Hi I am new here but have been doing a lot of reading of the topics on the site. It is an excellent resource for sure. I am going to build my first spey blank. It is a Sage 9150-4. I have a piece of Pacific Yew I have had in the basement for a few years and plan to turn top and bottom finials and a couple of spacers. I have some very nice flor grade cork for the rest. I am looking for some lay out plans as to lengths and dimensions. I would like to do a full wells style grip. I plan on using a skagit style line on this rod so I think there should be on the top handle a wells style grip close to the reel seat and then another one up high for casting. This is where I am not sure of what would be proper lengths and diameters to be comfortable to use and what the total handle should look like. Any ideas are definitely welcome. Thanks.

Lengths and diameters - your choice as to what best fits your hands and your style of fishing / casting. What you can do is go to a store that sells fly rods (with calipers/ruler in hand) pick up several rods until you find one that you like - or is close to what you like. Measure it and then modify the measurements (length / diameter) to your hands. I know this may not be the definitive answer you were possibly looking for but since this is for you you can do anything YOU want

The ones I have seen are level after the well is made for the entire length. I am looking more for a double like putting two full wells together end to end. Do you think that doing that would actually work measure a full wells for a single and then make two and put them together?

As Ken said, you can make them in any configuration you feel comfortable. Spey fore grips often have a swell in the middle so you can slide your had around between casting and holding on the swing, sort of a reverse hour glass shape. I will often have a sharp feature at the end for the thumb or hand to rest against at both the top and the bottom. If you can imagine a regular full wells grip just extended to 13 or 14" long, you can certainly make something in this shape.

On spey grips, the top portion is much more important for fit than the bottom area near the reel seat. The bottom end rarely gets used as the balance point is farther up the blank. I have a picture of one I'm working on that isn't worthy of posting on the photo site but would give you an idea of one design. It's a fairly simple design with narrower dimensions top and bottom and a swell in the middle. Ends are rubberized cork (which you could replace with your yew). If you unhide your email, or just send me one I'll send it back to you.

I wish I could take the time to shoot better pictures and post some, or just save for my records. One thing to improve on.

Terry

Robert, take a look at this grip I built for a switch rod. I can give you measurements.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

How do I unhide my email?

Phil Erickson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Robert, take a look at this grip I built for a
> switch rod. I can give you measurements.
>
> [www.rodbuilding.org]
> um/Switch_Rod_Handle.jpg
This is very much what I am thinking of doing. Except for the centre where it will be another spacer of Yew wood.I like your proportions i ahve big hands and this looks to be a biger diameter which would make the handle more comfotable for me. I would appreciate your dimensions. Thank you.

Look at the R. B. Meiser website, some beautiful pictures of full wells grips similar to what you'd build.

Robert Broome Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How do I unhide my email?


Click on your name (in blue) then "control center" then edit your email settings.

You also can click on my name and get my email and send me a message which I can return with the dimensions.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/26/2010 12:34AM by Phil Erickson.

Robert,
Check your email

"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble.It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." Mark Twain
John in Wethersfield, CT