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Next Build
Ordered a Sevier Tiger Eye 6' for 2/3 wt 2 piece blank from Schneider Rods yesterday.
Will pick up the components, a St. Croix reel seat and grip combination, black single foot guides, tip top and hook keeper, and black thread this morning from Jimmy's All Seasons Angler in Idaho Falls.
Plan to take more time and care on this one to end up with a nicely finished small stream rod. Should be able to finish building it by the end of next week and get it out on some of the creeks around here the following week.
From everything I've read about the Tiger Eye blanks this rod should be nearly perfect for my casting style, and it should be a real kick to fish for bows and cutts mostly in the 8" to 12" range, but up to 18", on some of our small streams.
Really looking forward to building this one and fishing it !!
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I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of this creation, and hearing the reviews when completed!!!
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Can't wait to see this one John!
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Interested to hear what you think of the T.E. Blank..........I've been building them (all weights and lengths) for some time and havent heard a complaint yet. Good luck and Good Fishing.
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Got started on building the rod yesterday. By late afternoon, I had the reel seat assembled and epoxied and the grip prepped. This morning I did the final assembly on the reel seat and grip and epoxied them to the blank.
This afternoon, I was ready to start with the guides, spacing, aligning, and perhaps wrapping a couple if I got that far. BUT, before I started with the guides, I happened to notice a comment by spoonplugger on my earlier thread regarding guide sizes. His comment caused me to take another look at the spacing and size chart I was using, and to realize that I had misinterpretted it to the point of really screwing up on the guides.
This post is not to update my progress on the rod build. It is to explain why I want to publicly thank spoonplugger for taking the time to make an observation on the earlier thread, which observation saved me from a mini-disaster.
On a broader note, spoonplugger represents so many people on this Forum who so freely give opinions, advice, suggestions, information, THEIR EXPERIENCE AND WISDOM, all of whom have earned and deserve my respect and gratitude.
THANKS to you all.
John
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John.....here's another suggestion. Using guide charts are fine , but you have to understand these measurements are general. Here is what I do ,which may be a help in the future.
Using the general guide spacing provided by whatever chart you are using, tie your guides on with stretchy string (elastic string sold at most craft stores).
Once you have all the guides on and spaced per the chart, take it out back and cast it.
If it cast fine for you, leave it alone. If not change the spacing around a bit until it does (it is easy when the guides are tied on as explained above).
Not all rods cast the same even though they may be the same length. Once you have the guides solid on the rod and finished , it's a heck of a time to realize the rod doesnt cast very well. Using the stretchy string allows you to get the optimum spacing for what you need........just a little trick I've learned.
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All but done
Learned a few more things ( and still have a lot more to learn ) and ran into a few glitches along the way, but, overall, I'm very happy with how this one turned out. The wrapping station I borrowed from Buzz made a big difference in that part of the build.
From most of what I had read, I thought the single foot guides might pose a real challenge, especially out near the tip. But it seemed easier to wrap them than it did regular snake guides, and the final alignment seemed easier ( maybe a combination of the experience from the first build and the wrapping station ?? ).
Put the second coat of finish on the wrappings this morning. Just waiting for it to cure.
The reel seat and grip are an economy item from St. Croix, quite suitable for this build.
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/j...087_edited.jpg
Used a single foot black guide for the hook keeper, partly because I couldn't find a standard hook keeper in black.
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/j...088_edited.jpg
The stripping guide almost seems out of place ( maybe it is ?? ).
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/j...089_edited.jpg
I'm delighted with the aesthetics of this rod. Came out just the way I envisioned it. The Tiger Eye is striking in bright sunlight, and the black guides and wrapping thread keep the focus on the blank, to my way of looking at it, anyway.
If it casts ( for me ) as well as it looks ( to me ), I will consider it a total success, even with the flaws that you all won't see unless you join me some time I am fishing it. You are welcome, any time, folks.
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That tiger eye blank is beautiful! Great job!!!!!
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Looks pretty good to me John..........the true test will be fishing it. The reward will be the first fish.......nice job and good luck with the new rod.
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john ,
that really is a great looking rod. i'd be interested to find out what rods on the market have a comparable action since i cant cast a sevier around here. i like the looks of that blank alot.