7’6″

I decided to make a 7’6″ 5 weight designed by Tim Abbott – the Abbot Paraverage.This design is a great all around fly rod. I plan on donating this rod to a local fundraiser so it should be a great introduction to the joys of fishing with cane for someone.

In the last post I had just completed baking the rough planed strips of bamboo to straighten them and get out any residual moisture.

Once the strips are out of the oven the finish planning begins. A metal planing form is setup based on the final taper of the rod to be produced. The taper is the primary factor that controls the action of the rod. The planing form has a set of set screws every five inches to adjust for various tapers. Once the form is set up the final planning begins each strip is laid into the form and hand planed creating tapered strips that retain a 60 degree V-angle.

After all the strips are completed, they are laid out in order, glue is applied, then they are bound together with a string binding machine which exerts equal pressure along the rod blank as the glue dries.

After the glue cures the string is removed and the rod blank is sanded. After sanding is completed the ferrules, tip top and grip are added and the rod is ready for the finishing touches – adding the guides and wraps.

Reel seats – I enjoy turning my own reel seats, this allows me to give each rod a unique highlight. For this rod I’m using padauk an african hardwood with a deep reddish color.

Setting up the planing form

Finish planing the tip strips

Ready for glue up

End view of a glued up rod blank

Turning the reel seat

Rod with grip and ferrules on

7’6″ – 5 weight

I just completed this 7’6″ – 5 weight fly rod based on Paul Young’s Perfectionist taper. I had the chance to try it out this past weekend on the Carp River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It casts beautifully with the mid-May snow coming down.

This rod features an agate stripping guide, nickel silver guides and reel seat hardware and a custom made spalted maple reel seat. The spalted maple I found in our firewood pile. I pulled it out, cut it down on the bandsaw and then turned several beautiful reel seats.

May 17, 2016 0

7’6″ Perfectionist

I completed this 7’6″ – 5 weight fly rod based on Paul Young’s Perfectionist taper. This rod features an agate stripping guide, nickel silver guides and reel seat hardware, a custom made old growth oak reel seat and maize guide wraps with blue tipping (University of Michigan inspired).

Below are a few pictures of the rod as well as a few photos from the first time out in the river.