Trailblazer: The Ultimate Bikefishing Fly Rod

 

Essentially, I consider the summer of 2024 to have been lost. Having been at my current job for over five years, I was looking forward to the extra week of vacation that longevity provides, as well as no surgeries or recoveries to deal with. However, due to big changes in our department, I was only able to get out camping one night during the entire summer. (Normally, we go up to Beaver Lake almost every other weekend.) So, when my birthday rolled around on the last day of summer in September, we rented a cabin in the Chippewas National Forest just north of one of my favorite backcountry bikefishing locations, Suomi Hills Semi-primitive Non-motorized Area. It would be my first chance to really test my newest flyfishing rod, the Trailblazer from Redington Gear. I had tried it out once or twice, but this would be the first opportunity to use it as it was meant to be used.

Probably my only complaint, and it’s a minor one considering how well the Trailblazer performs, is the garish red color of both the case and the rod itself. Other than that, I can find truly little to gripe about. As I’ve written here previously, most of my bikefishing adventures are done with Tenkara setups. I’ve tried my two 7’6” rods and reels (one of which is also a Redington) but wasn’t pleased with the results. The tube for the Trailblazer is only an inch and a half longer than my Badger Tenkara/TAO U. N. C. Rod, so it fits very nicely on the side of my fishing pack, or alternately, on the Blackburn Outpost cage on my bike’s front fork.

The day we went into Suomi Hills, my birthday, was extremely windy even in the interior. I could barely get the dry fly on my Tenkara onto the water because of the wind, so my expectations for the Trailblazer were fairly low. I was fairly surprised. Using a five weight SA line with a 10-foot 3X leader, taking the wind into account I was able to drop a #16 Copper John pretty much wherever I wanted it. Unfortunately, the fish weren’t cooperating. I had one light strike but didn’t bring anything home. Usually, we pull at least a couple of smallies, perch, or bluegills out of that lake. I was fishing from a USFS dispersed campsite, and we’re already making plans to return for a couple of nights next summer. There is a ridge between the lake and Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway, so the site is serenely quiet except for the wind in the pines and the loons on the lake. The Trailblazer will be my rod of choice when we do.

So, even though I didn’t catch any fish with it, I am extremely pleased with my Redington Trailblazer 590-6 fly rod, particularly in my application which is primarily bikefishing. It handles very well, casts like a dream, putting the fly where I wanted even in 15 mph winds. If you access the backcountry on a mountain bike, like I do, or backpacking, the Trailblazer is perfect. It comes in two lengths, 9 feet like mine, or 7 feet, 6 inches, and both lengths break down into six pieces which fit nicely in their own bright red and yellow padded carrying tube. The tube lashes to the side of a pack, the top tube or downtube of a mountain bike, or the cargo rack on any bicycle. Add a reel (I use a Redington I. D.) and a selection of flies, and you’re good to go. You can find more information at: 

TRAILBLAZER Fly Fishing Rod 5 Weight, 9ft 6in | Redington (farbank.com)

together with a really cool video that ties Albert Einstein into flyfishing: 

https://youtu.be/COlnyamFIkw?si=VMT0-bI8cxd5juFe

I only have one other minor issue with Redington. I wish they would bring back the “good” decals for the I. D. Reel.

Until next time, tight lines!