Happy Holidays and tight lines from Rod Catalog!
Friday, December 22, 2017
Monday, September 4, 2017
"Antiquary Edition" Unstructured Fiberglass 835-4 (#4/5)
This is my latest build which rounds up the original Unstructured Fiberglass batch of blanks, made to my specifications. Out of the three tapers I offered in the past, this is my favorite taper to fish - a true allaround trout rod, which feels light and crisp with a 4wt line. If you like deeper, semi-para feel, you can use a 5wt line on it.
The "Antiquary Edition" features hand stripped, polished and patinated brass reel seat (NOS US made), a German agate guide oxidized to match the seat, blued Snake Brand guides, Powell-style grip (flor 1/4" rings), and caramel YLI silk guide wraps with subdued details. A custom made rod sock and aluminum rod tube are included. The rod is available for sale.
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
"The French Edition" Unstructured Glass 804-4
I have just completed a rod for a customer in France. It is my standard build with a Powell-style flor grip, blued Snake Brand snakes, and Midrum Belmar-type carbide stripping guide. The reel seat is a dual sliding band with walnut burl spacer, oxidized to match the guides. The guide wraps are chocolate brown, to match the wood burl... The ferrule/accent wraps are olive YLI silk.
I am currently out of 804-4 blanks. If you are interested in 8'3" 4/5wt, I still have some blanks left.
Sunday, July 2, 2017
Driftless Fishing and Paradox 734
Little para taper boo-glass hybrid proved itself again in Driftless. It was raining quite a bit and streams were discolored. I had to search for fishable water, but was rewarded with beautiful wild browns. Paradox 734 handled them with aplomb and I ended up fishing it exclusively. I posted few more pics from the trip in my other blog.
Sunday, June 4, 2017
Big Guns-Conquistador Glass Fly Rods
The saltwater season in New England is under full swing and it is time to dust off the big guns. Conquistador Glass tapers (L to R): 9' 10wt, 9' 9wt, 8'6" 8/9wt. I am contemplating building another batch of Conquistadors, so stay tuned. Photos of striped bass (top) and myself courtesy of Dave Skok. Dave took those during the prototype rod-testing, in Fall 2015.
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Reel Seat Weight (Metal vs Wood)
So what is heavier? Vintage all brass seat vs contemporary cap and ring nickel silver seat with wooden spacer (I used a Ray Lee stock seat as an example.)
The weight is in grams-very close indeed!
The weight is in grams-very close indeed!
Friday, May 26, 2017
Patinated Brass Reel Seat
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Unstructured Fiberglass 804-4 "Orange & Green"
on 2:15 PM
in 2015 models, Micarta, Reel Seats, Rod Bags, Rods for Sale, Trout, Unstructured Glass
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I have just completed a build on one of the blanks from the 2015 batch, which I put away for personal use (I realized I had an extra blank.) The rod has a fishtail grip with a slender nose, home-made, oil finished orange micarta reel seat insert, blued Garrison-style hardware and guides, rust guide wraps, and clear ferrule wraps with single black trim at the cork check. The custom rod sock is made (as always) by my better half.
I tried taking pictures under changing light... The rod is available for sale (just scroll below or click on Available Rods button on the top.)
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Close Match
Completed orange home-made micarta reel seat, ready for the green Unstructured glass build.
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Paradox 824 Flexing Curve
Paradox 824 (curve leaning toward progressive)
Paradox 734 (curve leaning toward parabolic)
Monday, April 3, 2017
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Work in Progress...Paradox Revisited!
I am finally having little time for rod building. I am working on a longer Paradox 8'2" 3/4wt. The blank has very unique casting properties due to its solid bamboo tip, fiberglass ferrule and woven tobacco-glass butt section. Next post will feature completed rod, so stay tuned...
Saturday, February 11, 2017
In Customers' Words...
