Well with the crappy weather today…..those who know me…..Ugly Stik III is being made! Only a few hours, minimal components=retirement project! Here’s what the node looks like after cutting the branch off, then a little filing and felt pens to camouflage/blend in.
Steve gave me one of the bamboo sticks to create my own crooked monster.
Maiden trip was last Tuesday with a 5wt floating line which casted horribly. Slipped on another reel loaded with 5wt type III full sink. Now the rod was singing. C&R some plants to christen the rod and splashed crown with Steve. A good day for sure.
Friday took the rod out on another still water with a 7wt floating line which was much better. Fished paraloop emergers all day C&R (mot as many as Steve, of course) but felt like I could live with this rod. It fits in well with my other restored bamboo rods.
One of my sons saw the rod this weekend and said I was going Huck Finn. Millennials! What the heck does Huck Finn mean... Ha.
I will make sure he inherits the rod in 20 years.
Ok….the last Ugly Stik for awhile……5’6” 4/5 wt agate stripper, black wraps, Dave Cook NOS Granger style reelseat, “Punisher” grip. Lawn cast amazingly. Going fishing with three Stiks now…..
Well I really didn’t “punish” the trout today….I devirginized it with 18 trout, 1 bass, 1 nice crappie and 1 bluegill for a slam! All on emergers sight casting. The rod did great but the reelseat didn’t like the Pflueger foot….fell off quite a few times…..replace with a Hardy! I couldn’t tell you how many fish I LDR’d and flat out missed…..all in all a good day on the water!
The punisher lived up to its name today…..20 trout, two bass and one pumpkinseed! Very nice sized trout casting and stripping a black flashy leech, other 8 on the bobber on Ugly Stik II. Tom video’d the best trout making my Hardy Featherweight sing! Might post that later….great day in the sunshine!