FFSC Fly Rods
All FFSC crafted fly rods have been moved to their new home at Misfit Fishing Rods. Please come join over there. The atmosphere and attitude is a little different.
All FFSC crafted fly rods have been moved to their new home at Misfit Fishing Rods. Please come join over there. The atmosphere and attitude is a little different.
I really enjoy you website and look forward to it weekly. I rely on it for good information on conditions and fly recommendations. I appreciate the enthusiasm that you have for fly fishing here in SC because it is obvious in your work. I have been building rods (especially fly rods) for 20+ years and enjoyed some extra income as a result although I have never persued it as a regular part time business. I do get a handful of referrals through word of mouth and I once did the repairs for a local fly shop. What I wanted to suggest to you is to try to use less epoxy on your wraps. A thin coat of epoxy will cover the wraps on any fly rod just fine. I often use 2 VERY thin coats. Thin coats will give your wraps a nice level appearance and you’ll avoid the “football” shape that you’re currently seeing. Not only will the level wrap be more cosmetically appealing but you’ll also reduce a lot of extra and unnecessary weight over the length of the rod and you’ll have a much better performing rod. The rod will damp much better and become a more accurate casting tool.
I hope that you don’t take offense at my comments because they are not intended to offend or inflame. I wish you nothing but success in your rod making endeavor and just wanted to pass along my comment as a possible opportunity to develop your work. I beleive that I am considerably older than I beleive you to be and, on matters of taste, mine lean heavily to the conservative and traditional side while your seem more contemporary. Still, if I can ever help you with anything like source materials or expereince with certain blanks or components, I’ll be happy to help.
Sam
Not offended at all Sam, I appreciate the input. I have struggled a bit with finish even though I do like a little of a beaded look, however too much is certainly possible. I have a different type on the way that I’m hoping will look a little better, especially for the really light rods and maybe a future fiberglass rod build. Its more of a polyurethane than epoxy I guess you could say. Should be very thin.
When the day comes that I think a rod’s cosmetics make a difference in how it fishes, I’ll quit fishing. But, that’s just me. To each his own. I think they’re all really nice.