He got, for his birthday, a nine foot, graphite II, 5 wt blank, just like he wanted and needed all along, and he's off and running fishing-wise. Don't tell me there isn't a plan to all this. The switch to SAGE rods, without the guarantee, has been financially traumatic, enough to justify a whole new blank rather than just the half section. Thus I did eventually get my whole series of graphites replaced by graphite II's, building from blem blanks of course. I am anxiously awaiting a good reason to get a graphite III. All of which is why, when we were giving casting instruction during our Spring Fly Fishing Festival, when a nice, ingenuous newcomer would approach me, the supposed expert, with his grandpa hand-me-down fiberglass J.C. Higgens special club, rigged with reel and line, wanting me to "try it out and tell me what you think" I would begin to shake and twitch. I would always try it out, of course. Some actually aren't so bad. The old fiberglass Fenwicks and a few others are reasonable to learn on. But often my twitching becomes uncontrollable, subconsciously propelling me in the direction of a vehicle. in the direction of a vehicle. There is no conscious purpose, at this point it is pure reflex and instinct. I always cast it real hard and sharp once or twice, hoping it will crack. They never do, too stiff for that. "Well, what do you think", they ask. Gulp, swallow, pause. You only have so much time to explain this. "The reel is just fine for now. You might oil it so the spool turns, though. The line is useable, until it wears out, which won't take long considering the sections of covering falling from the core. The rod is really , uh, o.k., you just need to slam a car door on it. Really, I'm serious, I'll do it for you if you want. Or maybe we could lay it down on the ground here for awhile where everyone is practicing casting". Trump Doyle McKenzie Flyfishers Jjanuary 1991
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