[Bob Riggins]

Better get your order in quick, they are only making 10 of them.

[Bob Riggins]

As far as custom rods are concerned, I build them for myself for my own pleasure.  I can also set them up just the way I want them, which you can’t get in a production rod.  Can I wrap a rod as well as some kid in Korea that wraps 20 rods a day.  Probably not, but if I take my time I can get them just about perfect.  I’ve also ended up with some exceptional casting rods at much less $$$ than a production rod.

I guess it boils down to a matter of taste.  There are a lot of great production rods, a whole lot.  I just enjoy having something a little different.

[Bob Riggins]

Well, that’s quite a question.  I’m not sure if I have a go to rod and reel any more.  But here goes:

First Rod and original Go To for salt:     Scott SAS 9′  8wt/SA System 2 reel
Becoming favorite for Salt:

[Bob Riggins]

Actually, I thought it was a pretty nice review.  He recommends the site for people that like trout fishing.  I’m sure you will get a few hits off of it.  I can also see his point about mind numbing for non fishermen.  Can you imagine listening to a 30 minute podcast on someones golf match for example?  If you like golf, maybe, but if you would rather be fishing, mind numbing.

[Bob Riggins]

That was great.

[Bob Riggins]

Most everything has been said that I was going to say.  Just take your time and don’t get in a hurry.  I still end up rewrapping about half of my guides because I am not happy with the first wrap.  The only area that you can really mess up is with the epoxy finish.  It’s hard to undo a mistake there.  I would practice finishing wraps on a piece of old blank (broken rod) or dowel.  Also, I don’t use 5 minute epoxy on the grip and reel seat.  I trashed one catching the mistake after about 6 minutes.  

I now use 60 minute epoxy for the grip and reel seat.  I like Flex Coat Lite for the wraps and trim.  It seems to work better for me.  Don’t use color preserver, whatever you do.  I used it on one rod and it is very hard to work with.  I had problems with applying the CP and even more problems applying the epoxy over it.

One good source of information is a 12 part series by the late Al Campbell on FAOL.  Here is a link.

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/begin/graphite/index.html

Also check out http://www.rodbuilding.org for a lot of good information, links and photos.  It is a great source of new ideas.

[Bob Riggins]

I’ve bought components from him in the past and he has been very helpful, but I’ve never built on any of his blanks.

[Bob Riggins]

An 11′ 5wt is sort of an odd size.  Most are either 10′ or 13″+.  The only one I know of that has an 11’ish 5wt is Batson, which makes a 10’8″ 5wt switch rod.  I looked at them one time in a larger weight thinking I may want to build a higher weight beach rod.

http://www.batsonenterprises.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=121&Itemid=266

I’m a big fan of Rainshadow blanks and have built serveral rods on them.

[Bob Riggins]

The sportube.com rod case looks pretty good to me as far as protecting the rods.

[Bob Riggins]

Buy it quick before it gets away.

[Bob Riggins]

One way to fix the line is to taper both ends of the line at the break.

[Bob Riggins]

Interesting looking reel.

[Bob Riggins]

I read the product description on the gear bag.

[Bob Riggins]

A lot of Kayakers around here wear them or the regular Crocs.

[Bob Riggins]

Have you ever noticed that by connecting the product to fly fishing, a company can at least triple the price.

[Bob Riggins]

Actually, I usually post under the name “dunfly”, but Zach won’t let me use my alias.

[Bob Riggins]

Great photo essay.

[Bob Riggins]

How did Ascension Bay fare in the Huricanne.

[Bob Riggins]

As Rich said, the epoxy makes the nylon thread turn transluscent.

[Bob Riggins]

I know exactly what you mean.

[Author]

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