Hi All, I am looking for top of the line, nothing but the best out there, nickle silver up-locking reel seats with wood inserts. I am building on an ultra light blank so I would like the real seat to be as simple as possible to minimise uneccessary weght. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Gavin
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Fantastic! Thanks Thomas. I will try him again. If I dont have any luck I will get back to you. Best regards, Gavin
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Hi Thomas, thank you for your post. I have heard such good things about Kerry's blanks and would love to get my hands on some to build up for myself. I e-mailed Kerry a while back, but did not get a response (presumably he did not get my mail). Do you have his current e-mail address (if so perhaps yopu could e-mail it to me). Do you know if Kerry sells blanks to customers or whether he only
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Anyone know the process and procedure (or where I can find out more about it) for making graphite rod blanks?
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Thanks Guys. It is indeed a pleasure to get straight answers. I've tried so many rods simply because of the advertising hype and often I have been bitterly dissapointed. Hopefully I will find that "go-to gem of a rod" one day (probably have it already but saying I have not found it simply allows me to accumulate more rods...). Some chaps have recommended that I try Dan Craft's FT se
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Tom, I see that you uploaded the CCS data for a CFB383-2 Burkheimer 3wt. I have heard some good things about Burkheimer blanks. Did you build the blank up? If so how did it perform on the water. What were its strong points vs weak points (if any)? How does it rate amongst your top 5 small stream rods? Do you think it will be suitable for what I am after - see my post "winston boro
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Hi Stan. I noticed on the CCS data site that the LL series are actually "underrated" in terms of their designated line weights. The CCS info is actually becoming my go to site when conidering a new rod. Given that I dont live in the US it is often difficult to actually cast a rod before purchasing it (not many dealers here that carry the big brands). To a large extent one has to go
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Without doubt the rod plays an important part in the presentation of the fly! It goes without saying that all rods will be able to cast all kinds of flies, however certain rods will excel in presenting a particular type of fly compared to other flies. Take for examnple the Sage LL - a magnifecent rod - however it does not do everything equally well. I have a 6wt LL and this rod casts a larger
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Hi All, Does anyone have the CCS data for a Winston Boron iix 3wt 8'6". If this is not available, but someone has such a rod please let me know how they cast dries on the one hand and bead-head nymphs in the size 14-18 range. Am desperately trying to find an all purpose high quality rod that can cast both dries and nymphs equally well. Thanks, Gavin
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Hi Everyone, I have spent hours looking on the web for high quality light weight blanks (0-3wt). I know Sage has theTXL range, but am looking for something a bit longer in length. I fancy the Winston Boron IIx, but they only mak e a 3wt. I recently bought a Dan Craft 8'6 3wt Sig V and I can honestly say it is a magnifecent rod. It casts tight loops and throws a dry fly like a dream. Problem
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Thannks Gents, Just spoke with Dan he also recommends linning up a weight on the FT's. I was so happy with my Sig V that I am going o give the FT a try. Will let you know how it goes. Gav
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Hi Everyone, I recently bought a Dan Craft Sig V 8'6 3wt for the small streams that I fish on. I have fished many rods and I can honestly say that this little gem ranks amongst the best. It is a magnifecent rod - a true dry fly wonder. I am onto my next project...I want to build a 9' 7 or 8wt. I am very interested in Dan's FT series and was wondering of anyone else had comments on such a
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Hi Jose, I am about 3 minutes away from expoxying my reel seat onto exactly the same rod. I did the guide placement last night. First I used the 8'6" 3wt 4 piece sage xp spacing as a rough estimate then I played around with the static distribution test...ended up being quite different including the tip top and stripping guide I have 11 "eyes" on the rod and there is a sweet ev
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Hi Everyone, Wanted to check...when you glue your individual cork rings together to make a grip on a fly rod or the like, how much pressure from the clamp do you put on? Is it until you cannot screw the screws down anymore or just so there is sufficient downward pressure on the rings to keeep them alinged and closed? Thanks.
