Yuku free message boards

We just checked into the Holiday Inn in Cheyenne, Wyoming and it's the first internet access I've had for a while. Well, I found nothing else! I must have seen several hundred old bait casting rods and reels and of course tons of spinning rods and reels but no fly rods except a few cheap Japanese boxed bamboo sets and those beat old broken-tipped bamboo fly rods that all antique dealers think are worth a fortune. The Heddon 300 was the only reel of any value. As an up date, after looking more carefully at my two rod finds, I found the Shakespeare to have a loose reel seat - I think the pin has eroded the blank. The pack rod has re-wrapped guides on the top two sections. I should have left those two where I found them I think. I guess all of those "worthless" glass rods of the 60's and 70's just aren't there anymore. I was surprised. It makes me appreciate all the more my little collection of glass.

Mountainshark, we're heading up into the Bighorns for a while and then up to Whitefish, MT to hopefully go to the International Fly Fishing Show (FFF conclave). Then we'll be heading down to Ketchum, ID to fish Silver Creek. On the way home we usually go through Jackson, WY.

I'll report any great finds ... right.

PS: We're cruising along getting approximately 1 McFarland per 2000 miles - quite depressing!

It's been a long dry spell, but finally some reels. I bought these three in Bozeman, Montana antique shops today - three reels for a total of $35. Pretty good deals, I think. The one on the right is a Cabela's brand reel and came with a newish Cortland Ultra 3 WF4 with backing. I'm not sure what the Berkley model is - graphite? It's really light for the size. The 1494 Medalist is in nice condition with a good WF line. Today I also came upon a Cortland FR1200 with a green Condex attached. The rod was sound but well used. The Condex was not in the best cosmetic condition but seemed in good shape. They wanted $49 for the pair - what do you think? The FR 1200 was a 7'1/2 for a 5/6. I could pick them up tomorrow.

Thanks for the information, guys. Thanks too for the generous offer, Tom. Yes, Marcy is very patient and has been trained to reject graphite and automatics. Seriously, she really enjoys the antique hunt too. The fishing has been terrific; the larger rivers are still fast and off color but the small streams are fine. We're camping in Livingston now beside the Yellowstone and it is high and green. The board at Blue Ribbon Flies read (paraphrased), "If you are reading this you have come at a great time! Fishing is great and any fly thrown into the Madison will produce a fish ..." You don't often see that, especially in the last several years out here. Lots of water everywhere. The Firehole was even fishing well this late. Tons of caddis hatching in the evenings everywhere. I fished Nez Perce Creek in the park and caught lots of small browns (one 14") and a few smallish rainbows - really fun initiating the new Winston Retro here. When the wind came up I broke out the Fenwick FF855.

We have canceled out trip up to the FFF Conclave in Whitefish. Looking at the booth layout on the web, it seems that few rod companies are participating - looked like most of the booths were going to be manned by Lodges, guide services, etc. I want to look at rods and cast them! Why they are having it in such an out of the way place is beyond me. It was always great fun in West Yellowstone and Livingston.

I probably shouldn't have mentioned canceling my trip to the conclave in this thread. I'm sure the FFF knows better than I where to hold the conclave - sorry. I think I overstepped my bounds. Yesterday I talked to Sam, the owner of Shields River Rod Company, and he showed me a neat little 2 WT glass rod he is donating to the FFF Conclave (one of his Cutthroat series) so maybe I was wrong on other counts as well. BTW, Sam is a great young man and his glass rods are extremely nice. He's sure to make his mark in rod building. He designs his own glass tapers and has them rolled in New Zeland. Gearboy e-mailed me several days ago about looking him up and I by chance ran into him at George Anderson's Fly Shop in Livingston - he works there.

Now, as to yuppies, I am certainly not one being a relative geezer and at the rate I'm spending my allowance on fly gear, surely downwardly mobile. The Abel TR-1 I bought yesterday certainly took a toll on any chance of upward mobility.

I have wireless tonight at a campground between Butte and Missoula and finally have time to sit down to a 24 ounce Coors and update our progress. Last week I picked up this nice Cortland FR2000 with a little green Condex attached for $49 - probably my best find to date. Having scoured antique shops, thrift shops, and pawn shops, I have to say that there is very little glass out there to be had. Today in a Butte pawn shop my heart skipped a beat when I saw a mint Phillipson aluminum case with a perfect sticker. I opened it up and ... the rod was a complete mess, though it was indeed a Phillipson - *&^%$! The search continues.

An envious hello to all at Mike McFarland's gathering - wish I could have been there.

Here's our motorized "home away from home":

And even though we do have a flush toilet in the camper, I have to show you our spacious master bath: