Mark, after decades of rod building, I find feather inlay work to be extremely complimentary to a custom rod build. I have found no quick way to do it well. My feather work needs to be slow, careful and meticulously tampered with with mag glasses and calm music in the background. I have evolved to several specific but fairly simple pieces oh hand made jigs and tools to make it easier. I now set a
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David, take some old rods and completely strip them! (Stripping blanks is a good skill to have anyway) Then build on them experimenting at will. Try things, make mistakes, learn things, improve your technique. They are 'no deposit-no return' blanks. When comfortable, then go order that really 'quality blank' and have at it!!!
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I don't know if it's considered innovation but the ease and speed of getting useful, accurate information on building technique from other builders is a major plus to rod building today!!!
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Neat video and team effort in these trying times. Salute Don and stay safe all!
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Do enjoy the woods, rivers and family. Big Salute! :-)
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'Plain Jane', nothing but efficiency and the lightest weight possible rods are such a piece of cake to build!!! Of course I would use nothing but Black size A nylon. And I would throw the option out, to this highest level hunter of fish, that I would put Forhan locking wraps on these light single foot guides but that would add about 5 wraps of thread per guide which would amount to about the weig
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Thanks Mark
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After 30 some years of building I have learned many things about the hobby/addiction. Number 1, I was, in my early years, too rigid, paint-by-the-numbers and locked into formulas and methods I had read or viewed. It was stressful then and I was always feeling my builds weren't good enough! Then I went to one of those first few 'Big Shows' in North Carolina.. Visited Tom's shop and he was there. H
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Utmost is the short cut to Batson's at their finest! Carol is the type of person you would want at the heart of interaction with worker and customer in any family business!!!. She is hard working, dedicated class at it's peak and very representative of the Batson name and family. American rods at their finest!!! :-)
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If you've ever dealt with any of the Batson's in person, you know what down to earth, class folks they are. Totally dedicated to fisherman and fisihing, especially here in the United States. Do support them folks!!!!
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If my customer tends to land fish 'on his/her own' especially from a boat.... this means for a time they have to hold the rod in one hand while they maneuver the fish to the net or their hand. This means locking the rod into their elbow or lower arm for good leverage!!!! If this is the case. I set the handle for their their particular arm length so this is very comfortable for them!!!!! :-)
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If my customer tends to land fish 'on his/her own' especially from a boat.... this means for a time they have to hold the rod in one hand while they maneuver the fish to the net or their hand. This means locking the rod into their elbow or lower arm for good leverage!!!! If this is the case. I set the handle for their their particular arm length so this is very comfortable for them!!!!! :-)
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A 'Snake Skin' followed by a 'Tiger' in front of the fore grip is very custom!
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Those of you who have the Immortal Walleye 6'2 1 pc rod ....... what do you recommend for guides for a guy that uses only 8 lb Nylon line and direct or slow drifts 90 % of the time? Thanks
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A fishing friend contacted me today about a favorite Loomis Rod he knocked out of his boat and lost! Loomis 1 pc Spin Jig 5'10" Mag Lite Extra Fast. Is it still being made by anyone? Does anyone have an old one they want to sell? What blank today would be close to a replacement for it? I told him I would check with the Rod guys. Thanks
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Mark, what a thorough, thought out, well explained answer. I really appreciate your words. thank you
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On a smaller 6' Spiral Wrap rod, what is the probable size of the stripper and then size of the transition guides when 8lb test is the line to be used? Have not done one in a long time?
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What issue of Magazine had Spiral Wrap article? Is the current recommendation for '1' bumper at 90* or '2' bumpers, one at 60* and one at 120*? Bumpers for a Right Hander = What side? Thanks
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Great builder and TEACHER. Rest In Peace
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What kind of mixing? Thx
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I had one bottle of old Gudebrod 811 color preserver left to get me through another decade of feather and snakeskin inlays! Sadly discovered it was not the old Gudebrod!!!!! I have tried several other cp brands and had little success. I am allergic to Permaglos. What else are you folks using for setting feathers down for inlays? Thanks
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Once you meet Ken in person, like so many of us were privileged to do, you had a phenomenal source of rod building info and tips just a quick text away. As busy as he was, I would drop some question to him out of the blue and usually within a day had an enlightening answer. Humble and great. We lost a great one!
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My Flex Coat 5/16 Pilot Bit wore out. I need a new one. Mud Hole has advertised the 5/16 in their last few catalogs but tell me they cant get them anymore when I try to order one. Do any of you builders have the a 5/16 Pilot Drill Bit you would be willing to sell? Thanks
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Finishing up my fourth summer in a row of 2-5 times a week of farm pond bluegill and bass fly fishing. Have worn out my 5 wt WF F new fly line from the spring. I clean it every time I go out. The line wearing does not concern me very much BUT my tip top grooving and my runner guides grooving do bother me. It has happened every summer's end for the last 4 years. I have been using various brands of
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Roger, I found that article in Rod Builder on how to file down the back side of wood drill bit. I am going to go to Haborfreight first and get one of the long bits and try that. Thanks for the thoughtful, thorough feedback. My 68 yr old hands kind of let me down when doing eye ball-hand tight reaming. Birchbark/Burl handles that I many hours of labor in need to be reamed carefully and well!
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My 5/16" Reverse Pilot Bit broke. Mud Hole shows them in their New Catalog but are currently out of them. I have checked other sponsors but come up with none. Does anyone out there have an old or extra 5/16 you would sell or know where else I could find one? Thanks
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Excellent guide prepping technique is a Golden corner stone of good rod building! Learn it.
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I have done it several times on various spin rods of my own when I didn't have the proper tip top quickly available and I wanted to fish the rod that week end. I then lock wrapped the same size runner guide for the tip. Looks were ok, weight was fine. May be my casting/reeling technique but I found line hang ups at the tip to be more common with my make shift top as opposed to a regular top. I do
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Thanks Tom
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Need to order some snake fangs. Where do you guys get yours? Thanks
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