Interesting discussion on Euro rods. Just measured the guide spacing on my 1st gen Orvis Recon 10' 3wt. There are 11 guides plus tip. The nymphing rod spacing difference from a standard rod is the stripping guide is closer to the grip. The Recon stripper is 92" from the tip and mounted on the butt section. My Cortland 10' 6" has the stripper on the butt section as do most Euro rods
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I have the older RX7 version which is very much the same action and grain window. I've had my 10' 8" 5 wt since Batson introduced them 10+ years ago so I've got some miles on it. Since it tops out at 285 grains it's probably more in the 4 wt switch grain window. Mine likes a 250 grain Commando skagit or a 265 gr. Wulff Ambush. They are moderate fast, softer and deep loading rods so don't
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I built two Arctos 10' 3" 4 wt. fly blanks when they first came out since I like long rods and my wife always needs her own rod. I think they cast a 4 wt WF line just fine but uplined to a 4.5 or 5 wt they load even better for me. They are an all round faster action rod that will throw dries, dry/dropper and indies easily. Can do Euro nymphing but just not very sensitive or light weig
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There is a small snake guide hook keeper on my Walton Powell 9 ft. 5 wt. fly rod circa 1978. My first graphite rod bought straight from the Powell Co. as Walton only sold direct to customers. Just my preference but I don't use keepers. .
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I built an Arctos 10'3" 4 wt. and like it a lot. It's not a Euro specific soft tip stiff mid/butt action but is a faster more uniform flex that is great for dries & indicator or naked high sticking and even single hand spey. I usually use a 10' 5 wt. (Pac Bay Quickline) or a switch rod on the Truckee since if you encounter a big brown they can bury a 4 wt. I live in the Reno area and
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Another Litespeed user here. Mine is a couple decades old 1st gen 3.5 and also have a 3.5 Radius for switch rods. The Litespeed has seen several winter trips to the Tx gulf coast, Florida, bones in Mexico and dunked in alkali Pyramid lake. Other than having the non-stainless drag clutch replaced early in it's life by Lamson it has performed really well. Only concern is how well they would suf
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Dup
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An 11 ft. 7 wt. will be a great choice, certainly for Pyramid and big trout anywhere else, summer steelies, bull trout, dollies. Now days there is a big selection of excellent 2 hand rod fly lines that are directed at just about every fishing situation. You have to match the line to the application and get the right grain weight but it's not hard and the result is a rod/line combo that really s
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Jeff, With the almost complete overcast we've had and a breeze the fishing has been good. Average one fish per hour but it seems afternoons produce more grabs. Mostly stripping a Tadpole/bugger combo but fly selection here is not technical. Pyramid is about constant cast & retrieve, withstanding cold & wind for hours and luck. At least one fish over 10 lbs. so far. At Pyramid I real
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Jeff, I'm at Pyramid lake in the RV park staying in my travel trailer as this message is written. I have used switch rods here for years as they cast far and don't strain your arms, shoulders and other body parts needed for the hours of repetitive casting required here. Been using 6 & 7 weight switchers from several rod companies and they all work great with the right lines. These are my
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1/8" wide pin stripe tape.
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Also have to give big thanks to the the Rainshadow folks for matching a Revelation tip to my older RX7 switch rod that had a recent accident. The repair cost was more than reasonable, the communication was great and the turn around was quick. Still love and use my RX7 switchers. Thanks again, Rainshadow.
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I don't have any CC data on the Arctos but built two 10' 3" for #4 line blanks as primarily all around long rods. Don't have much moving water time but lots of high elevation lake tubing and shore line wading experience. This rod is not a feather light Euro nymph $$$$ super stick but it is powerful and casts floating and intermediate lines with up to #8 conehead bunny leeches just great..
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I just used Pro Kote high build for the first time to finish two 4 wt. fly rods. I've used Flexcoat, AmTak Clear coat and Threadmaster high builds in the past. I mixed equal portions using syringes, stirred pretty vigorously in a cup and poured it on a flat tin foil surface. Blew on the mix with a straw and all the bubbles popped. Applied with a brush. It seemed a bit thick but was easy to g
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You don't want to sand the tip. Get a 4.5 tip. It may be a slightly loose fit but no matter. I use 5 min. epoxy on tips but thermo tip glue works fine. When you wrap thread up against the tip tube and apply finish it will look right.
