Rod recommendations?

In article ,
JimG wrote:

Seeking brand/model/retailer suggestions for 4-piece, 5 wt, 9 ft rods.
Plan to buy 2 and give them as gifts. Budget is around $200 each for
rods alone, or $300 each for rod/reel/line combos.

Recipients are advanced beginners. Rough handling is expected.
Primarily will be used in backcountry on small streams, mountain
lakes. Will be mostly fishing dries, dries with droppers, and BH
nymphs, sizes #16-20.

My research to date is pointing to Sage, TFO, Redington as
possibilities. But I don't see a clear choice.

Suggestions would be much appreciated. TIA.

Jim

For a foreign combo go for redington at about $170. For a a quality
made in the USA rod for for Sage, Scott, or Great Bay Rods.

On Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:09:25 -0800, rw
wrote:


If you're reasonably handy and have some extra time, building a couple
of rods would make special gifts. It's not difficult at all. I've bought
nice kits at hookandhackle.com.

Can't get hookandhackle.com to come up on my browser. Anyone else
having this problem?

Jim

On Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:50:05 +0100, "
wrote:



For reels, I recommnend these a lot to various people;

http://www.okumafishing.com/products...g/airframe.htm

No useless bling, and extremely functional and robust.

Do you have an opinion about the Okuma Magnitude series? It seems
that the Airframe has been discontinued.

Jim

"JimG" wrote in message
...
Can't get hookandhackle.com to come up on my browser. Anyone else
having this problem?

Jim
I also couldn't get the site to come up, but another good source of blanks
and components is http://anglersworkshop.com/

Bob Weinberger


** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

On Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:09:25 -0800, rw
wrote:



If you're reasonably handy and have some extra time, building a couple
of rods would make special gifts. It's not difficult at all. I've bought
nice kits at hookandhackle.com.


After more thought, I'm leaning away from building the rods.

Probably 50/50 chance of at least one of them being broken. I think I
want the convenience of being able to send off for repair/replacement
of the complete rod (not just the blank).

Right now, a pair of Sage Launch rods looks pretty good to me. But
I'll probably change my mind 3 times before placing an order.

Jim

JimG wrote:
On Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:09:25 -0800, rw
wrote:


If you're reasonably handy and have some extra time, building a couple
of rods would make special gifts. It's not difficult at all. I've bought
nice kits at hookandhackle.com.


Can't get hookandhackle.com to come up on my browser. Anyone else
having this problem?

Jim

http://www.hookhack.com/

Sorry about that.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

"rw" wrote

Why would you use Sage blanks? You'd just end up with an relatively poorly
finished pseudo-Sage rod with no warranty.



It was years and years ago .... long before warranty was standard issue ...
and I got a 'great deal' on kits

But 'poorly finished' certainly defines my efforts ... thankfully I
eventually broke both rods and no longer have to hide them when in public
G

Larry L wrote:
"rw" wrote

Why would you use Sage blanks? You'd just end up with an relatively poorly
finished pseudo-Sage rod with no warranty.




It was years and years ago .... long before warranty was standard issue ...
and I got a 'great deal' on kits

But 'poorly finished' certainly defines my efforts ... thankfully I
eventually broke both rods and no longer have to hide them when in public
G

I've built only three rods.

The first was an IM6 7wt that's been a workhorse for me. I've caught a
lot of big fish with it (salmon, steelhead, Alaskan rainbows, lake
trout, etc.) It's indestructible. I keep it in a Sage rod sock. :-)

The next two were identical 2pc kits from hook&hackle, except one was a
3wt and one was a 5wt -- medium-fast rods -- can't remember the blank.
The 3wt has become my favorite rod for trout.

It's definitely not a thing of beauty, but it has a personal touch
(along with the 5wt): a wrapping at 20" from the butt, to keep me
honest. :-)

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

If you're reasonably handy and have some extra time, building a couple
of rods would make special gifts. It's not difficult at all. I've bought
nice kits at hookandhackle.com.


That's an idea worth considering. I built a couple of rods back in
the early 80's and recall it being a lot of fun.

IMO RW is spot on.
Take the effort to build as much of the rod as you can, select the
best reel seats, grips and guides and it will be a very special
present. Buy it already built and it is just another present.
I built a rod up from a blank about 15 years ago as a Christmas
present for my son and while it didn't have the action I would have
liked he has remained delighted with it and fishes with nothing else.
It took me a few years to figure out why but I finally realized it had
a special ingredient other rods do not.
It was love.
Because I put all that I could of myself into the building of it for
him he values it above all else.
One day on a stream you once fished with your daughters one of them
will place a rod in the hands of your grandchild with the advice "Use
care. Your grandfather made this for me many years ago." and those
things of value you taught your daughters astream will begin to find a
path to your grandchildren.

I don't think I saved any money then, but I did get exactly what I wanted.

Take the effort now to build them yourself and I think you will get
more than you ever dreamed.

Kiyu

Kiyu wrote:

One day on a stream you once fished with your daughters one of them
will place a rod in the hands of your grandchild with the advice "Use
care. Your grandfather made this for me many years ago." and those
things of value you taught your daughters astream will begin to find a
path to your grandchildren.

That's beautifully put, Kiyu.

I've only built rods for myself. You're making me feel guilty. :-)

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.