Rod building is a hobby to me not work so there is nothing to minimize just maximize..I will not let it become work, if it does, it,s over and I,ll do something else, maybe ty more strange bass bugs..lol.

Also, no amount of winding tension is going to hold and stabilize single foot guide like the forhan locking wrap, the greatest invention in rod building since hooks..lol.

Manufacturers of rod blanks go to great lengths to produce the lightest, most sensitive, most responsive rod blanks for savvy rod builders. A significant number of rod builders cover these rod banks with large and often multi-layered decorative thread windings and layers of finish. Even in rod-building priorities differ?!

Phil Ewanicki Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Manufacturers of rod blanks go to great lengths to
> produce the lightest, most sensitive, most
> responsive rod blanks for savvy rod builders. A
> significant number of rod builders cover these rod
> banks with large and often multi-layered
> decorative thread windings and layers of finish.
> Even in rod-building priorities differ?!

I think coming from a fly rod perspective we will look more at the pure performance aspect of a rod. A lot of rod builders do it to show off their art skills and don't really concern themselves with the performance aspect other than what the manufacturer of the blank suggest for guide spacing. I believe there can be a balance of both if the weight of the decoration doesn't exceed or affect the potential for performance. The offshore rod builder can really shine here because weight is typically not going to be an issue, they can go to town on weaves and underwraps. The rods I see that are most affected by "over decoration" would be fly rods and inshore lake and bay rods.

Lance,
I am in the category of building tools for fishing called great fishing rods.
I like to produce a great looking tool that is clean, well wrapped, light, functional, comfortable and has a minimum of decoration.

These rods appearance make 0 difference in its ability to catch a fish. As a matter of fact, a rod that looks like an art gallery - beautiful though it is- but gains significant weight - will catch fish with less sensitivity and comfort and efficiency than a rod that is identical but with less weight due to less decorative wraps.

Best wishes

Trolling rods and down-rigger rods don't suffer a bit from non-functional weight, weight which makes rods look pretty sitting in their holders. Non-functional weight added to any rod used to cast has two benefits: to display one's artistic abilities/taste and to increase the caster's muscle tone.

Custom Rods : Fighter Jets

Flex Coat Company
Professional Rod Building Supplies
www.flexcoat.com

Just because someone is using a less sensitive rod does not mean it,s a less sensetive outfit..if they are using b raided line and you are using mono, they are likely fishing with a more sensetive outfit than you ..about a year ago my nephew and I were fishing a small farm pondb with one eight ounce chatter baits,.I was commenting about how easy it was to feel the bait chatter when my nephew said he could not feel the bait until it was half way in..I handed him my rod..he cast and yelled my God I can feel it as soon as I started cranking. What the difference..I said your using mono but I,m using braided line..even though you using a graphite rod and I,,m using glass the line still makes a difference.

I have used a thin coat of C.P. - just enough to saturate the threads, as a "primer coat" before applying a thin finish coat of epoxy over guide wraps. The low viscosity of the C.P. ensures no air is trapped between or under the thread wraps, waiting to emerge from the wraps while the epoxy is drying and preserved for eternity in the cured epoxy. Sure, you can heat epoxy before it dries to eliminate air bubbles, but heating epoxy before it is cured invites "finish sag".

Exactly Phil and when you heat epoxy your changing it to a lower build and still need to apply another coat to get the build you want..if. a wrap is sealed you. can apply the finish thick or thin and it will stay that way because your not using heat to get penetration.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/2022 10:43AM by ben belote.

I suspect the greatest beneficiaries of the "most sensitive" rods are bait fishermen, particularly anglers using earthworms for bait, but not a bobber.