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As I begin making plans to ‘downsize’ my little business I am again reminded of the feller that asked the ranchman, “how do you get a nice little ranch like this?” His answer – you start with a big ranch. From a background of banking and bank ownership, land and commercial development, insurance agency ownership, bed and breakfast operations at the coast, to custom rod making and fly shops to rod building at home. It has been a long journey with many experiences in between but I must say, as I have said with each change of direction in the past, change is good.
I will begin physically bagging & boxing remaining inventory January 22nd and will have my rod building equipment removed and office re-installed the 29th to 31st of January in my home. As of now, my phone number, fax number, email address, and Web address will remain the same. My home is in the Deerfield Subdivision with entries on Blanco or on Bitters – address is 1727 Eagle Meadow;
This past month I got into a good natured discussion with a friend and client from Austin and Harry Lane, well known fly fishing guide on the San Juan for some 35 plus years, in which I jabbed him about his technical fishing while defending myself about ‘high pressure’ salesmanship I was accused of employing. Being the sensitive type (ya, right!) I took mild offense at his comments. I believe in fly fishing there is more than just bringing fish to the net – it’s the whole experience beginning with the satisfaction of making a good cast. As I believe Chico Fernandez once said, “many times while fly fishing, making a good cast is all the satisfaction you get”. Over the years technologies have evolved tremendously much as they have in golf. As any golf pro would suggest trying the new ‘stuff’ out there, I point out the advancements that have been made in fly rods and yes, they are a bit pricey but if the new fly fisher becomes compulsive about our sport, he/she will eventually own the latest and greatest and I feel it is my obligation to point out the advantages of ownership and assist with the customer’s casting stroke. Call it salesmanship or call it sharing my passion of being the best you can be fly fishing. Believe me, $500 fly rods are not classified as a convenience item on a store shelf; in order to sell them they require someone knowledgeable, experienced, helpful and passionate which Harry is in his guiding and I am in my selling.
I am hosting a GRTU (
My two days of fishing with Capt. Chuck Naiser got cancelled because of weather. I can only imagine if this current mild weather had been a week or so earlier! During the winter months when the weather is overcast with minimal air temperature change, fish tend to hang out in deeper water, become a bit more scattered. When the sun comes out and large air temperature fluctuations occur without the mixing of wind direction, the water quickly warms on the flats attracting baitfish and predators, and visibility makes seeing them much easier. If anyone has a suggestion how to predict these ideal conditions a couple of weeks in advance, please advise.
Once again I have one opening for fly fishing in the
Once again, thanks and I really do appreciate your business and loyalty.
Thanks.
Dennis O.
Freeman
RODMAKERS
210-479-3477