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I just finished an Arctos 10' 3" 4 wt. that was intended to be a tight line nymph, indicator & dry fly all rounder. After test casting it today with an SA Ultra 3 WF4F line I was amazed and impressed how nice it cast 20-45 feet, laid out line and leader dead straight and loop control was easy. Way better than expected. I like the Quickline blanks but my 5 & 7 weights need to be up
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I'm currently building a 10' 3" 4 wt as a euro inspired rod. Are you using single foot guides like most factory euro nymph rods? You could use the Sage ESN guide spacing chart and it should work very well, Guide spacing doesn't have to be exact to a specific blank and small spacing variances don't matter. Euro rods mostly have soft responsive tips and firmer mid/butt flex profiles with t
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My understanding is the discontinued IF1006 and the current Revolution are virtually the same action and modulus rated material. The IF guide spacing should work fine. I have the IF1006 and the REV 1007 both built with 3 inch rear handles as 2hand/single hand combo rods. Both perform great. Only downside is they only come 2 piece but no prob for me. You'll be happy.
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I've been fishing the Texas coast for a month chasing reds and speckled trout. I'm using a Quickline 7 wt. almost all the time. It is light and pretty fast without demanding really aggressive casting to get it's sweet spot. Not much sight fishing where I'm wading so mostly blind casting big flies in the wind. Tough work and my arm gets sore with a rod that doesn't cooperate. I really like Ra
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Mudhole MHX fly blanks are very nice and not too expensive. My experience flogging a PacBay Quickline 9' 7wt on big stillwater and now in Texas saltwater chasing Specks and Redfish has made me a big fan. I have top name similar rods for comparison and the Quickline has surprised me how nice it casts heavy flies often blindcasting in windy conditions. Hopefully the 10' is as good. Maybe not th
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I built this rod some years ago when they first came out. Almost went too small on the guide sizes but it worked out. Make sure your guides will allow loop connections to pass especially under load. Short scandi/skagit heads are pretty darn fat so even factory loops attached to running line are a bit bulky. The IF1085 tops out at 280 grains so it's more like other manufacturers 4 wt. switch
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Michal, My experience with rainshadow blanks has been completely positive and the new series should be outstanding. Regarding PacBay Quickline durability, l built a 9 ft. 7 wt. that has been thrashed at Pyramid lake in Nevada where constant casting with big flies, fast sink heads, high wind and freezing cold alkaline water will reveal any weakness in a fly rod (and the fisherman). My Quickli
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I have a 6 wt. 9 ft. MHX and a 7 wt. 9 ft. Quickline. I like them both and they seem similar in that they are light weight, fast without being too fast and feel light in the tip. Good all around performers. And they're nice quality blanks that are straight with good ferrule fit. Also have a Dan Craft FT 6 wt. 9 footer that is super fast and stiff, maybe too much of a good thing. But right no
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Joel, I've turned many grips including long switch/spey grips on a homemade simple drill powered lathe. Rod Bond works fine for gluing cork rings including composite and rubberized cork. Just use a very thin glue layer on the faces of the rings and there will be little glue squeeze out and any excess epoxy can be wiped off with alcohol. I pre ream the rings to just undersize of the blank be
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I still have some yellow handled flex coat brushes and use inexpensive camel hair brushes. I even the end of the bristles with tying scissors and work them to get out loose fibers. The brush is used almost like a spatula. Load the brush with finish and hold it against a rotated rod. I found blowing gently thru a straw on finish right after it is poured out on a flat tin foil surface really ge
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Tony, I have an RX7 9 ft. 8 wt. blank and the sections are 28 1/4 inches. I always consider the slightly additional length from tip tops and reel seat ends or fighting butts. There is Rainshadow rod CCS data available at the CC Info link in the Sponsors list right here on Rodbuilding.org.
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A classic setup would be to find a USA made Pflueger Medalist 1494 and upgrade it with Onepfoot goodies. A Hardy Perfect was another classic but pricey. Otherwise look for a modern standard arbor reel like the already mentioned Battenkill or CFO. Also consider a Galvan Standard or nice used Ross Gunnison or Cimmaron. The Ross San Miguel is exquisite but $$$$.
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I've been using a crow quill pen with Windsor Newton and calligraphy inks. These inks are water based and can be thinned easily and mistakes can be wiped off with a wet paper towel. I can write directly on the blank without scuffing using slightly thinned ink and achieve fine line writing that looks very nice . You can apply finish directly over the inscription without any worries about smeari
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If you're looking for an all aluminum Struble seat for not much money check out the newer U15HG & U18HG. Colors available are green, blue, grey and black. Maybe the green will match your blank color. The U18 is a slightly bigger O.D. otherwise they're the same design. Can be had for $25-$27 dollars. Very nice units. I've been very happy with the grips and cork rings from Angler's Worksh
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I've built and fished this last season with a 5 wt. and 7 wt. Rainshadow switchers. Lots of OH casting with shooting heads and WF floaters off the beach. Not much river fishing but the 5 is a bobicating, bugger swinging, Czech nymphing trout vacuum. Per Batson the 7 wt. grain window is 185-380 and the 5 is 140-280. Batson has builder spec sheets with guide spacing on their web site. My 5 is
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