I received my CYS Affinity X blank a couple weeks back. It's an 8 weight, 9 foot blank. One of the sections had a manufacture defect, and I sent it back to CTS at the end of last week. I hope to get the replacement section back soon. I got my cork handle, reel seat, fighting butt, and snake guides through the mail yesterday. I'm using black, REC titanium snake guides, and a black Fuji stripping guide, with a black AT tip top, and folding hook keeper. I started on the build today. It took me about 2 hours to ream the cork handle to fit the blank perfectly. I now have the fighting butt, reel seat, and handle glued in place, and UV40 cork seal applied to all of the cork.. Next, I'll be using tip top hot melt glue to put on the tip top, followed by putting on the winding check, ad hook keeper, So far, the build is clean, and immaculate. I plan on this being my best rod yet, though all of the builds have been meticulously done. I'll be using white, silk wrapping thread to make transparent wraps. I made a test wrap on a piece of rod blank that can't be used for anything, and covered the wrap with Gen 4. It turned beautifully transparent.

Anyone have any tips for making this the best casing, most powerful, and sensitive fly rod possible? Also, anyone know where I can get a 22 year old replacement body for this 65 year old one? LOL.

Tight Lies and frisky fish

RJF

Wole up at 2 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep. Laid down thread wraps before the winding check to make a smooth transiting, and waterproof the end. Put on the hook keeper as well. Put on the Gem 4 first coat, and all turned transparent, as I'd hoped it would. So far, so good.

Tight Lies and frisky fish

RJF

I wouldn't use a folding keeper on anything, too prone to fail and unhandy to have to fool with them to get a hook into them. On fly rods I don't use any keeper, just take the leader around the butt/reel and fasten it into the frame of the first guide. That way the leader/line knot is not going through the guides and it's very handy.

I'm like Michael, never use a keeper on my rods and only one my many customers wants one.

Robert,

I also use the fold-down hookkeeper. If the end-user doesn't use it, he can keep it folded down out of the way. I have them on all of my personal builds.

BTW - I'd gladly trade my 70+ body for a 65 in good shape - going in for Angioplasty Friday morning...

Rich Bowers