Serving two purposes, I continue to build rods mostly for silent auctions for fundraisers for organizations I want to support. I started building flyrods for these, then decided to try spinning rods just for the experience of building them. Those have gone over quite well, typically earning between $70 (the lowest so far) to $100. The latest was for a friend’s 7 year-old daughter with leukemia. However, I spend an incredible amount of time and enegy promoting warmwater fly fishing. So here is my question: am I commiting error by continuing to build spinning rods rather than fly rods for these affairs? My sister has a fundraiser for her theatre in Missouri and I’ve promised her a rod that I will deliver at Thanksgiving. I’m really inclined to do a flyrod although she thinks the spinning rod will generate more money. What do you think? JGW
First. How did the fly rods do when you built them ? Truth is there are lots more spin fishermen out there, and many who already are fisherrmen are a little intimidated at the prospect of using a fly rod. The sport
( fly fishing) is, however getting more popular. Maybe if you built a fly rod for the fundraiser, and included with it, as part of the prize, some fly casting lessons. Perhaps an hour or two of your time at a local park or pond with the lucky winner of the custom handmade fly rod you’ve built. That’s usually enough time swinging a rod to get the general idea and feel for it. Then it’s mostly all practicing the basics…
…ModocDan
JGW,
It depends on the priorities of your purpose here.
If the reason you do this is to promote fly fishing, and also raise money for these charities, then build a fly rod.
If you are doing it primarily to raise money, then build what will generate the best response dollars wise. That may or may not be a fly rod (folks seem to see them as more ‘valuable’ than spinning rods, but less folks know how to use them…trade off, certainly).
Having donated lots of art work to many different charities, I know that most are VERY happy with whatever is donated.
You could always do a hedge, and build a ‘combo rod’ that works either way (I’ve been building a few of these lately, fun to play with).
In any case, you should be commended for doing this at all. Whatever you decide, you are doing good things.
Thanks.
Buddy
I think I would consider the audience likely to attend the fundraiser, If it is for an outdoor group, IE trout unlimited, boyscouts, campfire etc, I would go with the fly rod, (likely a higher percentage of fly fishers in the group) if it is for a non-outdoor group I would send a Spinning rod. (If you feel so inclined you could include the right for the purchaser to trade it straight across for a fly rod of comprable quality.)
I see it as a trade off, I think Fly fishers are more likely to pay better for equipment, IE my ultralight rod reel and line cost $30 and my first fly rod reel line etc cost $80 but there are less of us to start a bidding war.
If it was for a theater group I would send the spinning rod with a picture of a fly rod and the ability to swap it at the purchasers request. (if it was for my sister I would send a matched set, I owe her for some of the stuff I did to her when I was a kid :lol: )
PS I admire your generosity at donating rods
Eric
white43,
Your doing the right thing building spin rods. Fly Rods mean something to Fly Fishers, but most people identify a Fishin’ Pole as a Spin Rod. Also your building Spin Rods for Charity and that should be your main focus.
You have discovered that Volunteering to help people is VERY rewarding and I commend you for doing it.
Thanks,
Doug
White43
I fish all tackle depending the situation but if Im heading out by myself 99 times out of 100 Im carrying a fly rod. True most people think of spinning and spincast outfits when they think of fishing. Some how I think of fly tackle when I think of presentation quality. The rafters in our basement are filled with spinning. baitcasting and spincast rigs but there is something special about a fly rod and always room for more. But its to you really and the people you are building for. If they want a spinning rod build one.
Greg
Just a couple weeks ago I finished a 765 4piece fly rod for a Ducks Unlimited auction. Raised $400.00 with it!! Wasn’t sure what the response would be, as more people around here spin fish, but I went with what I was most comfortable doing. Guess they liked it!
Betty,
Not to highjack the post, but did you ever post a picture of that rod???
IMHO, I would think the Theater people might be more inclined to bid on a rod that many consider the tool of an “artistic” endeavor. I don’t mean to stereotype people, but that’s just my thought. Perhaps adding some vibrant feather inlays in the butt section would add a bit more “artistic” flair to the rod, along with JC feathers as alignment points. As you know, you are only limited by your imagination.
Joe
<no, I didn’t even think about it till after the auction was done!! next time!!>
Just a thought, I kept it more generic to appeal to more people. Something light and tasteful might have an interest, though. I tried to keep in mind that this was a gift from me, to them, and carried my style, and my likes.
Thanks for the great response, and Betty that would be a dream to raise that kind of cash. My highest was for a Let’s Go Fishing with just over $100 raised, again with a spinning rod. They specifically asked for one when given a choice. Most don’t care what I build and are appreciative of the gift. I like the idea of the feather inlay but haven’t had much luck on making those look real good. I have a half blank of a broken rod that I think I’ll practice on. So far the feathers look like mistakes. I’m leaning toward the fly rod for the theatre fundraiser. I’ll let you know what happens either way . JGW
For a local charity auction I furnished a fly rod and with the help of club members a nice box of flies. A local sporting good store added a vest and net. Our city isnt great on fly fishing but the outfit went high with just three bidders. If you feel the spinning rod would generate more bids by all means build one. BILL
Here’s another option, I did this for my second salt water fly rod. It took me a while to wean myself off of spinning gear when fishing salt water. I found myself lugging a fly rod and flies, and a spinning rod and lures and plugs. I built the fly rod using single foot SIC spinning guides in place of snake guides. I used a larger reel seat that could handle a medium spinning reel and a screw in fighting butt. I used the fight butt that came with the reel seat, and then found a stainless steel threaded bolt 6 inches long and built a second butt. When I wanted to switch, I just changed butts and reels. One thing I found was I could shoot line better with the SIC guides, and I incorporated that into all the fly rods I’ve built since, and when I built my current salt water I made sure it could handle the extended butt, as it means the one time each year I break out my spinning gear its one less rod I have carry when I head up to northern Ontario.
I don’t have an opinion about which to build (if you enjoy building flyrods more than spinning rods, maybe you’ll keep doing it longer – and ultimately raise more donations – if you build the rods you personally enjoy most?), but I do have an opinion about you. You, sir, are one hell of a good guy!
Not at all !
Whatever gets the desired effect(raising the money) is what counts.
God Blesses you for doing this!
How about trying a spinning rod and a fly rod for a single event, and stick with which ever generates the most funds for all your other events.
Again it’s your donation so do what fulfills you the most.