Here is a look at the second place rod in the 2021 International Rod Building Challenge.


Photo: [www.rodbuilding.org]

This beautiful custom was designed, built, and submitted by Wade Christensen. Wade built this red to be interchangeable between a spinning and casting rod. A unique design and nothing short of amazing!!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/16/2021 10:24PM by Theron @ American Tackle.

Thanks for the kind words Theron. It was the funnest and most challenging build to date. Unfortunately I think I now have an addiction to ferrules.

I built a 9' hot-shot blank into a fly rod, which turned out to best cast a 10wt. line. It will easily cast 80' and is about as "accurate" as any fly rod, but the timing a little tricky. The names given to blanks - like "hot shot blank" or "jerk-bait blank" or "worming blank" or "dry fly blank" are just names. They provide no measurable information about the blank's physical characteristics.

I personally thought your rod amazing! So much amazing detail went into your build. I love the handle and the feather inlays. It also had a classic look and and theme to it. Very classy!

Thank you. I tend to prefer the classic/vintage style. I have to say I was a bit nervous to cut a two piece blank into four pieces, but now every time I look at a rod, I can only see it cut into multiple pieces.

On a different note, I found that single stage automotive paint is the way to go for painting blanks. This rod has three coats on it and once it was dry, that paint is tough as nails. Might be a good option if someone is looking for a way to pain their blanks.