I relish visiting the beautiful places where trout live. Vlad’s creativity and sense for beautiful aesthetics glow as I handle his 804-4 glass creation. Every element blends in wonderfully with the finery of nature herself – unique, colorful, and special. Just perfect visually as you feel the delightful action – yes, refined and crisp, yet delicate… I value my days astream and I particularly like the demands of careful casting. Already, Vlad’s 804-4 taper has excelled on eastern limestone waters and still warm water ponds. A superbly delicate tip protects 5x-7x, and a lively mid and butt section respond like no other rod, for me. Rare enough, as a DT4 is perfect for in close work, quick shoots in close, and more lengthy casts. Striking in that the taper just asks for curve casts and slack line puddle casts – for me, that is just to be appreciated. This 804-4 represents one superb fishing taper with the individuality and beauty that only an experienced, artistic maker can deliver.
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I was finally able to get to a stream for a couple of hours with the new rod. I'm quite delighted - I believe this is going to be a lot of fun. I ended up using the 3wt line - it performed quite well on the rod. There are not many rods that do well with an honest 15 foot (or even shorter) cast - this one does. It's not a distance caster by any stretch but it delivers a 35 foot cast accurately and delicately, as long a cast as ever needed on the small mountain streams I fish. A 9 foot leader with a size 12 bushy dry fly? No problem, the rod turned it over just fine. Roll casting? Again no problem, the rod performs well.
It was raining when I was out and I really enjoyed the dark red of the blank and the dark (not bright shiny) hardware. Nice job with the aesthetics - it really looked nice.
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It's really a leap of faith to purchase a rod that one's never seen in person from someone you don't know. This has been a fine experience from the choices, the photos, the communication and status updates, the quality of the workmanship, the refinement of the taper, it's all been good. Please feel free to use me as a reference.
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Loaded the rod with a Barrio small stream 5wt line and it really worked well for me, good for 10 feet and good to 50 feet. Fished a size 8 lightly weighted girdle bug and hooked into a couple of ++16" bows and the rod handled them with aplomb. It has a lot more power than is apparent for casting and fish fighting.
Impressive. I had the L K 8'3" 4/5wt, yours is noticeably better in my opinion. L really knows his stuff so accolades to you.
Impressive. I had the L K 8'3" 4/5wt, yours is noticeably better in my opinion. L really knows his stuff so accolades to you.
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Both rods arrived safely yesterday. Your work’s outstanding. Thank you. Hope to get them on the stream soon.
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Sorry this is so long overdue. The rod is perfect! Your attention to detail is unsurpassed. There is a delicate nature to the rod that speaks directly to it's intended use - small stream fishing. The fit and finish is no doubt evidence of the work of careful hands led by a skilled eye.
I knew I was unwrapping something special as I undid the well thought packaging. Nothing left to chance.
It is a pleasure to own one of your rods. Keep up the expert design and craftsmanship!
I knew I was unwrapping something special as I undid the well thought packaging. Nothing left to chance.
It is a pleasure to own one of your rods. Keep up the expert design and craftsmanship!
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Just got home today- a few days late and just finished casting the rod. I have to tell you..... I knew the craftsmanship would be first rate having seen the pictures. This is a great casting rod- a true 3wt. In close- effortless. But it has the capability to reach out. Tight loops. I have 3 or 4 3wts. and this is by far the best casting one. I don't make long casts that often but if I need to this rod does it easily. Thanks for the opportunity to own this rod. Please keep me in the loop for any further rods you may be building. I love this rod.
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The rod arrived today and it exceeded my expectations! The craftsmanship is second to none....
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The rod arrived yesterday and it's amazing. I couldn't be more pleased with what you built It's going to the river with me this weekend. I also appreciate the flies that you included, very kind. Thank you.
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Vlad - Very nice. Perfect with a 3/4 line, as you say. Very close to a light Perfectionist like the model 260 Bob Summers makes now. But 4 pc is very nice for travel!
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I see what you mean about the action being less para and more progressive, and that makes a nice companion to the 7'6" rod and, as you say, would be fine with a 5wt too. The finish is beautiful; the glossy guides on the flat finish blank is striking in its own way. With the small dark fibers embedded in the rod, the blank almost has a hint of the organic ! I just put a Hardy Featherweight and a Peerless 7M raised pillar on the rod, and the bands/seat held very nicely/firmly. Many thanks again.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Back in the Day
I just stumbled upon this image among my files... One of my rods was featured in FUJI USA catalog (the page with K-style guides), few years ago.
I still use that rod, and I continue to be a big fan of FUJI products.
I still use that rod, and I continue to be a big fan of FUJI products.
