It has come to our attntion that the bkrod website was awarded a 2014 Silver Level Addy award.
We have had nothing but praise since the launch of our new website in 2013, and we would like to that the entire team over at Brickhouse Creative located iin Bozeman, MT. for all their dedication bringing our ideas to fruition.
The Beaverkill Rod Company is expanding its distribution model to the West Coast of America in response to growing sales. The ‘made in the USA’ fly rod manufacturer plans to establish a state-of-the-art rod building facility and an inventory of the complete line of Beaverkill products. It will also appoint dedicated sales and account services teams to drive business from the new San Francisco location into all West Coast markets. The move comes on the back of strong growth of their Legacy rod series and blanks and follows the company’s recent expansion at its corporate headquarters in New York. For the full article, click here...
The company line: "If you enjoy the feel of a classic fly rod, with the smooth, easy casting capability combined with the technical advances of the day, our Full Flex rods are going to feel great in your hand. Although this family makes a great beginner's rod, these rods are really designed for those who simply prefer a slower action -- and they are the perfect fit for smaller streams and ponds.
Enter nascent fly rod manufacturer Beaverkill and its 7’6” Legacy Series Full-flex 3 weight. After spending time fishing Beaverkill's offering on my favorite east Tennessee small stream, I've come to the conclusion that they've successfully executed the difficult task of delivering a small rod with excellent performance.
I’m not an expert caster, but at 20-35 feet from the target, this rod made me feel like I was casting well above my grade.
The rod maintained ample power in the lower third, which kept it from feeling like a complete noodle, unlike other rods of all prices in its class. It has a super-sensitive tip section, which is essential for short casts in over-hung environments where space is scarce and accuracy a premium.
For the full article, click here...
Every once in a great while I like to deviate from fly tying related posts to emphasize fly fishing in general, which is why we tie flies in the first place. After all, things like fly rods are what send our labor of love flying through air landing on top or under the water to try and catch that next fish.
I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with the President of Beaverkill Rod Company, Anthony Magardino through email for some time now. He is a class act and I hope to get my hands on a new Beaverkill Fly Rod next spring sometime.
For the full article, click here...
Mine a Beaverkill Rod fast action 10-weight with RIO intermediate 10 weight fly line. Reels: a Nautilus NV 7/8 and a Tibor Riptide for the 10-weight. Leaders were all RIO. For bones (8-weight), I was at 14- to 18-feet with class at 12-pounds (equal lengths of RIO / 30-,25-,18-,15- and 12-pound / mono). For the ten I was at 12- to 14-feet (RIO mono 50-, 40-, 30-, 20-pounds) with a shock of 60-pounds RIO fluorocarbon. I use Perfection to loop butt to fly line and Seaguar knots to connect each equal sections, and a non-slip on all connections to the fly, and I never wet the line when seating any knot.The inventory
For the full article, click here...
Last February we interviewed Anthony J. Magardino, owner and president of Beaverkill Rods. Magardino bought BKR out its mothball state just over a year ago from former owner and talented rod maker, Steven Forrer. Forrer and his team of experienced rod designers produced superior “American Made” graphite rods – starting back in 2001.
Knowledgeable and skilled anglers scooped up the Beaverkill rods, but the company’s reach was limited by it’s marketing and by finances so sales were mainly regional. One of those skilled anglers that got hold of a Beaverkill was Anthony J. Magardino who bought a 7-foot, 6-inch 3-weight and loved it.
For the full article, click here...
Imagine this: a rod company that carefully builds handcrafted premium graphite fly rods here in the United States but sells them for 1/3 less than their competitors whose massive advertising and marketing campaigns bulk up price tags and help sell their t-shirts and other logo’d merch.
That company is Beaverkill Rod Company, the brain child of owner Anthony Magardino. Based in Scarsdale, New York, the company produces the rods entirely in the United States with facilities in Naples, FLorida – Maryland and New York. Magardino’s philosophy simply put: “My intention is to sell a $395 rod that could easily sell for $600-$700, and make it here, on shore, (at a price where) people could buy it, add it to their collection of premium rods and still have a few dollars left in their pocket.”
For the full article, click here...
Beaverkill Rods were the mastermind of Steven Forrer and his team of experienced rod designers. They began producing superior “American Made” graphite rods in 2001. Knowledgeable and skilled anglers scooped up the Beaverkill rods, but the company’s reach was limited by it’s marketing and finances. One of those skilled anglers that got hold of a Beaverkill was Anthony J. Magardino who bought a 7-foot, 6-inch 3-weight. Soon he began using his Beaverkill 3-weight as a matter of preference over and above his “collection” of similar weight rods. Fast forward; when the wheels fell off and the economy in 2007 so to went the fortunes of many small companies without deep pockets. One such mothballed company was Mr. Forrer’s Beaverkill Rods of Brinkow, Maryland.
NOTE: The Beaverkill River is world famous and the Catskills of New York are considered to be birthplace of American fly fishing.
Anthony J. Magardino is in his early 40s. He and his family spent their summers about an hour away from the heart of the Catskills fly fishing Mecca, Roscoe, New York. One day, a WWII veteran showed a struggling 13 year old Anthony how to properly cast a fly. Later, others would teach him more tips & tactics, and it was game on from there on. Soon he was tying his own flies and became immersed in the lore of fly fishing. For the last 30 years or so he has served on the board of the famous Catskill Fly Fishing Museum and has met many devoted anglers, joined many fly New York area fishing clubs and actively and financially supports veterans and active military personnel.
For full article click here...
It's time to make my annual predictions for the fly fishing world in the coming year. But first, let's look back on last year's fishing predictions, and see how I did.
First, I said the Rockies would have a terrible water year. That was surely the case in the southern Rockies, though the northern Rockies did a bit better. 2012 was not only an extremely dry year, it had one of the worst wildfire seasons ever. I wish I had been wrong on that one.
I said three major manufacturers would start selling direct. Simms and Thomas & Thomas did. A few other, smaller companies did as well. Admittedly, that wasn't a wild prophecy, as those rumblings had been going on for months.
I said carp competitions would take off, and they did. From California to Denver to Montana and points east, carp tournaments attracted more anglers and raised more money for good causes than ever before.
I predicted that a U.S. manufacturer would break $1,000 for a graphite production rod, and we now have the Sage One Elite ($1,295).
Rods $200 or less would comprise the bulk of domestic sales in 2012. I don't have the data yet, but my friends in the industry say that's true. And more pricepoint products would be made in the United States—there are indeed some upstart companies making rods in America, like the Beaverkill Rod Company.
For full article, click here...
Fly fishing, like many other sports, is chock full of conventions which are rarely questioned. Anything from a 9-foot 5-weight being the most recommended rod on the planet to the reluctance to cast (or sell) any leader that’s not 7’6” or 9’. Like all truisms, some are in place for a reason, but others can stifle creativity and slow progress.
Enter Anthony Magardino. Magardino is not a former guide, is not a former shop rat, and is not on any pro staffs. In fact, he’s relatively unknown in the world of fly fishing. He is, however, a fly fishing foot soldier—a veteran of the sport who has fished his local waters for many years. He also is a successful businessman. The combination of the two, and some fortuitous timing, led Magardino to buy Beaverkill Rods.
For the full article, click here...
We anglers love our gear. We fly fishers, especially so.
The flies have personality. The reels are precisely machined instruments. The nets, the gadgets, the waders - we sometimes grumble about all the stuff our sport requires, but we're fooling no one; we love it all.
For the full article, click here...
Most of us have heard of the Beaverkill River, but have you ever heard of Beaverkill Fly Rods? I didn’t think so… I hadn’t either, but if Anthony Magardino has his way you’re gonna start seeing a whole lot more of them on the river and in fly shops across the country.
The brand has recently been recently been resurrected by Mr. Magardino, with an impressive offering of 3-weight to 12-weight rods that are all made in the USA with completely U.S.-made components and will retail for prices under $400.
For the full article and to listen to the podcast, click here...
Anthony Magardino grew up in Scarsdale, Westchester County, and had the good fortune to spend his summers an hour and a half away in Roscoe, along a certain trout stream that’s been written about quite a bit over the years.
There were anglers in his family, but no fly fishers. There were fly fishers on the Beaverkill, however, and they acknowledged Magardino and his brothers, watching with interest from the bank. One angler in particular, a World War II veteran, took the trouble to hand Magardino a rod and teach him what to do with it.
“It was something I learned, and was given the opportunity to become proficient at it, from complete strangers,” recalled Magardino, 41, who today finds himself the owner of the Beaverkill Rod Co.
For the full article, click here...
Claryville, New York (September 5, 2012) – The Hope for Heroes Foundation and three disabled soldiers attended a Fly Fishing Event at the Wintoon Club sponsored by Beaver Kill Rods.
Wounded Hero Soldiers Lieutenant Colonel Avery Leider, Major Xiaolian Tan and Sergeant Justin Miller arrived at the Wintoon club in the afternoon of September 5th 2012. All were eager to get right to fishing.
For the full article, click here...
Check out some of the press, reviews, testimonials and feedback we've gotten from pro casters, guides, and friends who have used Beaverkill rods across the country and all over the world... Read more >
BY THE BEAVERKILL ROD COMPANY
Finding the right fly rod can be more than a bit overwhelming for those just getting into the sport, but don’t worry—we’re here to help. Use this general guide to assist you in understanding the basic differences between the various types of today’s single-handed, graphite fly rods.
While you can, of course, use this information to help you choose which model of Beaverkill is right for you, the same information applies to most every rod out there.
Fly rods are designed to be matched and cast with a particular and matching weight (wt) fly line; 1 wt being the smallest, lightest, and most delicate and 15 wt being the largest, heaviest, and strongest.
When we talk about “weight” you can think of it as simply the ‘thickness’ of the line—the greater the number, the greater the thickness. And you can probably figure out that a thicker line requires a stiffer rod to handle its associated greater weight. So a 1wt rod is much ‘springier’ than a 15 wt, because it’s designed to cast a much lighter line.
