These are the two reel seat inserts I turned. The top one is African Blackwood, and has tourquoise inlayed in it. The bottom one is a piece of Rosewood, and has a Lady Amherst feather along with some grizzly hackle set in it. If I choose to swap the feather inlayed seat, the bag with extras goes with it so the recipient may do the same inlay on the fishing rod he/she builds with it.
I'm leaning towards the LA feather inlay.

What's goin' on...

I've finished the Camo rod and tickets are for sale! It's been doing pretty well so far. Over a month left, though. Plenty of time to bring in some donations! I've got a couple things going on right now. 1) I'm in a reel seat swap with the forum I'm a member of. http://www.rodbuildingforum.com/index.php?? I can post pictures tomorrow. 2) I'm also in an ultra light spin rod swap. I am the swapmaster on this one. It's due mid-March, in time for Trout season here in NY. I'm still working on ideas for this. That's about it for now.

Happy Veterans' Day!

I thought I would start by posting a few pictures of some fishing rods I'v built for various people for various reasons.

This first rod was built to raffle off to help support the American Legion Post 1683 here in NY. It raised over $300.

This next one is my favorite. This is where the name "Inspirations" came from. This is a 9' Salmon/Steelhead rod built for a woman with special circumstances. She lives in Wisconsin and is going to Oregon in December for a week of Steelheading. At this time, she knows nothing of this rod.

The four leaf clover inlay in the grip is just a little good luck charm, not only for fishing, but for her as well!

This is one I'm finishing up now. It is for a raffle to benefit a local family's medical bills. A death in the family after a long illness left this man with bills exceding $10,000. I can only hope this rod will raise enough money to help!