The Purple Heart Rod, or Leo's NAF Bamboo Build

EDIT: Leo sent me an email a couple of days ago saying the rod was almost finished. Here's the latest picture, posted 4/05/09
This is going to be a very sweet rod that Leo deMonbreun is building to be auctioned at the event. Leo has been building rods a long time and you can often find him behind the counter of the fly shop at Cumberland Transit in Nashville.

A huge thanks to Leo for the build and also to Dennis of D.R. Stone Rod Company for donating the blank, to Tim at T.L. Zietak rod company for their component donations and to Alan at REC Components, makers of RECOIL Guides and more for their contribution as well.

I just got this email from Leo so I'm going to get out of the way and let him do his thing!


Leo writes: "The blank has been dipped for a little over a week now and I started wrapping it today after installing the cigar grip and the PLRN reel seat from REC. In keeping with the original PHY Perfectionist that had a cork grip and seat.


Wrapping will be simple patterns of Chestnut brown tipped in Purple, one of Paul Young's favorites, and the signature wrap will be in the colors of the Purple Heart in honor of all of our wounded vets from all conflicts.


All of the hardware has been blackened, slip rings, end cap, ferrules and all guides with the exception of the stripper guide. PHY like to use Mildrum cradled guides and most of his were in nicikel silver and were not oxidized.

After finishing the wrappings, the colors of the Purple Heart will be preserved with several coats of clear lacquer then the rod will get it's final dip which will make the guide and ferrule wraps become translucent.

In test casting it with the guides taped on to ensure good static loading, it performed really well with both a Cortland Sylk and a Triangle Taper 4 WF line. Sweet Dry Fly action.

I am hopeful that the person that wins the rod can appreciate what it is meant to symbolize. For those that have never been there words can't describe it, and for those that have, not a word needs to be said.

More to come later

Leo"

Press Release Going Out Today

Special thanks to Vernell Hackett, Nashville, TN resident and long time music business publicist, for putting together this press release and sending it out for us. You can reach Vernell via email at pen4hire@bellsouth.net.

NABOURS AND FRIENDS ANNOUNCE BENEFIT FOR PROJECT HEALING WATERS

The fly fishing group Nabours And Friends will hold its first benefit, a concert and fly fishing experience, on April 10-11 at Long Branch Campground near Lancaster, Tennessee on the Caney Fork River.

The event will kick off with a hamburgers and bratwurst dinner followed by a songwriter’s in-the-round concert on Friday evening. The show will feature Pete Huttlinger, Jim McBride and special guests. Huttlinger, an avid fly fisherman, has an album called “Catch & Release.” He wrote the theme song for ESPN's "Fly Fishing America." McBride has had a string of hit country singles including Alan Jackson’s “Chattahoochie” and Waylon Jennings’ “Rose in Paradise.”

On Saturday participants will gather for breakfast before heading out for a day of fly fishing with professional guides and instructors. There will also be a fly tying demonstration and a demonstration on making furled leaders. Later in the day there will be an auction following a dinner of smoked brisket and pork shoulder, beans and cole slaw.

Among the items up for auction will be guided Fly Fishing Trips from TrophyFishingTN.com, Montana Troutaholic Outfitters, Tim's Flies and Flies of Lynchburg, TN, a bamboo fly rod built by Hermitage, TN rod maker Leo deMonbreun with components donated by D. R. Stone Rod Company and T. L. Zietak Rod Company and REC Components; the “Drawing Flies 365” book from Jeff Kennedy Studios; and an autographed guitar from Grammy Award Winning group Kings Of Leon.

The entry fee of $35 includes eligibility for door prizes, among them a new, fully rigged 12' Tandem Ultimate Adventurer NuCanoe from NuCanoe, Rock Creek Boat Works of Deer Lodge, MT, Tim's Flies and Lies of Lynchburg TN, TrophyFishingTn and Montana Troutaholic Outfitters as well as guided Fly Fishing Trips from TrophyFishingTN.com, Montana Troutaholic Outfitters. Other door prizes will include flies and fly tying tools from Montana Fly Company; fly fishing tools from Grasshopper Outdoors, home of the Mono-Master; guided fly fishing trips from TrophyFishingTN, Montana Troutaholic Outfitters, Cumberland Transit, Southeastern Fly and Kootenai River Outfitters.

