Fiberglass rods are really making a comeback. There are a lot more people fishing them, talking about them, and making them. One of the companies that we’ve noticed getting a lot of attention (rightfully so, it would seem) is Blue Halo. Cortney Boice was kind enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to talk about the company and their rods. I think you’ll enjoy what he has to say.
The guys over there were also generous enough to offer our readers a discount. Use the code I5A07M36XZ0S on their store to get 15% off! The code is only good from today till the 19th, so don’t wait.
Tell us a little about Blue Halo. Who are you guys and what do you do?
Hi guys, Blue Halo has been in existence for about four years now. We pride ourselves in our colorful and uniquely crafted fiberglass fly rods that we produce. Each taper is unique to us and one thing that a lot of people don’t know is that many of the colors that are standard out there were originated by us here. We really want to give all anglers the opportunity to experience the benefits that fiberglass rods have over conventional graphite and carbon rods without spending $800 on a rod. We roll glass blanks as well as sell pre-built ready to fish rods.
How did you get started?
Blue Halo’s roots date back to when Bo Harding and I went fishing . We grew up in Rexburg, Idaho less than a mile from each other. We went to school together and hung out quite a bit. After college, life got in the way and we were doing our own thing away from each other. Fishing connected us again. We went out one day hunting carp. He told me that he wanted to start some sort of fly fishing company and I had plans to the same. We decided right there to combine efforts. The rest is history.
What makes you different?
Probably the most distinguishing features that set us apart are our colors. We have seven different transluscent colors that we stock all of the time, as well as opaque limited edition colors that we cycle through. We also double wrap our ferrules so that they are a little more durable than the average sleeve style ferrule. I think our approach to customer service is one thing that most people like. We fish, and we like to hook dudes up, so we really try to get to know our customer base and help in any way we can.
Why fiberglass? What about it draws you in?
My first rod was a fiberglass rod. An old Cortland Pro- Quest. It was all I had, but it was awesome. I still have it and find myself coming back to it time and time again. With the advancements of modern day fiberglass, it is a perfect medium for a fly rod. It is very durable, beautiful, and it gives you a feel that can not be achieved with graphite.
It would seem that glass is really making a comeback. Why do you think this is?
I think guys like Cam from The Fiberglass Manifesto and many other guys are educating people of on the benefits of fishing glass. From what I have experienced, most people who give it an honest try end up enjoying the results they get while casting a dry fly or actually having your rod bend again on a 12” trout. Really everything comes back to how fiberglass feels in your hand. The ‘FEEL’ is why people fish fiberglass. You feel the rod load when you cast a line. You feel the fish fight deeper in your rod. You feel happy when you cast them and when you fight fish on them. That is what it is all about.
Check back tomorrow for Part 2. All images in this post courtesy of Blue Halo Gear.
