Ken Abrames flyrod question???? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Swimmer · 02-01-2006, 01:26 PM

A few years ago I ran into Kenny Abrames at a Mass Striped Bass meeting where his talk went over like a lead balloon. Not many fly guys there and the all tackle croud couldn't get into his recreation of the bait fish with flies thing. I had met and taken a fly tying class a few years before that with Kenny and flyfish regularly so I looked forward to his lecture.

My question is in regard to an 11 1/2' flyrod Ken had with him that he says he used almost exclusively. It was a brown blank. When I asked him who manufactured the blank he closed up like a clam in winter. He was abrupt and said he sells those. Anyone know what blank it might have been? I have been drooloing about an 11 1/2' flyrod ever since this encounter.

steelhead · 02-01-2006, 01:32 PM

Custom blank made to his specs. As far as I know, he doesn't have any more and doesn't plan on doing that sort of business in the future. Quit doing saddles, flies and rods late fall 2004.

pmueller · 02-01-2006, 01:55 PM

Some of the shops that carried them may still have some in stock.
There's not many around, but they were not a big seller. You may still find some.

SAXATILUS · 02-01-2006, 02:09 PM

"The SticK" is actually 10'-6" and is designed to cast 3 line sizes. It is the sweetes rod I have ever casted. Last time I talked with him he still had a few blanks left. He had them built to his specs your not going to find one like it. The only other blanks I know of in 10-6 are the st croix and rainshadow and I have both and neither one come close to Ken's. I am looking to get another stick this year before they are gone forever. If your seriously interested maybe I can help you out. But they do take time to get.

steelhead · 02-01-2006, 02:18 PM

You could also try posting on www.stripermoon.com under the Buy and Sell portion of the board that you're looking for Kenny's Stick. Be sure to include your email address for responders. They come in 6/8/10 weight versions. the 8 weight is what you would want for the salt. Thows up to 12 weight floating lines with ease... I have the 8 weight. It is a sweet rod. Very progressive action. More like the old fiberglass or bamboo rods that I grew up with :-)

Roger · 02-01-2006, 09:00 PM

It might take a little digging to find the blank but it's doable.

It is highly unlikely that he had blanks custom made to his specifications. That would have entailed a very hefty up front cost for mandrel sets and minimum production time, etc. That's in the neigborhood of $10,000 plus. My guess is that it's a spey blank, or a noodle blank.

The logical reason he became short with you when asked about the blank is because it is not anything special. Otherwise he would have just told you that they were his brand.

Roger · 02-01-2006, 02:38 PM

Swimmer, you might want to try one before buying. Aside from the above posts, I never heard of anyone liking it. No one that I know that tried one liked it - including me.

It too reminded me of an old fiberglass rod. Too slow and too heavy. No way I'd want to cast any of my old FG rods all day either, though it makes my 1950s Wonderrod seem like a cannon by comparison.

steelhead · 02-01-2006, 02:48 PM

Hey Roger, Well said, that's great advice! The rod is definately different that the generation of rods that's out there today. You either like it or you don't. Definately requires a slower casting stroke and cadence than the hi energy fast action rods of today.

I grew up on the "old" rods and still like the feel of that kind of casting stroke.

SAXATILUS · 02-01-2006, 02:49 PM

Roger is right, You will want to try it first it is not for everyone, and Ken will be the first one to tell you that. You would be welcome to try mine anytime. Once I learned to let the rod do the work it is sweet to cast. If your a talented caster wich I am not, throwing the whole line is not a problem. But fly fishing is more than casting and the rod is designed for a certain style of fishing. In my opinion it cant be beat for presentation and ability to land big fish, the rod has a ton of backbone.

Swimmer · 02-01-2006, 08:31 PM

I have a medium action Sage rplxi that I made, which with medium action the rod is slower and does more of the work much like what is sounds like Kens rod does. I suppose my immediate attraction was how pretty the brown blank was. I cast better with the Sage than I do with the Orvis I have. But I cast better with an older St. Croix than I do with either of the above. I guess what I am thinking of more than anything is a longer rod, but not a spey rod. Does anyone know what the brand name of Kens blank was. Yes Saxatilus I am interested in getting one of the blanks. Ken is kind of proprietary with what he sells, so I wasn't going to bother asking him. Appreciate any help. I used to get a kick out of Kenny saying he raised his own hens for hackle until someone told me to ask Ken where the farm was next time I saw him. My contact said Ken had Mr. Whitings permission to say he grew the hens after he repackaged the saddles and such. Has anybody ever bought or ordered any of Whiting's gold capes? I was wondering if it was worth the cost?

SAXATILUS · 02-01-2006, 08:52 PM

Swimmer, Doubt very highly he would part with just the blank, Pretty sure you would have to buy the finished rod. I believe there are only about a half dozen left. Worth every penny.

Basser · 02-01-2006, 09:08 PM

My understanding is this. The mandrels for those blanks are custom made and do not exist in any blank manufacturer's inventory. So it is not a stock blank. The color and layup is also custom and produced via a small lot special order to a blank manufacturer in lots of 100.

steelhead · 02-01-2006, 10:18 PM

Basser is correct on Ken's blanks. I know from the source....

Swimmer, don't bother with the Gold Whiting saddles. They are pure dry fly saddles. Very skinny and no webbing right down to the base of a hackle. South shore, Bear's Den and Saltwater Edge would probably still have some of Ken's saddles. Bear's Den also dyes their own as I recall.

