Sunday's fish pictures

Brown Trout at the Middle Limay River, Argentina

Two Magic moments

I remember, long time ago... my beginnings. At that moment, I was a crazy collector of Bamboo rods and work on marketing in my own advertising company . I spend lot of hours looking at my collection. Looking each rod trying to found his secrets, smelling at his particular flavors, feeling his different actions. Argentina was not the right country to found Bamboo rods, but with the help of my mentor Mr. Jose (Bebe) Anchorena and a group of good friends my collection begun to grow up to more than 50 rods.



Many famous gentlemen like Mr. Payne, Mr. Leonard, Mr. Dickerson, Mr. Garrison, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Thomas and others help me to acquire "the feel" and the touch of the great Bamboo makers. After looking and casting a lot of rods I got the sense of what I have to look into a fishing rod. At that time also, something inside me said, that I have to try to make one. This idea sounds crazy at that moment , but you know time... can do "magic".
Nobody knows nothing about rod making in the country, no information, no tools, only my desire. Then the first "magic" moment appear, a book... a great book "Classic Rods and Rodmakers" by Mr. Martin J. Keane put my mind dreaming about making my own rods. I had got from that time many technician books trying to found answers and a road to go. But I feel that I was in the need of a better approach.
Mr. Keane's book was the answer. I must confess that I read this book more than one thousands times, every night I got a meeting with those fine gentlemen. The book let commit me into their different styles and thoughts about rod making. It was like a big gathering where I was able to meet everyone in person. I know about it's lives, his families, his working, his feelings. It was a great tour into the rod making world.
The years happened and the other magic moment happen some years ago when I received a letter from Mr. Keane speaking about a rod that I sent to him. Imagine the moment... This letter was fresh air for me, he was talking about my work, about my dreams... this was really magic and put me floating in the air every time I read.
Here is a publication of one of his fabulous catalogs with one of my rods in the front page.



With the number #27 my rod was printed near the rod makers names that I admire. It was a CF764 a 7' 6" 2/2 rod for a #4 line

And this was his praise




This was for sure one of the most important and magic moments on my hole fishing and rod making life and it convinced me that dreams can become reality.

The Beauty and The Beast

About 3 months ago during a special Shop Clearance that I did with some demo rods at The Classic Fly Rod Forum, I received a post from Dr. Paul Hermann. He asked me if I would be interested in a trade for some of the rods I'm offering. He was offering some reels that he made. I answered... no Paul thank you, not for the moment. After two days and with some new information about Dr. Paul Hermann Reels I decided to make the trade.
Paul is a great guy and was a pleasure to meet him. Interchanging some emails he gave me all the information needed to make my choice. A limited Dry Salmon Reel will be flying in the next days. I'll be making a new Salmon Rod to Paul in trade for this reel an 8'6" 2/2 #6/7 hollow build rod.

(Paul if you're reading this article here is your rod in process, completely planed and ready to be glued tomorrow.)


One week later the brown truck stop at my front door and claim... "a package for you Mr. Calviello from Dr. Paul Hermann from the US". I took the package and went to my shop to open it with the correct ceremony. WOW this is much but of witch I hoped!!! I said, a true masterpiece in every aspect. Perfect craftsman, perfect finish... perfect.


Few days later, talking again with Paul about the piece of art that he has sent to me, I asked to him for a Little reel, a one that could be used with my "to go" rod a 7' #4. He told me that he made a reel called "Little Trout" and that he will be happy to trade this one for the 6' 6" 2/2 #4 rod that I was offering at the Clearance post. I said yes, and start with the shipping process, bag, tube, card, welcome letter, etc.
Four days later, the brown truck again. Yes, another package from Paul and this one was the Little gem, my Little reel, my new Little Trout Paul Hermann reel.



I used my Dry Salmon with great success in my Dorado trip, and believe me if this reel can stop a Dorado he can stop anything. Now I'm waiting for the Fishing Season opening to make the baptism of my Little Trout reel.
Paul thank you for made the best reels that I have attached to my rods ever.

Last trip. "Dorados" on bamboo Goya Corrientes ARGENTINA

Dorado is a great fish. I can compare this fishing with Sea Runs or Atlantic Salmon. Is a beautiful fish and strong like a bull. I was addicted to this fishing in the past, but the use of graphite stuff, put me out of this wonderful fishing. Happens that I really enjoy fishing with bamboo rods and this time when my son Sebastian ask me to join him in this trip I think... why not?... lets try the new SSS with this spectacular fish.


In the last months I worked into a new Rod Series, the SSS's (Swelled, sealed, Series). This rods are made as all my rods but they are impregnated with a new product that I found in the last year. The resultant is a very powerful rod that let me cast a floating or a shooting taper and fight the fish with confidence. I decide to take a 8' 2/2 for a #6 line that also allows me to cast a ST7 with the big flies that we use to fish this great fish.


After an 8 hours trip from Buenos Aires we arrived to Goya city at 0.06 AM. Our guide Javier Enriques was waiting for us at the bus station. After 15 minutes we were taking a full breakfast at the lodge, and Javier said... Can I take a look to your equipment. Sebastian that take his graphite stuff (SAGE 908 SP Plus) passed the exam without problems but when Javier take a look to my rod... he said, "hey man you are joking me?, don't tell me that you want to use this rod with Dorado... it's beautiful but this fish will not take consideration on this and will break it at the first run". This was the beginning, imagine my face... but this take my challenge to a hot point.

The Parana River.


The river shows magnificent; it was cold, very cold about 35 F. The boat was very comfortable and we start the journey to the fishing zone about 40 minutes of navigation. During the trip Javier was telling us that big schools of "mojarras" (little shads) were traveling waters down and the Dorado's attack them with ferocity.


Finally with strong anxiety we arrived to the first spot. We aligned our rods and reels, we tie a leader with the fly and made the first cast. When I was thinking about to the best way to approach to the fish eating zone... I got the first take that really surprised me and I lost it.
Now I was transformed in a fisherman, with all my sense pointing to the next fish. Five minutes later I feel literally that my rod was pulled out of my hands and I make contact with the first Dorado of the trip.

The take


Dorado is a high acrobatic fish and the jumps are a special show in this kind of fishing.

The jump


It was a strong fight. The new rod performs great and I was floating over the boat because my addiction grows highly to past levels. Now I can confirm that I can fish Dorado's on Bamboo and this makes me feel happy as a rodmaker and also as a fisherman.


After two days of hard fishing I take more than 25 Dorados, Javier with open eyes said to me... "Sir that cane rods are wonderful fishing instruments and now I know for experience that you can fish Dorados with them".


After all this I can said that this trip take Dorado again into my 3 first fishing species together with Trout and Salmon