We at SAREP Youth Fly Fishing Program have been building 6ft multi weight rods with reduced handle dimensions just for kids.We have been using the top 2 sections of a 3 piece 9ft 5wt Pac Bay Tradition blank We load it up with a 6wt line for newbies. They can throw 15-20ft very quickly. I and other adults have fished it all day with a 3 or 4wt line. Turned out to be a nice starter or brookie rod
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I have to build a fly rod for a "friend of a friend", so cheap. Needs to be an off shore rod. This makes it bigger and heavier than I have done before. Can someone give me a guide set recipe or a good starting point. also some blank suggestions. Thanks, John
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Lorenzo, If you can't connect with St. Croix try try the Decal Connection to the left. They are very helpful, high quailty and reasonably priced. John
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Lorenzo, I have removed a few and a heat gun used carefully has always worked. Torch was a bad idea for me as I burnt the wood spacer and had to refinish it. Cork has to be cut and sanded off. John
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Jeff, thanks
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Dave, Is SDR 26 thin like 21? John
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Hi folks, Does anyone have a source for affordable sdr 21 pvc? I can only find 1 1/4 in. I need 2 in for rod tubes, if I can get it. Thanks, John
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Hi, Does anyone know where I can buy a "cheap" spinning surf rod blank. Maybe 9-10 ft. I need something to fish a couple times a year when visiting my daughter in Charleston, SC. Usally not so cost concious with my fly rods. I could buy a $40 combo but I prefer to build any rod I use. I would be happy with used if you have something kicking around. Don't need handle as I will be making
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I used a wooden dowel in the butt hole, colored with black sharpie marker and epoxied the heck out of it. No damage visible yet, if it scratches or dents give it some more epoxy.
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Tom, So what you are saying is, where you place the guides (hard vs soft, strong vs weak, convex vs concave or whatever terms) will make very little difference in the casting performance of blank. Is that a correct interpretation? John
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Great topic, so many thoughts here is one more. If when building a fly rod I mount the guides on the soft side modified or rolled to straightest axis. During the back cast this puts more load on the blank and therefore more drive into the forecast. What do you think?
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Bill, Has anyone answered your first question, "who makes good quality preformed cork handles?" Best I have found are top end Struble and REC. Personally if I want something custom I have gone to carbon/fiber sleeve over foam core. Hope this helps John
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I'm building a 2 wt. 6'6" fly rod and was given a Battenkill Bar Stock #1 reel as a retirement gift. Planed on using a down lock slide band reel seat. Problem is the BBS 1's foot will not fit under the slide ring on the Bellinger & REC seats I have. Orvis says all their reel feet are the same dimensions and have no suggestions. Returning reel is not a good option. Can anyone recommend an
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