I’ve always been keen on innovation – perhaps too keen, as occasionally new becomes trifling rather than mainstream. Watching the influence of competitive fly fishing overseas and the evolution in fly tackle spawning from Czech nymphing, is largely unnoticed by US anglers.

While we fiddle with the fly patterns, there’s a quiet evolution in leaders, rods, and hooks taking place without our participation.

I’ve always been a long rod fan, the additional reach offered by rods longer than 10 feet, offers a number of welcome advantages; longer roll casts, the ability to mend more line, holding more line above the water rather than in the current, longer casts, and the extra reach when using either Czech or “HighSticking” nymphing styles.

It hell to string a rod in midcurrent, but we should’ve done that on the bank anyways.

Hardy is following Modern Fly of Italy in introducing the Marksman 10′ for #4 – and with the today’s lighter, higher modulus graphite should be able to avoid the “willowy” action of older graphite rods, and have crispness available to set the hook on the deep nymph.

As our lads return home it’s likely one of our US vendors will start filling the breach and introduce the 10′ and 11′ light line rods currently dominating the European circuit and Fips-Mouche.

In between grumbling about how “fly fishing is no place for competitive sports,” don’t be surprised when next year’s catalogs tout “extra length” as the latest revolution. Rod makers insist on obsolescing your equipment each year so they can sell you more – it’s the other unwelcome facet of our sport.