The CRB blanks are great budget blanks for sure, but keep in mind the ratings don’t seem to reflect the actions well at all. For reference I’ve built on an IS661ML and a IS661L. I was expecting them to be good trout/panfish blanks with soft actions similar to most ML and L action rods. The ones I got were very stiff and didnt make for good live bait rods. I tried using them as such and they didn
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Could also use a hood to hide the threads. I too am not a fan of exposed threads especially on spinning rods so I always end up using a Fuji KDPS, SK2 hoods or equivalent. Bait casting doesn’t bother me too much since I palm the reels and my hand never comes in contact with the threads.
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my post was about how I didn’t have good results with Flex Coat and I’m not sure if the heater was the issue. I would get more micro bubbles than other brands without the heater too. I believe the force of the air from the heater introduced air pockets, or dust into the epoxy. And I believe the force from the air created an uneven finish. I was just posting my experience with Flex Coat. I hav
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I used flex coat for my last couple repairs and had a lot of micro air bubbles and the finish didn’t level out at all. It was cool in the basement, 60 or lower so I placed a portable space heater which got the area upwards of high 70s. Not sure if it was from the heater fan or what. Never had a problem with any other epoxy. I just ordered Threadmaster as I’ve had better luck with that.
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Funny that you mention CCS on different orientations. I had a similar discussion on another forum about this very subject matter. I tested the MHX SJ842. Built as a spinning rod and i spines the rod, placed the guides on the inside curve. I typically do a few CCS tests on each blank and take the average to eliminate error. I did two tests with the guides oriented down so the weight is being a
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I used the ProWrap Merlot color thread on a small 2wt fly rod, natural graphite color, I built last year and it came out great. Added a little white tip to the lower wraps In a nod to the white tips on a brook trout fin. I agree with what’s been said above, to a few wraps and see how you feel about it. If you like the looks, you have your answer.
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Tom Kirkman Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Evan Cobb Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Regardless of if it matters, one thing that > stood > > out the most to me is Mr Loomis actually > describes > > placing the guides opposite of what most other > > companies or videos suggest
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Regardless of if it matters, one thing that stood out the most to me is Mr Loomis actually describes placing the guides opposite of what most other companies or videos suggested. When I first started building, I learned that when determining the spline, spinning guides go on the inside of the curve, casting would be placed on the outside. In the video, Loomis said that spinning guides should
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Interesting, I checked the DS 6107 a couple times. First I measured 352 but saw that the butt of the rod was lifting. I ended up buying some trigger clamps and redoing it a couple times which got 392. This wasn’t a finished rod, just a raw blank so maybe be the weight of the guides and epoxy decreases the IP a bit?
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I’d just performed a few CCS. NFC IM DS6107: IP 392; AA 76. (I talked with gentleman on another site who tested this blank and determined IP 387; AA 78, which is a 1% difference. The data in the CCS database is very far off). St Croix Avid X 69MLXF: IP 372; AA 77 ( within 4% of St Croix Avid 69MLXF on the database) Lews TP-1 7’M-Mod Fast: IP 665; could not get an accurate angle, will tr
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Thank you all for the advice and recommendations, I really appreciate it
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I’m building a couple fly rods and I don’t have much experience other than a 6’6” 2wt that I built last year. That smaller rod came out great and I believe I did a size 8 stripper to a size 4 single foot, then single foot 1s the rest of the way. My only complaint is the loop connection catches on the single foots often. One of the rods is an NFC F904-2 and I’m planning on doing a size 10 strip
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They usually do send decals with the rods. I will say good luck getting in contact with them. I’ve sent quite a few emails, called St Croix (which no one answered the RodGeeks Dept so I left my number) and I have yet to receive any response or callback. On other forums it’s apparent that this is very typical of RodGeeks now. I just placed an order today so hopefully it doesn’t end up being a r
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The St Croixs SCIII 69MLXF rods are truly something special. the Axid X 6’9ML XF is my unicorn rod. Great balance, sensitivity, ergonomics, taper, and price... have used it for everything from drop shot to weightless Texas rigs to tossing salted minnows for stream trout. With the way RodGeeks customer service has been lately and lack of inventory, probably the only rod I’d buy from them now is
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My parents had a camp on Oneida back about 7 years ago when I first started throwing the Ned. I would swim it just like Aaron suggested and the smallies would destroy it. I caught more fish swimming a ned than I did dragging or hopping. For some reason I stopped fishing it that way and I’m not sure why. Same thing with a finesse jig, I only ever used to slow roll it with light bumps of the rod an
