Thank you very much. This is all helpful. I might have to check out the CTS blanks and the CFX carbon fiber handle. Tony
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Hello All, I was looking at the MHX Fly blanks and like the price points as well as the models. I'm looking for a 9-10 foot 5-6wt with fast action to indicator fish stillwaters. What do you think of the MHX Fly blanks? Thanks, Tony
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Hello All, I'm looking to build a fly rod and noticed some guides in Mudhole & Angler's Workshop catalog that peaked my interested. Wanted to know your inputs on these. What do you suggest to be the lightest guides to build on a fly rod? I was comparing the "Snake Brand" snake guides and the American Tackle Titan Titanium guides. What do you think are the lighter
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I'm a beginner caster looking for something lightweight to stillwater flyfish, as indicated above. Thanks, Tony
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original post updated with details and email is no longer hidden. Thanks, Tony
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Hello All, Looking to build my first fly rod and looking for some expert advise. The following is what I'm looking for. Any "helpful" suggestions and/or advice is ALWAYS appreciated. Lightweight blank 4-piece blank Graphite blank 10 foot 4 wt............Fishing Stillwater midges 10 foot 5wt............Fishing Stillwater midges 9 foot 6wt...............Fishing stillwa
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Hello All, It's been awhile since I've posted let alone wrapped or fished. Work has been insane and it's getting busier. I have all of my personal rods wrapped in #326. I just had a few questions. Who makes the closest if not an exact same color to a Gudebrod #326 Red in NCP size A? Does anybody know if somebody has size A NCP Gudebrod #326 in stock? If I were to use the Gudebrod
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Hello All, I'm looking to do my first weave pattern and am looking for a single color pattern and have a couple of designs printed out but I am having a real difficult time laying out the design on graph paper as mentioned in Doc's Old School way. I want to get the software that everybody raves about but right now I just want to try and lay out these two patterns to get started since they will
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Hello All, I just wanted to ask your opinions and advice on something. What are the differences and benefits of VISUAL WEAVE and PIC TO WEAVE softwares? Thanks, Tony
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Hello All, I have all of my rods wrapped with scarlet red and don't mind it because if it turns to pink I can always cut away and rewrap. The thread is NCP, too. But I'm looking to build a rod for my brother in HI and am not going to easily do that for him due to the fact that I'm here in California and him in HI. I am planning on wrapping a very large surf style rod for him and he want red an
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Hello All, I am looking to build a rod to fish a swimbait called the Huddleston. Does anybody have ANY suggestions or recommendations on some good blanks to fish the Huddleston? Thanks, Tony
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A big MAHALO (thank you). Thank you for the suggestion. I was hoping for an option besides the wire guides. I have more confidence in something that is strong but lighter. Plus when I saw that you had a LIFETIME GUARANTEE on the VIRTUS ring lock guides, that sold me on trying them out. My friend owns a local tackle shop and can order me the guides. I'm ordering them from him. Thanks, Tony
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Hello All, I am looking for suggestions on the following situation, please. I am looking for a casting guide with a suitable insert that is extremely strong and durable enough to survive getting banged on the rocks of the surf. The insert has to be hard enough to handle large diameter, heavy braid and able to handle hard fast runs of big fish. These guides are going on a 13 foot surf blank
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Hello Everybody, I just wanted to make a post and let everybody know that Don at Don's tackle is truely a class act. I'm am trying to build a rod for my brother out in Kaneohe, HI. I'm trying to build him an Ulua rod. So I called Don up for parts and where to buy them. Not only did he send me in the right direction to buy the necessary parts but also spoke to me on the phone and told me the wa
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Hello All, Sorry about the confusion on the previous post. I am looking for the most UV resistant THREAD finish that will not yellow and/or crack under extreme exposure to the sun, in your opinion? Thanks, Tony Ruffino
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Hello All, I am looking to coat a huge rod that is going to be seeing alot of defenitive heat from the sun for countless hours on end when fishing and just wanted to see what you inputs would be to the following question. What would you say is the best Rod finish with the best UV resistance that can withstand yellowing and cracking the longest? Thank You All, Tony
