I want to build a float n fly rod, and am looking for a low cost blank, I found a Sevier Tiger Eye blank that looks like it may be a good choice. It is a 10 foot, 2 piece blank rated as a 7/8 weight, my question is will this be too stiff for a float n fly rod? I don’t know anything about fly rods, when I have talked to Bob McKamey in the past he recommended a 6 weight blank for a float n fly rod, but I haven’t been able to find a 2 piece 10 foot blank in a 6 weight at a good price. For what it is worth the blank is listed as having a #5 tip and a .430 butt diameter.

If it were me I'd go lighter, by a little bit. But it's not totally out of the question to use a 7/8. That really depends on the power of that specific blank. Not all 7/8 rated blanks have the same power.

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There are a couple of reasons that I like using a lighter line weight fly blank. First off, very clear water where I fish in Tennessee. 4lb. and 2 lb. line is used, which requires a soft tip in a rod or else a big ole Smallie will bust you off. A soft tip rod is a shock absorber. Another reason for the softer fly rod is to help prevent the larger fish from straighting out hooks. Small jigs are used, which generally have a smaller guage wire hook and a big Smallie can straighten those type hooks. A reel with a very, very smooth drag is also important.

Bob McKamey
bobm@mudhole.com

Would a standard fly fishing setup work with a 2-4lb leader attached to the fly line?

I am going to be using this rod a little different than most float n fly fishermen. I am going to be tournament fishing for spotted bass in water that while quite clear is probably not nearly as clear as some of the lakes where this technique originated. I plan to use 6lb fluorocarbon leader and braid main line.

I found a Pacific Bay 10 foot, 2 piece, 5 weight that looks like it may be a better choice. I couldn’t find the Tiger Eye listed on the CCS site so I don’t know how relatively powerful it will be. I don’t normally use the CCS database since I don’t build fly rods, but for those that do use it be aware it doesn’t work with the Google Chrome browser.

Are 10' rods legal in bass tournaments. I know they aren't in B.A.S.S sanctioned tournaments

BASS has an 8 foot limit, but FLW allows any length. They even have precedent, a few years ago Ott Defoe used a float n fly to finish in the top 10 of a FLW Tour tournament and got a big write up in their magazine.

sweet. Might rig me up a 12' flipping stick for flw stuff.

I ended up going an unconventional way, I bought a 10 foot jig pole at Wal-Mart for $34, which is less than I would have paid for a fly blank. I don’t know how it compares to whatever fly rod weight, but it is plenty limber. Ironically I have been doing lots of strip down and rebuild jobs lately, it’s only fitting that I would end up having to strip and rewrap my own new rod.

All you can do is make a better rod

Bill - willierods.com

Sounds like somebody is getting ready for either Keeowee or Hartwell.