I am thinking about inlaying a golden pheasent feather into my rod...Does anyone know how this looks? What are some good techniques for inlaying feathers in general

Bye the way Mr. Kirkman when will you have the Inlay issue of rodmaker ready?? I want a copy of it

Use 70% water, 30% CP (make sure it is a kind that can be thinned with water, like brilliance). Wet surface, take tweezers and position feather. Work the feather into position with a brush, keep it wet but not running off the blank wet. Let dry 24hours. Coat with finish.
You can inlay directly onto the blank, on an underwrap of thread (black is a favorite, consider silk too for less build and good "melding" properties), or do underwrap of thread, put light coat of finish, then inlay. Just be sure if you use it directly on an underwrap of thread that you coat the entire underwrap with CP too, or you will end up with blotchy CP'd and non-CP'd underwrap.
Once feather is position, be sure and remove any excess mixture to prevent milkyness from occuring.