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Author Topic: Two New Custom Built Rods  (Read 6942 times)

Mac Attack

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Two New Custom Built Rods
« on: Sep 29, 2017, 03:09 PM »
My son Jeff has been building custom steelhead rods for over a year now and he's gotten pretty good.
Anyway, he is building two new high end rods for me as a present.
I am paying for most of the materials and he providing all of the labor and some of the materials.

I deserve it.   ;D

The first rod will be a 7' walleye jigging rod.
Northfork blank model HS 701-2
Ultra-fast action.
I'm mating it up to a Pflueger President XT model 30 spinning reel.

The first rod will be a 8' slow-trolling/casting multi-purpose rod.
Northfork blank model St 865-2
Fast action.
I'm mating it up to a Pflueger President XT model 35 spinning reel.
This rod I will use for a lot of different types of fishing.
Drifting/trolling bottom bouncers for walleyes up in Canada on my annual trip with the guys.
Also for casting spoons and bucktails for pike up there.
Also for local steelhead fishing.  Jeff has been bugging me to go with him.  I stopped years ago because of the neuropathy in my feet.
Also for our trip to Alaska planned for 2020 or 2021.  Should be a good rod for up there.


These are Gary Loomis rod blanks.
Very expensive, but we got 50% off using a recent Labor Day sale code they didn't advertise on their website.
Jeff said the sale code was sent out to previous customers in an email.
It took them a long time to finally ship, but they arrived today and look very nice.
Sent me a nice T-shirt too!!!
Jeff gets that to wear at the tackle shop he works at part time.

The Pflueger reels I bought a week back from an old friend that owns/runs a local tackle shop where Jeff works occasionally.

I'll add more on these rods, including photos, as things progress.

Mac

fishnmachine

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Re: Two New Custom Built Rods
« Reply #1 on: Sep 29, 2017, 04:01 PM »
Sounds like a couple of pretty nice rods.   :D
     One more with the one we're after and we'll have two.
The brook trout is the prom queen of the trout world, and a promiscuous prom queen at that!

Mac Attack

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Re: Two New Custom Built Rods
« Reply #2 on: Sep 29, 2017, 06:47 PM »
I'm hoping

Mac Attack

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Re: Two New Custom Built Rods
« Reply #3 on: Oct 23, 2017, 06:58 PM »
Selected the reel seat clamps today.
Shiney Gunsmoke




Mac Attack

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Re: Two New Custom Built Rods
« Reply #4 on: Jan 28, 2018, 09:29 AM »
It's been a long time and really not much has been done on my rods.
Jeff has been working on everyone else's rods over the winter.
But yesterday I selected the wood to mate up with the reels seats and also for the accent next to the but cap.
Jeff will also turn a few rings of the wood to go in 2 places on the fore and aft pcs.
The wood now goes out to the guy that impregnates it with the dye.
I selected red as that is my favorite color.
No photos for a while.
I am glad things are moving again.

sisabdulax

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Re: Two New Custom Built Rods
« Reply #5 on: Feb 02, 2018, 09:49 AM »
Would love to see the final products!!!

Mac Attack

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Re: Two New Custom Built Rods
« Reply #6 on: Feb 02, 2018, 11:01 AM »
Would love to see the final products!!!

I’ll for sure post pics

A very long time coming
Jeff told me the wood for the custom reel seats is running $157
These rods are costing me a ton
But because my son is building them for me they will be priceless


rgfixit

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Re: Two New Custom Built Rods
« Reply #7 on: Feb 02, 2018, 06:47 PM »
OYE!
I think I know a guy........well.......never mind.


Rg
If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

Mac Attack

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Re: Two New Custom Built Rods
« Reply #8 on: Feb 02, 2018, 07:35 PM »
OYE!
I think I know a guy........well.......never mind.


Rg

Yea........I know Bob.

Leave it alone.

 ;)

Mac Attack

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Re: Two New Custom Built Rods
« Reply #9 on: Feb 14, 2018, 07:04 PM »
My new blanks for the reel seats, accent rings, and butt cap.
I also ordered the eyes for the rod.
Titanium - ouch!!! $$$
We are finally making progress.




rgfixit

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Re: Two New Custom Built Rods
« Reply #10 on: Feb 15, 2018, 04:47 AM »
Very pretty. Titanium guides are worth the investment. I used them on most of my fly rods.

Rg
If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

Mac Attack

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Re: Two New Custom Built Rods
« Reply #11 on: Feb 15, 2018, 09:41 AM »
Very pretty. Titanium guides are worth the investment. I used them on most of my fly rods.

Rg

Yea, but more than 2X the cost of stainless steel guides.
Not really sure about worth the investment.
Titanium is more brittle than stainless.
So they are more prone to breakage believe it or not.
Still, I've gone as high end as I have on these two rods, why cheap out on the guides.
We'll see.
I'm excited, but will probably be scared to death to ever use them and break one.
lol

 :o

rgfixit

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Re: Two New Custom Built Rods
« Reply #12 on: Feb 15, 2018, 04:41 PM »
There in lies the dilemma. I have a few fly rods in my collection that I struggle to take out on the stream for the reason that they're so rare and unique.

One is an H. Leonard, 10wt bamboo salmon rod circa 1940. It was gifted to me by a friend who was dying of cancer.
It belonged to his Grandfather, a life long fly fisher. I've never tossed a fly with it.

The other is a South Bend #59 that I painstakingly restored to original condition. It's an 8 1/2' 6-7 wt bamboo. It replaced the second fly rod I ever owned that was destroyed in a basement flood.

One other is a Fenwick FF86, circa 1964, in mint condition. It replaced the first flyrod I ever owned. 3 3/4oz ferrulite rod. Too sweet to describe. Slow casting and smooth. A joy to fish with.

They all get attention, but they don't all get stream time.

Rg
If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

Mac Attack

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Re: Two New Custom Built Rods
« Reply #13 on: Feb 15, 2018, 08:10 PM »
Jeff says no Bob.
If I break a guide, he will replace it.
The blank is guaranteed for life.
Soooo...................


But still..................

Mac Attack

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Re: Two New Custom Built Rods
« Reply #14 on: Mar 01, 2018, 02:03 PM »
My new blanks for the reel seats, accent rings, and butt cap.
I also ordered the eyes for the rod.
Titanium - ouch!!! $$$
We are finally making progress.





Well, they finally showed up today.
Jeff says it will take him a week or so to completely turn, route them for the reel feet, and then finish them.
I'll post pics of them when they are done.

About 1/3 of the titanium guides arrived.
The rest are shipping in a couple days they tell me.
We'll see.


Progress...........finally!

 



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