I just finished this rod. Very excited about this two handed small rod for stripers.
About several weeks ago, I lost a chance to got a very nice browning bass rod. Russell (a member here) told me there is some blank very nice, maybe be I want it to build a bass rod. So I got it ... It is a HUGE blank 9wt with a huge butt (about 0.6 inches) I am not sure if I can cast it with a single hand style. So I decided to go for the two handers. It turns out so great ... with spey cast, a very tight loop with 6 wt, and become tranditional spey action with 6wt spey line.
I will do more field test this week ...
The snake guides were TiCH guides and the stripper guides were from Golden witch metal strippers. I wrapped with write silk for under wrap and put the oliver and garnet threads (with 2 coats of U-40 color lock2) on top for decal. It looks like browning Silaflex style that I really like it. The reel seat was directly use the blank covered by thick epoxy and sand it a litte bit. Thanks Russell and friends here teach me how to use color preserver ...

wow. talk about a natural. you did a great job. what a fantastic design. not just for the configuration of hte wraps but also the idea behind the rod.

i think you may want to try a much heavier line though. perhaps a long belly spey line in a 10 wt or maybe even heavier.

That is absolutely gorgeous and the wraps are outa this world man . If you don't mind me asking, how much prep work did the Tich guides need? The blank looks like it would be a good candidate for steelhead and salmon fishing also.

It looks like the tip is spiral wrapped also, if so I can only imagine how frustrating that must have been.

Again beautiful job on the rod it looks great.

Thanks friends for the nice words
I really gather all the ideas from you guys here ... thanks for teach me do the ghost wrap and color preserver things ...

gypsy, the Tich comes in nicely, actually I did not prepare them at all, I just direct wrap them to the blank ... origially I did not do a good job to the ghost wrap ... so you still can see the uneven milky white underneath. But after I use the spiral wraps, they turns out nicer ... and it is not hard to do (I think the A size Nylon is much easier to wrap than the fine silk one)
Russell,
This is greatest value and nicest blank I have so far ... I really love the deep amber color and thick blank on hand ... thanks again for your generous info! I name the rod ... amber yamame ... Larry ... I will try some heavier line tomorrow ... for the bigger water ...

WOW ...

Awesome job! That's an eye catcher for sure ... very very nice.

David

again, i'm just blown away by this rod. i really like the look of those golden witch strippers. i have two on order right now. they are a very good buy.

Yuhina, you did a beautiful job wrapping that rod! The funny thing is I built that blank in a similar way when I lived in Florida. In my case I extended the blank 5.5 " with a piece of solid fiberglass to help balance the rod. I have played with spey casting this rod but I am terrible. My DH is not great either. A long glass rod set up for two handed casting is a natural for some one like me.

My rod has some tip bounce cast single handed if you swing it hard. Tip bounce is all most completely eliminated casting two handed. Pics to follow. John

Yuhina ... with your rod building ... your photography ... your posts ... without a doubt ... you bring "mad skillz" to this website.

Very impressive work, indeed.

Russell,

I am really looking forward to see your new rod! : )
It would be a huge honorto me, if you use some of my idea : ) ... for instance the mosquito inlay ... actually the mosquito has my blood in his belly . ...
Sincerely,
Mark