[Greenhart Caste]

I'm hoping Spey Gilly will respond to my questions. I have recently received my 14 foot greenheart drop ring rod from the UK. It's in decent condition and with a little TLC I think I can make it fishable. My questions have to do with the origin and reasons for the drop rings. I have read Fine and Far Off and I am just looking for a little more discussion about the drop rings. Hoping to hear from gordon.😉

 

[bigwilly]

I believe there's an article in the new swing the fly mag. that describes exactly what you're asking.

 

[Greenhart Caste]

Thank you big Willy.I'll check it out

Thank you big Willy. I'm not familiar with the magazine but I'm sure I could located somewhere. I guess it's time I familiarize myself with "swing the fly"

 

[speyghillie]

Drop ring Greenheart

Hi Greenhart Caste,

The rings, which I invented, are combined and moveable, adapting themselves to the oscillations of the rod, and sustains the line throughout.

Had a quick look at Swing the fly article on Alexander Grant, and its just a copy of Eoin Fairgrieve's article from many years ago, and written for him by Alexander's Grandson who I know very well.

Many people copied the Drop down rings after Alexander invented them, I think Harry has had some made to the exact spec and he might still have a few sets, I would keep the rod as original as possible and if you have read [email protected] you will be able to cast the rod with ease.
I would add a couple of things regarding casting the rod and storage, I would leave the rod outside for a couple of weeks before casting, let it be out in the rain ect, modern house heating systems dry the rods out and make them brittle, so keep it outside and let the wood absorb some rain and cool weather, start with some light lines, you will be surprised the grain window a Greenheart can cast, one last thing, when you have made your cast find the balance point of the rod and hold it there, lots of people cast and hold rods in the wrong position while the fly is swinging.... why they feel big rods are tiring, its nothing to do with the cast, its how they hold the rod when the fly is fishing.
Some parts of musical instruments use Nickel silver aka German silver, and that's where the movable drop down rings come from, Alexander was also an inventor of Musical Instruments.
Gordon
DTX Pro Staff.

 

[Greenhart Caste]

Greenhart drop ring

Dear Gordon,
Thank you so much for your reply to my questions about drop rings and green heart. I will take your advice and leave the rod outside for a while. I plan on storing it in my garage for the winter. You're absolutely right, I should leave it as is and not mess with it. But I do want to be able to fish it and if my rings are too corroded I would like to replace them with new ones.still trying to locate a source.
Thanks again,
Tellumnothing

 

[speyghillie]

Drop down rings

Hi Greenhart Caste,
Send a letter to Harry at Clan Rods,
Clan Fishing Rods
Dorback Rd, Nethy Bridge,
Inverness-shire,
Scotland
PH25 3ED.

Gordon.
DTX Pro Staff.
www.mackenzieflyfishing.com

 

[Greenhart Caste]

Drop ring guides

Dear Gordon,
Many thanks for the source. I will compose a letter today and send it off. I'll let you know what the response is.
Tellumnothing

 

[Greenhart Caste]

Recent letter to Harry at Clan Rods

Dear Gordon,
I took your advice and recently sent a letter to Harry asking about the availability of new drop rings.
Today, as I was reading Spay pages, I noticed that you had listed and email address for Clan Rods. I tried Harry at: [email protected] Both attempts failed. Do I have the right email address?
Thank you,
Tellumnothing

 

[Roar]

Harrys New mailaddress is

[email protected]

 

[Greenhart Caste]

Greenhart finish

I am planning my winter project "refinish my greenheart Rod". Give me some hints as to what type of finish I should put on it. I'm leaning toward an oil finish but I would appreciate some feedback from other Rod refinishers.
Thank you
Tellumnothing

 

[Greenhart Caste]

Greenhart refurbish

Hello to all. Especially speyghillie
I am in the final stages of lacquering my rewraps on my greenheart. I stripped the rod, refinished it with two coats of true oil,refurbished all of the drop ring guides, rewrapped all the guides and put five coats of guide wrap lacquer on them. I am extremely happy with the outcome.
Now, if I could only find a 9 weight single tapered floating line with a 90 foot head I would be ecstatic. All suggestions appreciated.
Happy holidays.
Tellumnothing

 

[klickrolf]

Hello to all. Especially speyghillie
I am in the final stages of lacquering my rewraps on my greenheart. I stripped the rod, refinished it with two coats of true oil,refurbished all of the drop ring guides, rewrapped all the guides and put five coats of guide wrap lacquer on them. I am extremely happy with the outcome.
Tellumnothing

Congratulations. Would you mind letting me know what product you used to strip the rod of its varnish and if any specific tools were useful? I have a very similar project in the works, choosing the most appropriate varnish remover is my question and greenheart is the wood. I've used ZipStrip many times years ago but understand it isn't what it used to be? Maybe the cane rod builders here can chime in as to what they use when refinishing cane rods. Any advise greatly appreciated. PM's are fine.

