Hey guys. I am in the process of planning a 11' 6wt switch rod for a client and am looking for a source for a retractable fighting butt extension. I saw a thread on here about it and no source was ever given. I see AMTAK's but it doesn't look like it retracts. Does anyone know where to locate one of these? I recently saw one on youtube and it looked really slick. The customer wants a two handled rod but I am trying to explain the advantages of this setup.

By the way this forum is AWESOME! I love the pics and the absolute wealth of info on here.

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Cutthroat Customs

REC sold an integrated extendable fighting butt a few years ago. It was coarse threaded and reverse threaded and was actually quite easy to deploy after a hook-up with a strong fish. It was a bit heavy and tricky to glue to the blank, and without trimming the butt section of the blank this section became longer than the others, creating a storage problem. Still it was handy, loss-proof, easily deployed, and offered a significant leverage advantage once it was deployed.
I don't think this product is still available from REC, but some builders may have some assemblies for sale.

Garry,
Probably the easiest way to make such a rod is to have a rod with a removable butt section that simply screws into the butt of the rod.
These are pretty easy to make. Simply have the butt section handy, and if needed, screw it in for a fish.
Basically make a butt section with a protruding 1/4 inch bolt.
Then, take a 1/4 inch colupler and glue it into the butt of the rod and make a nice brass washer end on both the end of the rod and the end of the fighting butt. When the butt is screwed into the rod, you will have a nice clean finish with the two brass washers. (Of course you could use a different end on the butt and fighing butt section as well.


Roger



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/07/2011 12:28AM by roger wilson.

You can make it screw -in or even with a piece of scrap blank that fits well into the butt. he could have - either way - a short one to keep the dirt out, then when needed pull the short one off and put the longer one on.

I remember that retractable butt talked about on here Don't remember who but just put a pict up
[www.rodbuilding.org]

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/07/2011 06:33AM by bill boettcher.

What is the "advantage" of taking the butt off a switch rod? It is not a "fighting butt!," it is designed for two handed casting! It will dramatically change the balance and make two handed casting impossible and single handed unbalanced.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/07/2011 07:49PM by Phil Erickson.

Bill,
Exactly,
I built a rod for a client that wanted a changable butt section.
I made one butt section 2 inches long and one butt section 8 inches long.
Depending on the application, the client used either the 2 or the 8 inch handle extension.
Both extensions had finished ends, so the hole in the end of the non extended handle was always sealed with a handle extension.

Roger

Phil Erickson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What is the "advantage" of taking the butt off a
> switch rod? It is not a "fighting butt!," it is
> designed for two handed casting! It will
> dramatically change the balance and make two
> handed casting impossible and single handed
> unbalanced.


I see nowhere in my post where I mention removing the butt.



Roger and Bill,

I like the idea of two sizes. Thanks!