Hey folks:

This is only indirectly a rod-building question. I'll soon be putting together a 0-wt. flyrod, and I would love to hear from others who have owned or built the same as to which reels they prefer for such a rod. If it matters, I currently plan to use an REC cap and ring downlocking reel seat (mortised or unmortised, I still haven't decided). Other recommendations for reel seats are welcome (I am aware of cork, of course, but would prefer a superlight seat featuring a nice wood.)

This IS a building question: I read somewhere a reference to 00-size thread for wrapping 0-wts. Curiously, I have yet to see such stuff offered in any rodbuilding catalog. Does this stuff truly exist? Is it that important to use it? Is size-A nylon detrimental to so slender a blank?

Feedback would be most appreciated. I'm rather new to this hobby.

Dry crotches,
Charles

00 thread most certainly exists but only in select colors. I can't imagine A size harming anything. It's only a very small bit larger.

I'm assuming the rod you're building is the 8' Sage?

For reels, I'd look at a true large arbor. Waterworks, Sage 3100, or a Bauer Little Mac Lite. These reels are lightweight, yet will have sufficient spool diameter to keep the line from coming off the reel in tight coils.

For reel seats, you could do worse than look at Bob Venneri's line of seats. You won't beat the wood or machining anywhere else. He's a great guy to work with directly, or you can get his stuff from one of the vendors on the board (I know Golden Witch stocks his seats). I have a spalted cherry burl slide band seat that is a work of art - I'm saving it for whenever I get that extra special rod. I give his stuff the highest recommendation.

Of course, Bellinger and REC offer very nice slide band seats as well. Struble only offers the D2 with a teak insert as far as I know. A nice seat, but nothing special. I would not be so concerned about the weight of the wood in the seat for an 8' rod (if that is indeed the length rod you are building). For a much shorter rod, maybe.

For threads, I think size A nylon would be fine. If you are really concerned about thread diameter, Pearall's Gossamer is another option, but colors are obviously limited. I use size A on all my graphite rods. The tips of just about any fly rod is going to be quite fine, so it's not just a concern of a 0-weight.

Have you decided on your grip and guides already?

Bob

Guderod silk would be a good thread to use and you have a good selection of color, also Fish Hawk thread would work too. Both guderod Silk and Fish Hawk come in size 00 and 30.. I use 00 for guide wraps and 3/0 for trim bands.. I know guys that have the Factory Sage 0wt and the reelseat they use is a pain in the neck I have had guys complain about reel falling off.. Thanks Davesrods

I think size a would be fine, just don't use too much tension, but like the other guys said silk would be good too. I really think that the o weight is a plot by the man to get you to buy another rod you don't need! just kidding, it should be a fun rod, the lightest I have is a 2, and that is a fun rod, makes a 6 inch brookie feel like a monster!