Central Lake Fly Company
@centrallakefly.bsky.social
Michigan fly angler, fly tyer, outdoor writer, rod rebuilder, conservationist, ambassador for Sporting Lead-Free. #flyfishing #flytying #sportingleadfree www.centrallakefly.com
A trio of signed hardcovers from two late legends of fly fishing whose words endure. #flyfishing
November 19, 2025 at 1:11 AM
A trio of signed hardcovers from two late legends of fly fishing whose words endure. #flyfishing
Some classic No. 16 Quill Gordons for the evening. #flytying #flyfishing
November 16, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Some classic No. 16 Quill Gordons for the evening. #flytying #flyfishing
It’s football season! The Orvis Impregnated Madison bamboo fly rod 8’6 9wt, paired with an Orvis Madison 9 reel of the same era (1971) cast a 7wt (2wt heavy) Scientific Anglers Sonar Titan Intermediate perfectly. #flyfishing
November 14, 2025 at 9:17 PM
It’s football season! The Orvis Impregnated Madison bamboo fly rod 8’6 9wt, paired with an Orvis Madison 9 reel of the same era (1971) cast a 7wt (2wt heavy) Scientific Anglers Sonar Titan Intermediate perfectly. #flyfishing
8’6” GAF (WF9wt) Orvis Madison Impregnated bamboo fly rod, built in 1971. My new rod for northern pike, largemouth bass, and maybe for the first time Great Lakes steelhead sometime this coming year. #orvisflyfishing #vintageflyfishing #bambooflyrod #flyfishing
November 13, 2025 at 9:52 PM
8’6” GAF (WF9wt) Orvis Madison Impregnated bamboo fly rod, built in 1971. My new rod for northern pike, largemouth bass, and maybe for the first time Great Lakes steelhead sometime this coming year. #orvisflyfishing #vintageflyfishing #bambooflyrod #flyfishing
New vintage Pflueger Medalist 1498 + spare reel added to my classic Medalist collection from the Made in the USA period. Lining one spool with an intermediate and another with a full sink 9wt for northern pike on bamboo. #pfluegermedalist #vintageflyfishing #flyfishing
November 13, 2025 at 12:47 AM
New vintage Pflueger Medalist 1498 + spare reel added to my classic Medalist collection from the Made in the USA period. Lining one spool with an intermediate and another with a full sink 9wt for northern pike on bamboo. #pfluegermedalist #vintageflyfishing #flyfishing
Installed a new ferrule on my 7’ Tonka Prince that I restored over the spring and then broke stupidly trying to flick a fly off of a snagged branch on a little Upper Peninsula blue line creek this summer. I love this little #bluecollarbamboo rod. #flyfishing
November 11, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Installed a new ferrule on my 7’ Tonka Prince that I restored over the spring and then broke stupidly trying to flick a fly off of a snagged branch on a little Upper Peninsula blue line creek this summer. I love this little #bluecollarbamboo rod. #flyfishing
My latest article in Woods-n-Water News is Fishing Hemingway’s Last Good Country.
Big Two-Hearted River was first published 100 years ago in 1925, but another river also had Hemingway’s heart. #flyfishing
woods-n-waternews.com/2025/10/31/f...
Big Two-Hearted River was first published 100 years ago in 1925, but another river also had Hemingway’s heart. #flyfishing
woods-n-waternews.com/2025/10/31/f...
November 9, 2025 at 3:35 AM
My latest article in Woods-n-Water News is Fishing Hemingway’s Last Good Country.
Big Two-Hearted River was first published 100 years ago in 1925, but another river also had Hemingway’s heart. #flyfishing
woods-n-waternews.com/2025/10/31/f...
Big Two-Hearted River was first published 100 years ago in 1925, but another river also had Hemingway’s heart. #flyfishing
woods-n-waternews.com/2025/10/31/f...
Orvis Magnetic Fly Box, Leader kit & Rangely Fly Books. I use the magnetic fly box for small streamers & the Rangely fly books for nymphs and wets. I’ve tied a few leaders with the kit that have held up to several smallies tugging on them. I wonder if that $3 Orvis Dollars is still good? #flyfishing
November 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Orvis Magnetic Fly Box, Leader kit & Rangely Fly Books. I use the magnetic fly box for small streamers & the Rangely fly books for nymphs and wets. I’ve tied a few leaders with the kit that have held up to several smallies tugging on them. I wonder if that $3 Orvis Dollars is still good? #flyfishing
This unfinished 2-piece 7’ bamboo spinning rod blank was in a bundle of rod sections I acquired. It resembles the spinning rods in the catalogue, where Orvis also offered unfinished blanks. I wonder it it could perhaps be one. I’m going to finish it and pair it with the Orvis 100 spinning reel.
