Custom Rod Builds (Post your own personal builds)
- Thread starter FlyHunt
- Start date
I feel this in my soul hahah and on top of that fly fishing isn't the cheapest lifestyle/ hobby
hmmm, i am out in the boonies, but the new zealand rod company whose name is escaping me, might have one. i have a 8" 10 wt kit still hanging around.
Fly fishing is the cheapest part of my hobby. My gear fishing habit is far, far more expensive
A one pc 9’ 6 wt would be nice. I have two rods right now that seem to like to launch the tip section off, even after constantly checking it.
SF
SF
You can buy some wax that helps them grip or even just the thinnest amount of tape!A one pc 9’ 6 wt would be nice. I have two rods right now that seem to like to launch the tip section off, even after constantly checking it.
SF
That is gorgeous! love the feather! Do you do your own cork also?
I have been building my own rods for 58 years, and have exactly zero factory rods in my substantial inventory! For fly rods, I tend to be more of a purist, minimal decorations. I will use trim bands, both at the guide wraps and as measuring points in the butt, but no other decorative wraps - I leave those for the spinning and casting rods.
One thing I have learned, regarding fly rods, is the choice in guides matters! I will now only use Snake Brand guides, primarily in their E-Coat version. Best I've seen, and they have a new single-foot series that boggles the mind! It has a patented micro-weld that completes the loop (which is perfectly round!) They also have 4 different sizes of reel seats with wood inserts from more different tree varieties then I can easily remember! My favorites are the Spalted Alder and California Buckeye.
I have been in the Snake Brand shop in Battleground many times, as I live nearby in Vancouver, and the owner, Mike McCoy, is not only a gentleman and a friend, he also supports local fly clubs and routinely assists groups supporting Cancer Recovery supplying boxes of hand-tied flies for each participant! He's an amazing man and I am proud to be his friend, and no, I don't work for him, I just believe in him and his products. Side Note: A few years ago, Scott Rods asked Mike to develop a rod for an annual Long Cast competition. Mike developed a 16-guide train and built the 9'6" 5-wt single-hand rod and they cast an insane distance! Something like 165'! I have since incorporated a modified version of Mike's guide train, routinely putting 12 or 13 guides on a 9' rod. The added guides more efficiently utilizes the entire blank, both in casting and fighting fish!
My favorite blanks have changed over the years, beginning with a graphite Fenwick blank back in the late '60s and now lean towards the NFC blanks. I have recently finished a 5-wt on the NFC Gamma Beta blank and will get to use it on a trip to the Stehekin Wilderness in early October. I have also had great success with a budget option, the Arctos Series from Pacific Bay. As a higher modulus blank, they are very responsive and fish much higher than their price point!
I don't have many pictures of my rods, as I do not build as a business, just as a hobby and passion. While I do occasionally sell rods and build on commission and for friends, my focus is more on teaching kids how to make their own rods and experimenting to develop purpose-specific rods. I am currently learning how to do the Tiger Wrap and have a few good examples, but as yet, more failures than successes!
Rich
One thing I have learned, regarding fly rods, is the choice in guides matters! I will now only use Snake Brand guides, primarily in their E-Coat version. Best I've seen, and they have a new single-foot series that boggles the mind! It has a patented micro-weld that completes the loop (which is perfectly round!) They also have 4 different sizes of reel seats with wood inserts from more different tree varieties then I can easily remember! My favorites are the Spalted Alder and California Buckeye.
I have been in the Snake Brand shop in Battleground many times, as I live nearby in Vancouver, and the owner, Mike McCoy, is not only a gentleman and a friend, he also supports local fly clubs and routinely assists groups supporting Cancer Recovery supplying boxes of hand-tied flies for each participant! He's an amazing man and I am proud to be his friend, and no, I don't work for him, I just believe in him and his products. Side Note: A few years ago, Scott Rods asked Mike to develop a rod for an annual Long Cast competition. Mike developed a 16-guide train and built the 9'6" 5-wt single-hand rod and they cast an insane distance! Something like 165'! I have since incorporated a modified version of Mike's guide train, routinely putting 12 or 13 guides on a 9' rod. The added guides more efficiently utilizes the entire blank, both in casting and fighting fish!
My favorite blanks have changed over the years, beginning with a graphite Fenwick blank back in the late '60s and now lean towards the NFC blanks. I have recently finished a 5-wt on the NFC Gamma Beta blank and will get to use it on a trip to the Stehekin Wilderness in early October. I have also had great success with a budget option, the Arctos Series from Pacific Bay. As a higher modulus blank, they are very responsive and fish much higher than their price point!
I don't have many pictures of my rods, as I do not build as a business, just as a hobby and passion. While I do occasionally sell rods and build on commission and for friends, my focus is more on teaching kids how to make their own rods and experimenting to develop purpose-specific rods. I am currently learning how to do the Tiger Wrap and have a few good examples, but as yet, more failures than successes!
Rich
Not only do they have a substantial catalog, they will also custom create one to your specs! Contact Herb Ladenheim, he is their US rep.
That is awesome to hear. I have used mainly just the ALPS guides but that is just do to convenience on my ability to get them, but it is awesome to hear more about the Snake Guides brand. I will have to try them! I always see them online and had no idea they were out of battleground! Thanks for the info! I appreciate it, will give me some new guides to look at and play around with! As far as reel seats go, I again just do to convenience use a lot of alps, but I have been getting a few more lemke reel seats which feel awesome and high quality! I did try a storable one also, which I loved! Just very sleek! @TroutStyx when you're buying your guides and components do you go straight to Snake Guies or do you use another site? Thanks again for your info!
Woop Woop! That is awesome!So I ordered me an 8' 12wt glass blank
Paige
Wishing I was fishing the Sauk
Yes I turn my own grips, yep color preserver is what I use, some feathers do what their told and others will fight you till the end lol
Paige
Wishing I was fishing the Sauk
I appreciate the tip! Thank you! Yeah The ones on the rods I posted above I color preserved then had to wrap over it and let it sit for a day, then removed the thread wrap and it stayed pretty flat!
Oh come on! Have you ever been to a restaurant? With a menu of food choices? I bet you picked one and didn't go hungry. Same with rod blanks and components. It ain't rocket science.