Riane
04-23-2007, 03:40 PM
Hey folks,
Just finished building my new two-hander and wanted to share. The blank is a CND Skagit Specialist, 13'8. After many thread wrapping changes, I finally got her done. A few flaws and I've still yet to do the inset thread/design, but is fishable as of this weekend and looks great! The grip still needs some work, as I found on the river its a little too big in the middle- I left it that way for now because I didn't want to shave too much off at first. Anyway acknowledgements... thanks to Ron Torda for a great deal of help in every aspect of this project, James Mello the same, Brian Paige for assistance turning the grip, Mike Kinney for conversation during some of the thread wrapping, and Matt Burke for loaning me his 13'8 Skagit as I figured out how I wanted mine to feel compared to the factory rod.
And the best part- she has awesome Karma. The epoxy was barely set before I took her out Sunday for the maiden voyage. Late to the river, but strangely my favorite run was spared from the hordes- fate it must be. I waded into the head of the run and was soon throwing loops like I had never before. I was feeling the magic. A few swings in the line stops- not a rock I know because its too deep there- I swing the rod to the side and within 10 minutes of steelheading my 13'8 is fighting her first. A few minutes later I bring to hand this lovely 10-12# hen and snap its picture to always remember the first steel caught by my new sweetie. Hope you like.
Cheers, Brian
Just finished building my new two-hander and wanted to share. The blank is a CND Skagit Specialist, 13'8. After many thread wrapping changes, I finally got her done. A few flaws and I've still yet to do the inset thread/design, but is fishable as of this weekend and looks great! The grip still needs some work, as I found on the river its a little too big in the middle- I left it that way for now because I didn't want to shave too much off at first. Anyway acknowledgements... thanks to Ron Torda for a great deal of help in every aspect of this project, James Mello the same, Brian Paige for assistance turning the grip, Mike Kinney for conversation during some of the thread wrapping, and Matt Burke for loaning me his 13'8 Skagit as I figured out how I wanted mine to feel compared to the factory rod.
And the best part- she has awesome Karma. The epoxy was barely set before I took her out Sunday for the maiden voyage. Late to the river, but strangely my favorite run was spared from the hordes- fate it must be. I waded into the head of the run and was soon throwing loops like I had never before. I was feeling the magic. A few swings in the line stops- not a rock I know because its too deep there- I swing the rod to the side and within 10 minutes of steelheading my 13'8 is fighting her first. A few minutes later I bring to hand this lovely 10-12# hen and snap its picture to always remember the first steel caught by my new sweetie. Hope you like.
Cheers, Brian