 

[fredaevans]

Your line.

Hello to all. Especially speyghillie
I am in the final stages of lacquering my rewraps on my greenheart. I stripped the rod, refinished it with two coats of true oil,refurbished all of the drop ring guides, rewrapped all the guides and put five coats of guide wrap lacquer on them. I am extremely happy with the outcome.
Now, if I could only find a 9 weight single tapered floating line with a 90 foot head I would be ecstatic. All suggestions appreciated.
Happy holidays.
Tellumnothing

Contact Steve Gotshall 541 840 2594 Steve can custom build you anything you want/need. If you use the 'search function' above you'll find dozens of references to his fine work.

Fred

 

[Speyducer]

Hello to all. Especially speyghillie
I am in the final stages of lacquering my rewraps on my greenheart. I stripped the rod, refinished it with two coats of true oil,refurbished all of the drop ring guides, rewrapped all the guides and put five coats of guide wrap lacquer on them. I am extremely happy with the outcome.
Now, if I could only find a 9 weight single tapered floating line with a 90 foot head I would be ecstatic. All suggestions appreciated.
Happy holidays.
Tellumnothing

The nearest you may get with off the shelf lines would be Carron Jetstream line with either the 85' or 95' head, but both are only available in the ratings #10/11 or #11/12 ...

Your 14' greenheart rod may be expected to be 'rated' as a #10 (in modern terms) anyway...

 

[Leo M]

I'm curious as to what you're talking about. Can someone post a pic?

Thanks.

 

[Speyducer]

Examples of drop rings on a vintage greenheart rod:

 

[Green Butt]

That is fascinating. Somehow had it in my mind there was only one drop ring on one of these rods. I don't understand how the caster could get them all to work in unison. Or how to keep them from swing too far back the opposite direction to stop or impede the line. Mr. Grant was even more of a genius than I thought.
Perhaps because there was no shooting of line it didn't matter.
So exactly how the heck do those things work?

 

[speyghillie]

Drop down rings

Hi All,
And a merry Christmas to all.
Greenhart Caste, that rod sounds like a work of art and hopefully you will post some pictures when you get a chance, some of the Greenheart rods take on such a beautiful colour, now as to lining your rod I would as I do, start short and light, no point in overloading it or trying to hit the moon to soon, a wee clip of Ian casting a Playfair Vibration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnpHoXqg1sw

You will hear Ian say that the rod will cast almost any line in different weights with easy and part of the reason you could use one rod for Salmon in the Spring or Trout in the summer and present a fly like thistle floss on the water, or throw a size 9/o ...we just don't make rods like that anymore. because of the heavier tip section and the balance much up the rod, its like hitting nails with a much bigger hammer.
When the fly is swinging find the balance of the rod and hold it there, I use to fish with a doctor and his wife who fished Greenheart rods until she had to give it up at 76yrs old, not because of the weight of the rod but because she felt un-comfortable wading , the Doctor was still casting beautifully into his 80's, so no excuses.
Remember these rods were designed when the rod would cast the line, now its a case of the line casting the rod. .....you will know what I mean within ten minutes,
Alexander Grant was 5ft 7in and 10st and of poor health and he could cast across the Ness in his 80's.

Alexander's own 18ft Grant Vibration next to a 15ft DTX.
Gordon.
DTX Pro Staff.

 

[Greenhart Caste]

Many thank you's

Thank you for your quick reply and information.I have watched the Ian Gordon video and will watch it many more times. It takes me a while to understand his accent,But I'm getting it.:chuckle.
So, through Spay pages and our correspondence I know you as Speyghillie and as Gordon. My question is, are you Ian Gordon?
I sure like the pictures that you posted of the 2 rods. I'm new at computers and if I can figure out how to post pictures of my finished greenheart I will surely send them to you. It is beautiful. The handle has no cork, it is solid wood and the button end is also solid wood. No red rubber button on this rod.
Yes, in the spring, when I can cast again I will surely start short and very slow. I like the approach of the under hand cast and will try my best to perfect it.
Happy new year,
Tellumnothing

 

[Greenhart Caste]

Greenheart refurbish

Congratulations. Would you mind letting me know what product you used to strip the rod of its varnish and if any specific tools were useful? I have a very similar project in the works, choosing the most appropriate varnish remover is my question and greenheart is the wood. I've used ZipStrip many times years ago but understand it isn't what it used to be? Maybe the cane rod builders here can chime in as to what they use when refinishing cane rods. Any advise greatly appreciated. PM's are fine.

Dear Klickrolf,
Can't remember if I sent you a response or to someone else. Sure sucks to get old. The product I used is called JASCO premium paint and Epoxy remover. It is a gel and applied with a cloth and rubber gloves. Set 15 minutes and wipe off with a clean cloth. Works great. I applied two coats and everything turned out beautifully. Good luck
Tellumnothing