MBR - Back to the Future

If you haven't heard of them, and you're an avid fly fisher...well, you will hear of them soon. The Daufel brothers (twins) who are fly tiers, fly fishers, rod designers, and owners of Montana Brothers Rodworks are making quite the name for themselves. What they have done with fly rod design is so against the grain of mainstream rod companies, it's remarkable and admirable.

Their new MBR 904 fly rod has a progressive action that is not like any rod being built today. During a cast, you can feel the rod bend all the way down to the cork. It is not a noodle and has power. The first thing you'll notice with the cast is the firm (ish) tip section which certainly differentiates the rod from the norm of fast action rods being sold in fly shops today. This rod is like a throwback to the eighties...and, I like it! Safe to say it's the best 9' 4wt rod that I take to the stream...

The aesthetics are exquisite, simple, and beautiful in a handsome way. It's obvious, the Daufel bros are detail oriented because of the quality build. The deep red wraps are classic perfection. And the purists will like this...no fly keeper. The feel when gripping the modified wells handle reminds me of my favorite handle, the Sage snub nose. The cork is all quality too. And, I didn't notice initially, but the end of the handle has a caramel coated surface...a subtle and nice touch. The blank reminds me of my classic Orvis and Scott rods in that it is charcoal grey and unsanded, leaving the wrap edges spiraling down the length of the blank. Something else you don't see with the big mainstream companies today is MBR's standard down locking reel seat…YES SIR! The brothers make it clear they are a production company and not a custom shop, but they do give the customer a choice of reel seat spacers. Mine, is a roasted curly maple spacer.

This rod has been to the San Juan where browns and bows are big ‘uns, and up to a gorgeous freestone stream in Colorado...even fished the rod in a creek running through a high altitude meadow, and it's a blast to cast and tight line a wild trout into the net.

Yep, these Daufel brothers are a rod company with a reputation for quality fly rods...Montana Brothers Rodworks.

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