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Daryl Ferguson Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I’ve seen that stuff, but I use disposable > brushes so… I too use the disposable brushes. $2 for a 30 pack. Usually end up using 2 brushes per build (2 coats of epoxy) which equates to 13cents per rod. I haven’t seen any finish issues that would direct me to use a better brush. Then again, I’ve only been
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Tim Scott Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Was just laughing at the promo over lunch with my > wife. Wasn’t last years a reel seat? I believe it was, a reel seat that can hold 2 reels at the same time, one casting and one spinning. Mudhole marketing staff really put in a lot of effort for it to, came out with a promotional video and everything. Very
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Pick his favorite color and go from there. Black/slate blanks are like an empty canvas waiting to be painted on. The only wrong answer is the color which he dislikes. For me, I’m partial to a dark green, sky blue, light brown and tan colored thread. I think the tan/brown kind of gives it an old world classic look
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Interested in this as well. I’d like to give the Alps guides a try as all of my builds have either been with CRB Elite or Fuji K series. Alps does make a match style guide that appears to be similar to the Fuji K line up. It’s hard to find the Fujis in the size I want, seems like everywhere is out of stock. But with Alps having a great reputation figured why not? Part of the reason I got into
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My ideal workbench is one where my wife’s Christmas decorations aren’t encroaching on it everytime I want to build something haha
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david taylor Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > By St. Croix you mean a blank from Rod Geeks? > > I was looking at the Rod Geeks site and most of > their fly rod offerings seem sold out. I wonder > what is going on? Yes, RodGeeks blank. I saw that a lot of their fly rods were out of stock too. Hopefully it’s just due to builders trying to sq
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Thank you, gentlemen. I passed the info along and he decided to go with a St Croix C4F904-4 since he wanted a colored blank. But based on the input, I ended up getting a F904 for myself. It’ll be a good addition to my RevF662wt and an Orvis Clearwater 8’6” 5wt.
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Good Afternoon guys, My dad would like a 9’0”, 4-wt fly rod and I was hoping to get some advice into which direction would be best as I don’t have much experience building fly rods. He is looking for an overall general use rod for smaller to mid sized streams, and primarily tossing size 12-16 dry flies and nymphs. He is interested in either the NFC LMX FAF904, or the F904 Classic because h
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I don’t believe JP Ross personally rolls his own blanks Personally. His shop is fairly local to me and i don’t see where he has the size for an oven. That said, his blanks are made by a domestic supplier. There’s 2 options for the Muir. One comes with the aluminum rod tube, cloth bag, and decals. Then for $100 more he provides a full build kit (engraved reel seat, handle, guides, winding check
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Id suggest looking into a JP Ross Muir rod blank. In my opinion, JP Ross makes some of the finest small stream fly rod blanks out there. I’ve ordered parts from him before and he loves to talk with customers directly on the phone too. Great guy, great rods. The Muir is a 7’ 3wt, 5 piece fiberglass rod blank, with aluminum case for $250.
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The size seems about normal to me, but I prefer those smaller guides. Regarding spacing, I would begin by placing the first reduction guide 20-22” from the face of the reel and install the tip top. Then, tape the remaining reduction guide(s) and running guides spaced out incrementally between the first reduction and tip top. Static test to determine the correct placement and number of guides
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I built my first fly rod last spring for small Brook trout and could also be used as a panfish rod. I don’t have nearly as much experience as most on here but I will say that build came out better than expected. I used a Rainshadow Revelatiion 6’6” 2wt and it honestly casts smoother and almost just as far as my 8’6” Orvis Clearwater 5wt. After reading some reviews on here, my next fly rod bui
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I don’t have a lot of experience Building fly rods or the knowledge of others so take my opinion with a grain of salt. I built a 6’6” 2wt fly rod for small mountain streams and used single foot guides. I modeled mine after JP Ross fly rods which imo are the best small stream rods that you can buy. The single foot guides would produce a faster action rod due to less weight since there are half
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I have the 1 piece RodGeeks C266MLF that I use for trout on streams and ned rigs, weightless Texas rigged finesse worms and other finesse soft plastics. It’s a great rod for the price. Not the most sensitive but it’s also a cheaper blank. Action is great. I’ve caught up to 20” browns and 3lb bass on the rod. Handled everything fine. Equivalent store bought would be a St Croix Premier 6’6” ML i
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Another option would be a RodGeeks B368MXF, B466MF or a B266MF. I’m using a 6’6” Med-Fast rod and find the action to be perfect as I prefer a softer tip to avoid pulling the bait.
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