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Blank suggestions needed
Post 13 May 2021, 09:30 • #1 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/11/05
Posts: 1008
Location: US-NY
I’m looking the build a multi-piece travel fly rod for bass fishing. Any blank suggestions will be appreciated. My usual sources have come up empty, so I thought I may as well take advantage of the wealth of experience here.

Here are my needs:

Material: fiberglass
Line weight: 8 or 9
Length: 8-1/2’ to 9’
Number of pieces: 4 or 5
Cost: Less than $100


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Post 13 May 2021, 17:00 • #2 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 01/02/12
Posts: 1859
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
North Fork Composites has a sale on...$95.00 for an 8wt 8.5’ blank. The lighter weight blanks seem to garner positive comments posted on this board. Personally know nothing about them.


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Post 13 May 2021, 20:03 • #3 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/11/05
Posts: 1008
Location: US-NY
Is that a glass blank? I checked the North Fork site and didn’t see a glass multi piece blank.

Edit:

I took a second look. I guess they are 4-piece glass blanks. The website doesn’t seem to list much in the way of specs.


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Post 13 May 2021, 20:04 • #4 
Guide
Joined: 02/18/19
Posts: 157
Location: US-ID
It is called the Iconoglass blanks.
They have it in green, natural, and cyan.

https://northforkcomposites.com/fly-rod-blanks/


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Post 18 May 2021, 23:56 • #5 
Sport
Joined: 08/30/12
Posts: 97
Location: France
And they have it in grey, like mine.
It's got finesse in the tip, surprisingly little rebound, and lots of power in the butt



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Post 23 May 2021, 09:00 • #6 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/11/05
Posts: 1008
Location: US-NY
I was about to pull the trigger on the NorthFork Iconoglass blank, but stopped when I saw the shipping fee and other fees. $35 to ship a 4-piece blank? No thanks Gary. Plus the Federal Excise Tax was listed as a separate fee. Nobody else does that.


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Post 23 May 2021, 10:42 • #7 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 09/18/09
Posts: 5561
Location: Relocated to the Drought Stricken West.
Wait for them to go on sale. They were priced at $70 so the combined total worked out to $110 for a while. And definitely cheaper if you buy more than one. :)


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Post 05 Jun 2021, 09:46 • #8 
Master Guide
Joined: 04/27/07
Posts: 645
Location: Missouri
Gaddis, I agree about the straight $35 shipping and excise tax. This doesn't make any sense to me either?


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Post 05 Jun 2021, 10:02 • #9 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 04/20/07
Posts: 8920
Location: US-ME
Few places itemize the federal excise tax. Whether it is itemized or not, the manufacturer, and thereby the customer, pays it. Suppliers to makers of finished tackle don't always pay IF there is documentation that the tax IS paid by a manufacturer further along the supply chain. In this case, the itemized excise tax on the blank verifies that a small-time hobby-seller of completed rods has already paid the tax.


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Post 05 Jun 2021, 12:06 • #10 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/11/05
Posts: 1008
Location: US-NY
Understood, but people are used to it being built in to the retail price. To have it pop up as a surprise during checkout is a bit dirty to me.


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Post 05 Jun 2021, 14:58 • #11 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 09/18/09
Posts: 5561
Location: Relocated to the Drought Stricken West.
I find it actually a nice break, because if it is listed, I'm sure it has been paid. I presume NFC sells enough to professional builders (for not only fly rods, but bass rods) that having it called out is useful to them.


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Post 06 Jun 2021, 01:07 • #12 
Sport
Joined: 10/22/20
Posts: 53
Location: US-OR
NFC $120 delivered
EPIC $290 delivered
Proof Sold Out
Blue Halo $210 delivered

I can't seem to find anymore than these at the moment. Maybe there's others but choice seems narrow. Personally I appreciate taxes displayed separately. Like when when the shop keeper posts the Fed, State taxes on a gallon of gas at the pump. Informed decisions are usually good ones.

Hope this helps sorry it's not more.


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Post 06 Jun 2021, 04:25 • #13 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/11/05
Posts: 1008
Location: US-NY
Thanks eeyore


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Post 08 Jun 2021, 12:48 • #14 
Master Guide
Joined: 04/27/07
Posts: 645
Location: Missouri
Yes, overall cost of the blank is the cost as compared to other options. I just think its a very unusual way to sell a blank. Maybe for whatever reason this works for NFC but I would prefer to pay actual shipping on an item that already includes the excise tax. I suppose it works either way.


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Post 15 Jun 2021, 16:27 • #15 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/11/05
Posts: 1008
Location: US-NY
I ended up getting the NFC 8-1/2’ 8-weight blank. Being on sale, the total cost was not too bad. The challenge now will be to find a down-locking seat that fits. The butt end diameter is 0.588”, which is pretty large.


Last edited by gaddis on 15 Jun 2021, 21:56, edited 1 time in total.

