New Rod.....

[wsender]

So I'm going to build a rod over the winter. My first one, I'm pumped! :hammer: So I have some questions that I'm hoping the knowledge well can answer. Let me give you some background information that is probably pertinent to my situation. I want a med/slow rod. I have 6wt 8'6'' and an 8wt 9'0''. So now to the questions....

-The actual building process: Does anyone know of a good comprehensive, dumb-as-sh*t, guide to rod building? Many people have said 'google this that and the other' but I generally find conflicting information. So if someone has a guide that they know of, or could recommend, I'd appreciate it,

-The blanks: I'm looking to use the St. Croix SCIII rod blanks since it's available in a myriad of sizes and weights and is a slower rod. Is St. Croix a good first rod? Is any one company better than the other in terms of beginner building?

-Weight: I was thinking a 3wt. I can be talked out of this. I have 6wt which I love for more open waters like the Delaware and Salmon River(and for those who haven't fished the Salmon in the summer for trout, you're missing out, did I just spot burn, god damnit). I want something lighter for some of the small streams in the area. Is 3wt too light? Should I bump it up to a 4wt?

-Length: Since this is a small stream rod, I was thinking small. Maybe something in the neighborhood of 7'-7'6''. Too short?

Tear me apart guys!

 

[jayL]

I hate to give you more of what you said you didn't want, but if you search for rod building on this forum, you'll find a few threads with tons of recommended books and links.

I built one a few years ago, and chronicled the whole ordeal.

 

[gfen]

10' 1wt!

No, seriously... i got nothing to add on building, but the thing I can suggest is that if you've got 8 and 6 then the general thought is you keep going in steps of 2, so its 4wt next.

4wt is a good trout rod, for PA, and I'm sure NY too. I've found my 8' 4wt rod to be just about a perfect compromise for everything I want to do in PA trout streams, and the water I fished in NY (the NYC drinking water resevoir tailwaters a bunch of times).

My "short" rod is 6'6", and I never use it. My lightest rod is 7'6", and I wish it were longer. I just purchased a 9' 3wt rod to make up the difference.

Enjoy.

 

[Slate_Drake_9]

Go here:

http://www.rodbuildingforum.com/

If it ain't on that site and someone on that site can't answer it, there's no sense in asking the question.

 

[brain]

i'm also working on my first.
st.croixs are good rods. i've been using store boughts for some time. so i went with one of their blanks....a 9' 5wt using their scIV/II blank.
i found a book entitled fly rod building made easy, by art scheck to be fairly useful.....it can be found at mudhole.com.
youtube has many videos on the subject as well.

i was just messing around with the tiptop wrap this evening....i need fewer, smaller thumbs.......

 

[MKern]

If you can put into action what a what a book suggest that's awesome. I needed someone there to guide me.

You could take a class which is a little extra cost, but you know you'll get the job done right.

You could also pursuade a buddy that builds rods to help you.

I love St. Croix and have build like 7 SCIII's (4 of which I still own because of their quality).