Nabours and Friends is a group of fly fishing buddies headed by Ron Snow, a Murfreesboro resident who is a fly fishing guide in Montana April through October. The group of fishing aficionados from Middle Tennessee got together and decided to do a benefit to help Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Inc. This organization is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active duty military personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings.

“We plan to invite area veterans to join us for a unique fly fishing experience on the Caney River,” Snow says. “We’re all looking forward to having a fun event while helping further the cause of Project Healing Waters.”

Anyone who has an interest in fly fishing is invited to attend the weekend of festivities. Entry fee is $35.00 per person which includes meals and admission to other activities. Folks who register will also be eligible for door prizes. To pre-register email naboursandfriends@gmail.com with your name, phone number and number in your party.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Inc. is dependent on tax-deductible financial donations and the help of numerous volunteers to meet the educational, training, equipment, transportation and outing needs of the participants. To make a tax deductible contribution to Project Healing Waters, make out checks and mail to: Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc., Post Office Box 695, LaPlata, MD 20646. When making a donation please note NaboursAndFriends in the memo line. Donations can also be made by calling (301)399-7396 and speaking with Sandy at Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Inc. Please mention Nabours And Friends to her when making a donation. Gifts can also be made through PayPal / Visa / Mastercard / Discover / American Express and put Nabours And Friends in the Purpose box. All donations go directly to Project Healing Waters.

For more information contact Ron Snow at (406) 422-2786 or email for more information to naboursandfriends@gmail.com. Check out their blog at http://naboursandfriends.blogspot.com/.

Schedule of Events
Friday April 10
6:30 p.m. -- Gathering at Picnic Shelter, Long Branch Campground
7 p.m. -- Dinner at Picnic Shelter, Long Branch Campground
8:00 p.m. -- Concert at Picnic Shelter, Long Branch Campground

Saturday April 11
9:45 a.m. -- Gathering at Picnic Shelter, Long Branch Campground
10:00 a.m. -- Breakfast at Picnic Shelter, Long Branch Campground
11:00 a.m. -- Fly Fishing Outing on Caney River, Fly Tying Demonstration by Warren Patterson and a Furled Leader Makeing Demo by Jack Hise

4:00 p.m. -- Gather at Picnic Shelter, Long Branch Campground
4:15 p.m. -- Dinner at Picnic Shelter, Long Branch Campground
5:30 p.m. -- Auction Gets Underway at Picnic Shelter, Long Branch Campground

Long Branch Campground is located below Center Hill Dam near Lancaster, Tennessee on the scenic Caney Fork River approximately one hour east of Nashville via I-40. Camping is available on site and there are cabins and hotels in the area.

First Annual Nabours and Friends for PHWFF

We've had much discussion on the possible dates and locations. Here 's the deal!

WHEN: The first annual Nabours and Friends Fund Raiser To Benefit Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Inc. will be held April 10th and 11th, 2009.

WHERE: Long Branch Campground, just below Center Hill Dam on the Caney Fork River in Middle Tennessee. Here is a link to the recreation.gov page for the campground. Long Branch Campground Link. At that link you will find a complete description of the campground, an interactive map as well as driving directions and you can even reserve a campsite while you are there. I have already reserved my campsite for that weekend.

We have also reserved the Pavilion for April 10th, 11th and 12th. I know, the 12th is Easter Sunday. We reserved it anyway in case some folks want to stay over and fish another day or have their Easter gathering there. If anyone is so inclined, we could even have an Easter Service there.

This is a nice facility. I checked it out over the weekend. Includes a really great Pavilion/Picnic Shelter complete with tables. All weather roads, camping sites, restrooms, showers, BBQ grills, play ground for the kids, pet friendly and of course, great fishing.

I should have snapped some photos of the place while I was there, dangit. If any of you have shots or are going to be near there anytime soon and would like to contribute some photos, that would be cool. You can email them to us here at NaboursAndFriends@gmail.com

In Other News: Donations of goods are starting to arrive. Just got some stuff here from GRASSHOPPER OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, Ltd. including some Monomaster Waste Line Holders, fishing hats, Zingers, and a furled leader or two. Nice stuff. Thank you Ian and everyone at Grasshopper Outdoor Products, Ltd.

I also got word that a box full of stuff from Montana Fly Company has arrived. I haven't seen the box yet, but I'll let you know. Duncan and Adam are good guys. thanks to them as well.

