I'm building a couple of rods to fish with the use of a casting bubble. A casting bubble is nothing more than a bobber that allows ballast to be added/removed. These rods are an experiment based on a book called "Fish Don't Think". In the book, fly rods are used with spinning reels ( 6lb test with a rod's length 4lb leader) on wide Western US waters, to cast flies a long distance. The idea is to get the distance and yet not spook the target area fish. I'm building a 4 pc. and 2 pc. 3/4 wt and will try a 5/6 in the future. Not only do I plan to use flies, but test and evaluate a product called "Bait Stick". Check them out on the web, it's an interesting concept.
I'd like to hear from anyone who has an opinion on the build. I'm thinking #6 minima running guides, a fairly long TN handle to allow for adjustment and an adjustment guide to be determined by my reel choice. The first two rods will be built on Tiger Eye blanks I have laying around a 7 and 9 ft 3/4wt. Since they'll start out as test rods, I don't plan anything special but wouldn't mind some thread color suggestions just the same. M
I'd love to go with a carbon/graphite grip but it seems the commercial grips ID and arbor ID would leave too much space to gain any sensitivity benefit since it would need filling. Suggestions?

Has anyone built and fished these rods? If so, what's your take on them? I've got an old 7ft. 3/4 wt Lamiglass I need to build and haven't decided what to do with that one yet. As always, thank you in advance and feel free to email me at midstreamrods@yahoo.com if you'd like.

Ray Mazza
Midstream Rods
Utica, NY

Fill space with foam arbors and it won't matter what size ID your grip has. You only need a couple, or three, about an inch long each. Leave the areas in-between open. Don't fill them with anything.

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Hi Ray,
Sounds like an interesting project. I have a Tiger Eye fly rod, and I really like the way it looks with scarlet red and gold trim. It really "pops" in the sun. Good luck!
George



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/18/2011 10:17AM by George Forster.

Ray,
I frequently use this technique for trout when I travel west.
My favorite rod for this is an 8 1/2 foot medium action 2-piece steel head rod. A light enough tip, but plenty of mid and butt strength to heave the casting bubbe and attached fly a very long way.

I far prefer this rod to any weight fly rod for this particular application.

Roger

I'm with Rodger, the Batson 1142 or 1143 would also work very well. Pulling a Royal Coachman or Prince Nymph behind a float has long been a formula for sucess on the mountain lakes.

Ray,
it has been my experience over the past 5-8 years that most of the guys doing this are using a Mod/Fast Med/Lt (4-8) or Medium (6-12) lb steelhead rod from 8'6" to 9'6". I think they started out using fly blanks but casting that weight (when the bubble gets some water in it) requires a little different power of rod.

Regards,
Todd Vivian
Mud Hole Custom Tackle

todd@mudhole.com

Thanks to all for your input. I plan to try a couple heavier blanks as well.