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Comment by Walt Foreman on September 22, 2012 at 9:21am

Thanks for the compliments, Dick and Jen!  David, I'm a big fan of Charlie Brewer's lures, so I really appreciate your comment!  His crappie slider is to me the single best lure I've ever used for big bluegill.  And the original slider is an amazing bass lure - will catch bass at times when nothing else will - all of the Carolina rig straight-worm craze is to me really just mimicking the action of a Charlie Brewer slider.

Comment by Jen Nayfly on September 22, 2012 at 6:41am

This has to be the best looking handle I've ever seen! GREAT job Walt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by dick tabbert on September 22, 2012 at 6:38am

Beautiful rod Walt I see great pains taking work in the handle almost looks like marble. Great job.

Comment by David Dillman on September 22, 2012 at 12:47am

Walt,

That is a new one on me.  I sounds like something simple works the best.  They always told me in the Navy.  KISS,  Keep it Simple Stupid.  I think your fellow Tennesseen Charlie Brewer would of been proud of your rods.   Keep up the good work!!!!

Dilly

Comment by Walt Foreman on September 16, 2012 at 6:42pm

I'm familiar with those rods, David.  That's why I pointed out that the other rod I posted a photo of has an all-wood handle - wood conducts vibrations, just as alloy does.  I have read on other forums comments from anglers who own rods with wood handles, saying that they are so sensitive that they believe they can feel changes in bottom composition when they are fishing, i.e. from gravel to mud, etc.  The rod that is pictured above was made with the entire area where the reel will be held by the slip rings, made from wood, so that the angler's hand is in direct contact with wood, which is in direct contact with the blank, while he is fishing.  So far the reports I'm getting is that the rod is very sensitive.  

Comment by David Dillman on September 16, 2012 at 6:20pm

walt

 

The esp rods have alloy disks between the im6 graphite blank and the graphite handle, so it amplifies the the vibration of the rod.  That is why I say these rods are very sensative.

Dilly

Comment by Walt Foreman on September 15, 2012 at 10:43am

Thanks for all the compliments, guys!  I made several rods when I was in high school and college, just for myself and family, but had not made any in over twenty years until a little over a year ago when I decided to get back into it.  Then a short while later I had the idea that it might help my guided trips business if I offered a custom rod as included in the price of a trip, and beyond that, I've been underemployed or unemployed (what I am currently) for a while now, so I thought I also might be able to sell some if I could make them nice enough.  

David, wood-turning is definitely time-consuming - it took me a couple tries to learn the technique of turning, but the finishing of the handle, once it's shaped, is what, to me, is really tricky and time-consuming - it took a lot longer to get the finish right, or close to right, on this rod and the other rod I posted a photo of, than it did to turn the handle on the lathe.  And, working with a grip that's part cork and part wood does indeed greatly complicate things, because you don't want to get the wood finish on the cork.  I used tung oil on the cork, but that's not the best finish for the wood, so that was very tricky.

Jeff, this particular rod is a 5' super-ultralight, lighter in action than any factory UL I've seen.  The blank is graphite and rated for 1-4 lb. test, though it should do fine with 6-lb. but that would be the upper limit.  It has six guides, if I remember correctly?  The other rod I posted a photo of is a 6'6" super-ultralight made on a 2-weight fly rod blank - way lighter for sure than any longer UL you can buy.  That rod has seven guides, and is ideal for 1-6 lb. test.  I also make longer spinning rods up to 9' (or could do even longer) on fiberglass fly rod blanks, and these are dream rods for live bait - my main bluegill rod is an 8' spinning rod made on a Lamiglas 5-weight fly rod blank, with a 20" cork grip with slip rings.

David D., the graphite tubing you mention is readily available as a ready-made handle - I just don't use it because wood is also much more sensitive than cork, and has more aesthetic possibilities.  But I would of course be happy to use it if someone wanted it for their rod.  As far as why slip rings, they're just a lot less hassle than having to fool with electrical tape every time I go fishing, and they don't remove cork from the handle.

Comment by Jeff Soto on September 15, 2012 at 10:01am

Beautiful!  Tell us more about this rod.  Length, action, number of guides, recommended line size, etc..

Comment by DAVID L EITUTIS on September 15, 2012 at 8:18am

GREAT LOOKING WORK WALT!!!!! Having built approx. 300 rods myself I know good work when I see it! SORRY I MEANT GREAT WORK! DID you have much trouble turning the handle with two different density's of handle material? HHHHHHHHHa Ha! No one knows the how difficult it can be at times unless they built one like this. LOVE THE PURPLE THREAD!
 YOU DONE GOOD !

Comment by Vince Fusco on September 15, 2012 at 8:03am

I bought one of their esp rods this summer David and love it! It has plastic slip rings and they do real well. I didn't know till recently that we had a member that was a rod builder. Again Walt, that is one beautiful rod.

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