Denim, Diamonds & Rainbows

These three words can conjure up a myriad of images depending on one’s perspective, point of view, lifestyle, vocation, or even hobbies.

Images such as – Blue jeans, baseball and leprechauns.

Or Blue jeans, jewelry and a pot of gold. 

Or Blue jeans, running boards and racing stripes.

Diamond running boards

Rainbow Racing Stripes

For me it’s blue jeans that I wear when fishing, fishing and trout. 

Diamonds and fishing – how you may ask – easy – wedding ring spinners for rainbow trout studded with diamonds (no – not real),

Wedding ring spinners - note the ring of diamonds in the center of each one

Classic Dardevle Spoons with a diamond pattern for bass and pike and trout,

Diamonds on the right and the classic on the left that has caught countless rainbows - of the steelhead variety!

Diamond jigs for striped bass and blue fish,

Just one of many styles of diamond jig - a saltwater staple

diamond sharpening stones for fillet knives and hooks, and much more.

OK, so I’m stuck for something other than blue jeans when I hear the word denim, but my youngest daughter Meghan hears “denim” and she immediately thinks “Fashion” - and Blue Jeans definitely qualify as fashion. 

Ditto Jeans Skinny

Diamonds would definitely relate to jewelry for Meghan, but rainbows, that’s a tough one. I’d like to think she’d remember the brilliant rainbows we saw when we lived in Oregon. 

We could drive along the Willamette River and see sun in the rear view mirror and storm clouds ahead that provided a dramatic backdrop for double and triple rainbows that covered the color spectrum and actually stayed just ahead of us for miles touching down on both sides of the river.  

Willamette River Rainbow, Portland, Oregon

We would even see rainbows in the spray kicked up by the cars in front of us, and in the mist generated by Willamette Falls.  

Willamette Falls rainbow

However, Meghan would probably think of her Rainbow Brite doll first.

Rainbow Brite

But – I’m hoping that now when she hears 

Denim, Diamonds and Rainbows 

she thinks of the fly rod I made for her and our fishing trip to Bennett Spring State Park, MO.

Meghan's denim blue rod with diamond wrap

The rod blank is an indigo blue with a soft luster reminiscent of denim.  I built her rod with a diamond wrap, and her first fish was a beautiful rainbow trout caught at Bennett Spring State Park in Missouri this past September.

Here are a few photos of Meghan’s rod as I was building it and one of the many rainbows she caught.

Christmas 2013 - I think she likes it - she's taking it's picture

Which Burled Rosewood reel seat will she select?

Thread selection is next, shown with gunsmoke stainless guide set.

Step one - epoxy the reel seat and handle to the rod blank in my hand-made handle jig

Base wrap

Crude but effective wrap sizing guide

One side of one guide complete - many to go.

Finishing the diamond butt wrap

Rods on the drying rack - Meghan's on the left her Mom's on the right.

It works!  Meghan with her new rod fast into a rainbow at Bennett Spring, MO (Wearing blue jeans BTW).

Rod tip high - no slack line!

Success!

So, whatever images Denim, Diamonds and Rainbows conjure up for you – 

for me, 

it will always be my little Meghan at 

Bennett Spring 

catching rainbows.

See you on the Water!

Dave