On vacation I visited Anglers workshop WA. Very nice and helpfull. They set me up with a 5 ft stiff graphite tip section fuji reel seat, cork, hopkins/holloway strippers and guides, flex coat. Total package less than $45 bucks, Two days later my son has a rod that feels like a Sage XP, With a Grizzly Hackle inlay.. We did not over think it. Built it fast and it came out very nice. Great project.

I was told by a well known casting instructor who was training a group of young children to fly cast that a long (8-9') rod is best. I asked him why not a smaller rod that would be easier to handle? He told me it was all about getting the line off of the water. They didn't have the physical height to do this and hence the long rod helped. Similar to when you're in a float tube or pontoon boat you want to have a longer rod I guess. It made sense to me, so Igot my granddaughter a 8 1/2 half footer and she did great with it. Just thought I'd pass it along.

chris you may find thatyyou start the learning curve again matestepping up the lengths is like riding your bike without those little jockey wheels...... but you soon get used to it fishing a well decent rod as opossed to a kmart cheapo specialis like driving a beat up 56 chevy then trying an indie car ..balance speed handling etc all totally different