Hey!

[TheAppalachianAngler]

Redoing the cork and reel seat because you don't like it or redoing it because the cork is going bad? The 668 sounds like a lot of fun. I'd make that into a summertime popper rod for ponds.

You should try an Epic at some point man, they seem to be "the name" in glass and I think they are better than what Orvis puts out but I have yet to play around with an old SFG. I had a Superfine Carbon 3wt 6'6" that felt like a broomstick so I traded it. Cork wasn't so nice but the rod looked cool with its un-sanded gray blank.

I dislike how it feels in my hand though I love the feel of the blank. I'm also not a fan of uplocking reel seats. In my hands, at times I get the line caught in the over hang. Something in my mechanics. I much prefer a more straight cork slightly taped down to the reel seat and a down locking or pocket cap reel seat to the rear of the rod.


It's a preference thing in feel along with my natural casting mechanics.

I have held an epic, they are nice, but the one I tried was faster than the current rod Iam discussing. My casting stroke is a bit slower naturally than those blanks but faster than say a Fenwick.

 

[TheAppalachianAngler]

I dislike how it feels in my hand though I love the feel of the blank. I'm also not a fan of uplocking reel seats. In my hands, at times I get the line caught in the over hang. Something in my mechanics. I much prefer a more straight cork slightly taped down to the reel seat and a down locking or pocket cap reel seat to the rear of the rod.


It's a preference thing in feel along with my natural casting mechanics.

I have held an epic, they are nice, but the one I tried was faster than the current rod Iam discussing. My casting stroke is a bit slower naturally than those blanks but faster than say a Fenwick.

IMO a reel seat change and a cork change will likely make this rod feel like an extension of my arm.
I don't know if you know what I mean but through my years I have found certain rods that feel that way to me.


I love the blank , like I said but feel it can be improved for my hands. I decided last night I'll be redoing it, easy enough for me, I have done this many times, I went with a Ray Lee real seat and I'll turn myself a torpedo grip

 

[falcon]

With a downlocking seat a mounted reel can extend beyond the seat and lead to reel rash when setting the rod down.

 

[TheAppalachianAngler]

With a downlocking seat a mounted reel can extend beyond the seat and lead to reel rash when setting the rod down.

Absolutely can. I never understood why people put a rod down on anything but soft ground.

But between the line , very occasionally, getting caught at the end and the balance point of the reel being higher up the blank, I'd rather just place the rod down on soft ground.

 

[Silent Ocelot]

Yes, @TheAppalachianAngler, I can fully understand your wanting of certain grip and reel seat components to make the rod more pleasurable for you. I don't think I have gotten to that level yet with what I like in a rod although I find the snub nosed half wells grips present on the majority of modern rods to be getting a little repetitive. I like an over-sized cigar grip, just seems to fit my hands better. I recently bought a custom 2wt 8ft (guy claimed it was his best rod) (I believed it and still hold the rod in high regard) that had a larger style cigar grip on it so I really liked casted it, which resulted in an ATM withdrawal. My Epic has a similar grip to this 2wt.

I think My H3 grips are too small on 5wt+ rods. Same with my Hardy 6wt. Now, you've got me questioning how much more enjoyment I'd get if I had a grip I liked more on them.

As for up-locking or down-locking reels seats I don't think I care too much which one it is. My Winston LT has a reel seat that is small so I have to angle my reel seat foot before I insert it and force it in a bit, a bit scary considering the insert on that rod is scrimshaw.

Totally agree with laying rods down on soft ground. On my cheaper rigs I tend to be a little less careful about where they get placed. One pet peeve I have is with people who scuff the s*** out of there end plates by assembling their rods on rocks. Close to three months back I bought a rod where the butt plate was so scuffed it looked like the previous owner used the handle portion of the fly rod as a wading staff.

 

[TheAppalachianAngler]

Yes, @TheAppalachianAngler, I can fully understand your wanting of certain grip and reel seat components to make the rod more pleasurable for you. I don't think I have gotten to that level yet with what I like in a rod although I find the snub nosed half wells grips present on the majority of modern rods to be getting a little repetitive. I like an over-sized cigar grip, just seems to fit my hands better. I recently bought a custom 2wt 8ft (guy claimed it was his best rod) (I believed it and still hold the rod in high regard) that had a larger style cigar grip on it so I really liked casted it, which resulted in an ATM withdrawal. My Epic has a similar grip to this 2wt.

I think My H3 grips are too small on 5wt+ rods. Same with my Hardy 6wt. Now, you've got me questioning how much more enjoyment I'd get if I had a grip I liked more on them.

As for up-locking or down-locking reels seats I don't think I care too much which one it is. My Winston LT has a reel seat that is small so I have to angle my reel seat foot before I insert it and force it in a bit, a bit scary considering the insert on that rod is scrimshaw.

Totally agree with laying rods down on soft ground. On my cheaper rigs I tend to be a little less careful about where they get placed. One pet peeve I have is with people who scuff the s*** out of there end plates by assembling their rods on rocks. Close to three months back I bought a rod where the butt plate was so scuffed it looked like the previous owner used the handle portion of the fly rod as a wading staff.

I'm putting the finishing touches on the Superfine tonight.
It came out really sweet, my kids enjoyed sanding/ turning down the cork.

The reel seat on this thing is just lights out beautiful. RL Reel Seats are just some of the coolest and stunning custom reel seats on the market IMO.

I'll post a few before and after pics tomorrow when it's finished.


You should try tinkering around with some cheap rods. After a bit you'll get comfortable attempting a project that could ruin a rod 😂 As you said, you might just realize how much more you'll like a rod currently own if you customize to your liking.

 

[TheAppalachianAngler]

Redoing the cork and reel seat because you don't like it or redoing it because the cork is going bad? The 668 sounds like a lot of fun. I'd make that into a summertime popper rod for ponds.

You should try an Epic at some point man, they seem to be "the name" in glass and I think they are better than what Orvis puts out but I have yet to play around with an old SFG. I had a Superfine Carbon 3wt 6'6" that felt like a broomstick so I traded it. Cork wasn't so nice but the rod looked cool with its un-sanded gray blank.

Here is before and after pics.

Before: I absolutely hate this style cork and the reel seat.

 

[TheAppalachianAngler]

Here is before and after pics.

Before: I absolutely hate this style cork and the reel seat.View attachment 1641231747

What it looks like now:
I tried to capture the reel seat colors of the dyed maple burl but kind of failed. It's beautiful in layered colors but it's based olive matches the rod nicely. I also prefer the cap and ring down configuration. The cork is a torpedo style I taped down to even with the reel seat. It's 6.5" long so slightly larger than the previous. It fits my hand better. I also added a rubber winding check that got Perma glossed 4 times. The original thread over the cork is coming out of the winding check. This made it shine nice and sealed all the minor cracks or gaps between the original thread work winding check and the new cork/ rubber winding check

Nothing else on the rod changed. It added a little more weight but nothing hateful.
I was casting it today and it feels much much better to me.

 

[TheAppalachianAngler]

Here's some better pics of the reel seat before installing

 

[f2892704]

Hello from Colorado