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Fly Rod Building















Fly Rod Building Class 2019 under development, dates and location will be updated as available.


Building your own rod is a good way to get the rod you want, customized as you want it. You can save on the cost and have fun doing it! It’s not hard - but it does require good eyesight and hand coordination.

This class is more than how to assemble a rod. You will learn about the uses for different types of rods. You will learn about rod action. You will learn why rods perform the way they do. We will show examples of the various types of components available. You can choose the blank, the guides, the wrapping thread, the reel seat and the grip for your project. The club will provide the tools and consumable supplies needed to complete your rod.

The first session will be an introduction to the class and will focus on the components each student will need to purchase and bring to the following sessions. Suggestions will be made on what components to get and where to buy them. You will be given a Rod Building Manual and a Rod Design Worksheet to help in documenting your choices. Your homework will be to buy your components before the second session. Due to space limitations, please plan on building 4-piece rods only. There is a gap between the first two sessions to give you time to purchase your rod building components.

The second session will be a working session where you will prepare your blank, install your grip and reel seat, and temporarily install your guides.

The third session will be devoted to wrapping you guides. You will go home with the materials needed to finish wrapping and epoxy coating the wraps.


A Brief History of the Fly Rod



200 AD    
Solid Wood Poles were being used in Macedonia 
 
 1500's 
 The "Angle" used for fishing (not casting as we know it really just dapping or flipping
 
 1700's
Rods are evolving, becoming shorter but still wooden
 
 Early 1800's 
Best Rods still Wooden
Cane Beginning to be used

 Late 1800"s 
Orvis invents the "suction joint" to join sections

 Early 1900's 
Multi-piece split cane rods are dominant
Orvis perfects the "suction joint"
Cork Grips become common
 1940's 
Split cane rods are still in wide use
Fiberlass rods appear

 1950's 
 Fiberglass, although heavy, becomes popular due to its lower cost

 1970's 
Graphite Rods appear. They are light and strong

 1980's 
Graphite is taking over as the best material for rods
 
 1990's 
Rod manufacturers experiment with other "space age materials". Rods of mutiple material such as graphite and boron appear.

 Today 
Graphite remains the most popular material for fly rods.
Rod manufacturers are still trying a mix of materials
Split cane rods are still in use 




Contact Richard Fanning (rkfanning@aol.com) for more information or to be added to the sign-up list.

The signup sheet will also be available at upcoming meetings.




 A very good fly rod can be built for considerable less cost than buying  a factory made rod. building your own fly rod is fun and it's a great feeling to catch a fish on a rod you've built.

With this in mind, the purpose of these class is to teach how to build a fly rod by actually doin it. Successful rod building depends on knowing how to design a good rod. where to buy the required components an supplies, an how to build the rod. Insturction will be provided on each of these and student will complete each step using the blank and components of their classroom. Students wil then complete some steps in class and will be expected to complete other a t home in the interval between classes.

Participants must be able to attend all class sessions. This class involves working with small parts (guides, thread wraps etc. ) and succcessful rod building requires good evesight and manual dexterity.