Finished My New Rod

I finished up a new spinning rod this morning.  I decided to make myself a new light 6′ fast action trout rod for the upcoming season.  It’s nothing fancy, I usually make my own rods very simple.  I used a dark green wrap with thick tan accent wrap.  It has a cork handle and Fuji real seat and guides.  When I build them for others is when I get a little more flashy.  I put a Shimano Sahara 500FD on it.  That will hold 100 yards of 4lb test line and will handle trout nicely.  I’ll probably also use it for the couple of times a year I decide to have fun crappie fishing.  Neither the rod or the reel were very expensive but I think they make a great combo and should fish very well.  The reel was $80 and I spent maybe the same amount on the rod components.

Reel Seat and Handle

Guide Wrap

Package in the Mail!

 

St. Croix Triumph Travel Rod

Brown delivered my new rod yesterday!  I had to replace my travel rod I broke on my last hiking trip.  The rod that broke was a 3-piece 6’9″ Lamiglas XTS 693 that I really liked, it felt and fished very well.  Since I have not been able to find that model I decided to try something different.  I ordered a ST. Croix Triumph travel rod.  It is a 4-piece 6’6″ medium-light fast action rod.  I went with 4-piece so it would fit inside my pack.  (the Lamiglas broke because it caught a branch while strapped to the outside of my pack)

My first impression is that it is a little thicker and heavier looking than my old rod.  The flexibility seems about right though.  I have never used a 4-piece rod before and I’m a little nervous to see how it performs.  All those joints and one being 20 inches from the tip has to effect performance to a certain degree.  I’ll get to test it out soon though.  Tomorrow I leave on a 12 day hike in the eastern Sierras and I expect to use this rod heavily.