Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted April 29, 2018 This is a another rod for my own rod collection, but is a very purpose built rod. There's a small brush choked creek near me that has some decent sized browns in it which usually only come on streamers. Since most 7wt's are 9ft long I find that too much rod length for some sections of the creek. So I did some test casting with different grip positions and guide spacing and came up with this build which casts a full sinking line/streamer perfectly. It's a 9' 7wt 3pc blank with the butt section shortened by 18" to give me a 7'6" 7wt. Also used a screw in removable fighting butt, turned a full wells grip for it, and all blacked out hardware to be it stealthy for the small creek. Hopefully this will be just to tool for getting a streamer in front of some of the trout in this creek. Will find out for sure Tuesday. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rocco 0 Report post Posted April 29, 2018 Steve, I like your plan and the low flash, black on black, combo appeals to my inner sniper too. (That scheme might shape my next project rod from you.) What line are you planning to use and how does it cast? For short casts, I'd try over lining it a bit and maybe using a sink tip to get the streamers down fast with a short 3-4' leader. Years -- no decades -- ago I fished lots of waters around you and I'm stumped about the creek in question. Good find. And that remains your secret. Rocco Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted April 29, 2018 It uses a full sinking Class V (7-9ips) line Dennis. I fish my streamers with about 2ft of 12lb maxima and actively retrieve them in a jerk strip method. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben bell 0 Report post Posted April 29, 2018 Steve, great idea..i,m sure you know that cutting the butt section makes for a slower action..did you start with a fast 9' rod..i,ve cut one piece rods, never thought of cutting multi piece rods..Thanks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted April 29, 2018 It's a pretty fast action to start with. The other good thing is it has a lot of power in the butt/mid so taking 18" off the butt actually didn't change action of it much at all it's still a 7wt (ERN test) with lots of power. Plus now as a bonus I have an 18" 20wt to build Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted April 29, 2018 Looking forward to seeing how you do with that 18" 20 weight single piece rod !!! I hope this rod gets you the fish you're after. NO BLUE and no bling ... um, I can honestly say ... if you put this one up for sale, I don't want it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted April 29, 2018 Au contraire mon ami...look closer, the blank is dark blue. You're slippin' Mike. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben bell 0 Report post Posted April 30, 2018 Steve, curious about the grip..what is the material making up the front half of the grip..i can,t see any rings but i can see pits..thanks.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted April 30, 2018 It's 1/2" burnt cork rings. Burnt cork just doesn't show glue lines like other rings so it makes it look like all one piece Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjm 0 Report post Posted April 30, 2018 I like the length, 7'9" has always seemed the prefect rod length to me, but a few inches more or less is good. Don't lay that down an a bank at night, it might be hard to find. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted April 30, 2018 I attributed any blue to reflection. On my screen ... the blank looks as black as the wraps. Excellent workmanship, as usual, but you can still keep the rod. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjm 0 Report post Posted April 30, 2018 Both rod and wrap appear the same color to me as well, Mike, but compared to the black on the guide they both look nearer to Navy blue of my old peacoat. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave G. 0 Report post Posted April 30, 2018 I like the stealth look to it. Is that a Beulah blank by chance Steve ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben bell 0 Report post Posted April 30, 2018 That,s interesting about burnt cork..i would have been tempted to make it all burnt cork..lol. is it heavier than regular cork and as durable? Thanks.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted April 30, 2018 Dave it is actually an old blank that I have had in inventory for quite awhile. I think it was from a company that isn;t around anymore called Cascade Composites. Ben the exotic/burl corks are about 20% heavier than natural cork, but we're talking grams so basically not enough to tell just by holding in hand, only shows on a digital scale. I've done a few out of all burnt cork before it holds up very well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites