How Fly Rods Are Developed, with Shawn Combs

This week, my guest is Orvis rod designer and my fishing buddy Shawn Combs [14:05], who uses the new Helios rods as an example of how a new rod series is developed.  What kind of input goes into a new rod design?  Why do we keep making new rod series?  How are they tested?  How many prototypes of a new rod are built before we decide on the final model?   The Fly Box is short this week because I've caught up with questions and am doing this before I leave for a couple weeks.  But they're good ones, including:

• Do I need to set the hook in a different manner with a glass fly rod?
• Is there something about the new Helios rods that is not covered on the web site and catalog copy?
• Is there a place where I can still pick up a Helios 3 rod?
• I am going to Cozumel and will be wade fishing from the beach.  What should I know in advance?
• A listener gives some great tips on fly fishing for trout in Missouri