Rod Build Thread

[6xAdams(Jones)]

Finished the first rod for a "non-family" member on my homemade varnishing bench. Having an armrest for the whole rod length made a world of difference.

 

[Vtsalmon]

Finished the first rod for a "non-family" member on my homemade varnishing bench. Having an armrest for the whole rod length made a world of difference.

The rod looks great

 

[Tfhough]

An experiment right out of the Clemens book I always wanted to try... A 6' 8" 8 piece #2. Made from 2 cheap, identical, 6.5' 4 piece #2/3 blanks, one for the rod itself and one for the spigot ferrules. It packs into a 14" graphite tube. Teamed with a cheap, tiny reel and a small assortment of flies, it takes up little luggage space. Perfect for me, someone who rarely vacations with another angler.

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

An experiment right out of the Clemens book I always wanted to try... A 6' 8" 8 piece #2. Made from 2 cheap, identical, 6.5' 4 piece #2/3 blanks, one for the rod itself and one for the spigot ferrules. It packs into a 14" graphite tube. Teamed with a cheap, tiny reel and a small assortment of flies, it takes up little luggage space. Perfect for me, someone who rarely vacations with another angler.

Now that Ron Popiel is no longer with us, you can market this as the next "Pocket (Fly) Fisherman."
Love the single foot guides, multi-color wraps, and the twill pattern on the blanks. That blank looks nearly identical to a couple of 2-weights I made last winter. Were yours purchased from an outfit in PA?

 

[bigjohn358]

An experiment right out of the Clemens book I always wanted to try... A 6' 8" 8 piece #2. Made from 2 cheap, identical, 6.5' 4 piece #2/3 blanks, one for the rod itself and one for the spigot ferrules. It packs into a 14" graphite tube. Teamed with a cheap, tiny reel and a small assortment of flies, it takes up little luggage space. Perfect for me, someone who rarely vacations with another angler.View attachment 1641240272View attachment 1641240274View attachment 1641240275View attachment 1641240280

I like that color scheme! Turned out nice!

 

[Vtsalmon]

Tfhough it Looks great ? How does it cast?

 

[Tfhough]

Tfhough it Looks great ? How does it cast?

The blanks were rated as 2-3wt. I was hoping for deep bending, slow blanks because I knew all those spigots would stiffen things up. I also used heavier spin guides to hopefully add some weight, especially to the tip, to fight the stiffness. It worked! The spigots are uneven in length, but everything fits and I lawn cast it when done, settling on a WF-2. We'll see what the real verdict is when I get it on the water.

 

[Tfhough]

Now that Ron Popiel is no longer with us, you can market this as the next "Pocket (Fly) Fisherman."
Love the single foot guides, multi-color wraps, and the twill pattern on the blanks. That blank looks nearly identical to a couple of 2-weights I made last winter. Were yours purchased from an outfit in PA?

No, they were Chinese and as cheap as I could get them. If the whole experiment was a " learning experience", I didn't want it to be an expensive one.
Gray Wolf offers their truly professional version of this. They are beauties compared to my diy effort. For me, it was, "can I pull it off"? And "what did I learn"?

 

[Tfhough]

I like that color scheme! Turned out nice!

Thanks. It looks better in pictures. Kinda Frankenstein in person. The metallic wraps at the ferrules was a bit of a nod to "blued" metal ferrules. I took the term literally and liked the looks of the three threads. They match the reel seat acrylic colors.