I just finished this rod and it should be a great panfish/bass rod. Steve, this Rod should be right up your alley. I used all single foot Fuji Alconites and a PacBay graphite seat w/ cork insert. Rod casts very sweet with a wf5 line and I'm also going to try a wf6 on it for close in work. Steve, we've talked about overlining for that sweet glasslike action on here before and I thought I'd share a few pics with you. They are in my gallery, loudog99. This should be a great rod, functionally superior due to the choice of components based on function not fashion.

Lou

Good morning brother Lou. I have the 764-5pc. from Forecast and have it built almost exactly the way you have built yours. Single foot ceramics, Fuji DPS 16 black skeleton with wood insert (wish I'd used cork as you have). I fish it mostly with a 5 or 6 line for that Orvis Far and Fine feel without the unpleasant assault on the wallet. I built the 764-4 for somebody and it seemed almost identical to the 5pc. version in power and action. Great little rods and the price makes it possible to try all kinds of new and experimental stuff and not cut into the grocery budget too much.

Thanks for the tip on the Jann's all cork ultralight fly handle. You are right - darn nice quality for the money. Can't buy just the cork grip most places for the price of these entire handle kits.

Keep enjoying those overloaded rods man!

Steve

Steve,

That five piece sounds good too. Glad you tried the Janns grip. What are you gonna use for the butt cap, plate, etc. On the last one I used, i took the butt plate from a PacBay machined reel seat and used that. Worked well.

I'll let you know how this rod fishes after I get it on the water.

Tight lines.

Lou

I am going to fish it as is, without a butt cap and the hole plugged with cork and wood filler (Elmers golden oak). Gonna seal the entire handle and seat with Cork Seal. If it wears out, I'll probably lop off the butt 1/2" and shape a flared butt end out of rubberized cork or Andy Dear's new exotic burl. REC sells butt plates too which is another option.

Enjoy your F764-4. I posted CC date for your rod blank and a whole bunch of F764-5s and you can see from the numbers why the two models feel pretty much the same. All the ones I've tested have come in around 3.5-4.0 for ERN and 58-61 or so on AA. Pretty good quality control for such an inexpensive blank I think.

Steve

Steve and Lou,

I built one of these two years ago for a kick around 'keep in the truck' rod. I used a plain fuji seat, with blue (zirconia?) insert guides. Looks real nice, casts like a dream with a 5 wt.

Turned into one of my favorite rods. With a 5 wt. line it handles everything I've asked it to do. Great value.

Buddy

Right on Buddy, couldn't agree more. I love this hobby and it's pretty darn cool when you stumble onto a $50 project that provides so much satisfaction.

I also like those Jann's all cork handles/seats. I put one on a Pac-Bay 6 ft 6 in 2 piece 2 weight a while back. I couldn't decide what to put on for a butt plate. Thought about just corking it up and, then one night I remembered having some old monogramed cuff links that were round. I went in and finally found them and went down and measured them on the butt of the rod. They were a perfect match so next day I cut the clip off with a Dremel tool and epoxied the cuff link on the butt. Looks pretty snazy and made a truly customized look with the monogramed initials. Still have one more for another rod.

Dave