Rod recommendations?

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.


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

I think I'll check it out.

Jim

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.

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

"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 **

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.

"JimG" wrote in message
...
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

well, i will second the other wayne's advice: contact waldo at
ezflyfish.com. i don't know if he still handles the series, but he put me
on a little hardy 4 piece that is a joy.

but, then, i am infamous for taking the position that the best purpose
for sage fly rods is in beating large, dangerous snakes to death.

wayno

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

or $300 each for rod/reel/line combos.


Suggestions would be much appreciated. TIA.

Jim

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.

For small stream fishing I like Vivarellis;

http://www.francovivarelli.com/pagine/homeinglese.htm

but they may take a while to get used to if you are used to more
conventional reels, and may or may not suit you. They are also quite
expensive.

( see the other thread here).

TL
MC

As it was under discussion, I ad a word with a guy I fish with
occasionally who also builds quite a few rods and has used the
rainshadow blanks.

He swears by the RX7 blanks for stream fishing and the Matt clear rods
he has built on these bglanks both look and perform very very well indeed.

The 9 foot 4 piece looks ideal for your purposes, and wont break the
bank either. Final price depends on your choice of fittings of course.

To quote from the Batson site;

QUOTE

Rainshadow® RX7 Fly Rod Blanks

Simply stated, Rainshadow® "IF" fly rod blanks are the best value in a
high performance fly rod blank available today. We believe it's easy to
design blanks when cost isn't an issue, but it's difficult to design a
blank with high performance at a reasonable price. These blanks are easy
to cast and are truly a joy to fish with. We almost made these too good,
because they out perform many blanks selling for two to three times
more. With a total of 51 blank models and your choice of two different
colors, we've got a blank to fit your needs.

Features: · RX7 intermediate modulus (43 million) high strain rate
graphite · Medium-Fast action · Light overall weight · Your choice of
Matte Clear or Olympic Green color · Out perform blanks that sell for
two or three times more · Limited lifetime warranty

UNQUOTE

The 4-piece blanks are here;

http://www.batsonenterprises.com/ind...6&I temid=182

For a comparable Sage blank in med-fast ( Like the Batsons shown);

http://www.batsonenterprises.com/ind...1&I temid=100

you would have to pay a very great deal more, at least three times the
price, and the resulting rod might not be quite so robust. Higher
modulus graphite is simply not suitbale for bushwehacking rods.

If you are worried abouit building such a rod, have a go at a cheap one
first. like the 6´6" blank shown here;

http://www.batsonenterprises.com/ind...7&I temid=183

for $23. You can not do anything wrong at that price, and it would be
good training and practice.

TL
MC

TL
MC