Current builds (on the left) vs old builds from twenty years ago (on the right.) Those were built in 1999, on G. Loomis Mega-taper saltwater fly rod blanks. Caught plenty of fish, but still in pretty good shape.
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
North Fork Gamma Beta F990-4
My most recent build, an allaround graphite fly rod for Northeast saltwater. An excellent choice for albacore fishing...
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Short Story About Two 6-footers (Part 2)
on 8:18 PM
in Ferrule Plug, Grayling, Micarta, Phenolic/E Hybrid, Rods for Sale, Staggered Ferrule, Trout
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Milenkovic Staggered Ferrule Hybrid Glass 604/595, 2/2
This is a Hybrid Phenolic/E-glass Staggered Ferrule rod (604/595, 2/2). With two tips of different lengths, the rod has a 6' configuration for #4 line and 5'9" length for #5 line. With longer tip for #4 line it is a great semi parabolic taper. With the shorter, more parabolic "power tip", it will launch a #5 line with authority.
The rod is purposefully designed for fishing for larger trout in confined spaces, using both dry flies and streamers. I used a nickel silver Swiss style ferrule rather than the standard spigot. This slight extra weight helps rod load better on narrower streams. Phenolic glass slow taper is used in the butt section, while the E-glass tips have a medium fast taper, with good amount of power. I find this configuration much more versatile than current trend of short rods designed for ultra-light #2 and 3 lines...When a large trout surges into the bank, you will be able to stop it better with a rod which has a bit more "meat." The shorter #5 tip is not just a shortened version of a standard tip. It is a completely different taper, executed over slightly shorter length.
The rod features burgundy blank sections (US made) with oxblood silk wraps (they appear jet black.) The reel seat is made in house with cherry spacer, and mini butt with ivory micarta button. Ventilated Ritz grip. Oxidized hardware, including light wire Pac Bay snakes, vintage NOS Allen carbide stripper, and NS ferrules and slip ring. The shorter, stronger tip is tipped with ivory NCP thread at the ferrule and the tip top. Custom partitioned rod bag with compartments to accommodate unequal sections, ferrule stopper and aluminum tube round out the package.
Thursday, March 28, 2019
Short Story About Two 6-footers (Part 1)
I have been working on two 6-footers recently. This is the first of the two builds, a 6' 3/4wt just completed on the imported 3pc blank. Pretty much a standard build, with ventilated 5.5" Ritz grip and a downlocking seat. The little rod has a quick, dry fly action.
Sunday, March 3, 2019
Trout Glass Rods or "The Magnificent Seven"
My personal collection of currently used trout glass or hybrid glass/bamboo rods, L to R:
6'6" orange S-glass 3/4wt 3pc, quick dry fly
7'3" Paradox Hybrid phenolic glass/bamboo 4wt 2/2, parabolic
7'4" Unstructured Prototype E-glass 3/4wt 3pc, med-fast progressive
7'6" orange S-glass 4/5wt 3pc, quick dry fly and streamer
7'6" Unstructured "Old Empire" E-glass 3wt 4pc, semi-parabolic
8'1" Hybrid phenolic/S-glass 3wt 5pc, dry fly fast parabolic, regressive butt taper
8'2" (250cm) Unstructured Prototype E-glass 4.5wt 4pc, dry fly progressive
