One of my customers, Jack Hemingway, told me during the summer of 1991 that I “should develop a fly fishing rod which could reduce the use of power to a minimum, and which could also make it possible to get the line out without getting shoulder and backaches for weeks after a fishing trip”.  As you know, a two-handed fly fishing rod can really be demanding.

Like father, like son
When I was a young fly fisherman I never thought much of this problem. But after spending many years in the river I know – and many others are with me on this – aches in the shoulder and back are a fact of life. And as with Jack, son of the famous Ernest, many of those taking my course were struggling with the practising and got aches in the shoulders after a few hours of casting. Could I do something about it…?

Book about fishing misadventures
Jack’s encouragement kept on haunting me. Being the son of the great author, even Jack knew how to find the literate keys on the keyboard. He had, among others, written a book called “The Misadventures of a Fly Fisherman”.
He had given me a lot to wonder about. The thoughts matured for many years while I kept on testing new fishing methods. Every summer I sat for weeks on the banks of the river and observed my many guests fishing in the Hyen river, on the west coast of Norway. They were both first-timers and experienced fishermen – and women. The breakthrough came in the summer of 2002.

“I’ve got it!” I think …
On a normal Tuesday afternoon, whilst I was on my way from Valldal, in the county of Moere and Romsdal, the idea suddenly appeared in my mind. Of course, it had to be like this! I made a quick stop at a rest point in the Gudbrandsdalen valley. Many broken twigs later I found the first shape of how this could be done.

When I arrived home that night I managed to shape a piece of steel pipe in the same shape as the twigs I had tested earlier. Then I chopped off an old fly fishing rod, fitted the parts and went outside with a thumping heart; “Could this really work?”

More length – less aches
Have a guess if it worked! A solid catch on the first throw. I got a formidable response from the line without great movements with the body and arms -- just the way I had dreamt about.
But now the dreams were through… I was lying sleepless for nights before I visited some specialists and physicians specialised in physiology. They confirmed my assumptions about movement and technique. I had managed to develop an effective fly-fishing rod that also managed to save the back and shoulders from unwanted strains.

On the way to “my” perfect rod
The patent was delivered and I involved some industrial designers. We began on the long journey to a finished product. Through a thorough process including shapes, angle and design, we produced a string of new prototypes that we tested out with the back, shoulders, arms and eyes. Obviously, an interaction between shape, functionality and design is very important.

In practice…
The new shape was tested by experienced fly-fishing people - and specialists on casting. I would say that there has been a great response, but words can seem so insignificant – let the films do the talking.

More long days of fishing will follow. Join Zpey on the trip.

Regards from
Arve Evensen