Builds An Accidental Frame Off.................. (4 Viewers)

[Chungas Revenge]

And in true Orvis fashion, the trusty Helios broke again.

View attachment 3131059

That’s sucks….These aren’t cheap. How did it break?

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

That’s sucks….These aren’t cheap. How did it break?

Well, generally I would say it was operator error, but given the history of this rod, and this line of Helios from Orvis, I can't fully say operator error was entirely to blame.


See the local fly shops strategically plant shrubbery and trees in the casting lanes around the prime fishing holes, this is a well known sales tactic. The unassuming angler loses multiple flies each trip, not to mention leaders and tippet, to these shrubs.

So there I was, carefully casting dry flies to a few rising trout, beautiful westslope cutthroat trout, paying careful attention to the foliage to my rear. Just a small angle change in my forward cast resulted in my backcast getting caught in a bush high up on the bank. Once I scrambled up to the top to free my fly and leader I made way back down, only to find the 20lb test butt section hung in a low lying bush along the bank. No need to fight with that, just a quick yank and everything should fly right out to the water, no biggie. So with a quick flick and a snap of the wrist I sent everything flying, only the quick flick also sent my rod back towards the water right at a refrigerator sized boulder that I was using as cover and concealment from the ultra wary fish. It felt like the exact moment that my rod hit the rock was the same moment the line came flying from the bushes. My guess is that I hit that rock at the same time the rod was fully loaded, with just enough pressure to cause it to instantly snap.


So after a few WTF, and other choice words, I made way back to the 40 to swap rods and partake in a cold beer. There's a reason I pack multiple rods. The Temple Fork Outfitters rod saved the day for 5 weight work.

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

Coming soon.

 

[Skreddy]

“So after a few WTF, and other choice words, I made way back to the 40 to swap rods and partake in a cold beer. There's a reason I pack A TON OF BEER. The Temple Fork Outfitters rod saved the day for 5 weight work.”


I fixed it….

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

“So after a few WTF, and other choice words, I made way back to the 40 to swap rods and partake in a cold beer. There's a reason I pack A TON OF BEER. The Temple Fork Outfitters rod saved the day for 5 weight work.”


I fixed it….

I think I only had a 12 pack in the cooler on this trip, shared a couple with a thru hiker at the campsite the first night.

 

[Skreddy]

I’ve shared many a cold one on various high mountain trails. Either to someone hiking, just got an elk to the road, truck broke down, etc. That 1 or 2 cold beers to them is like the greatest joy you can vicariously experience. Still would rather have shot the elk myself, but it’s close.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Well, generally I would say it was operator error, but given the history of this rod, and this line of Helios from Orvis, I can't fully say operator error was entirely to blame.


See the local fly shops strategically plant shrubbery and trees in the casting lanes around the prime fishing holes, this is a well known sales tactic. The unassuming angler loses multiple flies each trip, not to mention leaders and tippet, to these shrubs.

So there I was, carefully casting dry flies to a few rising trout, beautiful westslope cutthroat trout, paying careful attention to the foliage to my rear. Just a small angle change in my forward cast resulted in my backcast getting caught in a bush high up on the bank. Once I scrambled up to the top to free my fly and leader I made way back down, only to find the 20lb test butt section hung in a low lying bush along the bank. No need to fight with that, just a quick yank and everything should fly right out to the water, no biggie. So with a quick flick and a snap of the wrist I sent everything flying, only the quick flick also sent my rod back towards the water right at a refrigerator sized boulder that I was using as cover and concealment from the ultra wary fish. It felt like the exact moment that my rod hit the rock was the same moment the line came flying from the bushes. My guess is that I hit that rock at the same time the rod was fully loaded, with just enough pressure to cause it to instantly snap.


So after a few WTF, and other choice words, I made way back to the 40 to swap rods and partake in a cold beer. There's a reason I pack multiple rods. The Temple Fork Outfitters rod saved the day for 5 weight work.

Err and a spare. Only takes one trip to the “bush” without a spare to learn a hard lesson. I generally like Orvis. I have a March Brown that I like. But, in all honesty I didn’t/haven’t taken a rod out of the case this year. I’ve been using an ultralight off of the kayak.

Well played on the beverage played forward. It will come back to you…

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

I generally like Orvis.

I have always thought their fly rods were alright, but in today's world I've moved away from their products due to their current political/social agendas.

 

[77mustard40]

Oh the stories behind broken rods... a number years ago I sent an 8 wt Sage back for a new tip section. Back then you sent the rod, a $25 donation and a letter explaining how the rod was broken. I've always imaged the repair shop with the goofiest letters prominently displayed and figure my letter may have made their hall of shame. I was on the Texas coast hunting redfish and had this blue crab swimming around me while casting to a group of fish, one quick poke with the rod sent him on his way but the little bastard reached up and defended his position by grabbing the rod tip with one of his claws. I didn't think a thing about it until the next day when casting and had my tip section snap off and sail out on my fly line. It was at that moment that I realized the error of my ways.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

I have always thought their fly rods were alright, but in today's world I've moved away from their products due to their current political/social agendas.

Point well taken….

Send me your address on a PM, theres something I want to send you. Its March Brown 7 pc, 5 WT complete with reel and carrier. I’ve owned it for years, still new in the canvass carrier.

I don’t need another 5wt. If it’s not to your taste, play it forward. I like them because of the compactness of a 7pc.

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

Well ain't that just a helluva deal. My fuel pump just started dumping fuel everywhere that it shouldn't.

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

Point well taken….

Send me your address on a PM, theres something I want to send you. Its March Brown 7 pc, 5 WT complete with reel and carrier. I’ve owned it for years, still new in the canvass carrier.

I don’t need another 5wt. If it’s not to your taste, play it forward. I like them because of the compactness of a 7pc.

Awful kind of you sir, you know I'll put it to work!

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

At least I got a good run in this morning.

Coming back down from the trailhead is when I started to smell raw fuel, a few miles later passing through town an old timer waved me down to tell me I was leaking gas.

Stopped to assess the situation, decided to drive it 15 miles back to the house. I swear I could see the fuel gauge moving the wrong direction.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

you know I'll put it to work!

I figured as much..

 

[middlecalf]

FYI

Got in a restock of the early FJ40 fuel pump rebuild kits! Keep that fuel moving!

FJ40 fuel pump rebuild kit

High quality made in Japan rebuild kits for your FJ40/FJ45/FJ55 Land Cruiser mechanical fuel pump! Toyota stopped selling the rebuild kits for these pumps. We are very pleased to offer these affordable and complete kits to bring your pump back up to perfect working order. The kits include all...

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[Chungas Revenge]

Well ain't that just a helluva deal. My fuel pump just started dumping fuel everywhere that it shouldn't.

I got to thinking about this. Owning one of these machines is like having a jealous lover. It takes all of your $$$, demands all of your time and won’t take no for an answer…

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

I got to thinking about this. Owning one of these machines is like having a jealous lover. It takes all of your $$$, demands all of your time and won’t take no for an answer…

I'm just happy it didn't happen a week and a half ago when I was out fishing, there's not much I would have been able to do out there.

I did have my walking shoes though.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

I'm just happy it didn't happen a week and a half ago when I was out fishing, there's not much I would have been able to do out there.

I did have my walking shoes though.

You using any ethanol fuel..??

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

You using any ethanol fuel..??

I did, until Brandon took over.

 

[Honger]

I got to thinking about this. Owning one of these machines is like having a jealous lover. It takes all of your $$$, demands all of your time and won’t take no for an answer…

'cept our Cruisers are faithful... and you can do a lot with faithfulness.