Winter Projects

This is about the time we should clean, oil & put away fishing & hunting equipment for the winter, noting any equipment maintenance projects that should be done when the snow flies. It’s a great idea to put everything away where we can find it next year, realizing that we’ll be a year older and that our memories don’t seem to improve with age.

Fly tying materials & equipment can be used over winter to provide enjoyment and to prepare for next season. Fly tying workshops are held in winter, so it’s also a great time to hone our tying skills and learn new ones. Books, DVDs and the internet give us a wealth of instructional resources, making it possible to go as deep as we like into the hobby. Maybe there’s still time to add fly tying items to your Christmas list.

Christmas can be a winter project as well, with preparation, family gathering, worship and conclusion activities. The New Year then roars in and finally we can make time to plan some serious projects for the winter months.

Some project suggestions include boat building, rod building, making furled leaders, making shooting head fly lines, repairing waders, tying classic salmon flies, tying realistic flies, and tying fishing flies. Future columns will discuss these ideas in more detail, and we’ll take a closer look at one right now.

Rod Building

At least 4 rod-builders I know have fly rod projects scheduled for this winter. If there are others who would like to learn the hobby, a rod-building workshop can be arranged through your local fly shop in the new year.

Rod building has never been easier. Modern graphite rod blanks are pre-finished with built-in rod ferrules. Pre-assembled cork handles are also available, as are single-foot line guides that require one thread wrap rather than two. Rod wrapping thread is now pre-treated with colour preserver. New epoxy wrap finishes require only one coat, rather than three. All of these recent innovations save us steps, cost and time. 

So what’s left to do? We need to install a reel seat, with or without a fighting butt, pre-assembled cork handle, wrap ferrules and rod guides, install a tip top, apply the epoxy finish to the rod, and that’s about it for the essentials. Extras include the a hook-keeper, rod builder’s signature, an engraved butt cap, and decorative thread wraps or custom-made hardware.

Today we can purchase factory-made rods for the same or less money than a custom-built rod. The advantages of building a custom rod are that we can select high-quality components, make a better rod and experience the satisfaction of using a custom rod that we built ourselves. Use of high quality components and finishes can also eliminate the requirement for expensive future maintenance (such as line guide replacement) or rod manufacturer’s “extended warranties”.

Besides, it’s fun.

Please stay on the line …