Lionel, the only advantage that I see in a 2 pc vs. a 3 pc is when you break them down without "un-stringing" the rod. If I build multi-piece rods for myself, I like to go with 4 pc just so I can break them down into even lengths without breaking them all the way down. As for performance, Jim is right. You most likely won't be able to tell the difference in feel. Jeff Hunter
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This seems pretty basic to me Tom. This website and the magazine are two different resources that fill 2 seperate and somewhat divergent needs. I benefit from both in many ways but I would hate to try to get all of my information from the website. At the same time, I would hate to lose this website and the resource that it provides. Billy, in this instance I have to disagree wholeheartedly wi
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I'm building a stand-up rack for my rods and blanks and am looking for the little rubber "grabbers" for the top of the rack. Does anyone know where these are available from? I thought about just using a strip of rubber and cutting a slit in front of each recess but would rather go with the individual holders of I can find them. Thanks, Jeff Hunter
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I have the Batson power wrapper and I love it....except for the chuck assembly. There is an after market chuck assembly that Angler's Workshop sells that fits on the Batson and the Pacific Bay wrappers. It is rock solid and true. Even with the upgrade on the chuck, I think you'll still find it cheaper than some of the others. I believe the Batson and Pac Bay power wrappers are identical, although
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Thanks Billy. I hate it when I struggle for so long with a problem and the answer is so simple. I spend more time on some rods reaming the cork than I do wrapping the rod. I've been going to pick up some solid blanks to make reamers out of so I could really tighten the chuck down. Never thought of filling the end of a blank with rodbond. One more question. Can you ream cork using the wrappers t
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I shouldn't have assumed that everyone would know by level I mean the taper. I haven't seen any blanks that don't have a taper and therefore they can't be level from tip to butt. You can make one side perpendicular to a straight horizontal line but only one side at a time. At any rate, the taper is what I was talking about. I was wondering how it turned with the chuck really only gripping a very
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Do you have to "level" the area of the reamer that is going to be placed in the chuck to eliminate any wobble or does the material that you're reaming keep the reamer runnning true? Jeff Hunter
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Stefan, I'm not much of a spey caster yet but have built several rods on the Forecast spey blanks. My customers like them a lot. I built a Sage 7/8 spey for a buddy that is a very accomplished spey caster. I think it was the 9140. I recently took a Forecast 8/9 up to him to try and he wants to trade me the Sage for the Forecast. Hardly a scientific study of the differences, but I think it is indi
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Ed, I would definately wait for Dan to get some more in stock. I know that you will be happier with the quality control on his products than you will with GLoomis. It sounds like the blanks are pretty close from the replies you received and if the remaining factors are quality and customer service, I don't think there is any contest. Jeff Hunter
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The RX7+ has a little more relaxed feel than a "fast" blank will. I've sold a ton of rods built on them and if you aren't looking for a really fast rod, they're a good way to go. The RX8+ blanks are my new favorite fly rods. I wish they came in a 2 pc just for the ease of selling them. A lot of casters still shy away from the multi pc rods. As Spencer and Danny said, take a few minutes
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I have to disagree with Doug on the Forecast spey blanks. I have built a number of Sage spey rods for customers and have since had several of them try rods built on the Forecast blanks. Not one of them was disappointed and 3 of them have ordered and received these rods. One of these guys who is one of the best fly casters that I know, wanted to trade me the Sage that I had built him for the Forec
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I'm in the process of moving and just got to packing my rod room. I just wanted to offer a word of warning for those of you who have been doing this for awhile and haven't had to pack all of your accumulated rod building paraphernalia up. Something that I was unaware of was the ability of this stuff to multiply. I am certain that I have never had the need for all of these reamers and therefore co
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Christina, I use mostly Rainshadow/Forecast blanks but have used a lot of Lamiglas at a customer's request or if Rainshadow doesn't have exactly what I'm looking for. I think that in most of their blanks, Lamiglas is as good as ever and in some, better. There are a ton of good blanks out there but if you decide to go with Lamiglas, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Jeff Hunter
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I'm not sure if I should say welcome or run for your life. Very addicting stuff you're launching into here. The one thing you'll find is that all of the sponsors on the left will be very helpful with advice aside from providing you with everything you'll need. As for the book, several of the sponsors carry Tom Kirkman's rodbuilding book which is a great starter book. There are several other good
