Monday, April 30, 2012

grass in da house

...bamboo that is!






























Recently The Fates over at Outdoor Blogger Network cast my way a golden opportunity to gear test the stuff Dreams are made of: a bamboo* rod, reel, line outfit put together for an extended round-robin contest.   

    *(Yes you read that right: hand-picked. hand-split. cane bamboo.  And not that Kane BamBu you see on the end-aisle at wallyworld either)

Included in the package~
  • 2 piece 8' 5wt bamboo rod handcrafted in ID by the good folks at Fall River Fly Rods, namely master craftsman Jason Zicha.  Mr Zicha sir, may I say right out of the gate, a finer thoroughbred has never graced our stables here at la casa de Heitman. It is a schweet stick indeed.
  • Balancing the FR rod is a  Montana Fly Company large arbor Madison II reel, with stealth river camo anodizing.  You'll know MFC as the innovator behind the trout skin look applied to most everything we fly anglers hold dear.  Yes iPhones included.  Like Duh!
  • Paired with the MFC Madison is a double-taper 5wt RIO Trout LT line, hand-selected for its ability to locate cutthroat trout much like those famous elvish daggers detect the minions of Darkness in LOTR.  OK, I might have made that last part up.  All I can say is it better deliver!  Kidding, RIO attorneys! (kinda?)

RE: contest? OBN summoned eighteen delirious bloggers to attend the 2012 OBN Hunger Games to circle around the Cornucopia and fight a bloody duel to the finish, winner take all, with the aforementioned ensemble awarded to the victor valiant.

OK, might have made that up too.  But that might be cool, no?  Let's just say, looking over the assemblage on my kitchen table, OBN- I'm willing to negotiate terms.   

Wait, Mrs Wulff says no, so I guess the Cornucopia idea is out, my apologiesYoutube! ;-)

In reality, the contest allows each lucky blogger a coupla weeks to drool over fish the combo, then send it along to the next contestant. Fellow blogger Ben Smith of AZWanderings fame received first crack at the combo the last coupla weeks.  I want to thank Mrs Smith for finding the strength, fortitude to finally pry the rod from my former friend's fingers, send it along.






Speaking of thanks, muchas gracias to OBN for this great opportunity, tres gracias to Fall River Rods, Montana Fly Co, RIO for their generosity! 






















As for me, I've booked some time this weekend to get lost in the wilds of northern New Mexico.  If we should never meet again, forgive me my friends, please know the temptation was simply too great.


18 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos Mike. I think you're going to really like fishing that fly rod. My wife loved the shout out. It makes her feel famous...

    Ben

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    1. Thx Ben! and big thank you for letting it all go, understand that must've been hard. Sounds like you enjoyed the experience, hoping the fish here in NM cannot say the same ;-)

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  2. Sweet deal there Mike!
    Been watching the stream gages drop like a rock up north. You should be in for some prime action. Count me jealous :)

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    1. Fingers crossed the headwaters are not too cold- I just might weep if I have to revert to chucking it with such beautiful gear.

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  3. Make sure you break her in properly - I've got some dirty fish slaying to do with this thing when my turn comes around

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    1. You know I'm breaking my own cardinal rule of blogging about a trip before it happens. Sure hope I don't curse myself under the weight of high expectations. Wish me luck! Mike

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  4. To all that fish it before me,(most everybody)please leave a little mojo on the grip! Nice post.

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    1. Hey Howard- we're all really just getting it warmed up for the rest of youse. Should be smokin when it clears the CO state line~

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  5. Right On! Just do the rest of us delirious bloggers a favor and take care of that sexy fly rod!
    I look forward to reading your write up
    Brian

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    1. You bet Brian, I can't wait to put a bend in it. Literally. Can. Not. Wait.

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  6. Wow, bamboo looks great! You lucky man, hope you´re gonna catch something and then the rest of us can maybe read about it. Tight lines, Hörður

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    1. Hey Hordur, I'll do my best, I think I know just the place. thx for stopping in~

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  7. Enjoy! Put that sucker through its paces...looking forward to seeing some action shots.

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    1. 'sup Sanders! We'll see what I can get done, you all now have me thinking 3-day weekend... ;-)

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  8. Wow. My turn may be coming sooner than I expected. Take good care of that baby for me... and have fun with it!

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    1. ohhhh, darnit. I may have overplayed my hand. Pretend you never saw this Jay~ mike

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  9. You are about to be bitten by a "terrible" bug I have been fishing nothing but cane for the past 15 or so years.( matter of fact i am going to be ordering another one very soon shhhhhhhhhhhh wife doesn't know yet). Enjoy your blog very much. we have the same passions...well almost I ride a rigid single speed, brothers none the less. If you haven't met him Steve Weiss is in rio rancho and builds a pretty nice rod. Be safe maybe Ill see you on the water some time..

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    1. Hey Scott- welcome! Fellow New Mexican't? ;-) What I don't need right now is a bad case of rod obsession, hoping this bug isn't terminal. We've racing bikes to buy, Caroline has outgrown her waders + boots, there's way too much of the Rocky Mountain West begging for attention this summer. What's a Dad to do? Guess I'll live... ;-)

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