Recent project

I’m not really sure that you can call this a recent project. It is actually a project I started more than 3 years ago. The rod itself isn’t even new. The blank is now pushing close to 40 years old! It is a rod that my dad built many years ago for drifting bobbers for steelhead in deep holes in the winter. The blank itself is 12 foot long. The length is required to be able to run your bait as close to the bottom as possible while using a fixed bobber. For years, steelhead fisherman in the North have built rods from fly rod blanks and this one is no exception. The special part about this rod is that the company (Fenwick) no longer makes blanks! Another feature is that you simply cannot buy a rod blank built with this material any longer.

During the time when this rod was tied, the materials were not of the same quality that they are today. Thread was prone to color fades, finishes would yellow due to UV rays, and the finish itself would become brittle and crack. The majority of rods that we built in the 70’s and 80’s have all since been retied. Except for this one! Along with the issues described, this rod also had two additional issues. The first issue was that the majority of the snake eyes were weathered, scratched, and rusted. The second issue was that one of the stripper eyes was broken and the other three had severe issues with the ring materials. The first project (probably close to three years ago) was to strip all of the eyes, glue, and thread. The second task was to order up a set of eyes.

The tip section was completed about two years ago. Although I do not prefer them in today’s builds due to weight, the original eyes were all double foot eyes. I needed to match them up so that my wraps would cover over the work I had done to strip the originals eyes. The below photo shows a completed snake eye. The under wrap does not extend all the way. It simply covers the gap in the guide eye. It is done in metallic blue. The wrap holding the top and bottom foot is done in chartreuse and the trim band is done in neon orange. I like having really loud guide eyes as it gives you something to concentrate on while fishing. The slightest movement can be seen as well as felt.

Attachment 329073

The tip section of this rod has a total of nine snake eyes plus the tip top. Each of the eyes takes about an hour to complete. I’ve heard and read several builders talking about snake eyes and casting, and distance. Every steelhead rod I’ve ever built has had snake eyes. The same eyes used for fly fishing. I’ll put the casting abilities of these rods next to any other rod built. The cast ability of these rods has more to do with the stripper eyes and the transition than it does with the snake eyes.

To finish the tip section I needed to craft a wrap. Unlike rods of today that have tapered top sections to butt the two pieces together, rods of yesterday had oversized blank materials glued in place. It leaves a square transition at the top. Coming up with the right combination to perfectly center your wrap is key to having good eye appeal.

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After the completion of the tip section I applied the finish and set it aside. I had every intention of completing the butt section of the rod in short order but I really wasn’t happy with the stripper eyes that I had purchased. They just didn’t have the same look and feel that the old eyes had. The rod got put to the side. Somewhere in the last two years, I sent an old Sage blank back to the company. Actually the butt section. The tip was lost years ago and I was wondering if Sage would create a new tip section for me. Because of the materials and makeup, Sage could no longer produce the exact compound. Sage is by far our favorite company for steelhead rods. After explaining the situation and the fact that we prefer the older Sage 2 section blanks as opposed to the 3 and 4 sections they make today, Sage was gracious enough to make me a new blank. Any of you that know rods probably know by now that a good Sage blank with probably run close to $700 dollars! This blank did not. The reason for me telling you this is that Sage sent me back my original butt section. On that butt section was (4) stripper eyes identical to the ones taken off the 12 footer. Unlike the 12 footer, these eyes showed little wear and were in great shape. I put them aside and forgot about the project.

My shop always has something on the table. Unfortunately, I’m simply the type of person that likes to complete the projects in front of me before putting something else on the table. Simply put, I don’t like to move stuff around or it will take me 3 years to get back to it. After nearly two weeks of sifting through the “projects” I was finally able to see the table. This meant that I was able to actually put my rod wrapper on it without feeling guilty that I was pushing something aside!

With the extreme cold temperatures, I decided that I was finally going to finish the butt section of the rod. The toughest and most time consuming part was going to be the handle wrap just above the winding check. Careful measurements were taken from the union section as I had lost the “recipe” a long time back. This photo shows the wrap section as I was working on it. Notice that I had to carefully measure the trim band under the hook keeper. I had to size it just right so that all of my threads lined up.

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After the hook keeper was inserted I was able to continue on with the wrap. For military guys and people with OCD (one in the same really) wrapping rods can be a lot of fun. I count EVERY turn and make sure that both sides are 100% the same. Would average Joe know the difference? Nope, but I sure do. The recipe for this wrap is as follows: 12 orange, 12 chartreuse, 12 orange, 176 metallic blue, 66 chartreuse, 12 orange, 12 chartreuse, 12 orange, 66 chartreuse, 176 metallic blue, 12 orange, 12 chartreuse, and 12 orange. I told you it was OCD! Another thing for me is that I HATE to see any part of the rod. I like to have ALL of my threads packed tight. I’ve found that I will wrap 10 strands and then pack the 11th and 12th before starting again with 10 more before packing numbers 11 and 12. This ensures I get a nice tight pack and the sizes are equal. Too many wraps without packing causes issues.

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I still have the 4 remaining stripper eyes to complete before I apply the finish. At least it is now on the bench and the project I need to get out of the way before moving on to the next one!

Looking very very good!

If you want to clean your handle...get a old terrycloth washcloth..and some rubbing alcohol...and that dirt will come right off...!!....

ML...USA FLAG

I like the patina!

A magic eraser is one of the best tools we have found to clean cork handles. That or 1000 grit sand paper.

Very nice. I thought that winding would be similar to tying jigs, and it is in some respects. I spot imperfections and know that I won’t be satisfied with the quality I can currently do. My level of OCD, I guess.

Thank you for posting. Enjoyed the read and pics

I am very particular on wrapping. The photos on this thread are tough to do. It actually looks like gaps or crappy thread. It is actually the sparkle of the thread coming off the camera.

I am so particular that I pack my thread every 10 turns. I don't like the unpacked look.

Very nice. I love the colors.