A Few Comments on Good Scotch Whiskey

As I stated earlier in this dialog; the very premise behind the development of my series was to meet the needs and requests made to me by a diverse cross-section of serious fly fishers. I am fortunate in that I am able to custom build fly rods for anglers that may open their season in the Yukon, mid-season in the Dean, and end it in the Seychelles. I also feel that I am just as fortunate to meet the fly rod requirements of anglers who may never find the need to leave their own excellent waters right here in Southern Oregon. The one common truth I have found within this brotherhood, whether they be far flung adventurers or home water weekenders, is that they all hold an equal and universal passion for their sport. As a fly fisher myself for over 40 years, and rod builder for nearly 10, I appreciate and thoroughly enjoy being asked to be so deeply involved in their chosen sport. It is this intimate involvement that has led to the development of our rod series.

An interesting story comes to mind that exemplifies this involvement.

Phillip is a friend, and a certifiably crazed fly fishing junky! His Trout fishing history is long, his stories are extensive, and indeed very "colorful". His Salmon and Steelheading experience is equally as interesting, has spanned many years, but ironically has been on only one river : The Dean ! He has fished the same beat, at the same time frame for over 15 years. What I have found extraordinary (especially in Phillips case) is that the only technique he presents to Dean River "Car Bumpers" is a single hand, double hauled down and dirty heavy grain shooting head system. And to the chagrin and bemusement of many of his fellowship most of which are spey casters, defiantly spends many hours, weeks, each season, muscling these heavy lines over holding fish ! His presentation has always been effective, thus his success ratio has historically been very good. Phillip is a surgeon with an incredibly intense work schedule, allowing only limited quality time on the water. Because of this scenario, he truly enjoys the advantage of exceptional opportunities offered by the Dean's superb catch and release anadromous fishery. His request to me as a rod builder was to design a rod that would effectively deliver his preferred shooting head systems over his chosen waters. The primary objective being : To design a rod that would offer an alternative to the burden of fishing his lines while utilizing a continuous single hand overhead, double haul presentation. At the time of his request, the alternatives were limited to the traditional spey style rod, utilizing balanced full sink, or interchangeable sinking head spey line systems. Although this proved to be a very effective delivery system, that presented the fly well, he again felt overworked by the rods required length and weight.

Our solution to this particular application was to create a rod that would allow various two-handed deliveries of the available lines as effectively as the spey rod, and yet be much lighter and shorter, leaving the option open for a single handed delivery if desired. With these rods, Phillip could present a wide variety of interchangeable floating and sinking shooting head lines, the applications of which were determined only by need. He could present them while utilizing "work effective", extremely caster friendly two-handed overhead, or underhand spey techniques.

Phillip's comment to me upon his return from the Dean that season was this : "Bob, after 8 to 10 hours of continuous daily casting, plus the fighting and releasing a total of 30 heavy fish, Scotch was regularly consumed at the end of the day for the sole purpose of celebrating the event rather then to just kill the pain in my arms and shoulders. You have helped me truly celebrate the consumption of good Scotch Whiskey !!!"

If not in exact words, this has been a typical comment made to me by many of my clients.

I could not be more complimented...

Robert Meiser

R.B. Meiser fly Rods ~ S2H106 ~ SHX ~ ST ~ S2HSPEY  &  The Interchangeable Lower Grip Assemblies for the S2H106 Series are Trademarked, and are the sole properties of Robert B. Meiser. All photo work is copyrighted by Paul Miller.