alright christmas is over how many of you are building a rod at this time.i started on a 6'9" 5wt fly rod ,have the reel seat on ,grips shaped.,a 5" yellow underwrap with a feather inlay consisting of grey phesant,and jungle cock feathers trimmed in metallic green.the butt wrap is drying as i type.

Was I supposed to stop during Christmas? Rats! Did Christmas happen already? Shorter, non-smart alecky answer -- Yes, two of them today 7' medium weight salt water spinning rods on PacBay 2XGSSP70M PBX-II rod blanks and one yesterday a 6' 20lb class trolling rod built on a CalStar rodblank with 19" Stuart Tuff butt assembly & a mixture of All American roller guide for the first quide and American Tackle black/gold boat rod guides to finish it off. All three are turning now (I'm sitting here listening to the motors happily churn away)

Today I selected from two reel seat inserts I have for a U24 Struble reel seat. The blank is a Rainshadow RX8+, 905-4. Guides will be Fuji Titanium SIC's, first rod that I've done with single foot guides in many years. And the thread colors will be determined after some test wraps are wrapped and coated tonight or tomorrow.

Jeff Shafer

I started my first Dan Craft rod today. #3 pc 1 wt. Took a big step for me and cut up the handle I had for it and put in some (my first) burl cork rings I cut them in half first and sanded them flush. Took some help/suggestions from Putter and cut out some foam rings (Blac& Gold) and have butted them between the burl. I am doing this with hand tools. I have 5 hours in the handle already. I just finished rod bonding it in my clamp. I look forward to shaping and sanding it down to the final product. I plan to do some more advanced (for me) feather inlay work with this rod. I've got some time right now and am looking forward to improving my skills and product due to this board and Tom's book. Plan to order a subscription of Rod Maker tomorrow. Thanks Steve

I'm still waiting blanks I ordered to me and my friends (going to run beginners rod building course at our flyfishing club's evenings). Total amount of blanks were over 20 :)

Looking forward to get them and start building.........

current queue:

10'0" 7wt DC Sig V (just awaiting a tiptop!)
8'4" 4wt DC Sig V (same as above)
6'10" 1wt DC Sig III (needs finish)
7'0" 1wt DC Sig III (only half wrapped)
6'6" 2wt 4pc Forecast (needs decal and 2nd coat finish)
6'6" 2wt 4pc Forecast (everything except handle assembly needed)
9'0" 8wt DC FT (blank form)
9'0" 10wt DC FT (blank form)
9'0" 4wt Powell LGA (not sure if I'm keeping or selling this one)
9'0" 5wt Powell LGA (not sure if I'm keeping or selling this one)
9'0" 6wt Powell LGA (not sure if I'm keeping or selling this one)
9'6" 6wt Powell LGA (keeping this for sure)
10'4" 10wt DC FT (needs 3rd coat of finish)
5'6" 5wt RX7 spin blank (blank form)

Yes, I will be busy this weekend :) :) :)

Scott Kinney
The Longest Cast Fly Rods
[www.thelongestcast.com]

I have several in the works...

9' 7 wt. Lamiglas Perigee, Pacific Bay gold/black aluminum reel seat w/ fighting butt, full wells grip, American Tackle Titan Guides, dark green wrap w/ gold trim
9' 3/4 wt. Lamiglas Perigee, Pacific Bay uplocking gold reel seat w/ bubinga, reverse half wells grip, American Tackle TiCh gold single foot guides, chestnut wrap w/ gold trim
7 1/2 ft. 4 wt. bamboo (Paul Young Perfectionist taper), Bellinger reel seat w/ redwood burl, reverse half wells grip, gold snake guides, mottled brown silk wrap
6 ft. 3 wt bamboo (restoration), Pacific Bay nickel silver reel seat w/ rosewood burl, reverse half wells grip, chrome snake guides, blue silk wrap
7' 3 wt Sage VPS light, Struble U-24 reel seat w/ walnut, reverse half wells grip, American Tackle Titan Guides, chestnut wrap w/ silver trim
8' 6" St Croix SC iv, Struble U-20 reel seat w/ cocobolo, reverse half wells grip, American Tackle Titan Guides, dark brown wrap w/ silver trim

Jim

Have 5 old bamboo fly rods being rebuilt , 1930's - 1940's vintage. Removed all guides, ferrules, reel seats and stripped all the old varnish. Now time to start from scratch, sort of like starting with 5 new blanks and all new components. The stripping was a pain, very time consuming, but the rebuild should go fairly fast.

Bob

jim.. how does that bellinger's redwood burl insert look? it looks gorgeous to me on their web site, nicer than other companies' redwood burl wood.

i've got a brown fiberglass 7 foot, 2 pc, 5 wt, a 7'-9" three piece 5 wt mustard yellow graphite fly, a 9 ft blue 7 wt 4 pc unknown brand, a 7'-6" 4 pc 3/4 wt tiger eye at LEASt, qiaintg in the queue to build someday soon, all blanks. not to mention a bamboo blank i hope to have in hand by spring, maybe a 7', 2 pc Sir D taper. but nothing i'm working on this week. i have my little girl with me and we're having too much fun. although i did receive a fly tying kit for xmas and she wants to try tying a fly by the weekend if this rain doesn't stop. we WERE going fishing.

eric
fresno, ca.