SUPERFINE

The other day, Jay Riley posted a photograph on Instagram of his beloved Orvis Superfine fiberglass fly rod with a few thoughts that I asked if I could share with this T.F.M. post.  Slow scroll and enjoy...

Superfine. 

My favorite rod series.

Like a manual transmission there’s something intimate about fiberglass. 

It never disappears in hand but that’s not dissatisfying. 

I often describe fiberglass as the recurve bow and modern, state of the art carbon fly rods being compound bows. 

Both bows are deadly, but the recurve requires the hunter to make physical adjustments to overcome the inefficiencies of the tool for it to be lethally effective. 

I enjoy how slowly I fish glass. 

 

 
I am not talking about traits like rod action, load, casting stroke or line speed. All the things most people seem to celebrate about the casting. 

Glass rewards when you slow down the process and hunt your quarry in a different manner, be more intentional like the recurve versus the compound. You refine the stalk. 

Big fish are easier to land. 

There’s less resistance on them and they are easier to steer and move once hooked. 

I don’t think about fighting a fish, I think about dancing with them (except tarpon that’s an all out brawl). Lead them, slide them and react to their movements. Glass is a great conductor of motion. 

This might seem silly but I find fish don’t “fight” as hard or resist the pressure of the rod with glass, that makes landing fish with glass a lot easier, particularly big fish. The fight is more subdued and less intense and honestly somewhat underwhelming compared to the astonishing sight of a rod bent to the cork.

I am not trying to sell you on Superfine fiberglass, journaling my thoughts helps me explore and understand the visceral relationship I have with fiberglass fly rods. 

Thanks for giving me that space. 

 

Thank you, Jay.  You can see more of his talented images and musings on Instagram.