I went fishing the other day. I was using a 13 ft 8/9 cnd . It is a powerful rod. I was curious how it would fish if it were a foot shorter. I slid my hands up the cork and cast it as though it was a little over 12 feet.
It seemed that it cast really well and I could see it as being a fine rod if a foot was taken off the butt section. Don't get me wrong, it's a fine rod now but the idea of having it a foot shorter for winter fishing has appeal. I am not going to cut the rod up but it got me thinking. Has anyone shortened a rod or blank? What were the results?
Yes, I know a guy that chopped of a foot or more from a CND North Fork, he wanted to make a switch rod out of it. Don't know how it casted, but damn, what a waste of a great rod.
Any modification to a cnd seems questionable. They are fine rods. Mine has a remarkable amount of juju and is a pleasure.
I do think that if it were 8 inches to a foot shorter it would be a great skagit rod. It already is now though.
Makes sense. My curiosity stems from being curious if i could make a skagit rocket launcher. That has historically been Ed's deal too.
Wayne was saying that he used to add butt extensions to dome sage blanks. I.may try that as well.
If you were to cut the rod I'd suggest shortening the tip section instead of the butt. The lower section is where the real power comes from and missing a foot of wimpy tip might not bother you at all. I'd think keeping the power and losing some tip length and softness would be a better choice, just my 2cent. Guess it'd also mean your 510g head would need to be a 630 but that just means easier distance and heavier tips or flies, both.
I built two rods from ARE 1307/8-4 blanks this winter. One I built full size, and the second I built as a 3 piece switch by dropping the butt section. It's still a light 8, but easier to handle on tighter coastal streams.
Also, I have an old 11"6' forecast that I broke the tip to. I would love to have another similar rod in the quiver (I'd love the same one actually) but there are not too many available in the price range I would demand. I would not mind if it was a little more stout too. It seems like cutting back a 13 foot 8 or 9 wt may be optimal.
Lastly, I have been contemplating what rod I could build for my 10 year old daughter. She is small even for a 10 year old but I think I could teach her to cast 2 handed with the right rod. Then I could take her fishing, which she generally likes. She has salmon fished in the salt and in Mexico but I figure if I can get her on a steelhead then I will win parent of the year. I may start her 2 handed casting with a custom 9-10 foot glass rod though.
That 11' 6" forcast is one sweet rod, I've built 3 of them. Those Batson RX7 switch blanks are supper light and cast very we'll for the price. I have the 5wt and is supper fun rod, the tips are kinda week but is worth the money.
Yes and no. Im just curious after experimenting recently. I have a beulah 1824 to build that is supposed to be a super skagit rod. I probably dont need to mess around cutting rods but the idea intrigues me.
I was just curious if anyone had chopped up a rod like people have chopped up lines. What were the results? I know that you added length to rods and i may do that to a 9 ft rod for my daughter. You explained that process pretty well. I think i could teach her to 2 hand cast a 10 ft rod if i built it to fit her hands.
I have one of the three forecast rods Brian built. I might sell it for scratch towards a CND blank I want.
Only took it out a few times of light use with floating line and been years since I used it.
Also, I have an old 11"6' forecast that I broke the tip to. I would love to have another similar rod in the quiver (I'd love the same one actually) but there are not too many available in the price range I would demand. I would not mind if it was a little more stout too. It seems like cutting back a 13 foot 8 or 9 wt may be optimal.
Lastly, I have been contemplating what rod I could build for my 10 year old daughter. She is small even for a 10 year old but I think I could teach her to cast 2 handed with the right rod. Then I could take her fishing, which she generally likes. She has salmon fished in the salt and in Mexico but I figure if I can get her on a steelhead then I will win parent of the year. I may start her 2 handed casting with a custom 9-10 foot glass rod though.
For a child that age, why not build a switch rod from a nine foot single hand blank, of which there are so many, and often priced at $25 and up. A 9 foot five weight would probably perform well with a 6 or 7 weight line. Shape the handles for little hands. She'll probably take to it as naturally as a softball bat.
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