Any interest in one of my hobbies?

[rps]

I have enjoyed making fishing rods since the dark days before they came out with graphite blanks. In 197?, I made a yellow fiberglass rod with a brown and orange weave base and wraps for Ross Cooper (RIP). The look on his face when he caught his first bass on it was incredible. In retirement I seek fun things to do.

I was wondering if there would be any interest in the following:

a) Person who wants a high performance rod messages me with general purpose for the rod.

b) We discuss and I recommend components, but person decides -> length, flex and power; regular vs. micro guides; spiral wrap or traditional; cork handle or Winn; split grip or traditional; etc.

c) I build the rod and ship to the person.

d) No show off wraps, colors, inserts, weaving, marbling, just functional.

e) Person pays cost of components plus shipping.

Even buying rod components one rod at a time and including shipping cost, the end performance, compared to retail purchase price, should be half again better or more. In other words, if we assume components cost of $175 and shipping costs of $50, the rod will be comparable in performance to a $350 rod. For many, buying a Falcon from Bill Babler would make better sense, but I suspect some of you itch for something different.

I would love to build 4 to 6 rods a year.

What do you think?

 

 

[fishinwrench]

I have done quite a bit of rod building, but I certainly wouldn't be opposed to having you build me a few custom sticks.   

I'm not sure what's available in blanks these days.  I built my daughter a 2pc. 8'10" 7wt. on a Rainforest blank and it turned out really sweet..... but Rainforest blanks are NLA now.🙄. 

I'd really like to have a 9' for 6wt.with a fighting butt, built out of a comparable blank to what was once the emerald green Rainforest blank. 

From what I gather...."Rainshadow" blanks are available, but the "Rainforest" blanks are no more.   It's confusing. 

[fishinwrench]

One of the Reddington reps told me that graphite rod blanks don't have a "spine" anymore.  

Is that for real?  🤔 

Or is it just that on a 4pc. Flyrod the spline doesn't matter?

[rps]

3 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

I have done quite a bit of rod building, but I certainly wouldn't be opposed to having you build me a few custom sticks.   

I'm not sure what's available in blanks these days.  I built my daughter a 8'10" 7wt. on a Rainforest blank and it turned out really sweet..... but Rainforest blanks are NLA now.🙄. 

I'd really like to have a 9' for 6wt.with a fighting butt, built out of a comparable blank to what was once the emerald green Rainforest blank. 

From what I gather...."Rainshadow" blanks are available, but the "Rainforest" blanks are no more.   It's confusing. 

I have never built a fly rod blank. I know nothing about the handle thingymabob.  I know rod action. I know about fly guides. I would give it a try, but I would need your guidance on what action you want and how  you want the handle - lock down or lock up and so on. Batson has a broad offering of blanks. Between the two of us, I bet we could come up with a custom job worth fishing.

 

[rps]

Every graphite blank I have ever used has a spine. They are no longer as pronounced, but they are still there.

[fishinwrench]

10 minutes ago, rps said:

I have never built a fly rod blank. I know nothing about the handle thingymabob.  I know rod action. I know about fly guides. I would give it a try, but I would need your guidance on what action you want and how  you want the handle - lock down or lock up and so on. Batson has a broad offering of blanks. Between the two of us, I bet we could come up with a custom job worth fishing.

 

Cool.   I'll look into it and get back with ya.     

[fishinwrench]

1 minute ago, rps said:

Every graphite blank I have ever used has a spine. They are no longer as pronounced, but they are still there.

That's kinda what I figured.   

I bet the builders just don't bother to spline 4pc. rods.....and that's probably what he meant to say.   

[rps]

29 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

That's kinda what I figured.   

I bet the builders just don't bother to spline 4pc. rods.....and that's probably what he meant to say.   

Interesting concept. Do you spline all four pieces the same way? Do you alternate as if you were balancing 180's? Do you quarter the circle? I have not a clue.

 

[fishinwrench]

3 hours ago, rps said:

Interesting concept. Do you spline all four pieces the same way? Do you alternate as if you were balancing 180's? Do you quarter the circle? I have not a clue.

 

Beats me.   If I were doing one I would attempt to spline each section the same.

But I've only built 2pc. flyrods.  I've never built a 4pc.   Nearly all decent flyrod blanks are 4pc. nowadays. 

When you think about it, it would be kinda hard to find the spline on the 2 short butt sections.

Maybe it doesn't matter.  

 

[Dutch]

For guys who have not had custom rods this is a whole new world as far as I am concerned.  The thing about a custom rod for me is having it built exactly the way I want it.  I had gotten away from them until recently.  If any of you are looking for a specialty rod I think this is the way to go.