I find the hardest part of building rods is the color decisions……am I alone on this?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/03/2024 08:22PM by Richard Reynolds.

Visit your local golf pro shop and take some photos of the various golf bags. Note the colors on the billboards as you drive down the highway, etc. Professionals have devised wonderful color combinations and they can be yours.... for free.

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There are also some classic thread colors and combinations that have been around for decades because of how nice they look and often because of their use in fly tying and lures. Maroon and blue dunn are examples of these I like to use. Maroon likely got an early boost from how well it goes with bamboo and either gold or silver trim.

Don’t forget the best Creative Designer in the role nature has played in the color motifs of angling gear. The jungle cock colors are popular because of their use in salmon flies. Kingfisher and heron colors have been used due to their roles in fishing. The brightest birds in North America are riparian dwellers with wood ducks and scarlet and western tanagers. Bluegill and trout spawning colors have been represented in freshwater gear. The bull dorado and marlin have had their influence in the saltwater world.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/03/2024 11:05PM by Kendall Cikanek.

I agree Richard! It’s a really tough call sometimes. Sorry I can’t help though, I suffer the same issue.

Thanks to all who replied. I was thinking clothing but the advice here is even better God’s creation in nature, billboards, golfing, I guess it is everywhere my brain starts wondering when at the grocery store on packaging colors. Thanks to all.

RodMaker has published some articles on using nature's colors based on birds and fish, and how the colors that adjoin each other are perfect matches while those separated by vastly different colors provide the contrast. The photos are rather eye opening.

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Thanks Tom, I just spent the last hour looking at bird colors and yeah I think I am good now. Great ideas. I now have something to work from. Now to learn more thread patterns.

Hi all,
You should know that paint does weigh something.
Especially White because they have to add clay to cover the dark gray graphite.
All my personal fly rods are raw carbon.
P2000 in CTS language.
Of course the impact of paint varies by blank type.
The lighter weight blank - the more it impacts it's performance. Action is not altered however.
Paint will soften a light blank.
Herb



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/04/2024 01:54PM by Herb Ladenheim.

Herb,
You are most certainly correct it does add weight and does void warranties if you paint the blanks. I am into painting blanks on inshore rods I build. The waterborne paints available have some pretty stunning colors they must all be clear coated with a 2k clear of the right type. I have never fly fished before but I would think painting a fly rod would not be a great idea but I could be wrong.