hey guys, i have a private section of native brook trout river on my hunting property, and want to build a cheap rod to leave in the cabin for the few times a year i fish it. The stream is extremely thick, 10 ft wide mostly, and loaded with native brookies that are 4 - 12 inches long. I currently have a 7-6 4 weight, and its a bit to much in most places. Can I get a 7 ft 2 weight blank, and cut 6 - 12 inches off the butt and still make a serviceable rod?

this is the cheap kit im looking into - I would just get a cheapo kit from cabelas, but id like to make it and practice.

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Josh,
Go to Bingham Ent. and get the SHX 6 1/2 ft. blank and everything else there also, gret people, great value.

Do a search for "Tenkara fly rods". I think they would be perfect for your situation - and very inexpensive, too.

Josh,
I doubt a Tenkara outfit, due to it's length, will fit your needs.
Most ultralight spinning rods will cast a 4 or 5 weight decently and you can find a length short enough and inexpensive enough for your needs.
The heavier line will make short roll casts easier just try to find a faster action rod. This will also aid in "tunnel" fishing a small stream.

Gene

The blank Spencer is recommending is an actual designed blank, ;not a cobble job that might work and might not. Only $30 with very little risk. I don't think it gets much better than that.

Batson makes a 2 piece 6 1/2 foot 2 weight that would do nicely for your purposes.. Anglers Workshop a supplier on the left has it listed for $35.00.

I have built a number of these in the 4pc version for customers for exactly the same use, small streams, small trout, and they really like them.

Phil Erickson Wrote:
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> Batson makes a 2 piece 6 1/2 foot 2 weight that
> would do nicely for your purposes.. Anglers
> Workshop a supplier on the left has it listed for
> $35.00.
>
> I have built a number of these in the 4pc version
> for customers for exactly the same use, small
> streams, small trout, and they really like them.

how do you feel this would throw a 3 wt line?

The Batson blank will throw a 3wt fine as long as your not going for long distances which would overload it. For the size fish and stream you described a 2wt is also very good.

For the short distances of a small stream a 3wt line is probably better than a 2. Most fly rods are higher power than advertised.

Since it sounds like you don’t need a multi piece fly rod for transport, how about a 1 piece e glass blank like the Batson SPG 780 for around $18. I have heard that is makes a very good 3/4 weight fly rod. Brook trout will hit decent size flies and when the wind picks up I would rather have a 3 that can handle a 4 line vs a 2 weight.

Josh,
I am going to recommend a Fiberglass blank, there are plenty of manufacturers that make blanks from 6', 6-6" and 7' in 2 to 4wt. You can find price point blanks to higher end in what you are looking for. My personal go to rod for the type of water you are fishing is a Steffen Brothers 6' 2/3wt 2pc. I like it with a DT3 line, it does work just fine with a DT2 also, I fish dries and wets mostly with this rod, although in a pinch I can lob a small wolly bugger with it.

Fiberglass rods with their slower actions really excel in short distance casting compared to a carbon rod in my opinion.

I like the looks of that batson glass blank - that's exactly what I'm looking for. Is there a general snake guide size and amount I should use for this project?

7 snake guides should be enough but certainly 8 tops. An 8mm carbide or chrome stripper guide going to a 1 size snake then progressively down to 2/0 near the tip such as 2 1s,2 1/0 and 3 or 4 2/0s. Or non conventional would be 6 or 7 2/0s going to a 1 then stripper.

If you look up Tadpole fly rods in fiberhlassflyrodders I believe there are several post about the Batson SPG builds.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/07/2019 08:26PM by David Miller.

great advice guys, thanks. the blank and components have been ordered. I decided to go with single foot guides, simple to reduce my wraps in half. this rod is going to live in a cabin three hours away 362 days a year anyways.