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Dad gave me a Conolon HCH fly rod when I was 11. He said, “Do it like I do. Keep the rod between 11 and 1 o’clock, and hold a newspaper under your arm when you practice.” He added, “Twenty percent of the fisherman catch eighty percent of the fish.” I have been self-teaching and trying to reach the twenty percent ever since. I built my first fly rod seven years ago thinking I could get more rod for the money doing it myself. I continue to suffer the same motivation.

There is a Ford 8N restored tractor in the barn along with a 67 Airstream trailer and 54 Chevy pickup. Is there any surprise that I would build a fly rod from a vintage rod blank?

Schnieder Bamboo Rod

Jack Schneider build bamboo fly rods in San Jose, California until his passing in 1952. He, mom and dad, and Jimmie Golden often fished together. Jack’s rods, fly fishing, and Wade Lake, Montana tie us together in my memories. I write about these ties in the article below. They have all passed, mom just last

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