kemper Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 (edited) Well today I went to an awesome tackle shop in Guelph, and got great help from the guys there to start my project, a custom float rod! Walked out with a stealth black St.Croix blank, stealth black Fuji guides, polished silver Pac Bay reel seat and matching butt cap. Wrapping is going to be black with a subtle copper accent. Im going for a stealth theme, not an over the top custom but anyone who knows their rods will recognize that its no off the shelfer. Ill be throwing in a little style with a little custom grip action, 5 inches of forgrip, reelseat, 4 inches rear grip and then 9 or so inches of exposed blank to a very small cork section then butcap. It is something that I havent seen on a float rod until today when I was checking out some other customs. Just need to pick up something to ream the cork with, and some epoxy and Im golden. Ill post picture of the process until i am done, and I am expecting this to take a long time seeing as I have school to attend. Edited September 16, 2008 by kemper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 Good on ya Kemper. Really looking forward to seeing the work as it progresses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 Looking forward to following your progress on this rod Kemper. I spent a couple days in Guelph about 4 years ago and came across an excellent little tackle shop called Hook Line & Sinker where I spent several hours just gabbing with the owner......his name was Ray if I remember correctly. He's got some great stuff in there and even if your not buying anything it's a nice place to visit and I'm pretty sure he had quite a bit of river fishing gear that you'd be interested in. This could even be the shop your talking about, but if not, go have a look when you get some spare time. It's at 380 Emerosa Road in a small plaza called Bullfrog Plaza or something similar...519-766-4665 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solopaddler Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 (edited) Hey that's great bud, glad things worked out for you. Jerry and his son Colin are both great guys and very helpful. Looking forward to seeing the finished product as well. Edited September 13, 2008 by solopaddler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 (edited) Hesitate to say this, but regarding Lew's mention of Ray and Hook Line and Sinker..There's a lot I could say, but simply he's one of the few retailers that I have zero time for. If anyone wants to know why I'd be more than happy to enlighten. He's a snake . hmmmm, I guess you obviously know him better than me Mike, but from 1st impressions I thought he was a straight up guy. .....perhaps we'll let this die right here. ...........Sorry this got off track Kemper Edited September 12, 2008 by lew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bly Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 Sounds great Kemper, looking forward to the progress updates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elee886 Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 Just need to pick up something to ream the cork with, and some epoxy and Im golden. A round rat-tail file is useful for reaming individual cork rings, if that's what you're using for the grips. Just be careful not to over-file. The rod finish should be available at your rod shop. It's like your usual two-part epoxy, but made especially for rod building. One important consideration: if you're fishing throughout the winter, I'd beware of using really small guides near the tip because of freezing. You probably thought it through already, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to mention. Lots of float fisherman have high frame guides all the way to the tip. Assuming weight near the tip is an issue (and it usually is), I prefer to use single-foot fly guides near the tip instead of the high guides. That way, you can use a larger ring size to slow down the freeze-up and still save weight. Best of luck, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solopaddler Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 hmmmm, I guess you obviously know him better than me Mike, but from 1st impressions I thought he was a straight up guy. .....perhaps we'll let this die right here. ...........Sorry this got off track Kemper Sorry 'bout that Lew. Couldn't help myself though for some VERY good reasons. Still, I probably shouldn't have said anything. Post edited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kemper Posted September 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 Grips and reel seat installed, this is really going to a different rod and its cool to see it coming together. Ill get some pictures up later today I dont have my camera cables here but my girlfriend is bringing them up with her today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tibbs Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 Looking forward to the pics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super dave Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 cork and reel seat is the easy part. The fun begins with the line wrapping! My advice is take your time and don't be afraid to redo some wraps before you epoxy. Post some pics when you can. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kemper Posted September 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 (edited) I think its a little different, the exposed blank is a look that I like. Some may not, but hey thats why im building it and not them! on a side note here is a big fat speed river smallie i caught last week.. Edited September 14, 2008 by kemper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJL Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 Beautiful job Kemper! You're absolutely right about the purpose of building or customizing rods to suit your own preferences. I personally couldn't ever use a handle configuration like yours...Then again I'm not sure how many out there would like just 5-6 inches of butt behind the reel seat which I have on my rods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solopaddler Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 Wow you don't waste any time! Looks good bud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiel Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 ....Super! After thought, did you scuff/roughen up the blank before epoxying the handle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kemper Posted September 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 it was an after thought for me too...AFTER i epoxyed the first part of the handle! I think it will be fine...but if its not i guess i can make necessary repairs? What are the odds that it comes loose? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jace Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 it was an after thought for me too...AFTER i epoxyed the first part of the handle! I think it will be fine...but if its not i guess i can make necessary repairs? What are the odds that it comes loose? It looks great. Did you spine/spline the blank (or find the straightest axis) before setting the reel seat? It might come loose but then any part can come loose after use, I would leave it for now and not worry about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kemper Posted September 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 Yes, I did spine it although from the sources I read it seemed about 50/50 as to whether it was necessary or not. Seemed more important for rods that involve alot of casting, and as a float guy in mainly smaller rivers casting distance really is not important to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tibbs Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 Looks Good! Theres enough room in your dorm to build it? lol BTW Nice smallie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kemper Posted September 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Looks Good! Theres enough room in your dorm to build it? lol BTW Nice smallie! no, there isn't. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiel Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 it was an after thought for me too...AFTER i epoxyed the first part of the handle! I think it will be fine...but if its not i guess i can make necessary repairs? What are the odds that it comes loose? ....You should be okay. If it does manage to come loose it won't be for several years. FYI spining, always important for any rod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kemper Posted September 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 ....You should be okay. If it does manage to come loose it won't be for several years. FYI spining, always important for any rod. Thats what I was thinking... and about the spining, what exactly is the purpose because I came across so many different opinions that I really have no clue. I did spine the rod, but I do not know what exactly I accomplished by doing so Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiel Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 ....If a rod is not spined properly the guides may roll to one side or another when the rod is flexed. That is to say the rod will always bend in line with the spine and if the guides aren't lined up with it you'll notice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kemper Posted September 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 UPDATE: a little teaser of whats to come... Im really enjoying this hobby, and I have a feeling that by sometime next year I will have 5 or 45 more custom rods. Its coming along nicely... Sorry about the lame picture quality and strange reflections, the lighting in my dorm room is almost non existant. I think it is really shaping up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tibbs Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 Looking good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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