November 8, 2025 at 6:05 AM
This unfinished 2-piece 7’ bamboo spinning rod blank was in a bundle of rod sections I acquired. It resembles the spinning rods in the catalogue, where Orvis also offered unfinished blanks. I wonder it it could perhaps be one. I’m going to finish it and pair it with the Orvis 100 spinning reel.
Orvis 100 spinning reel, made in Italy and still works. The catalogue shows a 100A, not sure what the difference is or what exact year mine is. “Serious fishermen, amateurs and pros, pick Orvis 100A as tops for all-around fresh and saltwater fishing.”
Rarely, but I spin fish a little.
Rarely, but I spin fish a little.
November 8, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Orvis 100 spinning reel, made in Italy and still works. The catalogue shows a 100A, not sure what the difference is or what exact year mine is. “Serious fishermen, amateurs and pros, pick Orvis 100A as tops for all-around fresh and saltwater fishing.”
Rarely, but I spin fish a little.
Rarely, but I spin fish a little.
1967 Battenkill Impregnated bamboo fly rod, 7 1/2’ - 3 7/8oz “12” (ferrule size)
“Orvis Action; powerful but limber enough for light tippets and small flies, too.”
Rated for an HDG line (6wt). Mine casts a DT6F well and it’s become my go-to small stream rod. #flyfishing #classicflyfishing
“Orvis Action; powerful but limber enough for light tippets and small flies, too.”
Rated for an HDG line (6wt). Mine casts a DT6F well and it’s become my go-to small stream rod. #flyfishing #classicflyfishing
November 8, 2025 at 4:01 AM
1967 Battenkill Impregnated bamboo fly rod, 7 1/2’ - 3 7/8oz “12” (ferrule size)
“Orvis Action; powerful but limber enough for light tippets and small flies, too.”
Rated for an HDG line (6wt). Mine casts a DT6F well and it’s become my go-to small stream rod. #flyfishing #classicflyfishing
“Orvis Action; powerful but limber enough for light tippets and small flies, too.”
Rated for an HDG line (6wt). Mine casts a DT6F well and it’s become my go-to small stream rod. #flyfishing #classicflyfishing
It’s no secret I love to collect, restore, and fish vintage and #classicflyfishing tackle, so I couldn’t resist a Spring 1968 Orvis catalogue. I found quite a few items in my collection in it. Going to post a few to geek out on gear when I can’t actually be on the stream. #flyfishing
November 8, 2025 at 3:49 AM
It’s no secret I love to collect, restore, and fish vintage and #classicflyfishing tackle, so I couldn’t resist a Spring 1968 Orvis catalogue. I found quite a few items in my collection in it. Going to post a few to geek out on gear when I can’t actually be on the stream. #flyfishing
November 7, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Took the canoe out on the Huron River with my buddy Jeff for some fly vs. spin for northern pike. Jeff connected on a classic red & white Dardevle and I caught what I think may be my biggest pike (didn’t measure) on a River Pig. It was a fine day on the water. #flyfishing #pikeonthefly
November 1, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Took the canoe out on the Huron River with my buddy Jeff for some fly vs. spin for northern pike. Jeff connected on a classic red & white Dardevle and I caught what I think may be my biggest pike (didn’t measure) on a River Pig. It was a fine day on the water. #flyfishing #pikeonthefly
October 31, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Took my restored South Bend 59-9 for a short hike to a little public land lake near my in-laws this morning. It casts a double-taper 7wt line wonderfully and doesn’t even feel like too much overkill with a plump bluegill tugging on it. Kind of a perfect bass-and-bluegill bamboo fly rod. #flyfishing
October 27, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Took my restored South Bend 59-9 for a short hike to a little public land lake near my in-laws this morning. It casts a double-taper 7wt line wonderfully and doesn’t even feel like too much overkill with a plump bluegill tugging on it. Kind of a perfect bass-and-bluegill bamboo fly rod. #flyfishing
Restored a South Bend 59-9 bamboo fly rod, their Wes Jordan-designed bass/steelhead rod circa 1930s-40s. Stripped, varnished, hardware re-glued, guides wrapped in olive jasper silk thread, left the patina on the cork. Ready for a 7wt, streamers, and Huron River smallies. #flyfishing #bambooflyrod
