Sinner Alert, Sinner Alert!!!!

That's right folks, I have sinned again.  Last week, on Thursday, Greg and I were in the area of the pond we fish at sometimes in a neighboring county.  So, of course, we have to give it a go.  Weather here in Maryland continues to be strange.  Thursday it was in the low 60s.  The next day it was incredibly windy and cold.  I just don't get it.  Anyways, having fished this pond with both a spinning rod and fly rod, I used the spinning rod.  Given the location, underbrush, trees as well as the time of year, it was just easier.  I tied on a small white jig head with a white grub and gave it a go.  Over the course of an hour, I managed to catch 16 largemouth.  Greg, I believe, ended with around 14 or so.  Not a bad outing by any means.  The action was hot and the fish were biting like crazy.  We could see them chasing minnows in the shallows.  They were just incredibly hungry.  I will admit that I felt dirty while fishing.  Almost like I had made some horrible sin.  I kept waiting for the lighting to strike me.  On one hand I know it is OK to use the spinning rod.  On the other hand, I am a fly fisherman through and through and feel as though I have offended the fishing gods.  Well I hope they give me a pass for a time or two.  Sometimes sinning can be fun....

I would show more photos but Greg has yet to give them to me.  We will be in the area again today but of course it is raining now.  Maybe it will slow or stop and the sinning can continue!  

My Mystery Item

In the past two posts, I alluded to a special, mystery item I would be talking about soon.  Well this is the post for it.  Along with the other two fly rods/reels I obtained from Mom and Dad's house, I managed to also pick this up:

I curse you Blogger for always rotating my photos!  I don't know how some of you out there deal with it or get it fixed.  I cant seem to figure it out.

Here are some more shots of the outside of the box both top and bottom:

Anyways, I had totally forgotten about this box for years.  I cant for the life of me remember who had it but I do remember my parents giving it to me since I was interested in fly fishing.

Here is what the box looks like on the inside:

I remember getting this, opening it up and being amazed.  I used to have the bill of sale for it but at some point it was lost.  I was convinced I had a treasured and cherished item worth a small fortune.  I recently found out I was wrong.  Go figure. Here are some more photos of the rod, flies and box. 

As you can tell from this last photo, this section of the rod has been broken and repaired before.  I did a quick Google search on the name Sakura Rods and discovered that this particular box was sold to GI's during the late 40's to the mid 50's.  It is apparently a rather cheap split cane bamboo rod that the GI's believed was a steal at the pricing they were paying for it.  Much like I thought I had inherited something akin to finding a signed copy of the Declaration of Independence behind a painting in some one's attic.  Oh well.  According to the web, they have no real value and are pretty cheap.  I did find a center section on eBay for 27 dollars which is more than the person paid for the entire box back in either 1951 or 1952.  Might be kind of fun to fix up though and use a little.  If I do go that route, dollars to donuts I break it on the first outing.

Well there you have it people.  My mystery item that I thought was going to be a really big deal turned out to be a dud.  This is par for the course when it comes to my life here recently.  Moving on...

Fiber Glass Rod and Reel Combo???

I just dont know.  This is the other fly rod and reel combo I had.  This is the one Melissa brought home.  I can't even remember where I got this one from anymore.  It says Johnson JF 666 6'6 3/4 Made In China on the rod.  The reel is actually an Eagle Claw CFR-200.  Thanks for the suggestion regarding the FFR site.  I will check it out.  Stay tuned for the last of the fly rods and reels as it will be a special one.  Here are the photos:

First Fly Rod/Reel

The wife was going over to my parents' house the other day so I asked her if she could do me a favor.  After the eye rolling, she asked what.  I explained to her that there were three fly rods and reels that I needed her to bring home. One was the first fly rod I ever had, the second I had bought shortly thereafter and the third is something special I will save for another post.  So the wife agreed and later came home with one fly rod and reel.  It was not my first one.  Swing and a miss but hey I guess I should give her an A for effort.  The other day I was coming back from a work function and I had to use the facilities so I decided to stop by Mom and Dad's house. I figured while I was there I would kill two birds with one stone.  God bless my partner in crime from work who was there to help.  We went up to the shed and I rooted around in the rafters.  I was able to locate my first fly rod as well as that other special item.  After I limped down the hill and my partner was kind enough to carry everything, we headed back to my house.  I honestly do not know much about the fly rod and reel.  If anyone out there does, please let me know.  I only remember buying it at either a Walmart or Kmart.  I cant remember which one it was now.  I am actually thinking about using this guy again for some bass later this year.  I am worried though that it may break.  So here is my first fly rod a 8 foot 7/8 Fiber Glass Shakespeare rod with a Shakespeare Alpha 2528G reel.  It does hold a special place in my heart and it always will.