If you missed the first part of Tom’s interview yesterday, read it here.
When you were fleshing out the concept for 406 Fly Lines, what were some of the ideal fishing settings and gear arrays you had in mind?
I envisioned the ideal setting for the lighter line weights as a small creek in the back country fishing for small cuttys or brook trout kneeling down to avoid being seen or a spring creek throwing # 20 or 22 dries for one rising fish for awhile until you catch him or put him down. In the larger sizes maybe fishing from the bow of a drift boat throwing to big browns a foot of the bank. The gear was glass first and then other slow action rods. As it turns out the lines also work wonderfully with cane rods. Makes sense – the original profiles we are based on was developed for just those kind of lines.
How have the ‘old guard’ fly line manufacturers responded to 406 Fly Lines launch?
Haven’t heard a peep. I did speak to someone in the business several weeks ago and he thought I had a really good idea and wished me well. Not an official recognition but I don’t think we’re big enough to be noticed yet. That suits me just fine.
(Ed. note – people have been underestimating Montana based manufacturing in the fly fishing industry for years, though several companies come to mind that appear to have crushed that perception – Bozeman Reel and Simms to name a couple…)
Have you always worked in the industry or come from another work-a-day world?
I was a construction engineer for the NYS Dept. of Transportation for 30 years before retiring in 2011. I loved the job but it stressful, sometimes too much. I always said that when I retired I’d move to a place without any stop signs or traffic lights. Well there’s only 5 traffic lights and that many stop signs in Livingston so I think it worked out well. The construction work required quick decisions and a lot of making decisions on the fly so that has always been helpful. It also lets you cut through the everyday crap and just go with what you think is right. You can over-think a issue at times and the decision to start 406 Fly Lines was reached after a lot of thought but ultimately going with my gut feeling.
Best spring or early summer fishing day in the past few years? How about fall day?
My wife and I were in Yellowstone Park and were having a slow day. We fished the Firehole, Gibbon, and Madison with zero luck. Decided to go over to the east side of the Park. Parked at Pebble Creek and walked down along the Soda Butte Creek. Hiking along the creek we came to a nice little pool with a riffle. I cast to the pool – nothing. Not paying attention I let the fly, a #12 hopper, drift down the riffle and saw it disappear. I pulled back and the line felt stuck on a rock, until it started to head down stream. After a minute or so I had a gorgeous 18″ Cutthroat in my net. My wife was watching this and said “I want to try that spot” so I moved out of the way. On her first cast she pulled an identical Cutthroat, not the same one, out of that riffle.
Fall is a special season out here. Every day on the water seems like the best. Sometimes you catch fish, sometimes not but it really doesn’t matter at the end of the day. i don’t think we’ve ever had a bad day in the Fall.
If you could encourage fly fishers to do just one thing to make the fly fishing world a better place, what would that be?
Think about all the people who helped you over the years and give back by helping someone new to fly fishing or volunteer at the local TU. There’s lots of opportunities to lend a hand or help clean up a river.
All images are Tom’s and the Peacock Bass below was caught on an 8′ 10 weight glass rod by Graywolf rods out of Michigan.
Many thanks to Tom and the team at 406 Fly Lines; I’m sure we’ll be hearing much more about the company in months and years to come.
