Brandon, no, the size 10 is not a light wire guide, it will have the same frame as the size 12 guide, which is your stripper guide. Some fly rod manufacturers use two of these heavy frame guides for the ones closest to the butt section of the rod, especially in the heavier line weights with the 5 and 6 wt rods going either way, some only use one,just depends on the brand of rod from what I have s
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I've had the same thing happen with flex coat lite and threadmaster lite. I figured what was left over in the mixing cup was just a "thick block" and just took longer to cure fully than the lite application that goes on the wraps??????
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Thanks Tom, what he is looking for is a 40 to 50 casting range for small tarpon in the mangrove lanes. I was kinda thinking along the lines of a 3/4 oz rod, but I wasn't sure if it would load and cast like a fly rod. I'm sure I'll be able find a good blank to meet his needs.
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I have a friend that wants a short 9/10 wt fly rod blank. He is looking for an 8 to 8.5 length, fast action, and 2 piece configuration. I've never seen a fly rod blank for that weight shorter than 9ft. I know Sage is making the 7'-11" series of rods, but they don't interest him. Has anyone here ever taken a casting or spinning blank and used it for a short 9/10 wt? He doesn't want to spend m
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Coy, I thought I had a good amount of lathe experience after growing up with a father who was a high school shop teacher. That was until I read the book on Rod Building by Tom K, and picking up a copy of A Dear's DVD on lathe use. I would get my hands on both the book and DVD. Everything you need to know is explained very well and covered completely. I got my DVD from Anglers Workshop and the boo
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Same method as listed above, but adding the use of a heat gun will soften the old epoxy and make it much easier to remove. Start with a little bit of heat, it doesn't usually take much and you can use your finger nail to remove the old finish without damaging the blank. I got myself a heat gun that has an adjustable setting for the amount of heat it produces. Check an Ace Hardware store for their
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I've built on a couple of RX-6's, both the newer dark blue and the older emerald green ones. I personally like the older ones better for a dry fly rod. For all round use I'd step up to the RX-7's in the 4 piece configuration, they seem to fit my casting style better and I like the faster action of them.
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John, I don't apply my finish with the blank rotating. I put the finish on by rotating the rod by hand. After all the areas are covered and I remove any bubbles with a straw, I allow it to sit for a few minutes so any excess will move to the underside of the blank and I remove the excess and rotate the blank 180 degrees and let it sit again for a few minutes and remove any excess and level the fi
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I'd go with Pac Bay Navy Blue and Metallic Gold trim. No CP. I've done this on a couple of black fly rod blanks and it looks real sharp. I didn't over do the gold trim, just an double inlaid trim wrap at the butt section where my decal went (similar to what Scott Fly Rods does) and double inlaid turns on the female end of the ferrule wraps. It looks kinda dull indoors but get it out in the sun an
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John, I took a look at Fishsticks site but I could not find the fish creek blanks.
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I got a couple of them off one of the internet @#$%& sites. They do post blank specs and a spec on where to place guides. I have fished the ones I have and they are a decent blank, nothing earth shattering but preform well. Sounds like they are American made if they are rolling their own blanks.
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Thanks Spencer, I didn't think they were producting their own blanks.
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Does anyone know who made the FLO series of Fly Logic Blanks? Thanks.
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Terry, my idea for the cork was on the plain side compared to the Batson grip. I don't like the looks of the burl rings used and the high point in the front grip section. I was thinking of a grip similar to the full wells (but longer) design with one very light shade of burl in the second to last ring from each end of the front grip section and sorta the same thing for the rear section with a sli
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Whats the name of the book about Fenwick?
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Has anyone ever had book published on the history of fiberglass and graphite rod building? Kinda along the lines of the books that are out there all about the history of cane rods? As a guy thats pretty new to rod building I think it might be an interesting to have book out there that gets into the who, what, why and when of the folks that gave us fiberglass and then on to graphite.
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Hello, I am thinking about building myself a Switch Rod. Is there anyone out there besides Batson that is offering preformed cork grips for these rods. I'm not trying to knock Batson, just don't like the looks of the ones they have available. I've researched a bunch of place's and nobody seems to offer much. Thanks for the help.
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I have that blank in the 6wt, 9'-6", 4 piece. I really like the action and it can cast a ton of line as well as load in close. I've used both sink tip and floating lines in the 6wt class and it seems to be pretty true to its rating. I wouldn't think the 7wt would be that much different.
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Jim, take Toms advice and look to the left at the sponsors. Many of the Batson RX-6, Tiger Eyes, Pac Bay Tradition II are priced in the same range as the $37 blanks from the box store or maybe cheaper. I've built fly rods on all three of the ones I mentioned above and for the money they preform very well and have held up great, and most of them are backed up by the manufacturer.
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John, thanks for the info. I have a few of both series and I could not really tell the difference, especially in fishing them. I had figured that they were IM6 and American made, but wanted to be sure. I totally agree that they are underrated. Too bad Pac Bay didn't keep them around. Oh well, like the good Americans we are, we love to outsource stuff to China! Thanks again.
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I've seen some Dan Craft blanks in that config. I've built a couple of fly rods on his 4 piece blanks and they are great blanks.
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Yes, they are both an older series of rods. I would guess they were around maybe 6 to 10 years ago. I did email Pac Bay and the person that got back to me didn't have a clue.
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Does anyone on here know what the difference between the Pacific Bay TRF and IGF were? I tried sending and email to Pac Bay directly and could not get an answer. Thanks.
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Thanks everybody. I kinda figured when I could not find their website that they were all done.
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Sounds like they are no longer in business?
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I was wondering who has ATC fly rod blanks for sale? I tried doing a google search of them and it only came up with Merrick Tackle, they only have the spinning and casting blanks. Thanks.
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Hello, I was wondering what you folks use to clean up brushes and other items after using the Threadmaster finishes. I used the Regular build for the first time, awesome finsh quality, and I plan on using the Lite Build in a few days. Also, clean up for the Pac Bay Rodsmith the same? Any help appreciated. Thanks, Bill
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I was wondering if there is anyone in the rod building business that will recoat or refinish graphite fly rod blanks. I have two blanks that I would like to change the colors of. I'm somewhat familiar with the process, but I do not have the means to do it myself. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks, Bill H.
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Patrice, I'd go with the Dan Craft Sig V. I built a 6wt off one of these blanks and they are a sweet meduim fast action blank. I think the 5wt in this series would work just fine. If money is a concern the Batson RX-7 is a decent blank. I've built a couple of 5wt's in the 9 foot length and they work pretty well. I fish one of them quite often. I'll use a 6wt line for close in work, like nymphing
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Thanks for the info, I'll be sure to buy the DVD that Andy has made. As for Russ and Jeff, I am looking to do exactly what you folks are doing with with your own reelseats, without seeing them. I think we are on the same page as far as creating something that has much more curb appeal than what you can buy on the open market. Plus its always nice to say to a potential customer when they ask about
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