After my disappointment with the Winn grips and needing to order new grips they finally came in today and I love them. Didn't know the fighting butt wasn't enclosed and I need a plug now I think I'm just going to make one at work with some two part or some black tinted resin or I'll tint the grip epoxy even and just fill in the hole slap some Mylar on it so it's flat and smooth and be done with it.

Should have the handles done tonight I'm gonna take it to work to work on during my lunch break because I also need to build a shim/arbor for the reel seat the seat didn't come with an arbor and the one I ordered worked great but the inside of the seat has two different ID so I'm going to make a spacer at work also.

Tomorrow I'll hopefully start putting the guides on and getting them set in resin and turning while I'm at work tomorrow night. Gotta have the build done by Friday for a trout derby doubt I'll get the tiger wrap done on the split section but I can always do it later.

Looking Good.

I plug EVA grips with a pice of scrap from the grip. There are lots of way to finish it off

I regripped 5 Kistler rods for someone using those black/red and black/blue grips. They came out real nice. I finished the butt with one of those rubber disc plug/caps.

Got the reel mounted and the guides placed and tested. Was able to wrap 4 of them today I was hoping to get them all wrapped but I slept in wayyyy later then I was hoping to. Pics are kinda crappy I'm sorry. My work station/kitchen table is a mess as well lol.

On the dryer now did some olive branches around the hook keeper came out ok my first attempt looked better I think but it's a learning process.

This is it for now I'm gonna do the tiger wrap next week and maybe add some abalone but for now it's almost ready for the trout derby Saturday.

It works!

Very nice. I see you like that Baja Blast. Haha its amazing. 

Lol yeah love some Baja blast.

I still got more to do this the rod I plan on doing a tiger wrap on it. I have caught about 50 fish on it already I can't put the thing down. Took it to a trout derby this past weekend and was offered 150 cash for it by a guy at the hotel told him no he gave me 150 anyways to get started and said make him one but with gold trim not chrome. Cost me about 120 so I said ok got it all ordered should be here Thursday.

Here's some shots I took at the derby of it though

Those don't look like trout!!

Only caught one 10" brook with it during the derby. Tons of small mouth and a baby tiger Muskie around home though.