Hi all,

It's been a long time since I visited here. I've still been very busy in the custom rod business. Just finished my first show of the Fishing Show season.

I'm on a search for good options in the Euro Nymph blank class. I've had great luck with the Batson's Eternity 2 10'6" 4 Wt, but I'm looking for some lighter weights in the 2 and 3 Wt. category, 11' length would be best. I'm trying to offer an alternative to the Cortland performance Euro Nymph rods, which are awesome but unavailable to the custom builder.

Just for grins, if you aren't familiar with this method, it uses no fly line for casting so the tip design needs to be very soft, and loads with little weight. It's been a growing request from customers and while there are completed rods available, I'm still looking for a good source for the 2 and 3 wt. categories.

Thanks in advance and hope everyone is wrapping straight and true these days.

Terry

Subed

CTS Affinity X. I've done several for customers from 10ft to 11ft, 2 and 3wts. Its a very sensitive blank, not overly stiff for a "fast action" blank. All the customers that I have built them for love them.

Get a hold of Herb at HNL Rod Blanks.

Thanks Bill,

I'll see if I can snag some of those.

I like building on CTS blanks.

Terry

CTS blanks look quite nice. Proof offers several blanks in 2-4 weights. I think Hook and Hackle has a 3 weight Xi blank. Of course Sage, Winston and T&T offer Euro Nymphing blanks, but price is $400 or more.

Just thought I’d put in my two cents here...the first euro nymph rod I cast was a friend’s newly built H&H Xi blank. It was so responsive and smooth that I knoI had to make my own 10’ 3/4wt. I ended up choosing a blank from Proof Fly Fishing, based on the great results I’d already had with Matt’s blanks (both carbon and fiberglass). Its a deep maroon color, labeled on his website as the “Czech Nymph” blank, goes for around $80. Now that it’s built, I find myself using this blank more than any of my other rods (some sage, st.croix, and batson). It works beautifully with my czech nymphing spool, but I often throw on a 5wt WF line and can toss a double nymph setup with a strike indicator farther than with most other rods I’ve used. IMO it’s every bit the rod that Xi offers but for slightly less money. If you haven’t looked into Proof yet I highly recommend checking them out. Heres a few picks of how it turned out... [imgur.com]

Thanks Dean,

I bought one of the Proof Blanks. Great price. I haven't built it yet. I have a 2 and a 3 Wt. 11' on the way from CTS as well. These will all fill my euro nymph line up pretty well.