Hi all. Does anyone have any experience with the MHX switch rod blanks? More specifically the lower weight models which would be used for small trout. thanks Tom.
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Thanks for the information Bill.
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Hi all. I have a spool of Prowrap Nylon RNS-A 701 and can't remember if it needs colour preserver. The Prowrap adds/information don't specify. Does anyone know if it needs CP? I remember using a similar thread as a subtle trim band but when i put on the epoxy it darkened considerably (that thread obviously needed CP). I'd rather not make the same mistake. thanks Tom.
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I was using a Model PT tip in a size 6 to match the running guides. With this particular rod I have been trying a 6 weight Skagit line, which seems to have plenty of room to spare with the size 6 running guides. Keep in mind though it is a fully integrated line so there are no loops for the shooting head/running line connections.
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I just built a 10 foot five weight as a tow-handed rod. I used size 6's for the running guides and tip, and I believe a size 12 and 8 as the stripper guides. I like the guides but don't care for the bigger foot. I think the rest of the fly rods I'll build I'll likely stick to wire guides for the running guides. They just a smaller amount of materials in comparison to minimas.
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Hi Marc, A couple I know are Pac Bay's Rainforest and Tradition 2 blanks but they are 6 weights, and two piece. RF2F866 RF2F806 T2F866 T2F806 Tom.
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Thanks for all of the input. I see the point of trying out a rod first, only thing is that my local fly shops have limited bass gear now - mainly trout and steelhead - until the spring. I think I am going to try either an 8 or 8.5. Most of my rods have been 9 foot or longer so it would be a nice change. One last question, for those who fly fish for bass, do you use the specific bass tap
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Hi all. I was speaking to some local rod builders about fly rods for bass. One recommended an eight foot, and said the shorter length made the rod more accurate and also easier to handle over a long day of casting - lots of quick casts to cover in comparison to say nymph fishing for trout. He also felt that the shorter length made it easier to control/twitch streamers and top waters when the
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Thanks Randy. I guess experimentation will be in order. Luckily the owner of our local fly shop has told me about a line test system he recommends, where he supplies a reel with the running line and various heads and you can see which weight your rod prefers. I'll have to give that a try.
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Thanks Phil. Your explanation makes sense. She's only doing simple roll casts and two handed false casts - we'll be swinging wet flies and streamers for trout and smallmouth. One last question, what type of line would you recommend for this type of fishing? Would it be one of the designated switch rod lines with a shorter, heavy head or something different?
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Hello all. I'm building a scaled down two-handed fly rod for my daughter from a 5 weight, 10 foot blank. I think i read somewhere that generally two handed rods take a line weight two sizes higher than a single hand rod. So would the same apply or are there additional considerations because this isn't a designated switch rod or mini-spey rod? thanks Tom.
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Thanks for the input. And yes, I was referring to the 6,7,8 weights - sorry I should have been more specific. But the feedback on the 4 and 5 weight was helpful. I had a 4 weight for a couple of months (before it had an accident in a doorway) and could never get it to cast well. I thought it was just me but now I figure I should have tried a heavier line.
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Hello all. I noticed that the Pac Bay Quickline fly rod blanks came out this year in some 10 foot models. Does anyone have experience with the new blanks yet and if so, are they similar to the 9 foot models (just longer)? Thanks.
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Forgot to mention the Loomis would be stripped down and rebuilt as a fly rod.
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Thanks for the suggestion Gene. I have an older Loomis GL3 P8400-B, popping rod 7'0" 6-12 line, 1/4-1/2 lures. Do you think it would make a good candidate for what you recommended? Bill, she has a 7" 4 weight for her main rod and uses it for panfish, chubs, shiners etc. She's into tying bigger flies now so I wanted an outfit which she could use for "trophy" fish.
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Marc, did you notice a difference in the rod action? Both are listed as medium-fast. Thanks Tom.
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Fair enough re the weight of the rod. The only thing is she is now on a fly tying kick and producing some pretty big flies. I was originally thinking about a 8 foot 6 weight but wasn't sure if it would be able to cast the bigger flies.
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Hello all. I'm looking for some input about the differences between these two types of blanks. More specifically, the differences between the two nine foot, seven weight blanks. The Rainshadow 2 model number is RF2F907-4. The Tradition Series model number is T2F907-4. Both have essentially the same specs in terms of weight, tip size, rod action etc. I want to build a rod for smallmouth and
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Marty that explanation makes a lot of sense. I've just started researching carp techniques and hair rigs. The heavy weight system + hair rigs also explain the use of reels with the bait runner feature as I have seen in various videos. So far my fish have come on corn threaded on a hook with a sliding sinker rig - about as basic as you can get. I need to watch the line and rod tip for the bite
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Thanks for the input. Darrin: I'll consider the microwave guides. I'm typically using minima these days bur perhaps it is time to experiment a bit. Marty: Your explanation of surf rods for freshwater makes sense. Whenever I watch carp fishing videos from the UK I am always surprised at the size of the leads being used. They certainly seem suited for the types of fishing techniques employed
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I've recently took an interest in carp fishing and was thinking about building a couple of rods. I watched some rod reviews on-line and noticed they spoke about butt guides which were size 50 and size 16 tip-tops. Also, there were relatively few guides compared to how rods of similar length are built in North America. Does anyone know the rationale behind this style of guide system?
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Thanks for all of the feedback and opinions. Gene: I did take a look at the Sage site for curiosity's sake and noticed that the 99 series rods used a size 1 guide towards the tip. When I looked at some other guide charts they also recommended a size 1 for the same weight rod. So I'm not sure if these guides would be any larger than normal?
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It was a video for the Sage 99 series. The question about the guide size comes up at about the 1:50 mark. The Sage rep says larger guides help with the mending and making roll casts. I hadn't heard about this before, hence the question. Here is the video.
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Hi all. I am about to put together a 5 weight fly rod which will primarily be used for indicator fishing. I saw some reviews for a Sage rod which was supposed to be designed for indicator fishing which mentioned the model had larger guides to help facilitate mending. Does anyone use larger guides than usual to make mending easier and is so, how much larger do you use? thanks Tom.
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That's a very good idea. I have an 11 foot rod with a handle with sliding rings so I would also be able to determine the best length of the butt grip (if needed). Thanks.
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Thanks for the feedback. I see the point about the shorter butt length. That was one of my concerns as on my 11 foot rods they can be pretty long which would be a pain when sitting in a kayak (I think).
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Hello all. I have a Poke Boat which is very similar to a kayak. This fall I plan on floating down my favourite river and casting spinners/spoons and float fishing for steelhead. I'm going to build a rod for this task. For those who have fished for steelhead from kayaks - or fish from kayaks in general - do you use the same rods as when bank fishing/wading or do you go shorter in length? For ex
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Thanks for the input. Bill, what style of running guides do you use? I'm thinking of building a spiral wrap bait caster for float fishing but am hesitant on using the fly style guides as they sit so close to the blank. I built another float rod with that style fly guides -but not recoils - and found that the line would tack to the blank in wet weather.
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Hi all. I was hoping to get some input on something. A couple of days ago my brother-in law and I were float fishing for steelhead. The temperature was in the zero (or just below) range. My rod had size six Alconites for the running guides, his size size Minimas. Both were fly gulde style. He was having problems with ice in the guides, I had none. We were trying to figure out if the Minima
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I have the same rod and am using an 8 weight Rio Indicator line on it, mainly short roll casts. The line may be a bit heavy for the rod but it works for me. If you visit the Pac Bay website I believe they now have recommended line weights for the Quickline series.
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