Friday, August 30, 2013

Kabuto brown. In progress.

 

Probably my new favorite light fiberglass blank Kabuto has comed up with recently. The 6'6" 2wt. in 3pcs. Brown painted blanks are breathtakingly beautiful. I did some test casting with this sweet new taper and was instant love. More words are useless. I'll let the pictures speak of this beautiful thing. This type of project probably is (and I might repeat myself on and on) the best example of a one in a lifetime rod I wish to own.





 
 

 

Kabuto white. In progress.

 
A couple more days and this beauty (second Kabuto white) will be finished and ready to go. Stay close!

 


 

Monday, August 19, 2013

Far North FlyFishing - Norway

Stay close for the full report on my trip of the year! Until your next visit, keep those loops tight!

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Steffen 8'6" #6/7


A new bad boy of a fly rod is born. One-of-a-kind "bronze edition" Steffen rod for a good friend in Denmark. This is one of those rods that is most time consuming. It's builds like this that make me say to myself I won't do many of them in this lifetime. Wonder when I'll have the time to build me one of these exceptional blanks rolled in a small number by Mark Steffen in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Inscripted in blood red. I think it looks cool with the bronze wraps and guides.
Fully saltwater safe, with titanium-bronze guides and anodized reel seat. The reel seat is made by Joel Lemke and it resembles the highly popular Struble U20 but in a larger diameter.


As for higher glass weights, I was skeptical in the beggining like many graphite rod users are, especially when we talk about a six or seven weight glass rod. Worries are gone when you pick up and cast a Steffen or the new Epic rods. I like both though. An Epic 686 will feel lighter on the tip, in fact all Epics have a lighter tip than most glass available, and most certainly are the best casting glass sticks ...but...

Compared to an Epic rod wich feels crisper and lighter, Steffen S-glass stands out on its own, bringing lots of reserve power for longer casts and bigger fish, all in a smooth package. And there is something about the appereance of a classy spiral finished&spigot ferruled blank.

To be really honest here, if one is a glass fisherman, then it has to have both :)

These last two rods finished are both going to the same guy and will be tested on serious fish in the saltwater. Ten-twenty pounds sea run trouts? Bring them on Peter! :)

Thanks for looking and hope you'll enjoy the pictures!


















 

Friday, August 9, 2013

Swift Epic 686 "So Blue"

Well there has been a lot of anticipation on this project and I have finally completed this "wicked" (to quote Carl) Swift Epic blue rod, a first blue Epic blank finished in my shop. 

So far there has been nothing to not love on this special rod. That includes the work process, color scheme selected and the components.

Fitted for the salt with two hard chrome heavy wire stripping&snake guides and oversized tip top. First stripping guide is double wrapped, everything on the rod is sealed against saltwater corrosion, wraps are finished in multiple epoxy layers, cork handle and fighting butt are sealed agains soil, dirt and grime.

Peter, the owner of the rod, told me he would "paint" the blue horizon of the Baltic see with this rod. I can only hope that when he will do that, it will put a big smile on his face.

Thanks for looking and hope you'll enjoy looking at this rod as much as I enjoyed building it.