Hello Duff and fellow anglers,
I appreciate Duff's generous comments about my new fiberglass rods.
Before buying Winston in 1973 I had enjoyed fishing light line #3 and #4 bamboo rods. I thought that similar fiberglass rods would be popular so I designed the Winston fiberglass Stalker Rods to add to Winston's already great line of fiberglass rods. They became very popular and, as most of you know, continue to be very sought after even today with the most popular sizes bringing close to $1000 on E-Bay.
The Winston Stalkers certainly are wonderful fishing rods and I fished them for years. Nonetheless, for a long time I've thought that I could design fiberglass rods with even more effective designs and sweeter actions than the Stalkers. However, for many years there wasn't much interest in fiberglass from consumer demands or the manufacturing capability from manufacturers. Happily that has changed. I've always been a fan of fiberglass rods for fishing in the short to medium distances where most trout are caught because of the delicate touch and "feel" they provide along with their fish playing attributes.
I have been working with Kerry Burkheimer to develop a new series of fiberglass rods. He has E-glass to work with and a big variety of mandrels so I can develop the proper balance of taper and cloth patterns. I design the blanks and he rolls them then I have several locals who I think represent a cross section of anglers cast and/or fish them. My preference for trout rods has always been a progressive action so these rods are no exception. They flex with an increasingly uniform stiffness as the load increases.
Naturally, I have my own thoughts on what goes into making the perfect rod. However, with the availability of the Internet and the option of easily getting feedback I thought that getting other's ideas would be appropriate particularly from a group who love fiberglass rods. Therefor, I am soliciting your comments in the hope that you will give me some insight into your rod expectations.
My first question is about rod lengths in the line sizes that I'm developing. The following is a list of the lengths in the three line sizes that I am making; #3 in 6 1/2', 7', 7 1/2' and possibly an 8' if it's not too slow, #4 in 7', 7 1/2' and 8', #5 in 7 1/2' and 8'. They would be all 2-piece blanks. The 7' 11" Duff cast was anomaly because of the prototype blank length. My question: do you think these are the most appropriate lengths?
The design process is almost finished but I'm still trying to define the proper overall stiffness. Of course, I can design any stiffness that I would like into the rods and have a good idea of the appropriate distances they should fish. Nonetheless, getting an idea of the fishing distances from fiberglass anglers would be very helpful.
My prototype #3-weight rod is a 7'. The rod loads quite a bit in the 15' to 40' range with the flex at the longer range coming down just below the stripping guide. You couldn't say it's greatly overloaded but it's definitely a full flex rod at the 40 foot distance. Everyone who has cast it seems to agree that it needs just a little more power in the butt for best versatility. I agree with this particularly for strong casters. What is the distance range where you want a #3-weight rod to have the ideal flex? Any other comments?
The #4-weight prototype is a 7 1/2'. Almost every caster who has tried this thought this rod was just right. However, I think that the tip is perfect but that the butt was a little too strong to work perfectly in the 15' to 45' range. Again, my question is the same as above. Is the 15' to 45' range perfect for a #4-weight rod or do you expect it to cast farther easier? Naturally, you can cast this rod considerably farther but I'm looking for the sweet spot range. Your comments?
The #5-weight prototype is a 7' 11" rod but will end up being an 8'. In the 20' to 50-55' range it's an excellent rod with the correct overall stiffness and the sweetness that anglers are looking for in rods. Is this the range anglers are looking for in a #5-weight? Your comments?
This project has been a great deal of fun for me. My passion for many years has been designing fishing rods and these are some of the sweetest ever. As reference rods we had a popular contemporary glass rod along with two original Winston Stalker rods to test these against. My test casters concurred that these new rods were sweeter and an improvement over the the reference rods. It will be interesting to see if other anglers agree.
During the testing process my good friend, Per Brandin, was here helping with the casting evaluation. In my opinion, Per is one of the great modern rod designers and casters. He has lots of experience casting rods in all three materials and has a great "feel" for rod action. Every time he visits he wants to cast what he considers to be the greatest rod ever built in any material. Once again, he cast this rod and his conviction was reaffirmed. I also think that it's the smoothest and best casting rod I've ever felt.
Let me tell you about this rod and its history. I have loved streamer fishing for many years fishing light weight flies right at the surface using a floating line. I developed a special technique where the fly is moved in small, rhythmic movements. A full description of the technique is on my web site at:
http://www.troutrods.com/morgantwitch.html
In order to properly fish this method you need a special rod with a tip with just the right stiffness to manipulate the fly without moving it too much. You also need just the right amount of power in the butt. My choice has always been a #6-weight rod to make the right cast with some flies that tend to be a little heavy even though they aren't weighted.
When I owned Winston I made up a special fiberglass 8'3" #6-weight rod just for myself because I thought fiberglass was the best material to create the perfect action. It's one of a kind and unquestionably a fabulous rod.
Now comes the interesting part. Per, and my wife, Gerri, want me to duplicate this rod and offer blanks for sale. I have little doubt that I can come really, really close in duplicating it since I have mandrels with the same taper and the same E-glass available. The resin is different but that can be taken into account with the design. However, I don't think there is enough interest from today's anglers in a #6-weight fiberglass rod regardless of how great it is. I would be interested in your comments.
I am looking forward to providing anglers with fiberglass rods that will provide them with another choice for their fishing. I will be just offering blanks but not finished rods and, hopefully, they will be available in early winter. The blanks will be a dark red.