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Billy, like I said, I fully understand your frustration and I do think the Seach option is not used enough. But I keep thinking back to my neighbor of almost 30 years ago who got me into this craft. I'm sure that almost everything that he told me were things that I could have found in a book somewhere. However left to that option, I doubt that I would have been building rods all these years. I'm
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I stand corrected Tom. But I agree with not asking anyone to limit their posts. As discussed before, if you need to generate more operating capital for the site, raise the sponsor fee and as customers of the sponsors, we'll pick up the end cost. Jeff Hunter
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I agree with Tom said about the sensitivity. WIth their design, the handle is a little bit removed from the blank. But I do like the set up. Makes for a unique rod that is easy to sell. The mounted woven graphite handles that use the foam bushings do add quite a bit of sensitivity. Either way makes a nice looking rod that is something "different". Jeff Hunter
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I normally don't participate in these types of threads but I just have to throw in my 2 cents worth. While I can appreciate the frustration of those who feel like they're answering the same question 4 or 5 times. But I think we have to remember that this is a growing hobby/business and we have new people showing up all the time. Every single one of us started this craft with absolutely no knowled
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Jim, I agree with Randy wholeheartedly. I fish steelhead here on the West coast and I think a longer rod gives you much more line control without giving up anything over a shorter rod. In fact I just built up one of the Rainshadow 11 1/2 foot spey blanks into a 6/7 wt conventional rod and I love it. I think you'll be very happy with Dan's blank in the 10'. Jeff Hunter
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Vaughn, I've found that for straight steelhead blanks, I'm selling mostly IST1025's and IST1143's. The blnaks that Emory mentioned are also good steelhead blanks. Jeff Hunter
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Kirk, I think your question refers to starting with the guide closest to the butt or closest to the tip. I've done it both ways and I can't see where it makes any difference. There is one advantage in starting with the butt guide if you don't wrap rods on a regular basis. Before I was building as much as I do now, I found that starting with the larger butt section allowed my fingers to get back i
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I just made my first order from them and expected to have a delayed shipping time. My first clue was the large banner on the site advising of possible delays due to construction. Not only did I get all the help I could ask for from Jim, I received my order in about 3 days. I'm very impressed and it sounds like this is the rule instead of the exception. I'll definately be an ongoing repeat custome
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On the casting rods, do most of the bass guys like a trigger or not? Or is this also a personal preference thing? Thanks, Jeff Hunter
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Below is a list of blanks that I am going to build up for demos for a bass club. I know nothing about bass fishing or the rods they use. This is a new area for me and I need some advice from the experts. I've been told that the bass guys use a mix of baitcasting and spinning rods. Of the list below, are there certain types of rods that they prefer set up as casting or spinning? Or is it more of j
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Thanks guys, I'll get to work on it and go from there. Jeff Hunter
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I just picked up an order from Batson Ent. and have a blank that I'm afraid is going to show my ignorance. I ordered a scattering of bass blanks to build up some demos for a local bass club. One of the blanks is a telescoping blank and I'm not familar with them. There is a 24" butt section that the longer main blank slides into and comes up tight. For those of you familar with the Rainshadow
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I am getting ready to order some decals from Decal Connection. I'm finally tired of trying to write my info on all of my rods. For those of you who use a lot of decals, is there a preference between the two types of decal? I've used the adhesive back type and have enjoyed all the fingerprint and crooked application problems. Do the waterslides have their own problems that are just as bad? Than
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Joe, try the same blank in a SWB70MH. It's a little lighter but still plenty for halibut and it does have a softer tip. I've built a few of these up for halibut and they work really well. Jeff Hunter
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Raymond, I have built many spinning rods from fly blanks over the years. I like the parabolic curve all the way to the butt that you get with a fly blank. The only thing to keep in mind is that some manufacturers will not honor the warranty if a fly blank is built up as a spinning or casting rod. I can't recall which manufacturers state that, but I did see that disclaimer in the past. Have fun
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Aaaron, you'll probably get several different opinions on this topic, all of them being "right". Having said that, I go down to size 6 on all but the heaviest fly rods that I build. The only concern I would have is if you planned on doing much sub-freezing fishing where guide icing may be a problem. I'm a fan of smaller guides and in my very un-scientific research, I don't think you'll
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