October 20, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Restored a South Bend 59-9 bamboo fly rod, their Wes Jordan-designed bass/steelhead rod circa 1930s-40s. Stripped, varnished, hardware re-glued, guides wrapped in olive jasper silk thread, left the patina on the cork. Ready for a 7wt, streamers, and Huron River smallies. #flyfishing #bambooflyrod
Restored a late 1940s 7’ 2/1 Horrocks-Ibbotson Tonka Prince this year that cast a 4wt perfectly, then broke it. Just picked up the same model in great condition for less than the first. Pretty happy. #bambooflyrods #flyfishing
September 23, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Restored a late 1940s 7’ 2/1 Horrocks-Ibbotson Tonka Prince this year that cast a 4wt perfectly, then broke it. Just picked up the same model in great condition for less than the first. Pretty happy. #bambooflyrods #flyfishing
Took my 9’ 6wt South Bend 359 bamboo rod out for a wade on the Huron River today. Saw some deer, a blue heron, an osprey, and caught 7 smallies and a rock bass on a Deer Hair Damsels, a Mickey Finn, and a Muddler Minnow. Beautiful day on the river. #bambooflyrod #flytying #bassonthefly #flyfishing
September 19, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Took my 9’ 6wt South Bend 359 bamboo rod out for a wade on the Huron River today. Saw some deer, a blue heron, an osprey, and caught 7 smallies and a rock bass on a Deer Hair Damsels, a Mickey Finn, and a Muddler Minnow. Beautiful day on the river. #bambooflyrod #flytying #bassonthefly #flyfishing
Vintage Orvis Battenkill 18 trout net, perfect blue line brookie size. I might actually fish this one. Kind of goes perfect with my Orvis Battenkill bamboo rod. #vintageflyfishing #flyfishing
September 13, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Vintage Orvis Battenkill 18 trout net, perfect blue line brookie size. I might actually fish this one. Kind of goes perfect with my Orvis Battenkill bamboo rod. #vintageflyfishing #flyfishing
Royal Wulff with moose mane tail & underbody, calftail wings. For when you just want the damn fly to float. #flytying #flyfishing
September 1, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Royal Wulff with moose mane tail & underbody, calftail wings. For when you just want the damn fly to float. #flytying #flyfishing
Minor guide replacement on my “Patent Pending” Orvis Impregnated bamboo fly rod. Originally 8’6”, but both tips are 4” short. These rods were assembled by Montague for Orvis using the process developed by Wes Jordan for impregnating Orvis bamboo rods with resin to waterproof them. #flyfishing
September 1, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Minor guide replacement on my “Patent Pending” Orvis Impregnated bamboo fly rod. Originally 8’6”, but both tips are 4” short. These rods were assembled by Montague for Orvis using the process developed by Wes Jordan for impregnating Orvis bamboo rods with resin to waterproof them. #flyfishing
Took my 7’6” 6wt Orvis Battenkill bamboo fly rod for a wade on the Huron River this afternoon. Caught a bluegill and pumpkinseed on a deer hair damselfly and a smallie on a Michigan Hopper. It was a fine afternoon. #flytying #flyfishing #classicflies
August 31, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Took my 7’6” 6wt Orvis Battenkill bamboo fly rod for a wade on the Huron River this afternoon. Caught a bluegill and pumpkinseed on a deer hair damselfly and a smallie on a Michigan Hopper. It was a fine afternoon. #flytying #flyfishing #classicflies
Been a minute since I’ve tied some new flies, but getting back into the swing with a couple Deer Hair Damsel Flies to try out this weekend on some river smallmouth. Saw some last weekend but didn’t have any in my box; this is what I love about tying flies: see it, tie it, fish it. #flytying
August 27, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Been a minute since I’ve tied some new flies, but getting back into the swing with a couple Deer Hair Damsel Flies to try out this weekend on some river smallmouth. Saw some last weekend but didn’t have any in my box; this is what I love about tying flies: see it, tie it, fish it. #flytying