Greetings fellow rod builders,

I recently completed my first rod. [www.rodbuilding.org]
I am quite pleased with my new rod. It is not very pretty but it functions perfectly.
The rod consists of a $5 sanded graphite blank, Berkley guides and modified Fuji reel seat parts. I used the 27x method for guide placement.
The board sponsors have all been very helpful. So helpful that I actually bought enough components to build 8 rods and spent way too much money.
I already have my second rod started and have plans for several more including my first fly rod.

I just want to thank you all for the wealth of information contained in this forum. I have been reading and searching this forum almost every day since March. The search feature here and a book that I checked out from my local library have answered all of my questions. I am sure that a subscription to RodMaker magazine is in my future.

Thank you all very much.
Curtis

Congrats Curtis! You know....it looks pretty good for a first rod!

Justin

"The board sponsors have all been very helpful. So helpful that I actually bought enough components to build 8 rods and spent way too much money."

I got a good deep belly laugh from this line. Not laughing at you, but with you. I'm sure most of us can relate.

Curtis I think it looks great for your first build!...Way better than my first,hahaha!
Keep it up!

Whether your first build or not, that work on the handle is just way too cool. Very impressive work!!

Bob McKamey
bobm@mudhole.com

Curtis,,, Thats a pretty big compliment coming from Bob McKamey. I'm sure he has seen the best and the worst over the years.
I am impressed with it also. Great job for the first build !
You were wise by not investing much money in your first build. But I think you are ready to go top of the line from the looks of that one.
Welcome aboard and keep up the good work.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

Thanks for the kind words.
Of course Bob will say nice things, I ordered most of my supplies from Mudhole. Ha Ha.

I doubt Mudhole has anything to do with Bob's opinion of that rod. Bob is a Duck River Specialist and a Fishing Rod Connoisseur !

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

Looks great. How is the reel held in place?

steve

Nice job! my first rod looked like a first grade science fair project. I've since rebuilt it so I can fish with it without wanting to break it over my knee.

Good Work!

Steve Bro
(BroCo Custom Rods)

Steven Paris Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Looks great. How is the reel held in place?
>
> steve


Steve,

The foregrip is built on a Fuji HPS quick lock foregrip that unscrews. The handle was built for this exact reel so that there are no gaps.

Curtis

Thanks
steve