Micro Fly Fishing - Stranger than Truth?

[Capt. Slayer]

Fellow Tidal Fishers,

I came across this link a while ago and always wondered if this was some kind of a joke:



http://www.jaustinforbes.com/

It looks like you can get a 30" rod and micro reel for under $300.

Now I've got to admit that I've always had a soft spot for short rods because they are very useful when fishing the mountain-laurel-choked streams of Shenandoah Park. The first rod I ever purchased was an Orvis 7-foot, 5-weight rod called the Otter, and it was perfect in tight situations (that was before I soured on Orvis; I've moved over to Sage now). One of my brother's first rods was even shorter at 6.5 feet (an old Fenwick, I think). So I do see the utility, but this seems a little ridiculous, especially when you're fishing for half-decayed dog salmon like the one that lady is holding up in the photo.

It looks like even a lame bluegill could spool you on that bobbin-sized reel. And what do you do when the wind comes up? The line can't be any thicker than dental floss.

What do you make of this?

Oh, and DF, if you're out there, you need to fill me in a little more on how, exactly, we might be twins separated at birth, or whatever you alluded to in your post on my earlier thread.

--Slayer

[Double Haul]

Agree that it seems silly. They needed a photo of someone casting with it.
Years ago while I was building rods, a blank I ordered was damaged in the mail. When I contacted the seller for the replacement, he advised I could keep the remaining parts. As it was the butt that was damaged, I built a little 5.5 foot rod. Kept a piece of the butt to construct a handle and finished the tip end. Dandy little rod for tight streams and throws a 5 wt perfectly. Not far, but easy casting.
That's about as small as I can see as practical.

[HJS]

As I remember. years ago at the UofM College Park Fly Show, there was a guy there, staffing his own booth, that makes these exact rods/reels. He had several on display. I think he even makes the tiny reels from scratch in his machine shop and the rods were hand made from bamboo. His work was super high quality too. The tiny reels worked solid and smooth. Can't help but think that these outfits are the result of a hobby going in an unusal direction... he makes these rods just because he can... they are waay kool though.

[snookered]

Just toys, they can damage and even kill fish. Certainly our of the question for saltwater.

[Tissy Furnes]

Seems a bit gimmicky but you have to respect the desire to go in a different direction with the sport.

[spilunkr]

Like HJS, I also remember the gentleman at the College Park show years back, (I think he was also at the NCCTU show in the old Silver Spring Armory a couple of times) that made and sold those small outfits. As I recall he had one model that was only about 18" long. He also had several pictures of the rod being used to catch small brookies. The enitre outfits; rod, reel and "fly line" were hand made and each outfit was unique. As I recall they were a bit under $200.

Guy