Handcrafted Hardwood Rod Tubes~ Crafted in Lubec, Maine
When we talk about craftsmanship, Carl Bruere exemplifies heritage and the art of handcrafted woodworking. These hand built fly rod cases are absolutely stunning! Each build by hand in Lubec, Maine. Each one is unique and custom crafted, using anywhere from 5 to 7 different hardwoods. The durable finish is 3 brushed coats of polyurethane followed by a buffed coat of Howards Wax.
The craftsman himself, an absolute pleasure in every way. We first met Carl after a brief visit to our shop showing us his incredible work. We knew right away, that these tubes belonged here with us and represented everything we stand for. We are very proud to offer these unique tubes and know they will become an heirloom pairing perfectly with your Maine Fly Co rod.
These tubes are all build to order currently. Once you make your order, you can be connected with the craftsman himself for any special requests. Otherwise, your tube will be made just for you and you can bask in the anticipation of knowing one of Carl's creations is soon to arrive at your door.
Once you place your order, please allow up to 3 weeks for build, finish and shipping.
These hardwood rod tubes come built to accommodate 4piece rods in the following lengths. Switch and Spey tubes available on special request. Reach out for pricing.
Tubes are built to fit your rod. Options are set for your fly rods total length.
About Carl:
Start by blaming the Boy Scouts: When I was just a pup in Sheridan Wyoming I was introduced to woodworking while earning a merit badge. In a small basement workshop, the introduction was made using only hand tools while building a bird house.
Time went by, playing sports took up most of my time, but in high school in Wheatland, Wyoming, I took wood shop and drafting classes taught by Jack Dinnel. From those classes, I was hooked. Woodworking turned out to be an avid and enjoyable avocation from then on.
I met Carole, a beautiful girl from Essex Connecticut, fell head over heals, and we married 58 years ago while at the University of Wyoming. We hunted and fly fished together, raised four children, remodeled several homes and somehow made ends meet. I always had a wood shop in whatever garage space I could find.
We lost our younger son Scott at age 21. A very good and avid basketball player, he always wore uniform number 11. Now you know part of the story.
Fast forward to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Fly fishing the waters of New Mexico and Wyoming became a true passion. I loved the challenge it presented. Many enjoyable hours were spent on the San Juan and North Platte Rivers as well as the waters of Grand Teton and Yellowstone Parks.
Carole, BC (before Carl), and her family spent a lot of time in the area around Moosehead Lake in northern Maine. A few years ago, she and I visited Maine and at that time I told her when I retired from my real estate business and she found the right property, I agreed to relocate there. Well, 3 years ago, I did, she did, and we did.
A home, vacant for 5 years, with a 2-car garage plus a 3-car detached garage. We refurbished the house and converted the detached garage into a great wood shop. Carole was in Maine and with the large dedicated shop, I felt I was in heaven. I now had the space, the tools, the desire and time to have our 11 OUTDOORS wood shop.
I thank each and every one of you that have purchased fly rod cases and other products from me. My hope is that you are as proud of it as I was in making every one. I look forward to many more of you having the opportunity actually hold and feel one - listen carefully, as the wood and craftsmanship will talk to you.
How to choose a fly rod
In full disclosure, up until eight or so years ago, the topic of whats the best rod to use was as puzzling to me as what fly to use. The years have taught us there is a lot of personal preference when picking out a fly rod. This is especially true when it comes to reel seats, handle shape/length, colors, wraps and brands. Varying rod aesthetics can attribute to performance strengths and deficits in some cases, but for the more part unnoticeable variations. Add to this, fly rod action, length and # of pieces and it can feel like overload quickly.
We've cut through the clutter and hope to make this a bit easier for you. There are a few fundamentals you should know in choosing the right fly rod for you.
As a jumping off point, the beginning fly fisher, especially those looking to targeting fresh water game, will likely be in search of a 9-foot, 4-6w-weight, medium-flex rod. This is a universal staple range. You can catch everything from wild trout to carp in streams, rivers, ponds or lakes with this range.
