Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted March 30, 2018 This one is a fast action 9wt for a saltwater angler. Braided seat with exposed blank, custom grip & butt out of various burl corks, royal blue with metallic aquamarine to keep in touch with the whole saltwater theme look. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mlandry 0 Report post Posted March 30, 2018 Thanks Steve. That baby has a date with some Cape Cod stripers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vicente 0 Report post Posted March 30, 2018 Beautiful rod guys, nice color choices mlandry, Steve well done as always. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
islander727 0 Report post Posted April 6, 2018 I love that red burl in the grip! That looks awesome! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben bell 0 Report post Posted April 7, 2018 Hi Steve, curious as to what brand of snake guide that is..it looks heavy enough for the salt..Thanks.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted April 7, 2018 Triple plated Pacific bay guides. They should hold up to salt use pretty well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted April 7, 2018 That's a pretty fly rod! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cphubert 0 Report post Posted April 10, 2018 Very nice! Mlandry hope you have a great time with those stripers. Steve ever build a 71/2' or 8' nine weight ? thinking of a shorter rod for kayak fishing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted April 12, 2018 To the best of my knowledge I don't recall seeing many if any 9wts under 9ft, but I will look around and see if any of my suppliers happen to carry one and let ya know. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben bell 0 Report post Posted April 14, 2018 Any spin or casting rod rated for 1/2 oz. or 5/8 oz. in 71/2' or 8' should cast a 9wt. line..it doesn,t have to be a fly blank..tape on guides and do some test casting..CPH, if you have a spin rod already built at about 1/2 oz. rating put your fly real on and try a two hand cast..you might be very surprised. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted April 14, 2018 True that a blank does not know what it is being built into, so I have in the past used fly blanks for spin rods and visa versa. Only thing is when you're talking about the larger end of the spectrum such as a spin blank that can cast 5/8oz or more, they usually have a very large butt diameter because of the taper and that doesn't always make the best fly rod. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben bell 0 Report post Posted April 14, 2018 believe me Steve, a large diameter butt does no harm but is needed to carry all the weight of the line plus a large wet wind resistant fly..here,s a Lamiglas IMC904-T rod with 720 grain 27' skagit shooting head line that easily tosses a 150 grain fly up to 50' or more but it takes two hands which makes it a lot easier to go all day or all night using a normal overhead backcast... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted April 15, 2018 Never said it was "wrong" just simply that I personally don't care for a real big butt diameter for a fly rod for a few reasons. On your rod in the pic you have a graphite seat and EVA grips. Nothing wrong with those, but they just aren't my taste for the rods I build. With a very large butt diameter you are forced to use more of the graphite seats or the Alps triangle seats because its hard to find fly seat hardware that will accept such a large diameter and still have enough wall thickness in the insert to not crack. There are fast taper fly blanks that accomplish the ability to throw a large water soaked fly with a much smaller butt diameter so I always like to go with that myself. Nothing wrong with a larger butt, just not my taste for my own rods is all. Â Can't call me sir-mix-a-lot because I don't like big butts and I can not lie lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben bell 0 Report post Posted April 15, 2018 Still LOL, that,s funny..if i was building rods to sell, i would try to build the same as yours but since i build for me only i build to my taste..i like fly rods under 8' and built to cast with both hands..bass don,t care how many hands i use..lol..short rods also bring a fish to hand quicke, less exhausted..longer rods whip fish down and too often they come in belly up..i love EVA grips. cheap and they work..most of the time i will flock them to pretty them up a little..cork has pits and when the mud falls out the grip is very harsh unless you refill them and they are way too costly..i,m building a tool not a monument..lol.. i look at my flies in the same way, just tools..but fun tools to make..lol. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted April 15, 2018 Yep that's why most my grips I turn I use burl corks. No pits and no need for filler. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites