Showing posts with label Saltwater. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saltwater. Show all posts

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Old rods revisited: HarborSky saltwater camo fly rods

I built these rods in 2012 and still use them regularly. They are 9' for #6 and #7 lines. Graphite blanks were made by G. Loomis, painted by myself with a non-gloss paint, for the stealthy camo look. Their moderate action is well suited for precise shots on the flats. I use the #6 most often for my local sight-casting. It loads quickly for shorter casts. The #7 (fishes like a #8) has more power...I like it for longer casts on pale bottom flats. 

They are still fun rods to fish today, and they have held up very well, after many days in the saltwater environment! You can read about them in my original post.

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Monday, August 17, 2020

Friday, May 29, 2020

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Refurbishing the "Pink Panther" 868-4 from 2011

This rod has been one of my favorite rods, built back in August 2011. I caught some very nice striped bass on it. It needed its single foot guides replaced. The Fuji strippers were OK and also the tip top, so I left those unchanged, but rewrapped them. I put Pac Bay Minima single foots, so hopefully they can last another ten years or so...



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Sunday, May 17, 2020

Monday, May 11, 2020

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Saltwater Graphites (part 2)

A one piece 8'10" 10wt stick, excellent for long hours on the jetty, when you are tired and don't have to worry about rod sections coming apart. Also, a nice boat rod. (The reel seat insert is red, but it turned out pinkish in the photos.) The rod wears REC Recoil snakes and Minima Titanium strippers.



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Saturday, September 1, 2018

Saltwater Graphites (part 1)

Just completed...9' 7wt and 8wt. A departure from fiberglass rods, but I built these for my own use, since I fish saltwater a lot and enjoy casting and fishing rods made of all materials. The rods have some unique touches.  A couple of more salty graphites will be coming up, so stay tuned. 

   
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Thursday, May 3, 2018

Color-Coded Saltwater Reel Seats

I'm getting ready to start some serious saltwater fly rod builds, each specifically designed for the particular purpose. As you can see, the reel seats will be color-coded. My preference for the salt will always be a Fuji seat, even though many fly anglers despise the looks of it. These modern versions have anodized barrels and ultra-slim machined, color-coded inserts. However, the locking nuts are classic Fuji, and that is what makes the difference! You just can't beat the Fuji holding power, light weight, the cushion effect on your expensive saltwater reel seat feet, and the corrosion resistance. They "mold" around your reel feet, and protect them better than any full-metal seat. I also like the very modern, yet the utilitarian look! 
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Friday, December 22, 2017

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.

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Wednesday, February 1, 2017