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Call me old school and not in age, to be honest quite the opposite. But I learned from a local rodbuilder how to do my signatures. I just use the same pen that every rodbuilding supplies place sells for a few bucks and Testors Enamel model paint. If you make a mistake then you wipe and start over. Just try not to make too many mistakes because I wipe with Acetone. I've learned one thing in r
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Hello to All, I am looking to build a custom Ulua rod for my closest friend which lives on the Windward side of Oahu. I have never fished for Ulua so only know the basic construction of these rods from what I can find on the internet. I am looking for rod blank suggestions for a 14+ footer that is ideal for this type of fishing? How can I get a hold of Jeff Andres from Kona that I here
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Hello Everybody, This is going to be for a 9 foot "Whipping" rod for my friend in Hawaii. I'm looking for the following characteristics in this blank: X-fast to Fast tip Medium to Medium Heavy action upto 1oz wt. lure no less than 9 feet long two-piece rod (need to take on the plane with me) under $50 Thanks, TONY
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Hello Everybody, A friend of mine which is a professional rod wrapper brought this up to me and I just wanted to get your input on it. He said that I shouldn't wrap my thread too tight because it may crush and weaken the blank. In which case I have a question for all of you. How tight should I wrap my thread on to my guides and how should I determine the correct tightness and if it is
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Hello Everybody, I know this question has most likely been asked a few million times but here's a million and one. How do I determine which side to spiral wrap to and does it make a difference, performance wise, which side I spiral to? I have a friend that does his to the left but then again he only uses left handed baitcasters. Thanks, TONY
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Hello Everybody, What do you feel is the strongest and best epoxy for a reel seat? Which is better, Rodbond or Flexcoat? Any other suggestions are always welcomed. Thanks, TONY
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Hello Everyone, Wishin' I was at the show to meet most of you and learn. What is the average dry time of Rod Finish such as AFTCOTE and CLASSIC coat? What are some suggestions of accuretly measuring both parts, besides syringes? I have tried AFTCOTE and other finishes on test rods to practice and everytime I keep getting a soft finish, meaning I can push my nail into the finish. I ha
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Do any of you know the shelf life of ROD BOND? My ROD BOND that I've only had for a couple of years now isn't as smooth out of the bottle as I originally got it. It doesn't have the "Petroleum Jelly" smooth consistency any more. It's more chunky now. It still blends well and I checked my handles and still holding strong. Should I be concerned? Thanks, TONY
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Hello Everybody, What blanks would you recommend to build on a freshwater bass split shot rod? Thank you for all of your wisdoms and for this Awesome portal of information and help. Not to mention, a great place to meet teachers to tutor you along your learning curve. TONY
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Hello Everybody, I've got a hard request and I'm hoping you can help. There is a technique that a famous west coast finesse bass angler Don Iovino made famous here called Doodlin'. What blanks would you recommend that would be a good rod for Doodlin'? Thanks, TONY
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Hello Everybody, Apologies if this seems repetitive. I've looked through out most of the posts and can't seem to find the answer to my question. This is my first time using these abors and am putting them on a dropshot rod. I'm using the Fuji two-piece "cobra" spinning reel seat. The threaded portion fits the arbor perfectly. The second piece, the hood, has to have the arbor shapped
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Hello Everybody, I'm looking at finishing up a Dropshot rod and might be using braid on it and planned on wrapping Fuji Alconite Guides on it. Will the Fuji Alconite Guides hold up to the Braid without damaging the guides or grooving the inserts? What guides do you recommend to wrap on a rod that is going to be used with braid? Thank You and Happy Holidays, Tony
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Hello Everybody, I would just like to pick some of your brains. What do you recommend for would suggest as the lightest spinning reel seat / set-up for a dropshot rod that I can feel "EVERYTHING" with? Thanks, TONY
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Hello Everybody, I'm looking to purchase some foam blocks to finish up a couple of rods for myself to test out the feel of the handles before I invest into pouring my own and noticed that when I went to buy them that Lamar did not have them on their site anymore and neither did Bingham. Only Angler's Workshop and it's only available in 4lb density. What's up with that? I am looking to purch
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