It's been a while

I haven't really done too many charity related projects lately. While the economy in the hole it is, I don't have the time or the money right now to do anything. I have built a few rods though.

I also have a trash can ful of old fishing rods, whole and parts. I found a neat little one in there a month or so ago. It's a 3'6" casting/jigging rod. My guess is, it was used for fishing the smaller freshwater species; crappie, sunfish, bluegill... The cork grip was all but gone. Although it never had finish on it, the thread was still in "good" shape. It was still holding the guides on, anyway. The guides themselves were corroded, but not crushed, like I would have expected.

After removing all the old cork, thread, and guides, giving it a little spray paint, and some new guides...

While I was checking for proper spacing of the guides, I heard the sound of fiberglass straining. Unfortunately, this rod is destined to spend it's days as a display piece. I would be afraid to catch a good bass on it and have it snap.

USMC Fishing Rod

I built this rod for a friend's son who is a Marine. It's a 6'6" spin rod built to tackle large bass down South where he is stationed.

Reel Recovery "Class Photos"

Once all the flyrods were collected, a few pictures were taken.

RR Rod Update

I finally finished my Reel Recovery donation:
It went out in the mail today.

I haven't been doing too much lately. I'm still in the planning stage of the Reel Recovery rod. Although, I should be able to order the components next week.

I have a benefactor. No, really. A fellow rod builder has been sending me patterns for pens that I've been using for seat inserts. Here's a Celtic

Knot I just finished. I'm looking forward to my next one.

I've been playing around with the idea of laminations. These are two of my prototype ideas. The woods are Cherry with thin Wenge strips. I also have some Rosewood that I plan on using in place of the Wenge on some future inserts.

I'm still planning out the Reel Recovery rod. I'm taking more time on this on than the others I've done. Each one that I build is more and more special to me. They have to be perfect!

Reel Recovery

The RBF is sponsoring a fund drive for http://www.reelrecovery.org/. Members will be building 14 flyrods (9' 5wt 4pc), tying 5000 flies, and collecting $2000 (to go towards reels, rod socks, and rod tubes). I have opted to build and donate a rod. Our deadline is April 1. This is another build that is getting me excited! The planning of rods like this one is, at least, half the fun! I will keep updating as I progress with this one. I turned down the Spalted Maple. This stuff is magnificent! I sanded this one down to 1000 grit and polished it with the backside of the paper. This may just end up on my donation rod (?).