If you can find a proper tip section that fits and has the correct action, but doesn't match the color, there is another solution. Don Shafar at Backbone Custom Rods is a miracle-worker with colors. He can paint a blank to match just about anything you can come up with...
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The MicroWave guides are a great set, either in the 50's or the 30's. If you are willing to use black, the American Tackle Delta guides are also and excelleng budget-friendly choice.
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Working on a prototype fly rod for the Stehekin Wilderness for next year. I am using an 8' 6" American Tackle Matrix 4-weight blank, and simply can't get over how straight these blanks are! That, and their responsiveness! They look great, too, with the Matrix weave in the butt and a poliched black finish. With the Microwave Stripper Guides and a total of 12 guides, the load is so totally
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Wish I coulda been there!
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Putting the HCC seat on a Bushido Ultra 40-65 blank and going out for Albacore later this month. Can't say enough about both products! Great fit & finish, and the HCC seat packaging was the icing on the cake!
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If you don't mind them not being Fuji, I am a HUGE fan of the newer MicroWave 25's. I use them on light freshwater Trout rods and inshore bottom fishing rods, and everything in between! I particularly like the black version, and Fuji no longer produces black guides.
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I got totally confused by this string, but I'm still going to put in my 2 cents worth - the initial post appeared to be discussing the line weight for a fly rod. The line weight is whatever weight will effectively "Load" the rod without being too heavy for the forward cast, irrespective of single or double-hauling. A 5-wt rod will not cast a 2-wt line effectively, as the line is too l
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Daren, I build a lot of fly rods, and rarely go down to size 1/0. I feel the difference in the size of the tip and a 1/0 guide is too dramatic. Plus the weight difference in a 1/0 and size 1 is not significant. If I were building the rod, I would start with the 12/6 Microwave Stripper from American Tackle, then use a 4, two 3's, three 2's and 1's the rest of the way.
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Russell, In my experience, it is much more important to balance the reel to the rod. In other words, when the rod balances perfectly in your hand with the reel attached, you have a great balance. That being said, the largest reel that will balance your rod will provide the best casting distance, providing the guides are the sized correctly. If you are willing to spend the money, the Shimano
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Steve, I have built many fly rods, and have used both single-foot guides and snake guides. I was not happy with the single-foot guides, doing much better with the snake guides. One thing I found that improved my casting distance dramatically was using the Amerfican Tackle Microwave Stripper Guides, I found myself overshooting my targets by 5' to 10' on 35' to 45' casts! I cannot say enough abo
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I use many of the black guides from American Tackle, and have been vey pleased with the fit and finish. I can't wait to try out their new Vortex Air guides in matte black!
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I participated in the 2021 International Rod Building Challenge and am very pleased with my rod. We started with a 2-piece "Mystery" blank from American Tackle and I fell in love with it when I opened up the box! I used the AT G2 split grips, an AT CCT reel seat, and the Microwave 25's. I put a tiger wrap between the rear handle pieces, a diamond wrap over a versablend underwrap, and
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Went out freshwater Trout fishing yesterday with my arsenal of rods equipped with Microwave 25's and Airwaves. The star was the American Tackle Bushido rod bult on the the SP72-2/4-8 blank, it is simply a Trout fisherman's dream rod! Handles everything with aplomb and laughs at the fish while doing it! With the G2 split grip handle system, Aero CCT reel seat, MW25's and a size 20 reel, it is c
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You can't go wrong with the American Tackle Microwave systems. There are both Spinning and Casting variants for just about anything you want to do, including competition Carp Rod guides! My personal favorite is their newest system, the MW25 in black. I have used them on inshore saltwater rods and on light Trout rods, and have been extremely pleased in both applications! They just work for me,
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Russell, if you are willint ro try a bit shorter rod, check out the American Tackle Matrix 2-piece rated for 6-15 line and 1/4-5/8 lures. I have several and they are fabulous rods and the blanks weigh less than 2oz so it is no problem to cast all day with them. They have plenty of backbone to handle the Bonefish you are targeting.
