This morning as I was following a recipe given me by my mother for bread dressing to go in the turkey for tomorrow oh, so many years ago, I couldn’t help but look at her handwriting on the card and reflect on the many gifts bestowed upon us as we travel through life, most of which go un-noticed and are taken for granted.  Of the family and friends whose influence, wisdom, and characteristic’s have molded us into what we are, many of whom have passed on or unable to be together at this time of celebration.  Experience, I have found, is a funny pheonemon.  It can lead to very positive characteristic’s and some not so favorable.  If we could all disregard the negative and embrace the positive, this world would be a far better place.  I know I am thankful for the many friends, my wife Linda, family members, those with us and those passed, that bestowed positive traits upon me that I have in turn given my children, friends, and perhaps even customers of Rodmakers!

 

“CHANGES OF LATTITUDES, CHANGES OF ATTITUDES” as Jimmy Buffet would sing out, is what I have experienced in casting the new Xi2 Sage flyrods. . . .my attitude has changed and I now sing the praises of the new generation 5 rods and will undoubtedly test them on our Gulf Coast shortly and work towards another trip to the more southern latitudes.  In my opinion, the Xi2 feels as though the tip section is fast as in the XP’s, but the butt section is definitely designed for salt water use.  Several customers have cast an 8 weight I have in the shop and are singing the rod’s praises as well.  If you want a rod that requires a very short casting stroke with very little effort on your part, and has a butt section that WILL stop a fish from running to the mangrove, or throw a big fly if required, and will throw the best ever into a wind, the Xi2 is for you!  I have 8’s, 9’s, and 10’s in stock and expect to receive 6’s and 7’s shortly.

 

This past week I had to remove the fly reels from the shelving and place them into a locked cabinet much to my regret, however, I cannot continue to supply others with free reels!  I am missing no less than 5 fly reels from my inventory and expect it will take months for me to make up the loss.  I get busy in various parts of the shop or out in my casting area and the temptation for someone to put one in their pocket must be one of those ‘negative characteristic’s’ I talked about.   I would appreciate it if you would ask to see a particular reel and I will be more than happy to accommodate.  I have a new supply in anticipation of Christmas and would love to show them to you.

 

Herb Mossman has had a few fly tiers in each Monday evening but tells me he would love to have more people come to experience the pleasure of fly tying.  If you will recall, I take Monday’s off and Herb runs the store from noon to 8: p.m. and does fly tying instruction from 5: to closing.

 

After closing on Saturday my son Ryan invited me out to his lease near Sabinal primarily to show off a beautiful 13 point buck he just dispatched!  What a beauty!  The fresh pig his friend killed, cooking over a mesquite fire, wasn’t all that bad either!  I don’t hunt anymore but do enjoy deer camp, especially when I can see my son conducting himself much the same as I used to with the cleaning of animals, the great cooking fires he maintains, and yes, even the way he directs hunter traffic in and around the ranch.  Suppose that is one of those characteristic’s he got from me?  My other son, Chad (himself a great hunter and outdoor survivor) and my two grandson’s are coming down from Minnesota in a couple of weeks and I do so look forward to us all being together again at deer camp.  Another reason to be ‘thankful’!

 

If you would like join the Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited (GRTU), I am conducting an orientation meeting here in the shop from 6: p.m. to 8: p.m. on MONDAY DECEMBER 1^ST.  This orientation is mandatory before you receive lease access.  You can actually join on their Web site:  www.grtu.com.   Everyone is anticipating a great year on the Guad and the season is NOW!  Come tie with Herb and attend the meeting – it’s good for everyone!

 

The SHONTO has recently released trout in several of their many fishable lakes.  For those of you that have fished the Shonto, you recall the early fish are huge (and not as wary as they get later!).  Call C. D. or Bill at 210-884-0982; 830-257-5982 or visit their site at www.shontoranch.com.   You may also want to visit their Web site and look at some of the ‘specials’ they have of some of the magnificent animals they have for hunting.  I have a large inventory of flies for both the Guad and the Shonto and plenty of leaders.

 

Chuck Naiser told me last week, when the weather was perfect – in the middle of the week, he had spectacular fly fishing for Redfish with his client catching and releasing 45 by 1:30 on Wednesday.  He said his guy wore himself out and asked if he could pole the boat while Chuck took a turn on the pointed end of the boat – Chuck caught 12 in 40 minutes!!!  One of those rare days that gets experienced after years of paying your dues with bad weather and scattered fish.

 

I have many fly, casting, and spinning rods built and for sale and will provide an inscription on them at no additional charge.  I have cases for the fly rods, bags for the spinning and casting rods, fly reels, lines etc. etc. and I am counting on a favorable holiday season to offset the past two slow months.  If you want me to build you a rod, or if you want to build it yourself, a Gift Certificate works well as together we can design what you actually need (want).  Also, as a neat stocking stuffer, a certificate for fly casting lessons/instructions for $35 is not a bad idea either.

 

If you enjoy these newsletters and want your friends to receive them as well, please let me know their email address.

 

Thanks and have a safe, thankful, and happy Thanksgiving!

 

Dennis O. Freeman

RODMAKERS

13457 Blanco Road

San Antonio, TX 78216

210-479-3477

www.rod-makers.com

rodmaker@rod-makers.com