March 11, 2004 Newsletter

 

My sympathies and best wishes go out to my friend and co-worker, Herb Mossman, at the recent passing of his eldest son in Colorado who was killed in a car accident in Colorado.  Herb, after attending his son’s funeral, made it back to San Antonio and is fishing with local friends and customers in Louisiana and will be in the shop this coming Monday and for the fly tying class Monday evening.

 

Spring has arrived!  I was invited to fish this past Sunday with my friend Mike Smith and Capt. Chuck Naiser (naiser@dbstech.com – phone 361-729-9314) thoroughly enjoying the brief trip.  The flowers are coming out along the highway, the birds are pairing up, and we even got ‘roared’ at by a big female alligator when we approached her nest while Chuck was poling near the shoreline.  Chuck also poled us to within 50 yards of a family of Whooping Cranes, and the Redfish were nearly everywhere as well as some large trout in the very shallow water, two of which left a wake that could rock the boat!   Some of the ‘photo opp’s’ we had brought to mind an old analogy someone once told me about releasing the fish we so proudly catch,  and I thought back of the more recent Television programs in which the fish are displayed for what seems like an inappropriate amount of time in front of the camera.  I was told to think of a marathon runner competing with all his strength, crossing the finish line completely out of breath and exhausted and when gasping for air and oxygen, his head be immediately placed in a tub of water!  A fish is fighting for his life, he thinks he is going to die, and when he is totally exhausted and spent all his energy and oxygen, we remove him from the water creating the analogy of the marathon runner!  Food for thought or being overly sensitive for a fish. . . .? Oh, and by the way, Chuck told me he has several openings for March and April which would indicate a possibility of watching for those perfect days and calling him just prior to leaving to fish the following day.

 

Many of you have heard me explain the differences in rods, particularly fly rods, saying how equipment can vary by ‘entry’ level rods, to ‘mid’ level rods, to the rods you will eventually own, should you pursue our passion of fly fishing.  So many times I have experienced from customers their surprise and delight at upgrading to the newer, quicker, and easier to cast technologies and I am asked “what should I do with my old rod”?  My point is, and will always be, if you have wanted to get into the world of fly fishing and take the first steps towards that goal by committing yourself to the purchase of equipment, why not make a bit larger step and go for the rod, optic’s, line, and reel that will last you for many, many years and provide you with better learning tools.  You will have more ‘pride in ownership’ resulting in taking more opportunities to get out and fish.   Come in and cast some of the new rods and if you would like to get started, I will arrange private lessons from Randy Bland here in the shop.  Take a lesson or two ($35) then decide how much of a commitment you want to make for equipment.  Also keep in mind during the remainder of March I am offering $75 store credit on the purchase of any of my already custom built Sage XP’s and $50 store credit on any Tibor reels!  Very good deal.

 

I have received my orders on the new Sage Xi 2’s in 6, 7, 8, 9 weight blanks.  Great stuff and just in time for the spring season. . . . . . .

 

Rick Cathey (210-573-9873/rcathey@championsguides.com) was in last night telling me he has had fabulous luck with the Stripped Bass/Hybrids these past few days.  He says they will ‘wear you out’!  They will only be swarming as they are right now for a couple of weeks – big largemouths are also in the shallows. . . . .

 

I got an email from the Shonto with pictures to prove the brag – 30 fish days per person on Rainbow’s up to 24”!  Season will only last another 2 months so contact C. D. or Bill at www.shontoranch.com.

 

In my last email I mentioned Ice Fishing – I got an email from a Wisconsin friend who told me the technology has arrived for ‘Ole and ‘Swen in the north as well.  Seems people now drill a 100 or more holes in the ice and employ an underwater video camera to ‘look around’ and even use the camera to watch the bite!  Oofta!

 

Enjoy these wonderful spring days.

 

Dennis O. Freeman

RODMAKERS

13457 Blanco Road

San Antonio, TX. 78216

210-479-3477

rodmaker@rod-makers.com