Roger · 02-01-2006, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swimmer

My contact said Ken had Mr. Whitings permission to say he grew the hens after he repackaged the saddles and such. Has anybody ever bought or ordered any of Whiting's gold capes? I was wondering if it was worth the cost?

The RLS saddles were/are number 3s and lower. I think that's the bronze category. Check with Bear's Den. They may still be getting them from Whiting.

Roger · 02-01-2006, 10:54 PM

Bears Den does not dye their own saddles, according to Scott. They buy them from Whiting. Also, I'd be extremely surprised if Ken A paid to have a full set of production mandrels made. It's more likely that he simply ordered stock blanks in a custom color. It's just not economically feasible othewise.

You can't believe everything you hear. He did not, after all, raise the chickens himself as he claimed. He simply bought saddles from Whiting that were not adequate for dry fly tying.

SAXATILUS · 02-02-2006, 11:02 AM

SWE no more RLS saddles, Bears Den I purchased two of the four he had left last year. Scott told me he does die up some custom color saddles and tails . I have just about every saddle there is and to me Kens are unique. I dont have any quite like them, not to mention the colors. Guess you can't believe everything you here huh

Roger · 02-02-2006, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAXATILUS

Guess you can't believe everything you here huh

Touche

We should compare notes some time. Seems some of the same people ahve different stories.

Basser · 02-02-2006, 01:04 PM

BTW, I know the person that made the mandrels for Ken's Stick. He actually went through a few iterations. Very talented individual.

SAXATILUS · 02-02-2006, 01:46 PM

I certainly believed Ken when he told me they were custom made for him. While I have only known him a short time he seems to be very genuine. The educatoin I have recieved from him on striper behavior, reading the water and casting and presentation are invaluable in my book. I am glad to have met him, and only wish I had done so sooner. For every thing he has given he has not asked for anything in return. A real class act in my book. While his methods and flies are not mainstream there is no doubt they are effective, especialy on large fish. One other note on the blank it is much thicker in the butt than any other rod I have or have seen.

titan · 02-04-2006, 03:53 PM

First Light Anglers had a bunch of the RLS saddle hackles at the Marlboro show. They had them marked down 20%. I bought a nice purple one. It looked like they had quite a few left. If I had known they were no longer available, I would have bought more.

Pete_G · 02-05-2006, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by titan

First Light Anglers had a bunch of the RLS saddle hackles at the Marlboro show. They had them marked down 20%. I bought a nice purple one. It looked like they had quite a few left. If I had known they were no longer available, I would have bought more.

Wow, I'm tempted to buy them for the SWE. I get at least a call a week for those feathers...

Salvy · 03-05-2006, 08:06 AM

I ran into a similar situation a few years ago.....the blank you are looking for is made by Rainshadow....one of the few that makes a 10'6" blank. I made one myself on the blank and it's a nice rod. I'm pretty sure it is who made them for Ken as well, as I posted this same information on another site, and recieved numerous email responses from the hords of KA storm troopers includein KA himself. I basically built the same rod he hocks for $650 for $150....I guess I touched a nerve.

steelhead · 03-05-2006, 08:46 AM

The Rainshadow is a great blank. You can make a great rod with. I know folks who have done so. It is not, however, the same blank as Kens. He went thru a great deal to develop the rod he now produces. It has a wonderful, long, progressive flex and is a delight to cast.

It is not like most of the fast action rods that are produced today. It has the feel and heft of the old classic bamboo and fiberglass rods. Not for everyone, but it has its place in the world of fly rods.

SAXATILUS · 03-05-2006, 08:58 AM

I have to disagree dude. I own both, and the rainshadow is nothing like the stick except it is the same lenght. Totally different actions, not to mention the backbone of the stick, the butt is much thicker. Have you ever cast one? St croix also makes a 10'6" rod, I own that too and at $400 it doesn't mach up with the quality of kens rod, just a cheap rip off. Get your facts straight man. Ken doesnt put a gun to anyones head to buy his rods in fact you will wait months to get it. $600 is about the going rate for a high-end rod and thats what the stick is.

Fly Aquidneck · 03-09-2006, 02:43 AM

http://www.stripermoon.com/talkshop18/messages/866.html
is a post by Ken on his boards telling anyone to e-mail him for information on some sticks he has available.

Fly Aquidneck · 03-09-2006, 02:43 AM

http://www.stripermoon.com/talkshop18/messages/866.html
is a post by Ken on his boards telling anyone to e-mail him for information on some sticks he has available.

bluzjamer · 05-01-2006, 11:06 PM

Hey guys, not to start a flame war here, but isn't the joy in the journey instead of the emblem or the badge. My most used flyrod is also the cheapest one I have. I seem not to worry so much about tripping or falling on it, or having it disapear. Enjoy the sport!

steelhead · 05-02-2006, 05:57 AM

Agreed. If find a rod and then a line that is well matched to the rod, you will have an enjoyable fishing experience. You won't be thinking about casting, just fishing, cause the rod and line are working for you :-)

saltydog · 05-02-2006, 09:19 AM

Guess Ill toss this one in also, I have told this to meany people. an it is proven. it's all a mater of (prefferance) the answer is---->
THE FISH DON'T CARE WHAT YOU USE

so just get out there.
GOOD LUCK GOOD FISHIN

steelhead · 05-02-2006, 09:48 AM

Well said, Salty....
You put it all in the right perspective!