The RED SAGE wannabe..

This is a 9' 5wt 4 section red blank. The color is quite similar to SAGE fly rod in red.

The components used are also similar to SAGE. Full wells Grade AAA cork grip and anodized black uplocking aluminum reel seat with a little fighting butt at the bottom.

Hybrid graphite arbors for the reel seat.

Testing fitting the handle.

ALPS titanium zirconium strip guides and REC snake guides.

A closer look at the titanium guide

I used RED nylon thread to give the similar looks as the SAGE rod. The epoxy finished thread will be slightly translucent and the guide foot will be seen after epoxy.

Rod decal was not available and as per request, hand cribble will do...

Completed product...

Maroon '5' from Langkawi

The 'maroon' blank travels 420 km to reach me.. Yes, 420 km from Langkawi island to Puchong.

Not sure of the origin of this blank, but it's a 4 section graphite blank with fast action and rated at 5wt according to the owner of the blank.

Handle set up for this fly rod. Full wells cork grip, down locking reel seat with burl wood insert and the EVA bottom fighting butt.

Standard snake guides

Nylon 'scarlet' thread for the wrapping. 

Wrapping of the stripping guide before epoxy. 

This is how it look after epoxy. I must say the 'scarlet' thread really goes well with this blank.

Completed the guide wrapping pending epoxy.

Done with the epoxy

And finally, seal up the cork handle

BUTTING your fly rod

Here's a little project which I have done yesterday.

Not all fly rod comes with a fighting butt. Some 6wt fly rod has them and some don't.

This time I am adding a fighting butt to a Redington 6wt fly rod.

First I clear the soil on the cork using sand paper. 

I was supposed to remove the butt cap only but it just wouldn't want to come out. So, the whole thing have to come out.

A hole was made on the butt cap for blank insertion to fix the fighting butt.

The fighting butt was then glued to the blank which is protruding from the butt cap.

 

The final steps is to insert the threaded shaft and nut back onto the reel seat.

And there you have it. How to DIY a fighting butt to your fly rod.

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....