Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2017 This one is for a returning customer. His rods in the past have been blue and a bit more flashy but this one he wanted a bit different than the others I have done for him so he gave me free reign on design. So I keep this one more on the subtle/classy side for him. Window style reel seat custom grip, garnet wraps with gold trim. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave G. 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2017 Nice ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2017 His previous ones were blue ... and you did one for him in red? I hope he likes it !!! It's a nice looking rod, just the wrong color. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fisherboy0301 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2017 Beautiful!!! You know I love garnet and gold so any rod with those wraps is a beauty to me! Go Noles! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2017 LOL Mike I wanna see a pic of your house, I bet it's BLUE Yep he didn't want this one blue, he's got 4-5 other rods from me that are all blue so he wanted something different this time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimini15 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2017 Now you are touching close to home. My everyday stick for some time now is also a 8’6” 5wt that I built myself and never really finished. This is a beauty. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2017 Yep ... blue house. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2017 LOL!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben bell 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2017 hi Steve..nice work..looks like minama guides are really catching on..those look like #6? i have yet to try them..some say they are a little noisy..how do you like them? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2017 I usually do a couple #6 and then the rest #5's on these guides. There's no noise at all with minimas. Only guides I have ever heard a noise from were the Recoil guides but after using those once I never used them again just for that reason. I started using minimas probably 7-8 yrs or so ago and use them on 90% of my rods under 8wt size. Funny thing is back when I started using them hardly anyone was using them on fly rods, now I see people all over using them so they caught on pretty big it seems. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben bell 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2017 ok..that,s right it was recoils, thanks..yes, it seems like all of a sudden rod builders were using minamas..anything is better than snakes just to eliminate one wrap.lol. sounds good..i will give them a try..thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2017 I use them not because of less wraps, but because they eliminate line slap. With a snake guide the line runs through the guide and bounces against the blank multiple times on the cast causing some friction. But with minimas the line is completely captured by the ring of the guide so line slap is not an issue at all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben bell 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2017 good point about line slap, especially wet line..you mentioned using minamas for #8 only lines or less, what guide style do you like for larger lines?.Thanks.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2017 I normally go with the standard snake guides on most 8wt and above. While I have never had a minima/single foot guide pull out on me, I just avoid any possible issues on the heavier rods by going with snakes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben bell 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2017 Good stuff, thanks Steve. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites