My son and I are building our first fly rods with the Project healing Waters contest at Walter Reed. The blanks are Batson Rainshadow 9" 5 wt, and they are identical. We would like to change one (or both) slightly so that we can differentiate them when finished, probably by using different guides (color) and thread. Any suggestions?

Batson Enterprises suggests that we use 1/0 and 2/0 stripping guides and 4-4-4-4-3-3-3-3 for the remainder. I have read other suggested patterns, but can't find them now. I'm inclined to go with the Batson suggested guides - does anyone have alternate suggestions that would improve on the Batson recommendation? We are both beginners at rod building, fly fishing, and fly tying.

Thank you for your suggestions. Cheers,

Bob & Rob Hendry

Bob Hendry
Southern Maryland

Bob -
I'm located in Maryland. For anyone involved in either Project Healing Waters or the Paralyzed Veterans Association my shop is always open. You and your son have an open invitation to come use the shop should you wish to do so

Thank you, Ken. That's very nice of you.

Where are you in Maryland? We're in Waldorf - Southern Maryland.

Cheers,
Bob Hendry

If you can take Ken up on his offer. You will learn a lot

Bill - willierods.com

Pasadena - just north of Annapolis / south of Baltimore. I figure you're about 60 - 70 minutes away. Either send me an email or unhide yours & I'll send my address



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/19/2011 04:01PM by Ken Preston.

You could build one with single foot guides and one with double foot snakes--That would make them easy to tell apart at a glance and They would both work equally well. Plus you would learn which you prefer for future reference. The suggested guide sizes in your post sound large for a 5 wt.

I might recommend Strippers 12,10, then wire fly guides 3-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-tip. That's 10 total guides. (Convention= length in feet +1)

For stripping guides, double foot casting guides are traditional, like the Batson LXNs or American Tackle Ring lock casting guides or the Fuji equivalent.

I don't know what running guides you plan to use, but my favorite on a light fly rod would be REC recoils, either single or double foot. I've used these on 2 fly rods in the last few months and they are my "go-to" fly guides.

What are you doing for grips and reel seats? Both the Batson and St Croix handle kits are quite good and not expensive.

Good luck, I'm a novice as well, built my first rod last September. Working on fly rod #8 today.


Drew

Even if you use identical blanks, guides and thread colours, you can add some trim wraps to one rod and not the other.
(a trim wrap is a narrow band of thread, say 3-4 wraps wide, in a contrasting colour that sits next to your normal guide wraps etc, and gives a really classy look)

Metallic silver thread looks great as a trim wrap, with virtually all blank and thread colours.

You could for example add a trim wrap on to both sides of the stripper guides and the hook keeper, if you are using one.

Its really easy to learn how to make a trim wrap, either by someone showing you, or by watching the online video clips by Muhole on Youtube,

All the best, it sounds like a great project you have there.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/19/2011 05:54PM by Dale Holmes.

Bob,

Drop the 4's and go with all 3's. This will give you a straighter and smoother line path at less weight.


............

Bob,
I've built on and compared other builds on that blank.

Soft progressive butt section suggests weight be removed from tip to increase casting performance in blank rebound speed and damping control.

8 guides
Distance from tip
4.8 10.5 17.4 25.5 35.1 46.5 60.2 76.4

Top 3 guides Recoil light wire titanium single foot #2
Next 2 guides #3 light wire single foot hard chrome
Next guide #4 std wire single foot hard chrome
Next guide #10 double foot Alox
Next guide #12 double foot Alox

To differentiate the two builds utilize reelseat variations and wrapping technique and color.

Eugene Moore



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/2011 11:15AM by Eugene Moore.

Thank you for some great suggestions. I'm starting to get a better idea of how to tackle this.

I've been scouring the Hook & Hackle and Mud Hole pages trying to sort this out. Does anyone have another suggestion as to where to look for parts / supplies?

Thanks again for all the advice - we are indeed appreciative. Cheers,

Ken,

Were you at the National Capital Show at Georgetown Prep last week? I spoke to someone there - may have been you. (He handed a fellow a repaired TFO rod in an orange cloth sack - the tip had been broken in his tailgate??) Anyway, I found your website in Pasadena. How do I 'open' my email address?

Bob Hendry

Bob -
I sent you an email with address. No I missed the TU show this year ( I assume that's the one you mean)

Bob,
Add J Stockard to your list.

Eugene Moore