I just completed two prototypes. Both are 4pc models, with uplocking seats. One is a 5'11" 3wt, the other 7'5" 4wt. I am planning to fish the smaller rod on my trip to Europe next week.
Showing posts with label Trout. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trout. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
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
with
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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
Friday, June 8, 2018
Fiberglass and Serbian Brown Trout
I am back from my European journey...Some of the trip photos are posted here:
http://musicarskikafe.blogspot.com/2018/06/wild-brown-trout-serbia.html
Monday, February 12, 2018
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, 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
with
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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.)
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...
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Silver Creek and Unstructured Fiberglass
Monday, June 13, 2016
Off to Driftless...
For some testing of Paradox 734. Will pack a couple of more 4wt rods for comparison and change of pace. L to R: Paradox 734, Retrograph 904-4 and DF 250-4.5-4
Monday, September 7, 2015
Back From Rod Testing Lab
Here's the obligatory rod/fish photo from my trip. For more photos of Driftless Area limestone streams see my latest photo essay.
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Short Story About Two Three-Weights
Back in 2007 I built this little Lamiglas 7' 3wt 4pc rod. I wrote about it in this post in my other blog. With the little help of Facebook, I was able to find its current owner, Vladimir Petrovic, who fishes it happily today on various streams in Serbia and other parts of the Balkans. The pictures of Vladimir and little Lamiglas were taken on Serbian river Gradac by Dragan Jovanovic, who was kind enough to let me use his photos for this post. The Gradac is full of beautiful browns and also holds some native grayling. Judging by the grin on Vladimir's face, it seems that he is thoroughly enjoying the old Lami.
Fast-forwarding to the present time, I have just completed the last semi-para 7'6" 3wt blank from the last year's batch of blanks. As you can see from the photos below, this is a Garrison-inspired build. I wonder where will its future owner fish it eight or ten years from now?
