When I went to bed last night I was really happy about the finish on my new rod. The epoxy was super smooth and I couldn't see any bumps, thread nibs and no bubbles over the rod decal. Checked it after one hour and I figured one epoxy coat should do it, the rod drier was running smoothly and I would have a beautifully completed rod in the morning. Walked into the shop this morning and after a quick glance was really pleased, turned off the rod drier... and then I saw it. There under the hook keeper was a small fly spread eagled, completely imbedded in the epoxy. Kind of reminded me of the original King Kong movie where Faye Wray is tied between the two posts waiting for the inevitable. Since this was to be my rod, I considered coating the perfectly centered fly with more epoxy and leaving it as a joke but I thought better of it and carefully sliced it away with a razor blade. And like it or not, I had to apply a second coat of epoxy to cover the damage. I should have taken a picture but I was cutting before I thought about it- this is the first time I've had a fly in the "ointment." And in case you're wondering, yes, this was a fly rod...literally!

Wow, what bad luck, but at least you were able to fix it. That's something I never contended with, but it's very possible.

Maybe covering it would have been more appropriate! It was a message from heaven!

It certainly would have been a conversation piece. Maybe on my next build I'll sacrifice a fly to my build. Builders imbed feathers so why not? Message from heaven? Maybe it was a sign to quit watching so many old horror movies.

Hello All.

Bill Stevens once built a rod with flies all over it, he also built a fly-swatter rod, he sure was a card.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

[www.rodbuilding.org]

[www.rodbuilding.org]

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/30/2022 05:36PM by Robert A. Guist.

Daniel, in reference to it being a fly rod .... as I was reading your opening post I thought to my self, I wonder if it is a fly rod LOL

Definitely a bummer that it happened, but a GREAT story to share with us, and others. And as you said, kind of a bummer you didn't think of taking a picture in time. That would have been great to show people.

Help me! Help me! (The Fly)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/30/2022 07:45PM by Lynn Behler.

LOL Lynn ... PERFECT !!!!

I see I'm not the only person who grew up watching old horror movies. I have plenty of spiders in my shop so maybe I should have waited until I had a fly and a spider but of course dropping the big rock would have resulted in irreparable rod damage.

That's rough!

Kevin Landers

Marketing Manager
American Tackle Co.

LOL!! Funny. I found a fly in my epoxy one morning only he had landed on the butt wrap and skittered all along the length before he died....making these really cool patterns in the epoxy with his wings.

I just had the Same thing happen with what we call Stink Bugs to a customers Rod.
I have to get a drying box set-up, all of my productivity ends when finishing starts.