Thanks guys.
This rod is a gift for one of the owners where I work.
He's an avid smallie fisherman.
So I thought he would enjoy the rod.
Greg - slow down there mister.
Let's get your rod built and then if you like it we can talk.
I'm really not interested in doing fancy wraps and building high end rods.
I just want to do something simpler and more utilitarian.
But we can get VERY creative.
My son Jeff turns high end real seats for people.
He designed and built a vacuum chamber that draws colored resin into 2x2 blanks of wood.
He turns them down on a lathe and then does the other work to shape it for the reel with a router and other machines.
All different kinds of wood.
The resin accents the grain and protects the wood from ever rotting.
Really cool stuff.
Here's a shot of the 2x2 pcs he created for my 2 rods he is building.
And here is the first of the 2 rods he is building, the 7' walleye jigging rod.
The red rings in it and the butt are the same wood.
Don't laugh at the size of the walleye. (or my belly)
It was the first one I caught with my new rod that my son built for me.
That eye could have been 40" and I would not have been any happier.
Anyway Greg, we can do something special if you want.
But baby steps first my friend.