Got it?
So, which rod? When determining what weight rod you will need/want it all comes down to the species of fish you will be pursuing. The tables below will work as general guidelines, though there is a fair amount of subjectivity here:
So is choosing the right rod just about the species of fish? Nope.
The casting distances, size of the fly you are using, presentation needs, and WIND all play a critical role as well. If you need to cast a big fly in a lot of wind for even relatively smaller fish, you may need a bigger rod than you would think. Or, if you are tarpon fishing, the flies you use are smaller than you would guess (given a huge fish), but the size of the fish requires the stiffness/strength of a 12 wt. In order to adjust for these various situations you will learn to move up or down in rod weight or size to achieve the “feel” of your liking.
Fly rods are much longer than your traditional spin rods. This is due to the casting style and line control needed in fly-fishing. The majority of fly rods are 9’ in length, although fly rods can vary anywhere from 6’ all the way up to 10 ½’. The 8.5’ - 9’ mark is generally the best overall length to achieve the best combo of casting distance and line control. For certain situations, shorter lengths rods are preferable for small creeks with tight surroundings and longer length rods are preferable for salmon and steelhead on large rivers.
One important misconception is that shorter people or beginners should use a shorter rod. Unlike skis, this is not true. Sure, a small child might do better with a shorter rod, but for most adults, shorter is not easier—in fact, it can be harder per the line control issues noted above. So we wouldn’t typically recommend choosing a shorter length due to lack of experience.
Fly rods come in three general “actions” or “tapers:” slow, medium, and fast. This basically refers to how much the rod bends during casting. This is also the “feel” of the rod. Slow action rods will bend all the way down through the entire rod. Medium action rods will bend from the tip through about halfway down the rod. Fast action rods will only bend through the tip of the rod. The action of the rod affects presentation and casting distance; slow being the most delicate presentation and fast being the longest casting distance.
But most importantly this is where your own personal casting style and ‘feel’ preference plays a huge roll. The general rule is that novice fly fishermen and women are better off with slow to medium action rods because 1) they are more forgiving i.e., have a larger sweet spot and 2) teach you to really feel the rod and line working together thus you learn to become a better caster. Another general rule is the larger and stronger the fish you are pursuing is the faster action rod you will want. Wind has a large affect on what action you may choose as well, with faster action rods performing better in windier conditions.
Go out and cast the various action rods of the weight you want to get an idea for what feels the best and which fits your casting style the most.
Most fly rods come in two pieces, a ‘butt’ section and a ‘tip’ section (although one piece rods all the way up to eight piece rods are out on the market). Generally speaking, 3 or 4 piece rods give you the best of performance with convenience for travel and storage. Now that rod technology has solved some of the old issues of the connections between the sections (called the “ferrule”), multi-piece rods continue to grow in popularity because of that convenience factor.
Until you’re well-versed in fly casting you won’t be able to truly notice the difference in performance of single or multi-piece rods—so choose according to travel needs and what overall rod you prefer.
Fly rod grips are typically made of cork (a few less expensive rods use foam). The different styles are available to match you hand size and type, casting style, and type of fish. Grips have very little to do with the performance of the rod and more to do with how your hand feels at the end of the day. Make sure it is comfortable for you. Just know that larger, fuller grips are preferable for bigger fish and longer more powerful casts usually associated with heavier rods and smaller, slimmer grips are preferable for the more delicate presentations associated with shorter more accurate casts of a lighter rod.
Fighting butts are another piece of cork or rubber extended at the base of the rod behind the reel seat. Fighting butts are generally only found on 7wt rods and heavier. Some are removable; others (typically on the largest of rods) are permanently attached to the end of the rod. The use of a fighting butt is for a larger area of the rod to be placed against your body while fighting fish, to keep the reel handle away from your body and clothing as well as providing you a better leverage point to help you in long battles.
The rod’s reel seat is where the reel is secured to the rod. Most rods use a simple ‘locking screw ring’ type set up, though lighter rods may only have simple sliding rings to secure the reel. This, again, has little to no performance-based value on the rod. Just make sure it is well made and sturdy, to keep your reel securely in place. The reel seat can, however, play a major role in the overall aesthetics of a rod, so here your personal tastes does come into play.
Guides are exactly that—they ‘guide’ the fly line down the length of the rod. Most common are “snake” guides, pretty much what most every rod on the market uses. Just make sure that the guides are made of high quality material so they are hard, abrasion-resistant, and corrosion-resistant so they will stand up to a lifetime of line slicing through them.
In closing we hope this information has helped you make a better-informed choice in finding the fly rod that’s right for you. As you have probably now realize, every fly rod has a different application, and there’s still plenty of room for personal tastes and preferences. We’d recommend that you keep an open mind and just dive in.
If you still find yourself in need of some help visit your local fly shop, guide, casting instructor, or rod builder and get a hands-on lesson or demo. Or, feel free to shoot us an email and we’ll be glad to offer guidance.
