The other day my son sent me a text message that a package had just arrived and since he's a little bit nosy, asked if he could open it. He sent a photograph of the shipping label and I recognized who had sent it but couldn't imagine what was inside the large box. Finn opened the box and sent a text that it had a fly rod and fly reel inside of it which had me scratching my head since I couldn't imagine why Tim had sent me any of this. I've known Tim for years online and that stretches back to sometime in the early days of The Fiberglass Manifesto which I started back in 2008. Maybe even prior on the Fiberglass Flyrodders forum which would be a few years before that.
As soon as I got home that evening, I sat down at my desk to find a
metal rod tube with a piece of tape on the cap with "McFarland" handwritten on it, a fly reel in a neoprene case, card, and long typed note from Tim. Before opening anything, I read through the note where Tim explained that this was a gift from his collection to me for the years of writing The Fiberglass Manifesto. WOW. This fly rod and another were his two prized in his collection and he decided to send this one my way. I was blown away and still am.
While admittedly I'm the last person who really needs a new fly rod but this one is something special. It's a McFarland Rod Company Spruce Creek 7' 5-weight in three pieces. Yellow E-Glass, a slender cork grip (which is my preference), agate stripping guide, and in wonderful shape for being built sometime in 2009.
Tim likely didn't know it but I have a real soft spot for short glass, especially 5-weights. My first fly rod, a "lowly" Eagle Claw Featherlight, was the 7' 5-weight model and one of my first glass fly rods that I added when I first got really into glass was a vintage 7' Heddon #8381 followed soon after with a black glass Scott Fly Rod Company 7' 3-weight Fibertouch.
My first custom fly rod, which was sometime in 2007 or so, was a McFarland Spruce Creek 8' 5-weight and if my memory serves, I wrestled with the idea of ordering the 7' or 8' model. Mike convinced me to go with the 8' model for versatility, which I've never regretted but now have the little 7' model as well. I have always appreciated Mike's work and consider him a genius when it comes to fiberglass tapers.
Along with the fly rod was a sweet little Hardy Bougle with a matching fly line on it. A quick switch of the pawl and it's now RHW with the line reversed as well. With both pawls engaged, it has a deep purr to it and should stand up to what I have in mind for this outfit this spring and summer on the warmwater creeks near our home.
While admittedly I'm the last person who really needs a new fly rod but this one is something special. It's a McFarland Rod Company Spruce Creek 7' 5-weight in three pieces. Yellow E-Glass, a slender cork grip (which is my preference), agate stripping guide, and in wonderful shape for being built sometime in 2009.
Tim likely didn't know it but I have a real soft spot for short glass, especially 5-weights. My first fly rod, a "lowly" Eagle Claw Featherlight, was the 7' 5-weight model and one of my first glass fly rods that I added when I first got really into glass was a vintage 7' Heddon #8381 followed soon after with a black glass Scott Fly Rod Company 7' 3-weight Fibertouch.
My first custom fly rod, which was sometime in 2007 or so, was a McFarland Spruce Creek 8' 5-weight and if my memory serves, I wrestled with the idea of ordering the 7' or 8' model. Mike convinced me to go with the 8' model for versatility, which I've never regretted but now have the little 7' model as well. I have always appreciated Mike's work and consider him a genius when it comes to fiberglass tapers.
Along with the fly rod was a sweet little Hardy Bougle with a matching fly line on it. A quick switch of the pawl and it's now RHW with the line reversed as well. With both pawls engaged, it has a deep purr to it and should stand up to what I have in mind for this outfit this spring and summer on the warmwater creeks near our home.
Tim, thank you. My mind is still fully blown on this and your generosity is appreciated. I will take care of and enjoy this fly rod like you have for the years to come. Maybe someday I can gift this to someone else so it's legacy can continue on...
1 comment:
This is one of the coolest interactions ever.
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