Here comes a recently finished favorite, the Ijuin "Hard-Para" 7'05'', 4wt. This rod was appointed with a new type of reel seat, where the center of the reel seat is slightly off-set from the center of the blank axis. This concept moves the reel weight closer to the hand and improves the balance when casting.

Loop did this in early prototypes from the 90's, and Sage developed it with the Centre Axis rods. My take is however more traditional, with a regular skeleton in aluminum. The rod was appointed with a straight cigar grip, chrome guides and brown silk wrappings.

Thanks for looking!
Christian

Awesome! Love the seat and grip

I'm afraid it's a bit more complicated than that. Like you say, it would have been too fragile to make the wall that thin. I have turned an asymmetrical insert with two opposite dowels that are off-set to each other.

so nice
so clean
Nico

Good question. Casting is excellent, although it’s always difficult to isolate one parameter as the only contributor to success. Fishing is still to be explored.

Yesss... another interesting idea... Thanks Sir Christian !

Great looking rod. That offset real seat is pretty cool.

Thanks! Yes, it’s made of cork bark. But it sure looks like a cigar.

Beautiful build Christian!

It is "The Raven's" kin......

So unique !!

Pecos

Jukka - I know you are a true vintage aficionado, and I always appreciate your thoughts. I agree that the center axis rods look quite odd, but the performance is amazing. Here is a picture of my early Loop Model 2. This one has serial number 000, and is a prototype.

Hey Christian, I really love your idea, and again the technical solution you brought, the design that's come from it is amazing of simplicity and efficiency.
This center axis will be perfect for the italian casting style, perfect balance I assume, allowing the hand being close to the reel and in a perfect alignment with the blank
thanks for this beautiful rod !