Simply put, you need to consider, the big 3 when picking out your fly rod. Weight, length and action.
Weight
Fly rods are rated by weight. The weight indicates the size of fishing line that matches the rod. Generally you can line up or down by one size, which is why a 5wt is the best universal size for a trout rod. Most people think about fish species when it comes to choosing a weight and while that works just fine, I would also encourage you to think about the size of fly you are going to be throwing, and the intended use of the rod.
As a general rule on rod weights:
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1-4: sunfish and small trout, small streams
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4-6: general trout, larger streams and rivers
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6-8: bass, carp, light steelhead, salmon. and saltwater
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8-10: winter steelhead, stripers, salmon, and saltwater
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10-14: big game
Length
Fly rods act as a lever, so length is a very important aspect when picking a fly rod. The longer the rod, the easier it will be to get more distance on your cast, mend your line, and fight fish. However if you are on a smaller stream you will want a shorter rod to navigate overhanging brush and for added precision when casting at close range.
As noted before, most agree the standard trout rod is a 9ft 5wt rod. This length lets you get the distance, accuracy, and line control needed in most trout situations.
Action
The three types of fly rod action are fast-action, medium-action and slow-action. Each of these types of action have their benefits and drawbacks. It is important to match up the type of fly rod action with the type of fishing you will be doing.
Fast Action
A fast-action rod is just what the name implies. At the end of the backcast, the tip of the fly rod is slightly bent but the rest of the rod is virtually straight as an arrow.
Pros:
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Long Casts - The stiffness of the rod allows for more power in the cast.
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Fishing on windy days - The stiffness of the rod allows easier casting on windy days since the rod is more powerful.
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Somewhat less physically demanding - Due to the power inherent in fast action fly rods, the angler works less to cast the same distance compared to using a slower, more flexible rod.
Cons:
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Difficult for Beginners - Beginners might struggle learning how to cast with a fast-action rod. The sheer power in the rods makes "getting a feel" for the fly and fly line difficult. Precise casts in particular will be difficult for new anglers.
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Not ideal for short casts - Not the best rod to be used where short casts are necessary - such as spring creeks. For short casts, a more flexible rod provides greater accuracy and a "smoother touch." For small stream fishing, a fast-action rod has a substantially greater likelihood of leading to the fly and fly line being slammed into the water - making the fish you're stalking head for the hills.
Medium or Moderate Action
Medium action fly rods are the most versatile of the rods available. They perform well in a wide variety of conditions. They are also easier to learn with than with a fast-action rod. On the backcast with a medium action fly rod, the rod will be bent beginning from about halfway down the rod - thus falling in-between fast and slow action rods.
Overall, if an angler will only own one fly rod for freshwater trout fishing, then it should be a medium action fly rod unless the fishing situation falls into one of the other categories above or below.
Pros:
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Most versatile of all the actions
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Great for anglers of all abilities
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If your going to have just one fly rod, this is it
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Does it all
Cons:
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Not as powerful as a fast action rod
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Not as precise as fast
Slow Action- aka "Full Flex"
Slow action rods are primarily for those individuals that fish smaller streams and use mostly lighter tippets the majority of the time. I won’t say that this is the only area in which these can be fished, but they are the most effective in these scenarios. These are often on the market in the form of fiberglass or bamboo.
Pros:
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Great for small streams
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Very forgiving for new anglers
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Fun for smaller fish to feel like larger fish
Cons:
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Not for distance
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Windy days can be very difficult
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Slower hook sets
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Not as accurate
Rod Features
There are other features to a rod that might make it the best choice for you.
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Number of pieces: Fly rods can come in a 1 piece all the way up to a 7 piece. Four-piece rods are becoming the standard as they are easy to pack and travel with. This is 90% of what we carry.
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Materials: Most rods these days are composed of a carbon or graphite compound (numerous debates out there on the similarities and differences here), although both fiberglass and bamboo has been making a comeback in recent years.