SHOP NOTES | C.J. BOVA RODS

I recently had a client ask me if he could see what a rod section looks like after the splines have been wrapped in the binder. The splines are actually wrapped twice, once before heat treating, and then after the final planing during the process of gluing up all six sections. The photo above shows a swelled butt section of a 7'9" 5wt “in the strings” prior to initial heat treating. Special care is taken to tension the wraps around a swell and measure out the exact location of the swell and the grip. ~Clint Bova

  A nice Brown caught on the 7'4wt. “Johnny Logan” I have sold many of these rods to those who enjoy a light rod for small mountain streams and spring creeks. I have always called it a true 4wt. that is great for small delicate quiet presentations. The above photo is a fish that was taken on a #18 Para ant in small water in central PA. I have fished this taper for the last decade and especially enjoy it for fall midge fishing. See details for this rod at www.cjbovarods.com or madriverrodco.com ~Clint Bova

Above: Mad River Rod Co.“Little Mecoche” 6'9" 4wt. Many of my flared reels seats echo some of the late great Fred Divine reel seats   of   yesteryear. My seats are one of a kind and are turned from larger stabilized blocks of spalted maple, burled Koa, and Circassian walnut .   Above: this particular seat that dates back to around 1917 is from Fred Divines “Special Dry Fly” model My reel seats have varied profiles that complement the geometry of the cap and ring sets. Typically I use these seats on 7’3” models or smaller and are proportioned accordingly. These seats are a little more involved than what meets the eye. In order to get a reel foot secured properly with these seats I spent a lot of time over the years working with the interior design of the ring set. The correct chamfering and orientation of the ring set as well as the mortise depth and contour are important considerations to make the reel secure. I make the nickel caps either with a three tiered detail ...

“The old Lakota was wise. He knew that man's heart away from nature becomes hard.”   ~Luther Standing Bear

  Wings ~ Miroslav Holub (scientist & poet 1923-1998) We have a map of the universe for microbes, we have a map of a microbe for the universe. We have a Grand Master of chess made of electronic circuits. But above all we have the ability to sort peas, to cup water in our hands.   To seek the right screw under the sofa for hours This gives us wings.