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Great looking rod! Guess we can't call you a newbie any more, eh?
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There is a very big difference in the affect a spine has on a Fly rod versus a Casting or Spinning rod. In a casting or spinning rod, the spine can affect your accuracy, pulling the line to the weaker side of the blank. That is why spining a casting or spionning rod will improve your accuracy. With a fly rod however, the line is pulling the fly instead of the other way around, so if you have y
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The American Tackle Matrix MA-SP66-2/6-15 is an extremely versatile blank, and very light in the hand as well! it is rated for 1/4 to 5/8 so right in your wheelhouse! I have some and love them! It is a Mod-Fast action, but I have no problems casting light lures with it.
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I prefer the Microwave guides for a variety of reasons: - Increased distance - Better feel (fewer vibrations) - Less effort required to achieve the same distance My opinions are based on objective and subjective data. When the Microwave system was introduced a few years ago, I conducted some scientific tests to compare the distances acheived with 2 identical blanks - one set up with the
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I had that same issue with a 3-wt rod where I used a Nickle-Silver strap & ring. What I did was tape a couple tall guides on either side and run an elastic line from one to the other and through the ring. This kept the ring at the top of the pocket and away from the blank, enabling me to apply the rod finish without gluing the ring to the blank.
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You may also want to check out the American Tackle MB731/12-20 - it has outstanding sensitivity and plenty of backbone for when the stray Redfish slams your shrimp!
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The best guides will differ based on the application and target species. For my spinning applications, I really like the MicroWage guides in all of their configurations. The have never let me down, and I absolutely love the Black AirWaves! In one of teh threads above, there was a question regarding how Microwave Guides handle stiffer lines - I can answer that. They do a superb job! I ra
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I concur with Derek and Christopher, AT components are some of the best out there! I currently have between 30 and 40 rods in my personal arsenal, and my vavorites all have AT components! I am a "senior" builder, been building rods for over 52 years having started at age 17 in July, 1978 . I remember when Fenwick introduced the "new" material, graphite, and it revoluti
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I primarily fish for Trout up here in the Pacific Northwest and the American Tackle Bushido spinning blank has become my go-to blank. At 7' 2", it is a 2-piece blank designed for 4 to 8 pound test line, and 1/8 to 3/8 ounce lures. Paired with the new G2 handle and a Aero CCT reel seat, it is great to look at, light weight, extremely sensitive, and a fishing machine! Mine has caught Trout
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I have experimented with both single-foot and snake guides. For my money, I will use snake guides every time. I don't even fish my rods with single-foot guides any more, and am considering removing them and replacing them with snake guides. Just as with everything else, snake guides come in a variety of options and quality levels. I have been using Snake Brand snake guides for a number of yea
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You may want to check out a new American Tackle blank, the Atrex series, and the Microwave 30 guide system. The ATREX10-3.5-2PC blank would be perfect for your build, and is designed to cast up to 3.5 ounces! Looks really cool too. You can order them from Mudhole.
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Hook & Hackle carries a number of split bamboo blanks, both offshore and US-made. However if you have the budget for it, Sweetgrass Rods in Montana makes the best on the market! They specifically went to the Tonkin region and hand-selected their cane and they are fanatical about the quality they put into their blanks.They are not cheap, but they are heirloom quality!
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The Bushido blanks are outstanding! While I have not fished your specific application (not a Bass fisherman) I have several rods built on Bushido blanks and have absolutely no issues with them. I also love the Amereican Tackle Matrix blanks, with their reinforced butt sections. Can't go wrong with either one!
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As has been stated in several posts, there is no reason not to combine untreated and treated thread. The over-riding issue is what you are trying to achieve. I recently completed a tiger wrap in NCP White, NCP Neon Orange, untreated Neon orange, and NCP Black. My intention was for the orange to "fade" into the darker color, and the effect was perfect! While not the colors I would wa
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I love the G2 handle assemblies! I have build several full length and split grip rods, both spi9nning and casting,usually with the CCT/3K seats. I used one recently on a rod donated for a non-profit @#$%& and they love it!
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