flechero

Thanks RM, Just static test like normal, then rotate the butt guide to 180, and remove the bumper!! ;D ;D Maybe that's how I ended up with ceramic guides. ...lol It's a Batson. (Forecast)

Thanks for all the kind words! I feel pretty good about it, for my first fly rod. Nope, it's only a fly rod. I did a ton of reading and searched 100's of old threads on the RBO site, and it seemed that almost everyone preferred the ceramics, even on the 1-4 wts... I figured it was a good choice for me because there was only 1/2 as much wrapping and I already have a sizable inventory of guides! I forgot to buy 4 wt line when I went to the city a few weeks ago so I did my test casting with 5 wt line and just kept the distances shorter. It casts nice and easy. The 2 wt also has ceramics... I'll use CP on it so the thread shows up a little better. I almost bought a lathe several times but still working with an old drill clamped to a board. Its not sexy at all- but gets the job done.

This is kind of a shot in the dark since I have no clue what you lake is like... weeds, timber, brush, forage? Anyway, I would look for cover in or around irregular contours. Places where there is an abrupt change in depth or shape. Sometimes we kill em' where a deep bank levels out- there is a triangular shaped area in that transition which usually has a change in bottom compisition along with it. Those type of places are what I'd try to find. I tried to draw some circles in a few areas that had what I'm talking about. A better map would help also.

and a close up of the grip. Fit perfectly to my fat hands. ...lol The cork is better quality that it looks. I got in a hurry while shaping with the sureform and almost went too far so I have to go straight to fine sandpaper from the guoge and thats why you can see some pits. :-/

And here's a good look at the color! The glare washed the thread but I liked the way you actually see the deep blue.

First off- sorry for the quality of these, I had lots of trouble getting the sun to cooperate and the glare was horrible at most angles and up close. It's an 8'6" 4 wt.

For the most part, the best you can do is clean up after your self and make a habit of grabbing some extra trash on each trip. I started to do this a few years back and it has caught on with a some of my friends. I try to keep a few trash bags in the boat and truck in case I see a bunch of trash or cans/bottles in an area. I figure it's the least we can do and it only takes a minute or two to collect.

Ok, the 4 wt. is sporting a fresh coat of threadmaster and is on the dryer! I decided to put off a few things I was supposed to do this afternoon to get it going. I hurried it but it's not too bad. Also the camera will be back tommorow so if all goes as planned, I'll have a pic or two in the afternoon. Off to catch up on the honey-do's....

Your a good man! Thank you!! It won't go to waste... I have mostly basic colors for wraps and some trim but I don't have much variety and I'm thinking of trying some diamond wraps or chevrons and a selection of colors will help the cause. ...lol I got the winding check (for the 2 wt) today, it actually not nickle but it is plated in the batson gunsmoke finish and matches the reel seat hardware. (and the reel, for that matter) I had to make a slight alteration to the front of the grip's taper to fit it but a fine toothed gunsmithing file and 2 minutes worth of careful strokes got the job done. I think it looks pretty good- especially since it was an afterthought. ...lol I may have to break down and order that 904 blank... I'll be interested to hear how it fishes. I'm also interested to see if you think it's heavier than the typical Loomis 4 power. (I was thinking that it is either like a 5 power or just heavier in the tip which it should be since it's a mod-fast) Either way, I can't wait for a fishing report with it. Thanks again, Keith

I don't know that I've seen a foot control for very cheap... You may have to change your name to "Mostly_Low_Budget_Hookers"

Alpster, Looks great so far! Is that the 904 IMX blank???? I have wanted that blank for a long time... the reason I never ordered it was that some places list it as a +T and some list it as one pc. I assumed (never called to check) it was +T and and mis marked on line... maybe I was wrong??? Uh oh... as I warned kudzu about, your going to want to replace or redo all your other rods once you fish this way! ...lol Do me one favor when you static test it... pull a load to the fisherman's right (opposite your bumper) if you ever fish or fight fish to that side. If you follow the Tom K.'s rule to the letter you may have line contact. The reason is that the blank is stiffer behind the bumper. If you get contact, you can fix it by moving the bumper 1/2"-1" forward and it will "follow" the 1st 180 guide under a side load, keeping it from rubbing. If you used a BLAG for the 1st 180 guide, you may need a 5-10 degree downward rotation. Those 2 (often only one or the other) small minor corrections are all I have ever had to make to keep zero line contact. I was hoping for an opinion on how it looks but if you have several spools and really don't mind... That is very generous and much appreciated... PM to follow. -keith

If you're going to call yourself a record chaser than you have to quit being such a pessimist!! Just a few months ago an "impossible" weight LM was landed... almost 3 pounds bigger than the record!! It can happen.

The only drawback is once you build the first one and use it.... you will want to replace all of your rods. I was lucky in that I built my first casting rod spiral wrapped so I never had to redo or replace any, I just kept building spirals. (I've not built a single conventional casting rod)

Only 2 new people this year. (the downside of moving to a small town.) When I was living in Dallas I fished with 20-30 new people a year... tried to get someone new at least every week or two.

