I am just finishing up a 6-wt fly rod for my cardiologist and was reminded again just how good the AT Bushido blanks are! I never have to worry about looking for the straightest axis for the 4 pieces because each piece was as straight as a die! I have consistently gotten great blanks from AT, with great customer service if I ever do have an issue (last issue was about 8 years ago... none since!)

Better hope he likes it! I like Bushidos as well.

Anglers dislike rods which don't look to be straight, but does a slightly bent rod produce unsurmountable problems with accuracy or distance? We constantly compensate for the rod's angle and for the wind when we cast - don't even think about it.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/31/2021 03:52PM by Phil Ewanicki.

Where did you get the Bushido fly blanks and specs?

I've had the Bushido 6-wt in my inventory for some time, ordered when they were still readily available. I still have one left, which I just may hoard a while longer!

While the Bushido blanks may no longer be available, the AT Matrix fly blanks are excellent also! It's amazing just how straight they can be!

Phil,

You are correct, as the fly will follow in the path of the rod tip. That said however, there are blanks out there that I will not build on as they look like corkscrews, especially in the upper end of the blank - top section of a 4-piece blank for example. I have seen this from imported blanks and those made in the USA as well, the origin of the blank has no bearing on how straight it is.

I understand how the curvature occurs, it is based on how straight the carbon fiber cloth is tacked to the mandrel in the manufacturing process, I have actually tacked the cloth to a mandrel a few times myself at the Lamiglas factory in Woodland, WA. Careful attention to the process minimizes the issues dramatically, but that takes more time, and in an assembly line process, time is money.

If there is a gentle curve in the tip section, I simply put my guides on the outside of the curve, which tends to straighten out the curve, but that will not help when it curves in multiple directions.

While the AT blanks are made in China, including their excellent Matrix line of fly blanks, their quality is outstanding and I have never had a problem with them.