Building a Bluegill/Crappie rod made easy...

[Travis C.]

Was using my rod today and wondered if I ever came back around with the conclusion....which I have not yet.

The rod is 8' 6" finished end to end. I have it set up with 2lb test on a small 10 series spinning reel.

Using only a 1/32 mag it will cast about as far as my 5' 6" ultra light using the same reel.

Using only a 1/32 mag and balsa short float it will cast forever. It will cast far enough to where I have to reel it back slowly because my eyes can't see the float move. LOL...

It will throw a 1/8 oz head on a TM a long ways too. Haven't caught any big fish yet as I usually forget its in the garage but will take it to Percy to try and hook a big white or hyrbid. I have caught hybrids on the same size flyrod that its built off of so I know it can handle it but it would be nice to see what it can handle (that's a lot of "its").

All in all I am satisfied and it makes a good float n fly rod at that length too in the winter time.

Jim- there is some whippy action to it but once you slow down to the rods action you can cast it pretty good. Hardest thing is slowing your casting stroke down because it is very different than a traditional UL rod.

[jaysouth]

Travis,

How do the fly line guides work for mono? I have an orphan fly rod laying around but I dread wrapping new guides to replace the fly line guides.

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by jaysouth

Travis,

How do the fly line guides work for mono? I have an orphan fly rod laying around but I dread wrapping new guides to replace the fly line guides.

It works. Does it work better than standard guides probably not. Spacing isn't ideal. I would prefer to have the small guides on there and more of them than the snake style that are on the fly rod.

I don't need to get into rod building is why I stayed away from replacing.

[culprit7.5]

That's just awesome. Like others posted, you have me doing an inventory of all old rods to see if I can replicate this.
Completely impressed with the work as well as the documentation/instruction.

Thanks for sharing.

[ditz1]

It sounds like several of you fellas have some old glass rods sitting in a corner. If any of you have any old Fenwicks, Philipsons, Berkleys, or any others for that matter that you want to unload send me a PM.

Thanks