Hey guys, I’m looking into building a money is no issue top of the line 8’6 5wt fly rod for trout. I think I’m set on a CTS affinity x blank (feel free to give other recommendations), and I like the snake brand reel seats I think, but what I was curious about was what guides would y’all recommend for it, and if y’all know of any places I can get some really nice custom cork grips.

Hi Brent,
IMO - as the CTS Rep in the U.S. - That is an O.K. blank for your purpose - but there is better.

CTS does not list all their blanks on their website.

A MUCH better option is their Afinity-Vintage.
The Vintage 905-4 is the definitive rod for trout - both for casting on large water - and for protecting your tippet. - which the "X" will not do nearly as well.

But they happen to have a design for an 8'6" #5 in 2, 3 or 4 pieces.

Contact me for the RB.Org special pricing.
Regards,
Herb
CTS Rep

Many companies over the years have displayed regional websites that only show what they think will best suit the area in question, Talon Graphite also has done that for a long time, and I bet others have also. It negates a lot of confusion over all the options, only a copied factory catalog I got had all 600+ patterns they had at that time and frankly it did me little good.

Spercer,
Regionalizition is not the reason CTS had "discontinued" showing blanks on their site.
Ten years ago, or so, CTS had 6-7single hand fly blanks - and they rolled and baked for other brands.
Business was suffering because builders had to wait 4-6 months for their blanks.

So, subsequently CTS "discontinued" all single hand and Switch blanks except two - and discontinues building for 3rd parties

The Affinity-MX has since been put back on the site.

But the "discontinued" blanks are still available to those who know about them.

I see it as my job to expose buiders to these niche blanks.

Delivery id now 4-6 WEEKS.

Herb
CTS Rep



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/26/2024 06:01PM by Herb Ladenheim.

Brent,
I’ve built a gang of CTS fly rods for trout. Fished all the models as well. I would not recommend the Affinity X in the 865-4 configuration, it will be to stiff in my opinion. Siding with Herb, I’d get the Vintage in 8-6 5wt 4pc if you primarily fish dries and dry/dropper rigs. If you want an all around 5wt, go with an Affinity MX 9’ 5wt, it will do anything the Vintage will, but also work well for nymph’s.’
The Vintage is not a “soft blank”,‘it’s a rather smooth deep loading blank that is just a pleasure to fish dries with.

I’ll also recommend the Snake Brand seats and Guides for your build. Joel Lemke makes those seats for Snake Brand and they are very high quality. Their guides are very good as well. REC makes some great reel seats as well. Personally I am not a fan of their Recoil Guides, but many hold them in high regard.’

Sounds like a nice build. I am not sure where you fish, but for any rod weigh over 4 I go with 9 foot 4 -piece. The extra 6 inches gives better reach, room for leader knot clearance, casting distance and, I think, feel. But your choice.

Herb is the expert on CTS and will not steer you wrong!

As to components, Snake reel seats and guides are quite good -- arguably as good as it gets. Snake reel seats seem to be hard to find these days. As indicated above you may want to look at REC. Mud Hole has quite a few. I would also look a Struble, which also sells a variety of spacers on their site. I find that Custom Fly Rod Crafters out of Albq, NM, has a nice selection of reel seats from various makers.

Batson BUL5 are very nice reel seats, but I am not enamored of their lineup of inserts. But if you want dark wood, you might like their inserts. I am more of a Maple insert fan.

For rods 6 wt and less I have been going to single foot guides of late, but that is really just a matter of taste and also how many wraps you want to make.