Tuesday, March 29, 2016

3-29-16

Customer Feedback

I recently sold a 6'3" Midge. This is My favorite small stream rod for many reasons. One is the length, another is that it is very versatile. A real do it all small stream rod. 

I checked in on the customer and here is what He had to say.

"This rod is in a class by it self, love it. I own bamboo and glass rods from all over the world, Collector."

- Customer from Virginia

Thanks so much, I hope the rod serves you long and well.


Making Ferrules

Here is a short video showing a size 14/64th ferrule that I made from drawn nickel silver tubing. This is for My own personal Smallmouth Bass rod. This is a pretty short ferrule for it's size. We'll see if it holds up to some hard fishing and large Smallmouth bass. You can hear the nice pop the ferrule makes when separating. Good fit.


                                                


Another Nodeless Rod Started

Here is a photo of the strips for another nodeless rod that I started. They are alternating flamed and blonde splices. I always liked the look of the famous T&T rod that was done this way. I have the perfect reel seat spacer to match. It will be made into a 7'10" 4 weight with two different tips and truncated ferrules. Really excited to see how this one turns out. You can see the second strip from the right has had the enamel removed and shows the true color of the strips.



Rod 421602

This rod is now finished. It is a 2/2 7' for a #4 Line. A copy of a rod that I sold a few months back.

Black YLI silk tipped in Orange Gossamer

Hariki Xshort Step Down Ferrule 

Shop made reel seat hardware with Spanish Cedar insert

Snake Brand Guides














Thanks for looking.










Monday, March 14, 2016

Good To Get Out

Some small stream fishing for Wild Browns

Here are some photos I took while fishing for wild Browns last week. My version of a PHY midge was a great tool for this. It fished small streamers and nymphs without missing a beat. This 6'3" Four Weight is just a great small stream rod. It was good to get out. It was even better because the water flows were perfect and the fish even cooperated.

There is a creek way down there.


Some of the residents of the stream.


Great spot pattern on these fish.








Nodeless Rod

The nodeless strips on this rod are now all spliced and glued. The glue has been scraped and they are roughed into 60 degree triangles. I think I will make this into a 7 or 8 weight for Great Lakes Small mouth fishing.

Photo of the nodeless strips clamped together and drying after glue up.


Strips cleaned up and roughed out and ready to go.


Updates

Rod #421602 is varnished and now drying. It will be ready to go as soon as the varnish is dry enough to rub out any imperfections and then polish. Excuse the mediocre iPhone photos.

Stepping guide coming out of the dip tube after first coat of varnish.


Varnished and waiting to fully dry now.