Eric, I've given the switch rod some thought and I may build one in the future. Right now I am seriously considering the Batson forecast 12'6" 6 wt. Cost is a factor and I just can't justify a blank more than $100-$150. This will be an entry level rod for a spey beginner (me). Maybe down the road I will be able to justify one of those very sweet looking Meiser kits. I'm just looking for som
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Phil, So what you are saying is that I am missinformed and this river system is too narrow to use a spey rod to fish from. I've never been there but the pictures I see from friends of mine look like it is a medium size river by east coast standards. Some of the guides that have web sites and guide on this river also indicate that they use spey rods.
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Hello all, I've taken a little break from rod building but I am ready for a winter project. I'm a north east saltwater fly fisher that wants to make the transition to the world of spey casting. I will be fishing the Salmon River in Pulaski, New York for winter steelhead. This is completely new to me but I am as always jumping in head first. The little research that I have done reveals that a b
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The 3wt. 4pc. Rainshadow RX7 was my first project. I stll use it all the time even though I see all my newbee mistakes on it. Great value rod.
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Get Tom's or Dale Clement' s book and run with it. I mostly build fly rods but have I have built some spinning rods just so I could try a butt wrap. Just following the directions in the books have produced some pretty respectable looking diamond wraps.
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Thank you all for your responses. I actually have a Rainshadow 10 wt. that I built last winter that would defiantly work with some smaller fish. I would be reluctant given my lack of experience with this species to throw at a big fish with that rod. I want the confidence that I have enough backbone to beat a big fish in the shortest time possible so not to stress the fish. After I gain some exper
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Good day, My search request for Tarpon Fly Rod included some blogs about a All Star Austin 9010/11 - 2. Does anyone know if these blanks are still available? I'm planning a spring trip to south Florida and I want to make a fly rod that will enable my to land a big fish. Dr. John Tebbetts wrote a great blog about technique versus rod weight. Is there a suitable blank that is value priced for fish
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As a FYI to anyone building on Thomas and Thomas in the future here is the reply that I got back from the T&T sales rep. regarding the decal and warranty card. "The factory does not send decals with blanks at this point. I do have a few and will mail one to your attention. Blanks do not receive warranty cards. In the event of a repair follow the same procedure outlined on our web-si
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I actually picked up the blank at the factory after purchasing it from Mudhole. The people there were very friendly and gave me a quick tour of the factory. It was refreshing to learn that my construction methods are along the same lines as big dollar rod makers. I just assumed that someone at their factory hand wrote the T&T name and id’s on the rods. I just sent an email to T&T reque
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I was not expecting my new Thomas and Thomas blank to come without a decal or identification already on the blank (as per Sage). My handwriting stinks and I’m not sure I want to have custom decals made up because I only build four or five rods a year. Is there another method or system of identifying a rod type that I’m not aware of? Long after I’m dead and gone how are my grand kids going
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As a newbe I learned quickly that using an alcohol flame really helps to keep the epoxie level until it sets up.
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Tom, When you say a "high frame spinning type", would a fuji concept spinning guide fall into that category? I've only used casting style guides for the stripper guides and the concept of using a spinning guide is freaking me out! Does the spinning guide concept allow for a longer cast? (I'll have to tape some on and try it out). Is this a common trend, to use the spinning guide or are
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Good day all, My question is regarding guide sizes for a T&T 907S-4 that would be used primarily for schooly sized stripers in my home waters of the Connecticut River and redfish/snook trips down south. I am interested in what you guys have to recommend for striper guide size (20 or 16) and running guides near the tip. I want to keep this rod light and I am playing with the idea of using sin
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If I wrap the the male end for an inlay will the action or speed of the rod be affected in any way?
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I am toying with the idea of inlaying jungle cock nails to line up the guides on my latest build. 9wt., 4pc. Rainshadow (RX8+909-4) fly rod. Should I wrap the male end of the ferrules with thread as well as the female ends then place the jungle cock on the wraps or will it look out of sorts if I leave the male end bare and lay the jungle cock right on the rod. I have done 4 feather inlays on fly
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You can epoxy it all together at the same time. Ream out your grip and have it ready to go on and tape the parts of the seat that you don't want to get epoxy on. When you are all set mix up your epoxy and glue it all together.
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If you have'nt already ordered the reel seat, check out Batson's YFLY. The matching grip and fighting butt has a custom looking trim. For a better picture search "Karry Batson" in the photo section. I made a 8wt two weeks ago with the same seat and grip and it looks awesome. I am going to try it out tomarrow on some redfish
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To all, I am looking for some input on snake guides versus single foot guides on a 10wt to be used on NE strippers and bluefish fishing from a boat.
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No lathe, and I'm worried that I will inadvertantly damage the hookkeeper and reel seat if I start to sand it.
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To all, I just completed building a Sage VT2 9' 5wt. 4pc. fly rod. I have been casting in the yard and I love the action and control. My problem is the grip size is too big and my hand is fatigued after a short time. When I hold some other rods of mine I notice that the grips are much smaller and fit my hand better. Because I am new to this I did not have the insight to put the proper size grip o
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Start your wrap at the butt end and work your way to the tip. It is much easier to pull the loop finish at the tip end.
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I have taken the time to read all or most of the comments on this topic and apologize for beating the horse. My plan is to check each piece for straightness and wrap the guides on the low side. If the factory dots coincide with what I see then good for Sage, if not, I will trust my own eye. This is what I have learned from you. If I am off-track let me know.
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I am new to this site but I love it. Thank you all in advance for your help. I am starting my third fly rod. The first two were two piece blanks, Rainshadow 7'6" 3 wt. and G Loomis F1088 8wt. that I built last winter w/out the benifit of this site. I have learned so much already just searching this site for information. When I made the the first two rods I had read somwhere that the g
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