Starting Off The New Year

Starting Off The New Year 

Now that the Holidays are out of the way and fishing is pretty much non existent, It's time to start this years rods.

On Deck

On deck I have two rods that will be heading to the Upper Mid West. Build status for those is as follows. Node less rod is heat treated, split into chop sticks and flamed. The other rod is split and flamed with the tiger stripes. Will be heat treated tomorrow. 

Pictures of the rods will follow soon.

Something Different

I am slowly getting around to finishing an Epic 376 Fast Glass. If it is still available when done, it will be for sale here. I give much respect to the glass guys. It is a lot different than finishing bamboo for sure. Everything must be kitchen clean and in order when varnishing wraps. Much easier to finish a bamboo rod that will be dipped in varnish. This is the first round rod that I have worked on in a while. Here is a preview of what is done. Wrapped in My typical style. Will be finished between other projects.

7'11" Prototype Finished

The 7'11" 3/4 is finished. I can't wait to get out and fish it. Each tip has a different taper and they will all serve a purpose. I got as much versatility as I could out of them with the extra short size 13 step down ferrules. Very happy with this one.

Thanks for still showing up and taking a look. I will be updating often.

Thanks as always,

Anthony

November 10, 2017

Yet Another Reel Seat Update

I have been messing with reel seat fit and aesthetics for a while now. This will be the new standard. A slightly wider slide band (internal taper added) with the matching recessed hood. Also the end cap will be fitted with the same timber as the reel seat itself. All pieces will have the mil grain inside the recesses. The next step will be matching winding check. This is a dry fit. The wood has not been polished yet. 

Making reel seat hardware no matter how simple, is very time consuming. By doing this though it adds yet another personal touch to the rod. Also when you make your own hardware, no one else will have it.

The Butt section of My Three tipped prototype is fully varnished and ready for polishing. Three tips to go! Light Olive, Hot Orange and Black silks.

Strips for a 2/2 8'10" Eight weight roughed and ready to go. This will be an experimental Steelhead and Smallmouth Bass rod. A new taper that I came up with that will be hollow scalloped. 

Awesome stick of bamboo here. You can see the node area in the photo.

Fall trout fishing was here and gone in a short period of time. For Me anyway. I did get out a few times to throw some crickets at em though.

Some small very picky wild Browns. Colored up in Gin clear water.

Thanks for looking.

Minnesota Bound

Getting Fished In Minnesota

Here is a Rod that was recently sent out to Minnesota. It is now getting fished by Mike whom I believe is now hooked on fishing bamboo.

This is a 7'10" 2/2 dark and light strip nodeless Five weight. Nice crisp medium fast actioned rod. Made to fish the larger spring creeks in My area.

Snake Brand guides. Golden Witch agate stripping guide (Orange). 

Custom made reel seat with Amboyna Burl timber.

On the bench now. Two prototype rods. A 7'11" hollow built Five weight and a 7'11" Three/Four weight. So far I am liking the Three/Four. The Five will be tweaked to get just a little more out of it. 

Picture below of the culms for these rods after Tiger stripe flaming.

More to come on these rods.

Thanks for looking,

Anthony

New Reel Seat Hardware

 New Reel Seat Hardware

I am always out to improve the form, fit and function of My rods. All of My rods that go out from now on will have a new style of up locking reel seat hardware (unless the customer requests something different). I now turn My reel seat hardware to have an internal taper to fit the reel foot better. This will also keep the slide band from digging into the timber of the reel seat and causing finish damage. To add to the aesthetics of the hardware I have also added a micro double milgrain to the hardware. 

Shown below over customer requested Amboyna Burl.

7'10" Nodeless Light and Dark Strip 2/2 Five Weight

Here are some highlights of a Five weight that I am currently working on for a customer in the Upper  Midwest. This rod as of today has had the butt section completely wrapped. The tips are next and then varnish.

Agate guide to match the above reel seat and Black main wraps tipped in Orange. Both being silk.

Great looking and well made guide from Golden Witch.

Cork rings shown below before glue up. Excuse the mess. I was reaming the cork rings over the trash.

Everything in order right before wrapping with an awesome bag made by Between Two Banks.

Learning Curve Below. Lots of time put in and always trying to improve the process and the product.

As always thanks for looking.

Best,

Anthony