Christmas gift for a friend

[Midwest Custom Fly Rods]

I guess I must be Santa this year because this is another rod I built for a good friend for Christmas. This one is a 9' 4wt 2pc American tackle classic series blank with new style Amtack "braided" reel seat, wood accent RHW grip, dark green wraps(no CP) and metallic silver trim.









Steve

[harleybob87]

I like these blanks almost as much as the tiger eye. I have to say this is a basic build that looks anything but basic. Very nice rod and I am sure the receiver of this gift will be excited. More importantly he or she is getting a rod that will last a lifetime and preform much better then any factory rod. Once again very nice build

[kglissmeyer]

Steve, I'd sure like to be your friend! Nice job, thanks for sharing. Do you do those handles with the wood fore and aft as custom or is there a source for those somewhere? Also, where are those reel seats available?

Kelly.

[mr. blur]

kelly - mudhole carries them in a handful of varieties w/ matching reel seats. I forget the manufacturer and think I threw out my catalog.

[Midwest Custom Fly Rods]

Kelly they are both American Tackle. The seat is their latest style called "Braided" window seat.

[Lake Erie High Ball]

Steve,

That is my favorite rod of yours that you have posted so far. It kind of reminds me of a "super muscle car" the classic good looks but with new leather seats and a fuel injected motor.

If it fishes anything like it looks it should be kept in a safe when not being fished.

Do you cast these rods before you deliver them? How many rods have you tested and just couldn't let go? I don't want to know how this one cast because right now its perfect and I'm still looking.

[Lake Erie High Ball]

All right tell me now....its perfect .....right? I knew it.

[Midwest Custom Fly Rods]

Do you cast these rods before you deliver them? How many rods have you tested and just couldn't let go? I don't want to know how this one cast because right now its perfect and I'm still looking.

I really like the action of this blank a lot. Its the classic series Amtak blank and it's just about the perfect combination of crispness without being overly fast.

Yep I test cast each rod I build. Don't really know why I do anymore because I've tested about every blank out there it seems, but I just like to put a bend in the rods before they go out the door so I know they are ready to fish. There's been a few rods I wouldn;t have minded keeping that's for sure. One that comes right to mind was a Cattanach taper cane rod I did for a guy back in the summer. He wanted dark green wraps with mint green trim and when I head those colors I thought YUCK!. Funny thing was after I got it wrapped and finished I absolutly felll in love with that color combination on that blonde colored cane blank and would have kept that rod in a heartbeat

Steve

[Trout Bum]

Another really nice rod Steve.

TB