Published Dec 27. 2009 - 14 years ago
Updated or edited Aug 8. 2015

New Member

Hi,

My name is Allan and I've just joined GFF.

I live in the Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania and fish, primarily, small freestrone streams for native Brookies and some stocked Rainbows and Browns. My favorite fishing day is one in which I'm hiking up into a small local headwater, armed with a 7'6" 3 wt., in search of some undiscovered and undistubed squaretails. Here's a pic of Stoney Run, one of the tributaries of Broadhead Creek. Walk about 1/2 mile upstream from here and you'll find some very nice Brookie fishing.

[img:22217de24a]http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu44/apjarvis/Broadhead%20Creek/Broad...

I do, also, enjoy an occasional Striper or two on the Kennebec up in Maine.

[img:22217de24a]http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu44/apjarvis/Striper%20-%20Kennebec%...

I started fly fishing when I was 11, but had a 48 year hiatus shortly after that. I still have and routinely fish my first rod, which was a 1959 Montgomery Ward 7'1" Hawthorne 2-piece, solid glass 6 wt. Fitted with a Pflueger 1495; loaded with 144 pieces of #2 shot, it's actually a pretty balanced rig and although bringing a noodle-like, short and heavy rod under full control during casting is always challenging (but pleasantly so), I still enjoy fishing it. It's not going to win any beauty contests, but from a sentimental standpoint, if I could only have one rod, this would be the one:

[img:22217de24a]http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu44/apjarvis/Montgomery%20Ward%20Rod...

I started tying flies almost 2 years ago and have enjoyed it immensely. Recently, I've been drawn to streamer flies; particluarly the classic patterns of the Rangeley style; and now, more and more to Atlantic Salmon fly patterns. I recently picked up a new copy of an old book by Pryce-Tannatt; "How to Dress Salmon Flies; A Handbook for Amateurs", and have found it to be one of the best written, easily understandable and logically progressive books on fly tying that I've ever read. Here's an example of a Rangeley style streamer; my tie of Carrie Steven's "Witch" pattern. I know that it won't pass muster with the tyers in this forum, but I'm continuing to work on my technique:

[img:22217de24a]http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu44/apjarvis/Carrie%20Stevens%20Witc...

I've been particularly impressed by the articles in this Forum on classic wet flies, Ray Bergman hairwing conversions and mini-streamers (which I think is a fantastic idea and one that I plan to spend some time working on so that my Spring fly box will be populated with a few of those patterns that I can try on my local fish).

I look forward to learning from this forum and to contributing whatever I can to it.

Best,

Pocono

Martin Joergensen's picture

Allan,...

Allan,

Welcome to the forum and to GFF as a whole. Your small stream looks very intriguing! Nice photo!

But the rod is indeed odd! It looks as if the handle has been turned upside down.

Martin

Allan,...

[quote:dddc5798ae="Martin Joergensen"]Allan,

Welcome to the forum and to GFF as a whole. Your small stream looks very intriguing! Nice photo!

But the rod is indeed odd! It looks as if the handle has been turned upside down.

Martin[/quote:dddc5798ae]

Martin,

You're right about that rod - it's a piece of work OK. No, the handle is not mounted upside down. Here's what Montgomery Ward had to say about the rod in their 1959 Outdoor Sports catalog:

"[b:dddc5798ae]All Purpose Panfish Rod.[/b:dddc5798ae] Land a Blue-gill, Brim or Perch with sturdy 2-piece solid fiber glass "responsive action" rod. Also suited for other still or fly fishing. Polished aluminum fly rod yreel sest. Chrome plated ferrule with 4 snake guides and tip top set in contrasting cluster of nylon windings. Composition cork grip, polished Aluminum reel seat with screw locking ring. Packed in plastic bag. Actual wt. 4 ozs., 7 ft. length. [i:dddc5798ae]Mailable[/i:dddc5798ae]. [b:dddc5798ae]$3.75[/b:dddc5798ae]"

It came with a open frame reel ($0.89). I "upgraded" to the weighted Pflueger 1495 to get the rod and reel into balance.

Nothing to brag about, but for a kid of 11 it was all that I needed to get started in fly fishing. As I said, I still fish it regularly; sort of sentimental favorite.

Pocono

Ponoco,...

Ponoco,

welcome! i wish i were same lucky boy to get fly rot at 11. I remember at my 11 i was building my first fly line buy welding 1mm mono to 0.8mm mono and so on. well it was the end of Soviet era 1988ties it took nother 5 year until i got a real fly fishing line :D

i am not complaining i am just stating history

keep that rod as one of the best gift in your life

rgds

Rolandas

That's a good story about...

That's a good story about fishing. I like it.
Good luck!

.

Log in or register to pre-fill name on comments, add videos, user pictures and more.
Read more about why you should register.