this set up on the Battenkill in VT.for some big browns hopefully.
Like the Casting for recovery line as well. Would pair nicely on My North Forks glass build 5wt.
I've always been intrigued by these but never given them a shot. Have a Kabuto 3 wt I'd love to try the 406 DT on.
I'd use the WF8 as I've got a new Orvis SFG 8WT in the mail. It'll be slinging bugs for coastal bass in E. North Carolina.
I have a 8 foot 4 weight CTS that I would love to try the 406 fly line on. I use it as my dry fly rod in Northern and Central California.
Vintage WF #7 on my Sage SFL 789 swinging streamers on the Truckee
Thanks to Cameron,Tom, and Alexis for putting this together! Should I be fortunate enough to win (fingers crossed), I'd choose the 3-weight double taper to use with either my Cabela's CGR or my Moonshine Revival. I've got a couple of nice spring-fed creeks here in Nebraska, and I fish brookie water in the Appalachians whenever I get the chance.
Well, since I have yet to build my first glass rod, I'd pair a WF4 with one of my first builds. The Original US made Rainshadow RX7+, 4wt, 8'6" 4pc. It's great for anything freshwater from bass to trout. I actually won a gift certificate several years ago and used it on the blank. Fish On!
Thanks for this opportunity. I recently received my first bamboo rod a 9' Weber. I have only fished glass to this point and trying grass seams like the next step. I would love to try a wf 7wt for classic streamers. Mainly fishing for landlocked Atlantic Salmon in the fingerlakes of NY. I've been interested in 406 lines for quite some time now
Thanks for the giveaway. I have a couple 406 lines and love them. I would be pairing a 406 DT6 on my Phillipson G-MF60c which will be put to use chasing native brookies in Pennsylvania.
Thank you for the giveaway! My old Rio Classic Dt lines are almost worn out, but I still use them cracks and all. I would love either a DT5 or 6 to use on my bamboo and glass. The 5wt I would use on my favorite 8' Paramount Phillipson Bamboo or my Grangers. I have several vintage glass and cane that I would love to try a DT6 too. My home river is the Deschutes in Oregon.
Bruce
I appreciate the opportunity to win a line. I have an older 406 line that could use an upgrade. I would replace the old with a new DT4W. To be used on my Chris Barclay 70P, held by a Hardy Featherweight, to be used for panfish and trout in the small waters of NJ.
I have a number of 406 fly lines from a 3wt to a 6wt and they are fantastic lines. They are durable, appropriately labeled and weighted, and match most vintage and medium action fly rods. If it were me, I would choose the DT5 406 line for a up and coming rod build and trip for the Big Horn river. The perfect line for fish the bug life cycles that occur on that river. Keep up the good work Tom and Alexis!
Having a 406 line in DT 2, I would like to try the 406 line in a DT 3. This line would be primarily used on two Scott 3 weight rods constructed of fiberglass. Headwaters that begin on steep mountainous slopes in the Appalachians and small springs that emerge from the karst of central Pennsylvania will be where I primarily fish the line.
I've have always been curious about 406 lines and wondered how they would perform with my Winston Glass Retro 6'6" 3wt rod. I'm currently using a Rio LightLine on this rod and would be interested in how a change of lines would effect my casts and fishing. I've read a lot of good reviews on 406 which make me think I'm missing out...
I have also wondered how a 406 4wt would fit my Kabuto 8' 4wt. I primarily fish it on N. ID cutty streams. Best, and most versatile rod I have every used on those streams. Can throw a sculpin as easily as a small dry.
I'd put the WF5 on my Epic glass 5 wt. and hit the trout streams of northern Michigan
DT5 for my Barclay 710-5 to fish the Upper Delaware
I would use a WF 3 weight for bass, panfish, tilapia, etc. in my local canals. Depending on my mood, it will be fished on a proof glass 2 weight, a Batson Revelation 2 weight, or a Zhu's bamboo 3 weight.
nctrucker i would enjoy using a wf5f 406 line on a F e thomas special light clone for bluegill/bass/trout.
I believe a 406 4wt DT would be sweet with my Leland Sierra Nevada Fiberglass 476 and my click and pawl Leland Sierra Nevada Golden Trout reel. Just the ticket!
I would pair the Vintage weight forward in a 6 weight for my Dad's Shakespeare WonderRod.
A DT 3wt line would pair perfectly with my Echo Riverglass 6'9" 3wt.
5wt WF on a superfine glass for smallmouth bass on a paddleboard.
I believe a 406 4wt DT would be sweet with my Leland Sierra Nevada Fiberglass 476 and my click and pawl Leland Sierra Nevada Golden Trout reel. Just the ticket! (Forgot to mention where I would fish it - small trout streams and alpine lakes in CO where hiking in gets you away from the crowds.)
Might be late, but a 406 DT4F paired with a custom GRAYWOLF glass rod & a sweet click & pawl reel for out endemic Gem,,, The Rio Grande Cichlid.
WINNERS ANNOUNCED - Thanks to everyone that submitted comments on this giveaway post and the three winners are...
Roger Bird
Mike Adair
Rucker
Please send Tom an email with your address and preferred fly line choice.
this may not get noticed but i did indeed get a fine 406 DT5F fly lines from tom at 406 Flylines. many thanks to 406 Fly Lines and The Fiberglass Manifesto for the Giveaway!
nctrucker... GREAT! Enjoy.
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