So I have a couple rods that were built early on and they have cosmetic issues due to inexperience. Each one I've practiced on enough to where I just cant see stripping them down and rebuilding on them. My time is also limited. I've fished these rods so they work fine, but I've moved on in skillset.

Would you dontate these rods to friends who know they are practice rods and have admitted flaws?
Would you lock them up and never let them be seen?
Is there a charity that might appreciate them?

I just cant see leaving them in my garage when I know they fish good. I'm also not trying to make a living on selling rods but I dont want people to think these builds are typical of what I can do.

How have some of you handled this situation? Is this just a no-no, no matter what?

Adam..if it were me??.i would donate them to a couple of Kids...aside from the "Fishability" so to speak...maybe you doing so... will encourage a couple of Young People to get started in the Craft of Custom Rod Building...just a thought...Cheers Buddy!!!....Wayne

Adam, it sound like your heart is leading you to donate them which would be awesome. If you are worried about people thinking that the 'less than perfect aesthetics' reflect your quality of work just don't put your name on them. The enjoyment that some kids would get out of those rods far out weighs any possible negatives. I'm sure there are some local Church Youth Groups that would love those rods.

Tight Lines and Bull's-eyes,

Get Bit Outdoors
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Very cool.

I agree with you guys that giving them away is the right thing to do. Just thought I'd check incase there was something I was missing about giving away early builds. I can see how someone making a living on their work might not be so eager though.

Thanks for pushing me in the right direction!

Keep ONE -- Keep either the FIRST one you ever did or the WORST one you ever did. Later you can use them as encouragement for anyone who wants to learn from you. I have the first rod I ever built (30+ years ago). It is absolutely pig ugly - not even a pig with lipstick on -- just ugly. Cross wrapped threads; gaps in threads; one wrap not CP'd and the colors are horrible - size E red and light blue on a Fenwick yellow / honey colored blank; EVA not turned down smooth (pre-finished grips that were not reshaped)..... I mean really poor all the way around. I keep it here so people are not discouraged with their first attempts.

wayne diduch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Adam..if it were me??.i would donate them to a
> couple of Kids...aside from the "Fishability" so
> to speak...maybe you doing so... will encourage a
> couple of Young People to get started in the Craft
> of Custom Rod Building...just a thought...Cheers
> Buddy!!!....Wayne

Kids...Kids...Kids......Wayne hit it right on the nose.

Im 13, If you want to give it to a kid, i dont want to seem greedy, but ill take em. ill even strip em down re do em and send you pics and stuff. or ill fish em. idc.
Thanks.

I have replaced the guides on my first rod for the third time this year. My son caught his first red snapper on it this year and my daughter will hopefully do the same next year. I originally built the rod in September of 1991. It is priceless to me and had caught thousands of fish in dozens of species. It will be wall art after my daughter catches a snapper next year.

how about @#$%& them off at a fundraiser for something....? or how about you giving the fundraiser some money and pretend you bought them back.....then keep them.....
win / win....

I took a bunch of my older "starter" rods and donated them to our local Boy Scout summer camp. Just a thought.

find your local scout leader. tried to give a stack(20+)rods and rees to the state after waiting several weeks and no responce from state loaded them up and gave them to the scouts.they loved em.

I 'm to the point where I'll buy a couple of the blem blanks every year and make them up for the Scout summer camps.