It’s Wednesday afternoon, and I’m struck with the inspiration to write. Pen and tablet in hand… okay, let’s be honest, I’m actually sitting at my computer, while desperately searching for that elusive ‘list’ of writing ideas that should be right here! And I sit ‘trying’ to ‘think’ of a topic (yeah, like that’s ever worked), when I hear a sound …

It was my cell phone making one of those cell phone sounds …

… and my dear friend Kevin, from Maine, was calling! Thinking that talking will help me procrastinate a bit, I eagerly picked up my phone. Kevin had 3 things he wanted to talk about. I said that it’s fine with me and I’ll do it … after you give me a topic for the blog I was determined to write. (Was a bit low-handed, now that I think about it. My bad …) I was determined to ‘commit’ to his topic, no matter what it was. Kevin suggested, “how ’bout …

Pike on a Dry Fly

Kevin’s thinking about this because he’s planning a trip to northern Ontario. Kevin and I met in northern Ontario … 8 years ago. It was so much fun, casting into lily pads and reeds, using a deer hair frog, actually yanking it back (stripping with an attitude) and sure enough, that frog would ‘disappear’ in a flash of water. These were smaller Northern Pike, 20 to 30 inches long, and sometimes they were so quick, you could barely see the take.

Ok, I know … Dale is NOT holding a big fish but … he’s wearing a Hook & Hackle Company ‘official’ hat. That gave him a ‘leg up’ in the race, so to speak.

But in this photo (left), I don’t know whose logo hat that might be, but I know it wasn’t ours. Also, I remember that Dale caught that pike in open water on one of those deer haired frogs. That particular Pike was in the 40+ inches category. It actually ‘tail walked’ like a tarpon. Still, I made his photo smaller because he’s not wearing our hat!!

Then I Started Thinking …

For about 12 years, we had the privilege of accompanying many wounded Veterans from the US and Canada on exciting trips for Northern Pike, Walleye and Trout, thanks to the courtesy and generosity of Wilderness North Outfitters. Over that time, we had very little breakage and in fact, I can’t remember any which broke while a Veteran was actually fishing. The Veterans went through about 135 rods. If I had to guess, I’d say that about half of them were made from our least expensive blank!

Sales Pitch

Why would I make a big deal out of our “OEM”, no label, least expensive blanks? Well, they’re excellent blanks and their specs are outstanding for the price.  For instance, our OEM 9′ 5/6 4-piece blank is currently on sale for only$83.75 while competitors charge anywhere from $134.95 – 209.95 for a blank with similar specs. Beautiful Matte Black finish. (If you really ‘need’ to see a photo of a 4-pc, black blank, click here. All 4-piece and have no label which makes them perfect to build as a gift or presentation rod. Protective rod bag included. And of course we have kits! Check Kits Here

Click on the ‘buttons’ below to learn more …

7’6″ 3/4-weights Blank Only

9′ 5/6-weights Blank Only

9′ 7/8-weights Blank Only