I am looking for a butt cap for a spey rod. The only ones I could find were listed on Anglers Workshop and Mudhole. Any ideas out there where else I could look? I am looking for something made out of nickel silver or aluminum with a nice hard rubber button.

Thanks,
Doug

Hi Doug,

Remember, the butt cap on a spey rod is functional first and appearance second. You need a substantial end to grab during the cast. The rubber mushroom caps are the easiest, but least attractive. Check out Bob Meiser's renditions of formed cork butts. [www.meiserflyrods.com]
American Tackle's wood/cork combos could make a nice butt cap section for a spey rod as well. Available at Mud Hole and other fine sponsors on the left.

Good luck.

Terry

I've always wondered the British traditional style butt caps for double handed rods - do the lads fish during cold weather at all.? What I meen is that those metal caps must be quite uncomfortable to use when it's cold. Atleast I would not enjoy having cold metal against my lower hand. The thing with the metal caps could be that the traditional grip with the lower hand is taken actually above the metal cap thus the cap is really just a decorative and balancing component - well ofcourse it secures one's grip from slipping but still.

IMHO better than the traditional option is a butt made of EVA, rubber cork etc. It is much more comfortable to hold. If you use any of the more modern casting styles like the underhand and Skagit you'll appreciate a properly shaped butt. The shape can be something between a paron and a mushroom. E.g. Guideline and Loop has nice butts it their rods and the new TCR's are equipped with very nice chubby butts. :D

Just my hopefully practical two cents. ;)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/05/2005 07:28AM by Mikko Stenberg.

I made one a while back out of a 1.25 inch wooden bead. I glued a dowel in the hole through the middle, sanded one side of the dowel level with the wooden bead, and left the other end (about three inches long) sticking out of the bead. I fit the "stick" into the butt of the rod blank and snugged the bead up to the cork on the grip below the reel seat.

It actually looks OK. We'll see how it holds up under use this year.

Joe Douglas