Thread: Question About Today's Rods

Shame we’re aren’t closer Bill. I could build you a rod that you’d fall in love with. Not fancy, just functional with some trimmings and done the way you like it.

Originally Posted by skeetbum

Shame we’re aren’t closer Bill. I could build you a rod that you’d fall in love with. Not fancy, just functional with some trimmings and done the way you like it.

I appreciate the thought. I've looked at the pictures of the rods you've made. You do very nice work. I'm sure they fish very well. But I am happy with what I have. I've never been one to accumulate a lot of stuff like that. I know lots of guys like doing that. It is part of their enjoyment of a hobby/pursuit. I understand that.

Take care. Go fishing.

First, thanks for the compliments. That’s kind of me but kind of not. My internal motor runs kinda quick and I don’t sit around very well. I’m usually doing something. The rod thing is a revisited desire. Now I have more patience and a little more money. Active word is little. I’ve given up a lot of things I’ve enjoyed over the years but I always came back to fishing. A few years back I realized that I couldn’t afford to follow all my hobbies and had to focus on a couple at best. Fishing is and will always be number one and a close up much more expensive second is my shotgun and clay targets. I’m down to shooting a Browning 28ga for less recoil. Once again, a social thing also with some of the best guys I’ve ever met. This better equipment is just part of the progression of a passion. Strapping a knockout reel onto one of my own built rods just tickles me. I’m gonna keep running my mouth and I’ll be ordering my Presso in a few minutes.

What Alphahawk said about weight being the enemy of sensitivity is what I’ve also heard. My opinion is that it’s all about vibration. The many guides we now use transfer vibration to the blank. All the cork on a full grip absorbs and dampens those vibrations. The experiment I can’t afford to try is to build one skeleton style and another, identical rod and guides with a full handle to compare the feel and sensitivity. So far, all I have is my opinion.

Originally Posted by skeetbum

First, thanks for the compliments. That’s kind of me but kind of not. My internal motor runs kinda quick and I don’t sit around very well. I’m usually doing something. The rod thing is a revisited desire. Now I have more patience and a little more money. Active word is little. I’ve given up a lot of things I’ve enjoyed over the years but I always came back to fishing. A few years back I realized that I couldn’t afford to follow all my hobbies and had to focus on a couple at best. Fishing is and will always be number one and a close up much more expensive second is my shotgun and clay targets. I’m down to shooting a Browning 28ga for less recoil. Once again, a social thing also with some of the best guys I’ve ever met. This better equipment is just part of the progression of a passion. Strapping a knockout reel onto one of my own built rods just tickles me. I’m gonna keep running my mouth and I’ll be ordering my Presso in a few minutes.

What Alphahawk said about weight being the enemy of sensitivity is what I’ve also heard. My opinion is that it’s all about vibration. The many guides we now use transfer vibration to the blank. All the cork on a full grip absorbs and dampens those vibrations. The experiment I can’t afford to try is to build one skeleton style and another, identical rod and guides with a full handle to compare the feel and sensitivity. So far, all I have is my opinion.

I hear you very well about having to set limits and make choices. I also have another passion or two which creeps into my budget. For me the number one thing is traditional archery. I shoot a longbow with wood arrows I make up myself. But I do very much enjoy my fishing especially because at this point I don't need to spend much money on it.