Just finished wrapping the 4 wt. I had major indecision on thread colors but settled on Gudebrod dark blue nylon with pewter metallic trims. I'm not going to use CP on this because the blank is an odd color blue and I want the thread to pick up more of the blank color. Finish will go on tomorrow night or over the weekend. I'll either start wrapping the 2 wt tomorrow night or Sat. morning. I think I decided against a matching pair... I liked the test wrap of garnet with pewter (but that will need CP for sure) and thinking still about met. silver since the 2 wt has chrome guides... it was suggested to try metallic bronze with the garnet- any of you have that? I'm wondering if it will clash with the guide frames. I'm open to your opinions... Hopefully I'll have pics over the weekend.

Amen to that! I sold most of my factory rods for just that reason. ( and I needed more blank money!) ...lol

Here's another thread from a while back: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1150810501/4#4

I carry one... don't remember the size but it was rated "bigger than I need" since I don't use it unless it's real windy, an oversized one seems perfect. Remember this? http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1144117735/0#0

You'll kick yourself later for waiting... the exotic burl is much easier and (IMO) better to work with. It works much more even and is very consistant. Same goes for me. He was a real wealth of info and help for me in the beginning as well. (and still is when I think to ask!) I hope not. Mysterious things are reported when people flame threadmaster.... works for a few but lots end up with fisheyes and other ailments.

I like the colors! Is that dark green without CP or is it a metalic green thread? Your wraps and finish look perfect.

It's only a weekend... maybe you could work late a couple nights before so you are all caught up or a couple nights after returning to get caught up??? I bet Mrs. ReelMech would like a break from you by mid-February! ;D How about we write a nice post to all the members in the "General forum" asking members to send reels to you in December and January instead... then you'll be able to get caught back up before the show! ...lol Ok, ok... I won't twist your arm anymore, I understand what it's like to be busy... and it beats the heck out of the alternative!!

I think I am going to go... if nothing else, get to see all the stuff I normally only see in a catalog... and probably spend way too much on "future" projects. ...lol I actually talked to the wife again about it- this morning and she gave her blessing. (I'll be saving my "allowance" from here on out!!) Reelmech- you could write it off as a business expense while the rest of us have to call it vacation. ...lol Alpster- do you or have you use the nickel winding checks? I ordered one to "see if I like it" for the 2 wt. I had to shape the end of the grip down a little... the full wells look on a 2 wt is comical. So I tapered the front ring down some and may use the nickel check to pull the eye away from the size differential in the grip to the .250" blank coming out of it. ...lol For sure as we all have different backgrounds and do the same kind of work with different tools and techniques... there are probably limitless possibilities that our combined knowledge and experiences could unearth.

Good memory, I was supposed to build it this spring but opted to wait a while. The wife and I got real aggressive in paying off all of our debt. We will be debt free (except the house) by year's end. The shop will wait until next year but in delaying it, she has agreed to more square footage, A/C and a few extra goodies so it will be better in the long run, plus we'll pay cash to build it. For sure! The grip alone is worth any trouble in wrapping. I have larger than average hands so standard fly grips are horrible for my already marginal casting ability! ...lol It would be neat to get a group together and watch each other's strengths and techniques. The real time exchange of ideas and collective brainstorming would be worth the expense of such a trip. I bet all of us would learn a thing or two... even the master, ReelMech. And if not, we can teach him to flycast! ;D

Well, I've gotten started on my newest projects. A matched pair (in terms of balance, action and colors) of fly rods. A 2wt for trout and sand bass (if I can get into range) and a 4wt for wild trout and small bass, etc. Who am I kidding, the 2wt will also be tried for smallies I had to break my rule of no work in the garage when it's over 100 because were on day 42 in a row over 100 which translates to about 115-120 in the garage. I've been doing all my glue up in the laundry room and only been working outside to actually turn down the grips, early in the AM... did a little of that in the house when the wife went shopping. ...lol (thank goodness for shop vacs!!) She's not to impressed with cork dust so I've had to carefully choose my worktimes... mainly when she's asleep or shopping. ...lol I'm taped up (guides) on the 2 wt and the tip top epoxy is curing on the 4 wt as I type this. I'll tape it up tomorrow and be ready to static test both of them. With any luck, I'll have them wrapped and ready for finish sometime this weekend. Unfortunately I had a little "mishap" with the camera so no pics of progress right now. Hoping to have it back repaired by next week and at least I'll get a finished shot to post. The 2 wt is a real challenge, trying to work with such a tiny tip section makes you feel all thumbs!! I feel like my fingers are the size of sausage chubs! (tip is a 3.5) I can't wait to start thread up there! ...lol I'm thinking it will be a lesson in humility!!

I certainly don't know if bass are colorblind or not but one thing I do know regarding colors... even if the world is "black and white" to a fish, every color throws out a different shade of gray and different colors will reflect different amounts of light. The sublety of glitter color is interesting and I have had days like matt fly described where one works and one does not... that would make you think that they see color and at the very least, it reflected light differently enough to make a difference. I throw a variety of colors at night but on the darkest nights I stick to black and blue (mostly) as it's the easiest color to see a sillouette of.