7'4" Fiberglass Spinning Travellers Rod

I had this 3 section 4/5wt fiberglass blank for sometime now and not wanting to build a fly rod with it. A bit too slow for bait casting but it was just nice for a ultra light spinning rod. It would be around 3-8lbs line.

I found an old Fuji NPS spinning reel seat when I was digging through my rod building component box. Not the most favorite reel seat used here. I think they used this often for ice fishing rod.

Selected a bunch of components , some from Matagi and I had the handle assembled. Tried to make it as interesting as possible.

Used a line up of Fuji K-guides for this spinning rod.

Spigot joint

After the wrapping been epoxied.

A closer look at the decal

The rear end with ALPS butt cap

Overall view of the rod.

2/3 WT WHITE fiberglass fly rod

This is a new series... well, not so new as of now.. translucent white fiberglass fly rod blank that I received a few months ago.

It has got lesser dirt in the blank wall. The quality of the fiberglass blank has improve tremendously compared to those I got a few years back.

Going to built it simple with a burled wood insert downlocking reel seat and a reverse half wells cork handle.

Prep stripping guide and snake guide.

Pearsall's Silk Thread for wrapping.

Silk wrapped..

First epoxy coating

Finishing coat

The overall view of the completed rod.

SOLD - TQ..

Completing my 9 months old project - PacBay 6' 6-10lb

Half way done and tucked in 1 corner of the room, left unnoticed until spring cleaning. I guess it was time to have it completed and fish. Just found out that I don't have any light weight tackle and with this I hope I have all the range needed..

Trying to use up the balance of the abalone veneer left over from my previous rod project. It would be sufficient to cover the split butt section and the intermediate section between the skeleton reel seat.

The abalone overlay to the rod blank are done before any other components are fixed. A few layers of epoxy coating was applied onto the veneer.

Setting up of the handle.

ALPS micro guide setting

Matagi butt cap on the fighting butt 

The whole handle length..

The guides wrapped and epoxy

All done and ready for my next fishing trip...

Just the HANDLES

Nothing much happening in the month of April 2015, just the reconfiguration of the MEGABASS rod and building up 2 rod handles.

The 2 heavy heavy blanks and the required components are flown in from Miri, Sarawak.

Building up a cork grip for a big rod is not as simple for fly rods or normal fishing rods although the procedures of making the cork handle were meant to be same.

This is the only photo of the rod which I just manage take before it was wrapped up for shipment.

                                          

Reconfiguration handle of MEGABASS Diablo- Arms

Not that I like to do this... but just want to stop the constant pestering over this rod.. >.<

Pimping a MEGABASS rod is not something that I do everyday.. what the heck!! 

I agreed to 'TRY' and I will not be liable for any damages due to any unforeseen circumstances.. ( My insurance if things farked up... )

 There is absolutely nothing wrong with this rod except it is very heavy tip.

It may cause fatigue to your wrist if long hours of casting.

Had the EVA fighting butt cut and removed.

Then the butt cap and winding check was removed very carefully not to damage any of the 2 components.

Prepared the new cork fighting butt by stacking and gluing a few cork rings.

The stacked cork rings was then lathed into shape.

This rod was extended about 3" at the fighting butt.

I still need to balance this rod at the butt cap and the cork butt section will be coated with cork seal for protection.

That's it for ITO enginneering, tuned by fisheR fango as my friend put it.

Laughing out loud....

Another vintage grip rod..

This is the 2nd vintage style customized crafted pistol grip.
Matching it with a moderate action St Criox SC2 would be nice.

Aluminium connection ferrule on the blank for proper jointing

Finishing retro wrapping around the rod decal

Test fitting..

Guides wrapping..

Close up 

Retro style wrapping to compliment the wrapping near the decal.

And it's ready for some action.