Ch, that's a fine looking couple of outfits! Is that bamboo? I picked up an Orvis Battenkill in a shop in Atlanta many years ago, and instantly fell in love! It was a 5 wt. std. model, and I'll never feel a rod that felt more "alive" in my hands than that rod did. But it was way out of my price range, and there's really not much use for a 5 wt. rod in my neck of the woods. Had I had the $ though, I'd have still brought it home, and used it for bluegills in ponds here. It was just a joy to hold!
I have 6, 7, 8 and 9 wt. rods, mostly because 9 wt. is about as much as I have the energy to use. I've long wanted to do some salt water fly rodding in Savannah, Brunswick and up in SC. A lead core line ought to solve a lot of the problems in swift tidal rivers, I think. Fish just always feel "bigger" on the long rods.
I particularly like your rod cases. What are they made from? If you care to, I'd like to hear the components you used for both rods and cases. Sure are pretty!
Blackwater,
Sorry I haven't come back to this in a while and didn't realize that someone had responded.
As to the rods in the photo, on the left is a graphite 8' 4 wt, 7-piece. It's a great casting rod in a small package. The grip is made of birch bark and cherry, with 4 ebony rings to denote the line weight.
On the right is a fiberglass 8' 5wt, 3-piece. The grip is all cork, including the five dark rings.
The cases are made with maple side panels with cherry connecting strips, all cut at 15-degree bevels and glued up kind of like a bamboo rod. Below are two cases I made back in May where you can more easily see the construction. Caps are held using four 1/2" magnets
Very nice work
Reloading to save money I am sure the saving is going to start soon
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |