Years ago, a friend of mine who had returned from a fishing trip in Tasmania told me about an unusual practice that the local anglers did there. He told me that they sanded down the blanks of their fly rods with sandpaper. My first thought was, “why on earth would anyone take sandpaper to a $500 fly rod?” He went on to explain that the lakes in Tasmania are full of large brown trout that are extremely skittish because of the clear, shallow water. The Aussie anglers sand down their rods to remove the shiny finish that can cause glare and spook fish. While I had never even thought about this, it seemed to make sense (even if a bit extreme). I thought it was an interesting anecdote, but didn’t give it much thought after that.
Fast forward several years and I got a first hand lesson in rod glare. I was fishing a local spring creek with crystal clear water and notoriously spooky fish. I wasn’t casting. I was just holding my rod and tying on a different fly when suddenly, my rod happened to tilt at just the right angle to catch the sun. It lit up like a light saber and instantly, the pod of fish in front of me scattered. That was the first time I had really observed this phenomenon and it got my attention.
Now I’m not saying that we should be obsessed about shiny rods or glare, but it is worth considering. If you think about it, it doesn’t make much sense to dress in camouflage and move stealthily, but then wave a big, reflective stick over spooky fish. It’s not something I generally concern myself with too much though. I can probably only recall a handful of times where I could definitively say that a refection off my rod sent the fish running. But it can happen. And that’s why many rod manufacturers offer a solution: a matte finish.
Just like your shadow, clothing color, and wading, rod glare is one more thing to take into account when you need to be extra stealthy. Rods with Matte finishes eliminate rod glare and they’re probably a better choice than taking some 500-grit to your brand new rod!
So I guess my idea for a chromed rod with “spinners” on it wouldn’t be that great of an alternative…
A customer in the fly shop I used to work at would spray his rods with a matt poly finish, not sure what brand. It came in a spray can and the finish looked really cool. Probably less likely to damage your rod than taking sand paper to it but not sure how it held up.
Interesting John. I wonder if that coating would flake off on a tenkara rod from opening and closing. Like I say in the post, I’m not overly concerned about it. 90% of the tenkara rods I own have a shiny finish. But when I absolutely need it, I have a few matte finish ones to chose from.
Hmmm…I just realized that all of my saltwater fly rods have a shiny finish which doesn’t bode well for my upcoming bonefish trip (where it absolutely matters).
I had my internship as a fishing guide in Tasmania. Its true they hide everything that glitters and false cast as less as possible and in the wrong direction so the shadow and the movement from the fly lines does not scare the fish away. Even wrong wingmaterial or tippetmaterial could make a huge difference. And do not forget that the average amount of trout being caught per person on a day lies on 2,2. So each detail counts, but when you catch one you know you have earned it. One of the most beautiful and diverse fisheries I have ever encountered…
Hi Chris, thanks for the affirmation. I have one question. I’m not sure I understand what you mean when you say “2,2”. Does that mean people are lucky to catch 2 fish in a day? My friend’s tales really inspired me to fish Tasmania. I hope I can one day. Though, from what I’ve heard, tenkara probably wouldn’t be the best choice in equipment.
I chucked each section in a variable speed drill motor and went over it with a synthetic 3M ‘0’ pad. I repeated the process with a ‘000’ pad. My rod is now a flat grayish-black.
It took a couple of iterations to get things uniform, but it was easy, fast, and effective.
Hello,
At my home in Corsican France, the rivers are very clearly and the sunny sky; for empecher the reflections of the cane I sand(pounce) her(it) with the steel wool ” 000 “, it gives him(her) a matt aspect without abimer the varnish
#I also fish tassie and nz and became paranoid about rod flash early on by hard experience. Also concerned with flash off other items including watches, reels, stuff hanging from your chest. I’ve seen fish alerted to danger by the flash in Tassie and nz. I’ve seen the flash from reel, rod, and leader from across the bay on a tassie lake early morning, and seen the tailers and rising fish go down.
I use fine steel wool on my high varnish high flash rods (and buy matt gear wherever possible). Less abrasive than 500 wet and dry, and effective at muting flash. I’ve done this to $1000+ rods willingly, as the results pay off.
There is a less invasive way to dull the shine on glossy finished rods that will not affect their resale value like sanding,treating with steel wool or painting them will if that is important to you. That’s to apply a good hard paste wax with a soft cloth to the rod sections and not buff it out after it dries. True this treatment is not as totally effective as dulling the shine in the other ways already mentioned, but it does a pretty good job and the rod can be restored to its original glossy finish by simply polishing the wax out at the close of your fishing season.
Jason, what timing, this post!! I’m a “head-to-toe camo wearer” when I fish; and just this AM, while stream fishing with my Ayu II rod, I contemplated whether or not the light colored cork handle was a spook-factor for fish; and, if so, what to do about it. Any thoughts?
Hi Kim,
LOL, OCD much? I’ve never thought about the rod handle. On the one hand, cork is a natural color. But it is a bright color so I suppose when in motion, it could scare fish. If you’re really concerned about it, you could put cork sealer over it which might darken it up a bit. Or just wait for the grip to get dirty over time and become more muted. I guess another option would be to put rod wrap over it but that will alter how it feels in your hand and make the grip a little thicker. If you find something that works, please let us know about it.
Oh No!!!! Am I going to have to take sandpaper to my sunglasses next?
…I simply rub rod blanks with a fine scotch brite pad to create a non-reflective satin finish… It requires less cleanup of rod joints, ferrules, etc., than steel wool…
I was sort of expecting the OCD comment; but, hey, the streams where I live (Western North Carolina) are clearer than bathwater most of the time! Anyhow, I get a “kick” out of seeing the fishies swimming right below my feet…when they can’t see me.
i prefer matte finish – I have had somebody comment on my shiny tenkara rod and how he could see it way downstream glinting in the sun…
However on the small streams that I usually fish if you get out in front of the trout where the fish might see your shiny tenkara rod then you’ve already spooked them.
The picture that you illustrate the rod reflection is awesome but the angler walking in the stream will give him self away first. I think people often forget how water amplifies sound, clacking rocks together in the stream are a dead giveaway.
Try this next time you go swimming, take two rocks and gently tap them together while you are holding your breath underwater. Now have your wife or kids tap the rocks under water while you are across the pool listening underwater.
If you move in a stream and then stand there for a long time, your rod flash may give you away but I maintain the crunching and clacking of rocks together underfoot as you approach a fish is much more alerting than a rod flash especially when the surface of the water is disturbed by wind.
Hi Adam, agree 100%. Sound is much more often the culprit.