Fly Fishing & Fly Tying Magazine, a leading British fly fishing publication, recently reviewed the Mill Tackle 9' #5 4-piece fly rod. I thought I would share it with this community at Tom's suggestion since I build these grips for John Miller using the techniques I learned in RodMaker. I have posted an image of the write up in the photo gallery:

[www.rodbuilding.org]

It looks as if these carbon fiber grips are finally getting some traction. And with some staunch traditionalists, even. He got the weights confused between the two rods - and the only top coating on them is Permagloss - but all in all a very positive and fair review. I have only ever had one customer give these grips a fair shot in a day's fishing and not become a convert. And even he admitted it cast better..he just couldn't get over the looks.

A very personal and heartfelt thank you to Tom Kirkman and Andy Dear for their development of this technique and for teaching me how to build them in the pages of RodMaker Magazine. The cost of my yearly subscription continues to prove the best money I spend on rodbuilding. And to think...in the beginning a lot of folks said there was not enough material to keep a magazine going!

Many people misjudge them at first glance. I've heard it all - slippery when wet (they're not) not durable (more durable than cork or EVA) too expensive (make your own for just a few bucks a pop).

One thing is for sure, the vastly improved transfer of energy makes these the top grip for applications where your rod hand is actually in contact with the grip.

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

Great Info, I have built several gear rods with Carbon Fiber handles. I have had several guys asking me to build rods using carbon fiber, but i am unable to build them due to supply issues with a certain company....... Anyone else have a different source I can get them from? Looking for the Foam Core portion or silicon mold to produce the foam cores.

Hello Roger -

Not sure which supplies you are unable to get but am happy to try to help. The only place for the molds I am aware of is Riley Rods. Those are the molds I use for all of my grips since they are so fast. You also use / waste less foam if you are making a bunch of grips because you don't lose all the material in the 'corners' like you do when you turn down a blank that is square in cross section.

However, you don't have to use a silicon mold to create a foam core. Do a search on this forum or order the original back issue of RodMaker and there are several methods like pouring them into a PVC pipe treated with release agent, pouring them into a release agent treated baking ban and subsquently cutting them into rectangles, boring them and turning them, etc.

As far as the foam core material, I have used several different expanding urethane pour foams and they all work. I personally go for the cheapest option I can find that is available in the # density I am looking for. But I am buying in large quantities...the smaller batches of 6# from Riley Rods are the ideal all around in my experience.

Hope this helps. Feel free to email me directly if you have other questions. Good luck!

Bill

US Composites is the original source of the foam and I think they have recently added the carbon and glass skins. Do a quick google search and you will turn them right away.

Hi all. Where can i buy any copy of that old magazines? My first atempt to carbon grip doen't look fine... Thans in advance for the responses and excuse my poor english...