Glory Days

I was driving down the road today when Bruce Springstein's song, "Glory Days" started streaming through the speakers. My slight passion (LOL) with fly gear started me thinking about the question, "what would I consider the glory days of fly fishing rods?" Not an easy answer to that question. And, which era would other anglers view as the glory days of fly rods? Their responses would certainly depend on the type of fly rod being considered...bamboo, glass, or graphite.

I'm confident, finding a consensus with anglers on what time period would be the "Glory Days" is futile. So, since this is my blog, I'll share my thoughts of glory days in view of graphite rods, for freshwater trout, with a focus on small mountain creeks (Rios). Why small creeks? Well, if I was a smart**s, I would say, "because it's my blog and I fish primarily mountain creeks." But, in truth, it's because I believe small creek rods are much more challenging to design and build in graphite for our small creek environments. More so than glass or bamboo. I also think the glory days would have to factor in a few notable designers of graphite rods. Those designers I admire in view of the glory days of rods would be Don Green, Tom Morgan, and Larry Kenny. They appreciated small stream anglers' needs, designed amazing creek rods, and had a strong influence on the next generation of rod designers.

Considering all the factors as shared above, my perceived "Glory Days" is a period between the years of 1985 and 2005. There were significantly more small creek rods available during this period for the 'creeker' than what you see on shops' rod racks today. Amazing rods! Yeah, don't get all huffy and puffy on me, but here's my "Glory Days" list of creek rods:

• Winston IM6 6'6" 2wt
• Orvis Superfine 6'6" 2wt (1oz)
• Scott G 8' 2wt
• Scott G 6' 10" 3wt
• Winston IM6/WT 7' 3wt
• Winston IM6/WT 7'6" 3wt
• Scott G 7'7" 3wt
• Sage LL 7'9" 3wt
• Sage LL 7' 4wt
• Winston IM6 7' 4wt
• Winston TMF 8' 4wt

So, did you notice an 8 foot rod is the longest length on the list? That's because I believe anything longer than 8 feet is not a true mountain creek rod, but a rod more appropriate for the larger spring creeks and freestone streams. For those anglers who spend lots of time hiking mountain trails that parallel their favorite trout creeks...yeah, you know!

I have fishing buddies who own one or more rod models on the list. And, I have three glory rods listed that I love to fish throughout New Mexico. This week, my IM6 2wt is going on an overnight camp/fish trip, in order to be on Rainy Mountain for the evening hatch...yep, that rod will help me to relive those "Glory Days."

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