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Post 15 Jun 2021, 16:54 • #16 
Master Guide
Joined: 06/27/11
Posts: 387
Location: US-OH
I thought I remembered Chris Barclay, and possibly someone else, reversing an uplock all metal seat and mounting it downlock by inletting a fighting butt for the hood area.


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Post 15 Jun 2021, 17:55 • #17 
Guide
Joined: 02/18/19
Posts: 157
Location: US-ID
gaddis wrote:
I ended up getting the NFC 8-1/2’ 8-weight blank. being on sale, the total cost was not too bad. The challenge now will be to find a down-locking seat that fits. The butt end diameter is 0.588”, which is pretty large.


I have been trying to find similar down locking real seats that will fit as well.

I would love to find a source for them.

I have basically resigned to the fact that I will have to go all metal. If you can find a Lemke LC10 DL I think that will work.

I have gone through this board and it's search and others to find old makers that I might be able to find NOS.

I wanted to find one that had two lock nuts, but those are even harder to find. If you can find or make your own butt cap there are many options that open up.

Here are a few options from eBay if that is okay to post.

This individual has multiple options and colors one example
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-Reel-seats-d ... 890.l49286

Another option
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fly-Fishing-Ro ... 890.l49286


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Post 15 Jun 2021, 20:42 • #18 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 04/20/07
Posts: 8920
Location: US-ME
Rick's Rods has plenty of seats available with large I.D. And the blank could be cut and fitted with a stent to accept a smaller i.d. Many of the "precious metal" seats can be mounted up or downlock, and the barrel can be cut out for a cork insert--all common uses of this style seat in its time. viewtopic.php?f=6&t=41716&hilit=favorites

Appreciate the caution in posting Ebay links. This is OK in this situation where (1) it is specifically relevant to this thread, not just a heads-up, and (2) these are buy-now, priced items, so a post isn't affecting auction bidding. So in this case, pointing out an Ebay vendor is similar to identifying a website/store such as Rick's that has a product that might fit the OP's needs.


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Post 15 Jun 2021, 20:50 • #19 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/26/14
Posts: 3578
Location: US-MN
Matt at Proof got me a downlocking metal reel seat.


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Post 16 Jun 2021, 00:27 • #20 
Administrator
Joined: 01/10/06
Posts: 7811
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Ricksrods.com and Jannsnetcraft.com are two online sources for solid anodized reelseats. The Rick's options are more 'vintage'.

If the rod is going to be used in salt water, Fuji reelseats and their clones are not pretty, but they are impervious to corrosion and strong as a hockey puck.


Tom


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Post 16 Jun 2021, 08:37 • #21 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/11/05
Posts: 1008
Location: US-NY
Thanks all. I am considering one of the seats from Rick’s Rods.


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Post 16 Jun 2021, 10:36 • #22 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/31/15
Posts: 1238
Location: Northern Rockies
I have one of these on a 6-weight, and I really like it. I’ll use it again. It would need to be flipped around with a fighting butt added to make it downlocking. I would use a fighting butt on an 8-weight no matter what.

http://www.flyrodcrafters.com/a5-all-metal-reel-seat/


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Post 16 Jun 2021, 16:44 • #23 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 04/20/07
Posts: 8920
Location: US-ME
Many uplock seats, even if described that way, can be mounted downlock with a cap or removable plug, and then fitted with a removable fighting butt. The butt isn't necessary, just an option if needed for the expected fishing.
Kind of fun to look at the wide range of larger i.d. available from various vendors. One not mentioned yet, Southwest Custom rods, shows some nice stuff: http://www.southwestcustomrods.com/lemk ... reel-seats With those or others mentioned, the problem of finding one is more or less solved. Now the problem is selecting one, and it will be fun to see how you solve that one.


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Post 16 Jun 2021, 18:00 • #24 
Guide
Joined: 01/25/13
Posts: 338
Location: Avondale Az
You would have to go to at least a Lemke LC5 or LC20 all metal seat for that blank od. The LC 10 only has a .580 ID. Also the .705OD seat such as those is an excellent fit for them, and can be mounted in the up or down lock position. I do them for people like that all the time


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Post 16 Jun 2021, 19:33 • #25 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 09/18/09
Posts: 5561
Location: Relocated to the Drought Stricken West.
There are a few options for down locking seats. New all metal seat, vintage all metal seat (Varmac), and using a stent. For a stent, fit the reel seat on the stent and epoxy the stent into the but of the rod (after trimming the correct length off).

All metal is easier and going to be more sturdy, but if you really want a wood reelseat insert, a stent is the way to go. However, getting it arbored and glued in can take a bit of work. The stent is by far the heaviest solution.

Edit: I usually let Ron (SWCR) help me pick out a seat if I have questions. He has the most complete selection of Lemke seats that I know of. I've had him turn inserts for me on a few of my recent rods as well.


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