10wt Finally Done

[PeteSorensen]

Well, I finally finished building my first fishing rod from the blank up. I made my own grips & fighting butt from burl cork and hand wound the double chevron butt wrap. It was an absolute blast. I found myself to be driven to near maddness on my first try at fancy wraps, just ask my wife, she didn't see me for days. Here are some pics. i hope you enjoy as much as I did.<BR><BR><img src="http://home.adelphia.net/~striperman/fish/bigwrap.jpg"><br><img src="http://home.adelphia.net/~striperman/fish/wrap.jpg">
<BR><BR><BR><img src="http://home.adelphia.net/~striperman/fish/burlgrip.jpg"><br><img src="http://home.adelphia.net/~striperman/fish/fightinbutt.jpg">
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[PeteSorensen]

The burl cork has a nice grain and is much stronger.<BR><BR><img src="http://home.adelphia.net/~striperman/fish/burlgrip.jpg"><br><img src="http://home.adelphia.net/~striperman/fish/fightinbutt.jpg">
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[PeteSorensen]

Let's try this again. <BR><BR><img src="http://home.adelphia.net/~striperman/fish/Burlgrip.jpg"><br><img src="http://home.adelphia.net/~striperman/fish/Fightinbutt.jpg">
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[rel]

<FONT color=black face="Times New Roman,Times" size=2>Pete- Fantastic job. Which size wrapping thread did you use and did you double wrap the guides? rel</FONT>

[PeteSorensen]

Ron, It is standard weight Gudebrod guide wrapping thread. I am not sure what weight it is, not like fly tying thread. I get the thread from the Rod Builders Workshop in Kingston. I am really excited about making this rod. I got some great satisfaction building it. I did not underwrap the guide wraps because it is not necessary and it adds weight to the blank. I kept the guide wraps very short.
Regards,
Peter

[Roop]

Nice job Pete - very "Smitty " like.

Roop

[gregk]

Wow! Nice job! For my first rod I did a feather inlay, it's kinda the "chevron challenged" persons answer to a beautiful wrap that you just did ;-)The burl cork is awsome, I'm gonna have to think about that one. By the way, standard rod building thread for fly blanks is size "A". And you were correct in not doing the underwraps, no need.
You may wish to forgoe using the hook keeper, even 1/0's will get their edge into that beautiful finnish and nick/scratch it up after a season. Then your pathological state will demand that you strip it down and refinnish it again ! ;-) ( hook the fly to your reel);
Congrats!
greg

[ssully]

Pete,

Beautiful job. May the first fish on it be legal. ;-)