Thank you Tom K. for confirming what I was taught a long time ago.

I just read the Q&A section of RM (vol #8 #4). I learned almost 20yrs.
ago that a rod blank dosn't know or care what type of components
one mounts to it. It is what it is and one can utilize it's strengths and or
weeknesses however they please.

Now please excuse this not so short rant!

I had not been involved in rod building for many years and obviously
many changes in componants, blanks, materials, methods, etc. have
taken place. (as well as minds & opinions)

After I re-introduced myself to rodbuilding I had heard other builders
express the opinon that it is folly to build a fly rod from a non-flyrod blank
and vise versa. Then I here of some builders in Washington State who
are building spinning rods using flyrod blanks and thier clients are raving
about them! I came up with the idea (and thought I was the first !) of building
a spin/fly rod combination and no sooner than I let some know of my idea
and was looking for info, the laughter started and I almost felt stupid! Then
I saw an add in Cabellas for a rod of that very type! ( bummer, I wasn't the first
after all )

Some of the opinions I was hearing (not necessarily on this board) about rod design & construction, added to my confusion and had me thinking that my "old school"
facts were not as true as I once thought. Then I received some answers to my questions
from the users of this forum and got more opinions from here as well.
To make a long story short. I finally built that spin/fly combo and am fairly happy
with it ( would change the guides used if I were to build another one)
Then thanks to this board I here about the CCS aricles and thanks to the CCS, the proporties of any rod blank can be determined accurately and quickly enabling the builder to create a truly unique rod for their client regardless of the "manufactors specs."

Fact!! not fiction!!!

Sorry for the rant but with the differing opinions and unsubstantiated facts being
spewed around about building rods can even confuse someone who has more
than a little experience.
Thanks for RMM this board and all who support it! It's time for bed now!


Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

Raymond, In your post, you mentioned a rod available at cabela's. I have a rod made for Bass Pro that I'm sure is on a fly blank . It is a 8 1/2' micro Lite. It doesn't use both the fly and spin reels but the fly type blank action is there. Which Cabela's rod were you refering to? I want to build a fly spin hybrid this winter and will be at Cabela's next week. I would like to look it over. I have yet to build my first rod, but seems to me that one is limited only by ones imagination and a little common sense. Ok, in some cases a lot of common sense. Mike

Michael,
Look for the "THX" chuck & duck

Good luck

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

Michael, I've made several fly/spin combination rods. What wt., action, and length fly rod do you want, first off? Then what grip setup do you want to use for the combo? Email me at '[email protected]', the earthlink address has so much security stuff on it I've not got it to cooperate. I can tell you what works for me. Ralph

If at first you don't succeed, go fishing, then try, try again.

Hey Ralph, I'm interested in how you set up your spin / fly combo. Can you share? Thanks, E...

Raymond, I have built many spinning rods from fly blanks over the years. I like the parabolic curve all the way to the butt that you get with a fly blank. The only thing to keep in mind is that some manufacturers will not honor the warranty if a fly blank is built up as a spinning or casting rod. I can't recall which manufacturers state that, but I did see that disclaimer in the past. Have fun

Jeff Hunter

Jeff,
Other than using the CCS system. What is the best way to determin the "mono" line rating and lure wt. for a
flyrod blank when building a spinning or casting with it?

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

Make the line rating number a numerator, and use 16 for the demonator. That will give you, in ounces, the approximate casting weight range. But keep in mind that fly rod ratings are very subjective and not based on any standard, so this won't always put you right on the money.

...........

this is going way way back n memory for me. Point is I don't remember the issue of Consumer Reports but they did a report on fly rods and spin rods. Approximately 35 years ago I bought a Garcia Conolon 4 star combination spinrod/fly rod, 4 piece or 5 piece back pack rod. Still have it. So.....the idea of a spin/fly rod not very new. Not to pop a bubble...just fyi. Also Eagle Claw used to sell a combo fly/spin rod.

Gem