OK, that's it for now. Put April 10 and 11 on your calendar, throw the 12th in if you'd like and we'll see you there!

Fly Fishing Fundraisers Drawn In

Nabours And Friends Thank The Man.
Check out the logo at the top of this page.
Nice huh? Yeah, I like it. I like it a lot. This post is a shout out and kudos to The Creator, and to the guy that took an idea and turned it into art, Blake Morgan. Here's the back story.

I'll Show You Some Fly Fishing Art.
I'd say I draw not quite half as well as my 6 year old grandson, Hayden. That would make me not quite as good as my 3 year old granddaughter, Taylor. I would however, say that I am better than my one year old grandson, Brycen. Not much, but I am better than him. I tell you this as a preface to my display of some original artwork of mine. Here was my concept for a logo.

That Will Bring A Tear To A Glass Eye. Once you quit laughing and crying and rolling around on the floor, you can finish reading this post. I know you are rolling on the floor laughing because that's what Hayden did when he first saw the results of my mad art skillz.

Obviously, this wasn't going to fly for a logo. Still, I was trying to get something on paper, or in this case, a computer screen, so I could make an attempt at explaining my thoughts to any artist that might happen along and would be willing to listen. Enter David Perry.

I Know This Guy, That Knows This Guy, That Knows This Fly Fishing Artist Guy. I met David Perry face to face for the first time just the other night at our planning meeting. Prior to that, we knew each other only from a fly fishing forum/internet bulletin board over at TrophyFishingTn. David owns and operates Southeastern Fly Guided Drift Boat Fishing based out of Murfreesboro, TN. He and I had engaged a few emails back and forth prior to the meeting.

In one of those emails he asked if I had a logo yet. Told him I did not and he said he knew of someone that might be able to help. Said the guy he knew did the logo for Calvary Outfitters Fly Fishing Ministry and he might be able to help. His name is Blake Morgan.

By day, Blake works for LifeWay Conference Centers & Camps. By night, and on weekends and any other time he's not otherwise preoccupied, he is active with the Calvary Baptist Church, as much fly fishing as he can get in and a little artwork here and there. David mailed my protoflop to Blake. Blake shook his head from side to side, said a prayer for me, and then he came up with the logo we have now!!

Fly Fishing Fundraiser Sign Of The Times
This is the official thanks post to David for bringing Blake and his talents to the table. To Blake for taking the time to get involved and make a difference, and to The Creator for for bringing it all together. It takes a village to raise a fund, or something like that. We can use all of the help we can get.


NaboursAndFriends thanks you, and I'm sure the folks over at Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Inc. appreciate your efforts as well.

Ron

Let's All Go Down To The River-April 10/11/12

Dates and Location Set
First Annual Nabours And Friends For Project Healing Waters event set for April 10, 11 and 12.

We'll all be gathering at the Long Branch Campground on the Caney Fork for a weekend of fishing, food, music, and fundraising. (Yes, I edited this. It once said Congo Bottoms but that has been changed for a more "in case of bad weather" friendly location. See post here.

We went over a bunch of things at the meeting tonight and I have a lot to sort through that I'll be posting in the coming days. All good stuff.

Thanks to everyone that was able to make the meeting. Also, if you have a minute, please check out the websites of our Sponsors and Donors to the right as a way of saying thanks. We'll be highlighting them all in the coming weeks and telling them thank you often.

Free Beer, and Wings (Meeting Time)

First Pitcher of Beer, and Coke and platter of Wings, is on me.

I finally made it home and got over a pesky little illness, it's time to rock. Same place as before.

Fanatics Sports Grill, Murfreesboro, TN.
Tuesday, February 10th
6:30PM

I'll bring pictures and information of the brand new NuCanoe we'll be donating. I'll also have some details on a guide trip a friend of mine in Montana is donating. It's a day on the Kootenai. Good guy.

We'll also be finalizing the dates and location, probablyl kick around some ideas for a logo, and we'll be volunteering you to head up a committee if you aren't there.

Hope you'll join us.

Meeting Cancelled. Weather in Ohio.

I'm sitting here, stuck in the Cincy airport so tonight's prelim meeting is canceled. Sorry about the confusion and hassle. How was I to know there would be more snow here this afternoon than there was in Butte, MT when I took off this morning?

Keep your ears to the tracks. A reschedule is coming soon.

Thanks,

Ron