With winter still hanging on here in SE Pa. , I have been rather inactive building or making grips. The willies and cabin fever got the best of me, and I slid into the dark side ordering a cane blank for my next project. I received the finished blank yesterday and now am in the process of gathering components to finish it out. This may take some time , as I want this to be a gem when finished. In the mean time I figured I’d post this pic for those who never seen a cane rod in the ruffed out stage of production. My rod is 4th from the left. Its a 71/2 ft 3pc.
John…I am starting with the finished and ferruled blank. I had the rod flamed (dark) and the nickel sivler ferrules are dark blued. At this point I have all but deceided to use a light to medium orange thread for the wraps (not sure about tipping color yet). I have already picked up a black nickel silver orange agate stripper and as you know will be making a unique grip. The guides and tip top will be black. The only real hang up I have at this point is deciding on a reel seat.
I am torn between a sliding band or screwlock.
Have done so…along with a number of others…Thanks Also just like to mention that you’ll find a lot of the old original rods had screwlocks…like I said… still debating.
I, too, would suggest the seats from Goldenwitch. For the really classic design I’d even opt for the sliding ring. Your rod would be short enough and light enough to easily support one.
<sure hope you brought a flashlight along on this adventure … you’re WAY into the darkside, now!!:p>
Re: the wrap colors, if you plan on using CP, black wraps with small orange tips (like the older Heddon 17s) is a very nice combination on a darker blank and it would also work well with your choice on the stripping guide.
red wraps w/ black tipping is classic and classy. no cp necessary. use silk.
I always use uplocking reelseats on my bamboo rods. my first one had a cap and ring as does my schliske rod and nearly every time I fish either I cast the reel off the rod at one point or another.
Your reel is coming off with d/l sliding band seats? I have half a dozen rods from 3w’s on up to 6w’s with sliding bands and cap and a couple with double rings and never had a problem with a reel coming off. I do match up my reels to the rods. The foot is small enough so the bands and cap fits snug. Not all reel foot?/feet? are standard.
That would suck to be fishing and watch your reel get launched.
Ed my friend I know that what ever you choose it will come out looking fantastic. Some say you have stepped into the really dark side I say you have elevated yourself into the world of the elite. Someday I will join you.
Well I finally made a decision on a reel seat and went with a Struble U17 uplocking screwlock with black hardware and walnut insert spacer. I about wore myself out making this decision and just couldnt bring myself to purcashing a slideband reel seat as nice as they are. I think my choice will match the rest of the hardware going on this rod real good ,and I sure wont have any fear of a reel coming loose when it gets fished…Ed
Good choice, I chose that same reel seat in black hardware but with burl madrone insert for my Dan Craft build, sure is a classy looking seat. The pre-inletted ring I received with mine however was horribly off centered and unusable, not sure how that got past their quality control, but I can inlet my own cork ring anyways.