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Hi Chaps, I live in South Africa and have bought Tiger Eye Blanks from Joe on a number of occassions before. He ships them to me with USPS Priority Mail and I have had no problems. As for they blanks - they are sweet - good looking , very pleasant to cast and durable. Many experienced fisherman cannot beleive the value for money with these blanks - oh and just for the record, I am in no way
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Hi Chaps, I live in South Africa and have bought Tiger Eye Blanks from Joe on a number of occassions before. He ships them to me with USPS Priority Mail and I have had no problems. As for they blanks - they are sweet - good looking , very pleasant to cast and durable. Many experienced fisherman cannot beleive the value for money with these blanks - oh and just for the record, I am in no way
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Hi Chaps, I live in South Africa and have bought Tiger Eye Blanks from Joe on a number of occassions before. He ships them to me with USPS Priority Mail and I have had no problems. As for they blanks - they are sweet - good looking , very pleasant to cast and durable. Many experienced fisherman cannot beleive the value for money with these blanks - oh and just for the record, I am in no way
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Hi Guys, I have used a couple of the tiger eye blanks to build up fly rods. They really are sweet blanks. Contact Joe at Blackdog tackle (on the left of the screen). He is a great guy and has all the blanks. Gavin
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Oh Paul, I forgot to mention, if you are dead set on reducing weight what I sometimes do is use a cork reel seat, but take the sliding bands off and use cable ties whenever I put the reel on. This is more for 000wt stuff though, but does make a significant diference weight wise!
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Hi Paul, I too am an ultra lightweight fan - most of my fishing is with 2 or 3wt rods. For light weight reelseats I would recommend as follows: 1. REC "Master series" PLNR with sliding bands; 2. REC "Classic series" AUSL; Both of these are really for 0-4wt rods, but that does not mean they wont work great on your 5wt. I have used both, but for what you are after
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Thanks Guys, I had thought of black and silver, but not black, silver and gold...I might give that a try on an arrow shaft and see how it comes out. Its either that or the garnet with silver. I'll do both on an arrow and try post a picture for reference!!! Gavin
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Anyone used any thread colour combinations on a grey fly rod blank that looks real sweet? Thanks, Gavin
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Ah, makes sense - I always wondered how someone could get soch uniformity on their markings!!! Thanks for all your suggestions, I'll try and get a hold of some of the jelly roller gel pens. Best regards, Gavin
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Hi Guys, Was wondering what pens you all use to personalise your rods. I have used gel roller pens before but I find that they smudge when I put the varnish on. What pens do the likes of Winston, Thomas & Thomas, Scott and Hardy use? I cant get the ink to flow properly and thus don't get a fluid inscription. Any ideas?
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Hi Steve, sure I'll do the test as soon as I have the blank - would it be preferable if a did a test on the blank and once the rod is built up? Gavin
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Hi Guys, I am in the process of building up this blank. Does anyone know if the sig V's fish well with any particular brand of fly line (or do they all work roughtly as weel as the other). I prefer double tapers and most of my fishing is pretty close in. Thanks. Gavin
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Hi Guys, Thanks for the really informative posts. Ok so here is what I did - I ordered the REC AUSL reel seat in black with a Maple Bird's Eye spacer (I have a REC PLRN cork seat with sliding rings and will make the final choice when I have everything in front of me but I will probably use the former and put the cork seat on a owt or 1wt down the line), REC light wire snake guides (Quite a fe
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Thanks for your opinions. I think I am going to go with REC lite wire snake guides - I am a stickler for tradition and the only time I used single foot guides on a rod I found it a pain to work with for very little reward. I will be sure, however, to put short wraps on and a very light coat of varnish on - hopefully this will keep the weight off. Regards, Gavin
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Hi All, I am building a Dan Craft Sig V 8'6 3 wt 4 piece. I have read some of the reviews regarding snake guides vs single foot, but I still cannot make up my mind. I like the aesthetics of snake guides (ie the traditional look) and was wondering whether using the REC lite wire snakes would really make a noticable difference to the action and feel of the Sig V 8'6 3 wt 4 piece. What size
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Thanks Guys, Have you ever used silk thread when wrapping a graphite rod? Anyone know the pro's and cons? I have only ever used nylon thread. Cheers, Gavin
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