So guys...

I think I'm in love.  I need to confess to my wife.  Any suggestions?  

This is a serious topic.  I finished my build and not only do I think it looks gorgeous, but it casts amazing!  I'm in love...

So the build is done!  I'm fully addicted to rod building, not sure what I'm going to do.  I've a second build for my dad going to start, I'm sure I'll end up buying Koda out of his supply of fiberglass blanks, I don't know, this is some fund stuff 

I'll let you judge the looks from the pictures.  It's in  no way perfect, but for my first build I'm extremely happy!  I took it out for some casting on the lawn today and it was amazing.  This is my first time casting glass however so I've got nothing to compare too but graphite.  I've never been a fast rod guy.  My favorite rod thus far has been an LL Bean Double L Classic.  It's a moderate action, and I always liked it's slower action compared to other rods I had cast.  This one is SLOOOWWW!  I love it.  It's smooth though and can shoot line. I should say I overlined by one line size because I've got no 3wt line or a reel for the rod yet.  I threw my 4wt line on an old LL bean Streamlite 5/6 wt reel.  Man they are a solid little clicker reel!  

So I'd say it's a really slow rod even for glass. Casting I can feel it flexing down to the butt, definitely a full flex rod, no doubt.  It can shoot some line.  I was comforatable casting 40-45 feet today.  This will be my brook rod, so really 10 ft will be the typical range   But It will be a nice dry fly rod for sure and I'll be trying it before the season ends on the Sugar, we'll see what happens if I get anything of any size, will definitely be a hoot and half!

Enjoy the pictures guys and if you've got any questions or Hell if you plain think it looks like crap, throw it at me!

-Nic

 Koda,

Funny you say that on both counts!

I got the blank on e-bay as "blem."  Person selling claims these are built in the same factory as norie.  I'd never heard of norie, but the price on the blank was right...$14.95 as a blem.  The blem is that the tip is slightly crooked.  All in all I've got $130 in the rod and much of the stuff purchased I can reuse. 

This is definitely my first build and it's a blast!  I had the thought of building up rods to sell as a part time gig.  I had the same thought of made in America as well!  It'd be great both ways, I'd make a little extra cash, plus I'd have fun building, and release some stress at the same time.  This stuff is might relaxing to do!  I was looking at my LL bean rod the other day and no knock on beans, but the build quality on this is light years ahead of Beans.  Not that it effects fishability, but the wraps on the bean rod are down right sloppy once you really get looking at them...

Thanks for the compliments!

-Nic

p.s.  I'm really thinking for the price I'll have to get one of those wt blanks you've got for sale...

 Lee,

It is a 7' 3wt two piece

Reel seat is tiger maple with nickel silver downlocking cap and ring.  

Thread is gold with medium brown tipping at tip, ferrules and as decorative wraps near hook keeper.

All guides are snake brand chrome double foot.

My one regret is I had thought of doing tipping on all of the guides but thought it would look overdone.  After finishing the rod I really like the color on the tipping and wished I had done it at every guide.  It still looks nice though.

-Nic

It looks awesome bud!  I have been thinking of a build myself, but who knows maybe I can get the materials and get soem experienced help huh?

Thanks for showing us, it is certainly worth drooling over....

Theron

Quote by: Nic

 Koda,

 

Funny you say that on both counts!

 

I got the blank on e-bay as "blem."  Person selling claims these are built in the same factory as norie.  I'd never heard of norie, but the price on the blank was right...$14.95 as a blem.  The blem is that the tip is slightly crooked. .........

 

That would be Mark up in Conway. Believe he's on his 4th identity on evil bay. He used to be South Chair, then Fly rod somthing or other.  He lied about the blanks being built in the Norie factory.  Reason I know that is my Rep tried to con me with the same pitch on the same blanks. I almost bit until I did the homework and found out they were clones of the Norie blanks made in a factory in China. Now that ain't saying anything bad about the blanks, they did a good copy of the Nories.  They're just not Norie.

I passed on the blanks as I figured they'd be a hard sell,  But I did pull in a few rods made up on those blanks and they cast quite nice and sold as fast as I got them. All receiving campers were happy with them.

A rod maker in MI was talking about pulling in some of those blanks and planned on making a killing on them as he intended to sell finished rods for sick money and they did not look as good as your build.  It pissed backwards on him when the head Hiti Kiti decided to double the price on the blanks once he had someone nibbling on them.  He did pull in some of the same blanks as Mark but he got all defects.  Seems he pissed of the Rep and said Rep decided to stick it to the man.

I only mention it because at some point if you decide to sell the rod I don't want you to get your head handed to you if you sell it as a Norie. Some of those glass guys are fanatical and can tell glass smelling it blindfolded.

Myself, I liked the rod enough to keep one, but a customer charmed me out of the last one and I haven't ordered any more as yet. But I will