Stripers

The Nodeless Striped Bass Rod

So it took Me a while to settle on a taper for a saltwater rod. I finally went with a Powell B9 taper as a base for the rod and then went from there. 

I started this rod on the Monday before I left for Cape Cod and finished it on Friday night before leaving. The strips were planed out and glued up on Monday. Cork and ferrules were glued up on Tuesday. On Wednesday the cork grip and fighting butt were turned on the lathe. Wednesday night the rod was coated with Gorilla Glue for a protective finish (Three Coats). Then wrapped on Thursday. Varnish went on the wraps Thursday night and Friday. Done and in the tube Friday night and on the way to the Cape. Its no show piece for sure. It got the job done though.

This rod is Nodeless and Hollow Built. I could have hollowed it a little more. The rod was light enough to cast for hours, but could have been lighter. The next one will be hollowed more aggressively. 

It casted Airflo Cold Salt 8 and 9 Lines very well. Better than I expected actually. I fished this rod every day for a week and for several hours each day. It held up great and worked fine for sight fishing the beaches, throwing flies in mild surf conditions and in tidal creeks. 

I didn't get into any really large fish, but it fought and landed some decent sized fish with no problems. 

All the splices held up fine. The rod is still as straight as it was on the first day also. The Nickel Silver ferrules worked fine. This rod was dropped and dunked several times and caught a lot of fish.

Now I'm sold on the glue that have been using recently. I will continue to use it until they no longer make it available.

Thanks for looking. 

Time to get back to Trout sized rods.

Best,

Anthony

6'3" For a #4 Line

6'3" For A Four Weight

This Rod Will Be Available When Completed 

Here are some photos of a 6'3" Four Weight that I have been working on. This Rod is a favorite of mine for small stream fishing. Great little rod in tight quarters. It gets it done with a tight brush leader whether fishing dries, nymphs or small streamers. 

The 2/1 rod blank was completely made by me in house. It is light and dark strip node less. 

Hariki Short Non Step 11/64th Ferrule

The rod will be wrapped in Gossamer silks (have not decided on colors yet). 

Cork grip is 4 1/2"

Reel seat hardware and winding check also made by me in house on the lathe and blackened. 

Reel seat timber turned from Burmese Teak and finished with Gorilla glue. 

Up Lock Reel Seat

Snake Brand Guides

Custom Bag

Aluminum Tube

Please contact me if interested in this rod. I will begin wrapping it up some time later this week. After that a few coats of varnish and done.

Thanks for looking as always.

Best, Anthony 

Hybrid Striped Bass And Glue

Hybrid Striped Bass and Glue

So I took the Dickerson 8014 Guide that I made for Smallmouth Bass fishing To do some testing on Hybrid Striped Bass. I did modify the taper a bit. It throws an Airflo Cold Salt 8WFF very well. I could cast a size Four Clouser Minnow far enough to get the job done without putting much more stress than necessary on the rod. These fish are extremely hard fighters. They take a fly with authority and pull very hard.  I did not get any really large fish (They can get upwards of Fifteen pounds) but, enough good solid fish to put the splices on this node less rod to the test. I used two different glues for the splices to see if there would be any failure. There was none. So I guess they would both be fine. Although I will go with the glue that is more heat resistant for various reasons. The constant stress of casting long distances over and over for more than four hours had no impact on the splices. Also the steady pulling of large fish and bending this rod way more than it probably should have been in all directions caused no damage to any of the splices. This is not the rod for these fish by any means. It is not stout enough for catching these large fish over and over. I think I know what direction to go in for a salt water rod now and I will not be afraid to make it node less. That will be the next test for sure.

Thanks for looking.

Best,

 Anthony

Finished

6'8" Three Weight

This rod is just about ready to head out to Cali. The varnish is just about dry enough to rub out any blems and polish. One of those rods that was a battle the whole way through the build. Sometimes you'll have this. It turned out to be great little dry fly rod. One tip which I prefer is slightly heavier.

Thanks for looking!!