Really tough build for a Tech man. 9' "4wt" 4pc RX8+, Batson XPS guides, black is Ebony wood, cork is Andy's
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A somewhat better picture of the simple feather inlay on latest project. My building partner did a nice job helping on his first rod.
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Just completed this 8'6" RX7 5wt for and with the help of a young neighbor. He's early into his fly fishing addi.., hobby. He is also a cancer survivor and an inspiration to all of us who know him.
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Batson IP843, Andy's cork, NPS seat
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Fish - 13" Flint River (GA) Shoal Bass. Rod - 9' 6wt RX7, apple main wood, cocobolo seat and inserts bordered with cork gasket, chestnut brown no CP, HT Gold
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Few weeks back I posted a picture of this rod and its specs. I built it for a specific purpose which is one of the things that I think makes customs rods valued - solving a problem that mass production just can't address. Here's proof that it worked :)
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8' 5wt Green RX7, Cocobollo, Andy Dear Exotic and regular cork grip, Gudebrod Chesnut w CP gold trim, Chinese saddle hackle feather inlay
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The best my photography can do. In the sunlight it's like the feathers and thread are one & the same.
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I needed a special rod to throw mini-jigs to wary lake Trout. Went to back issues of RM Mag & searches on RB.org to get best practices and inspiration. Thanks to all for all the teaching and inspiration
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Chinese chicken neck hackle
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Rainshadow RX7 9'6wt 4pc. Apple wood from tree pruning, burl cork, Mettler Polysheen thread, HT Gold trims
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Close up of tips
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Gets rid of an invasive species and uses the rod building (and Boy Scout) skills
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Rainshadow RX7 IP843, Burnt & Regular Burl Split Grip, NPS Seat mounted "Kirkman Style"
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Tiger Eye blank, regular burl with cork and Burnt burl inlays, the cork ended up so badly pitted it's hard to tell it from the burl agh
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8'5wt Tiger Eye with Andy Dear's Exotic Burl
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FWIW, I build by fighting butts on the blank. One last thing for me to lose.
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Count me in as a fan and customer. I think all the sponsors here are topnotch but when I call Bob we talk a lot of fishing here in the SE and the discussions include ideas about blanks and rod design that contributes to the fishing experience. He's not an order taker he's wealth of fishing knowledge which he readily share.
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A lot of comments regarding prep. My experience with tournament guys (and gals) begs the question why one rod lost him the tournament. What about the 42 other ones in the rod locker :)
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James - as a point of clarity I need to add that if you set up the rod using the NCG system tuned to a specific reel and then switch it's not likely that you will have a catastrophic failure, especially if you are staying in the same size series (e.g., 2500) and just changing model or even manufacturer. What you lose is probably a small percentage off the "ulitmate" performance but in a
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As an alternative in a back issue of Rodmaker (sorry can't remember which one) Rich Forhan explained his Equal Distance methodolgy. The guide types and number are the same as the NCG system. However he uses a generic sizing scheme depending on the power of the rod (i.e., not tuned to specific reel) and his placement is based on a simple algorithm that provides a progressive "equal" dist
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I fish for Carp with an 8wt fly rod using a variety of nymph/wooly bugger flies or "berry flies". I put them right up there with any FW fly rod game fish (and a lot of SW) in terms of getting to bite and landing. Dave Whitlock wrote a great article on fishing for the Golden Ghost.
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As I inch closer to my 6th decade of fishing I've seen a lot of improvements in all gear, including rods. What I've come to understand as a constant among the better/best anglers regardless of the "gear period" is that one of, if not the most, important pieces of gear is the angler's knowledge of and confidence in what they are are fishing and how they are fishing it. I think this confi
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I like Billy's last comment. I've never understood the reasoning that a "pretty" rod can't be "functional". One value to me of this board has always been the core idea to keep the build as light as possible to keep as much of the blanks inherent efficiency as possible, without sacrificing structural soundness. With the advent of M&Ms I continue to learn more about the limi
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I ditto Mike's recommendations and would add a tool sharpening class if you're not already adept.
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Thanks M & M's. Learned a lot in Volume 2, both why and how information. Looking forward to Volume 3. Maybe information of how to hold on to micro guides with Turkey grease on your fingers ? :)
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I've actually had more problems, especially inshore burning up reels (less expensive :) ) than rod breakage (I haven't) when using braid. As many have commented drag setting is crucial. I would add that if the reel's drag quality is suspect it will show itself as the weak link, especially on powerful fish in open water. So I would add that a reel with a high-quality drag design and build and set
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"Other parts of the ultimate puzzle for building a better custom rod will detail the relationship of the following: Rod, Reel, Line, Lure, Fisherman" Bill imo you bring up a most critical point. However I would substitute the word puzzle with system - that is your "parts" plus target species, most fished habitat (e.g., open or structure filled water), most prevailing condit
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