Home Forums Fishing Flyfishing Wrapping Your Own

Well I finally took the plunge.For a few years now I've been talking about making my own flyrod.I was at the fly fishing show in Calgary today and my and my fishing pard each bought fly rod blanks and spit the cost of a jig for wrapping a rod blank.

I bought a 9 foot 5 weight in gray with a rosewood reel seat and anodized aluminum components.The eyes are ceramic lined stainless steel.

The blanks are made by Rainshadow Forecast out of Washington state.

The whole set up for the rod cost me $150.00 Canuck,the jig and a reference book will cost me another $50.00,my split with my freind.

I can't wait to tackle this project and it's gonna be an even longer wait to get out and start using it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

It's fun.....

I have two flyrods I need to finish this spring.. A 9wt Pacific blank and a 7wt loomis.

I have wrapped up a few dozen rods over the years. Great Hobby! I suggest you get Dale Clemens book Advanced Custom rod building. These guys can help you out if you run into problems.

http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zeroforum?id=69

There's a lot to be said for saving 50-60% over retail. And it's not rocket science, 'cause I can do it.

I agree that it not rocket science. However, there is a learning curve. I suggest that a new rod builder get a blemished blank (they are really cheap) to start for the first build. I bought a good Sage Blank for my first one and the imperfections bother me every time I use it. Wrap a couple up before you buiild your dream stick.

I've only wrapped one and it was a Cabela's kit. 8 1/2' 6 wgt.
Caught one of the biggest browns I ever took with a fly rod with it. Nice rod too. With todays graphite you don't have to go high end. Start out simple and work your way up.

Qtip
soli Deo Gloria!
To God Alone Be The Glory!

I see that I'm a little tardy in responding to this. Rest easy... I'm a gonna anyway! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

comet,

I had a small enterprise where I specialized in custom fly rods for about 20 years. It paid for a number of trips and gear to places I would not have been able to without this hobby. After two hundred or so rods, I still could tell each and every "imperfection" at a glance. Funny as it sounds, in that time I only wrapped 10 or 12 for myself. I still look at those imperfections and calculate what I'll do differently each and every time I hit the water. Same way with tying a fly or reloading a round or stocking a rifle. I guess that it all boils down to how we each are "individually wrapped, eh?" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

best,
bhtr

Hi Bhtr,

You are so right...we are our own worst critics. As you start rod building you can even tell the imperfections on the high end factory rods. My craft does get better with each rod I wrap. However, the first rod I made wound up way too much Flex Coat on the wraps and it has bubbles in the epoxy (not just small blemishes). Funny thing is that it does fish well and I have caught lots of fish on it. That being said, I still think it is a good idea to learn on a Blem or a cheap blank. Then build yourself a beauty that you will be proud of.

Comet,

Agreed. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

best,
bhtr

Join your local Trout Unlimited chapter.
There is very likely rod building class.

Is rodbuilding just another extension of the fly-fishing hobbie, or can it actually save me some money as well. I just wrapped my sweaty hand around a 9' 4# Sage SLT yesturday, and would love to duplicate that feel in a home-grown rod. I don't care about brand recognition----- I just want that rod!!!

I would say that it is an extension of FFing hobby. It feels great to catch a fish on rod that you have wrapped. It also allows you to customize the rod to your likings as well. There is no doubt that it can save you money too. The down side is that if you break the rod you have re-wrap it since they will only send you a new blank. It is often hard to recover the parts of the butt section, so it costs more.