I am heading for the Yucatan this summer to have a go at baby tarpon in the mangroves. All of my saltwater fly rods are 9' long, and it has been recommended that a shorter 8 or 9 weight rod would be better, similar to the 8' Sage Largemouth bass rod. I suppose I could just buy one of those, but I would like to build one myself. I have been looking around for a blank that meets the need, with
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A multi-piece rod for trolling billfish teasers would be nice to take along to some of the places I have been saltwater fly fishing. The last lodge where I stayed wanted $40/day rent for a trolling rod. I was thinking of buying an inexpensive 4 piece 12 weight blank, dropping the tip section, and building a teaser rod I could take with me. There may be other and better solutions. Any sugge
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I am planning to build a rod with Snake Brand snake guides in bronze, but I can't find a stripping guide in that color. What are my choices? Thanks.
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I need to personalize a rod I made for a friend with his wife's name. The blank is too small in diameter for the paint pens that I usually use. I was wondering if I can write her name on a piece of inkjet decal transparency and apply that to the rod. The blank is dark blue, and none of the fine point pens I have come in colors will show up.
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Several recent posts about repairing broken tips have inspired me to fix a broken rod tip. I have read Ralph O'Quinn's article in the library, and the task seems simple enough. My problem is that I do not have any old fiberglass rods to use. Is there/are there sources where these materials can be purchased?
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I am building a 12 weight for a friend that wants a fore-grip. I have seen quite a few rods with the fore-grip integrated into the grip. Is there any reason/advantage for this, other than cosmetics?
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I’m about to build a fly rod for steelhead and salmon. This rod will be fished in cold and rainy weather where ice will sometimes form in the guides. Is one style of fly rod guide superior to the others for such conditions?
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Do a search for 'guide ring hardness' for posts within the last 90 days. Cliff Hall posted Vickers scale hardness data on the various ring materials available. Any of these materials will peform well in a fly rod stripping guide. Make your choice of guide based on the frame style, frame material and frame color as well as the ring material. Fuji alconite guides are light and are hard to beat
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Cabelas offers a 7 piece 9'6" 7 weight in the Stowaway series, but no 8 weight as I remember.
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I have used them on the last three saltwater fly rods I have built. The I.D. of the nanolite ring is larger than the I.D. of the Fuji SIC ring guides, which I like. Phil is correct about them being softer, but I still prefer them to the Fuji guides overall.
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Karluk mostly. We will be at Larsen Bay Lodge the last week of September. I already made the 10' 8 weight FT as a switch rod. I am told a 9/10 would be a good idea for the silvers.
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I am going to Kodiak Island for the first time this September, and would like to build another switch rod. The one I have is made on one of Dan Craft’s 10’ FT blanks. Can anyone tell me how the Beulah blanks compare to the FT’s?
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A 12 weight is my rod of choice for Baja fishing. Based upon my experience and preferences, I suggest a FB in the 1.5" to 2" range, with a quality reel seat like the Struble U18 or equivalent from REC. A note about reel seats: I have found that the rubber O rings used on some seats easily deform in very hot weather. If the locking ring is recessed to accommodate the O ring, and the
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I discovered a loose ceramic ring in a single foot guide on the tip section of a 12 weight that I am taking to Baja. Should I replace he guide, or epoxy around the ring?
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The color of the ICMNSG is a good match for the Hopkins and Holloway snakes in titanium finish, and I assume the color of the single foot guides would be the same, if those are what you inend to use. I am using ICMNSG #12 and #16 guides on a 9 weight I am building, using Hopkins and Holloway snakes. The ICMNSG is a stronger and somewhat heavier guide series. The #20 is a taller guide than stan
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I recently purchased the T&T 9'6" 9 weight blank that you are considering. It is a beautiful dark blue blank, with a flawless T&T finish. I have not built the rod yet, because my preliminary Common Cents measurement put the blank in the low 8's, and I need a rod in the mid 9's. Can't tell you anything about the TFO.
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I've built on four of the FT blanks, but none was the 5 weight. Nevertheless, I am confident it is similar to the other blanks in the series. I worked out a spacing on the first blank that has been very close to the final spacing on the other three. Measuring from the tip: 4.125; 9; 14.375; 20.375;27.125; 34.75; 43.625; 53.875; 65.5; 77.5. I am 6'1" tall. I also like to place g
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David, I used the U-15 on Dan Craft FT 10 and 12 weight rods that I take to Baja for Dorado fishing. The I.D. is smaller and I can bush the rod with drywall mesh. I also like the fact that the rubber O ring is not recessed in the locking ring. I have had O rings get too hot and deform under the pressure of tightening. If the U-15 ring deforms, the rings will still lock the reel in place. If
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There are 12 guides in all on that particular T&T. Two ICMNSG style guides, a #16 stripper and a #12. I have used a #16 Fuji TSVSG as a stripping guide on several 10 weight saltwater rods. They are about the same height as the ICMNSG. I think #16 and #12 would be good choices for your 9 wt.
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A friend has a Thomas & Thomas Vector 10' 7 weight with that style of guide as the stripper. Looks very nice.
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I have built only one switch rod, an 8 weight on a 10' Dan Craft FT blank, so I really don't know what I'm talking about; but here's my thoughts based on two days of fishing it. First, I built the rod with the idea it would primarily be a single handed rod, and only occasionally fished as a two hander. The fixed butt is 3.75" long. I used a Struble U15 seat, and a long main grip of 10.5
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I have built and fish two Dan Craft rods that fit your needs. One is the FT that Robert Box recommends. I built mine as a switch rod, and used it for steelhead fishing. It is very powerful and will cast a very long line, even though the action is on the moderate side of moderate-fast. It is a 4 piece, which is convenient for travel in a rod of that length, too. The other blank to consier is
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I have no experience with Tarpon, however I do a lot of steelhead/salmon and dorado fishing. I have and fish Sage RPLXi , Loomis IMX, Scott STS and Dan Craft FT in 10 weights. Of the factory rods I prefer the Scott STS by a substantial margin, however the Dan Craft FT rods that I have built are my overall favorites. Do not be intimated by the fast action. Once you get the timing, they are as
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I like the way the Struble U15 and U18 fit the feet of my saltwater reels. I have used REC seats on a lot of saltwater rods as well, and some ChannelLocks. I have never had a probelm with any reel seat. Wish I could say that about the reels.
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They are a solid titanium alloy, so the finish is natural titanium, a metallic grey. They are a semi-gloss compared to a hard chrome guide, but they look fine. I use them saltwater fly rods, including the glossy Sage RPLXi blanks.
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Not dunking. Just replacing one guide that was damaged. It is difficult to match the thread color because of the age of the other wraps.
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The only color preserver I have on hand is the Flex Coat water base. Is this OK to use on a rod that will be finished with glossy spar varnish?
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I built t a switch rod on this blank, and had the opportunity to fish it on the Skeena River last September. I built it with 11 guides, and if I were doing it over again I would go with 8 or 9 at the most. My finished rod performed much better as a signle handed rod, when I really wanted a switch rod. The 10' 10 Weight FT is a very popular switch rod. One contributor recommended spacing fo
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You might like the Pac Bay CL9. I.D. is o.75 inches.
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A friend has asked me to repair his father's Rapidan, which is in very good condition except that the stripping guide is damaged and is held in place with old electical tape. The stripping guide has an O.D. of 8mm and appears to be original. Is this the correct stripper? The varnish on the rod is in very good condition, including the other guides. The thread, which I assume is 00 silk, is
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