Good fishing,
Tom Morgan
I appreciate Duff's generous comments about my new fiberglass rods.
Before buying Winston in 1973 I had enjoyed fishing light line #3 and #4 bamboo rods. I thought that similar fiberglass rods would be popular so I designed the Winston fiberglass Stalker Rods to add to Winston's already great line of fiberglass rods. They became very popular and, as most of you know, continue to be very sought after even today with the most popular sizes bringing close to $1000 on E-Bay.
The Winston Stalkers certainly are wonderful fishing rods and I fished them for years. Nonetheless, for a long time I've thought that I could design fiberglass rods with even more effective designs and sweeter actions than the Stalkers. However, for many years there wasn't much interest in fiberglass from consumer demands or the manufacturing capability from manufacturers. Happily that has changed. I've always been a fan of fiberglass rods for fishing in the short to medium distances where most trout are caught because of the delicate touch and "feel" they provide along with their fish playing attributes.
I have been working with Kerry Burkheimer to develop a new series of fiberglass rods. He has E-glass to work with and a big variety of mandrels so I can develop the proper balance of taper and cloth patterns. I design the blanks and he rolls them then I have several locals who I think represent a cross section of anglers cast and/or fish them. My preference for trout rods has always been a progressive action so these rods are no exception. They flex with an increasingly uniform stiffness as the load increases.
Naturally, I have my own thoughts on what goes into making the perfect rod. However, with the availability of the Internet and the option of easily getting feedback I thought that getting other's ideas would be appropriate particularly from a group who love fiberglass rods. Therefor, I am soliciting your comments in the hope that you will give me some insight into your rod expectations.
My first question is about rod lengths in the line sizes that I'm developing. The following is a list of the lengths in the three line sizes that I am making; #3 in 6 1/2', 7', 7 1/2' and possibly an 8' if it's not too slow, #4 in 7', 7 1/2' and 8', #5 in 7 1/2' and 8'. They would be all 2-piece blanks. The 7' 11" Duff cast was anomaly because of the prototype blank length. My question: do you think these are the most appropriate lengths?
The design process is almost finished but I'm still trying to define the proper overall stiffness. Of course, I can design any stiffness that I would like into the rods and have a good idea of the appropriate distances they should fish. Nonetheless, getting an idea of the fishing distances from fiberglass anglers would be very helpful.
My prototype #3-weight rod is a 7'. The rod loads quite a bit in the 15' to 40' range with the flex at the longer range coming down just below the stripping guide. You couldn't say it's greatly overloaded but it's definitely a full flex rod at the 40 foot distance. Everyone who has cast it seems to agree that it needs just a little more power in the butt for best versatility. I agree with this particularly for strong casters. What is the distance range where you want a #3-weight rod to have the ideal flex? Any other comments?
The #4-weight prototype is a 7 1/2'. Almost every caster who has tried this thought this rod was just right. However, I think that the tip is perfect but that the butt was a little too strong to work perfectly in the 15' to 45' range. Again, my question is the same as above. Is the 15' to 45' range perfect for a #4-weight rod or do you expect it to cast farther easier? Naturally, you can cast this rod considerably farther but I'm looking for the sweet spot range. Your comments?
The #5-weight prototype is a 7' 11" rod but will end up being an 8'. In the 20' to 50-55' range it's an excellent rod with the correct overall stiffness and the sweetness that anglers are looking for in rods. Is this the range anglers are looking for in a #5-weight? Your comments?
This project has been a great deal of fun for me. My passion for many years has been designing fishing rods and these are some of the sweetest ever. As reference rods we had a popular contemporary glass rod along with two original Winston Stalker rods to test these against. My test casters concurred that these new rods were sweeter and an improvement over the the reference rods. It will be interesting to see if other anglers agree.
During the testing process my good friend, Per Brandin, was here helping with the casting evaluation. In my opinion, Per is one of the great modern rod designers and casters. He has lots of experience casting rods in all three materials and has a great "feel" for rod action. Every time he visits he wants to cast what he considers to be the greatest rod ever built in any material. Once again, he cast this rod and his conviction was reaffirmed. I also think that it's the smoothest and best casting rod I've ever felt.
Let me tell you about this rod and its history. I have loved streamer fishing for many years fishing light weight flies right at the surface using a floating line. I developed a special technique where the fly is moved in small, rhythmic movements. A full description of the technique is on my web site at:
http://www.troutrods.com/morgantwitch.html
In order to properly fish this method you need a special rod with a tip with just the right stiffness to manipulate the fly without moving it too much. You also need just the right amount of power in the butt. My choice has always been a #6-weight rod to make the right cast with some flies that tend to be a little heavy even though they aren't weighted.
When I owned Winston I made up a special fiberglass 8'3" #6-weight rod just for myself because I thought fiberglass was the best material to create the perfect action. It's one of a kind and unquestionably a fabulous rod.
Now comes the interesting part. Per, and my wife, Gerri, want me to duplicate this rod and offer blanks for sale. I have little doubt that I can come really, really close in duplicating it since I have mandrels with the same taper and the same E-glass available. The resin is different but that can be taken into account with the design. However, I don't think there is enough interest from today's anglers in a #6-weight fiberglass rod regardless of how great it is. I would be interested in your comments.
I am looking forward to providing anglers with fiberglass rods that will provide them with another choice for their fishing. I will be just offering blanks but not finished rods and, hopefully, they will be available in early winter. The blanks will be a dark red.
Good fishing,
Tom Morgan
