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Post 17 Feb 2023, 16:38 • #1 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 01/02/12
Posts: 1859
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Just finished this rod. The first Ben’s of Holland blank, first ventilated grip and first time turning cork on the blank. Guides are Snake Brand Universal lite wire, tip top is Snake brand, 8mm Mildrum stripping guide. Guide wraps are YLI #226 silk, ferrule/wraps are Gudebrod Classic 326, all finished with spar varnish. Reel seat is spalted maple and hardware is Ray Lee blued cap and ring. Several years ago Ray Lee included some free wood blocks in an order and this the first time I built something lending itself to the colors of the wood. Handy to have a lathe sometime. Thanks for looking. Roy


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Post 17 Feb 2023, 23:08 • #2 
Master Guide
Joined: 07/26/21
Posts: 383
Location: North West Georgia
Roy,
That is super cool. What is the line weight rating, and what lines do you like with it? How would you describe its action by comparison with more common USA made blanks? What drove you to make your first ventilated grip? Can you feel a difference? I like your thread color choices a lot. Very classy. Ive been thinking the 7'3wt 5 section for a long time now.


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Post 18 Feb 2023, 06:38 • #3 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/10/09
Posts: 1651
Location: US-OH
I have the same rod built by Graywolf back when the Ben's blanks first became available to him. I use it with a 2 or 3wt line only in the tightest most protected brookie streams and it's great for that. I like your build!


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Post 18 Feb 2023, 06:53 • #4 
Guide
Joined: 02/04/21
Posts: 102
Location: North east kingdom VT
Outstanding build. I am a sucker for a ventilated grip I love the way they feel and flex . One wouldn’t know that it was your first time turning cork or making a ventilated grip . That is one sweet stick .


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Post 18 Feb 2023, 12:38 • #5 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 01/02/12
Posts: 1859
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
The only other rod I have with a ventilated grip is one of Chris Barclay’s 6’8” 3wts and the action feels a little slower and lighter than the 68. You definitely feel the rod flexing into the grip. The action strikes me as being moderate progressive. I spent some time yesterday finding a reel that balances it, but haven’t actually thrown a line with it. That I will do this weekend. Thanks all for the comments. Roy


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Post 18 Feb 2023, 15:29 • #6 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/02/16
Posts: 515
Location: Georgia
Great looking build! Turning my own cork and ventilated grips are two of my next goals in rod building. I also like the tapered transition from your wood spacer to the bottom of the grip.


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Post 18 Feb 2023, 17:33 • #7 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 01/02/12
Posts: 1859
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
El Duderino - thanks. That is right out of Chris Barclay’s play book, mimicking my 68 Blue Ridge Special. The ventilated grip was actually easier to do than I expected. The main concerns were making sure the ring center holes were not made too large, making sure the holes were beveled (to match the taper) and making sure any epoxy left on the blank was cleaned off before the next ring was installed. I viewed the “how to” You Tube videos by Craig Crumbliss who is a really good cane rod builder. I met him at Aurelio’s a couple of years ago and he let me cast one of his builds with a ventilated grip and have been wanting to do it since. Roy


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Post 20 Feb 2023, 23:36 • #8 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/31/15
Posts: 1238
Location: Northern Rockies
Great work. This is really excellent.


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Post 24 Feb 2023, 16:25 • #9 
New Member
Joined: 03/11/21
Posts: 24
Very cool looking rod!! nice work.


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Post 24 Feb 2023, 20:49 • #10 
Master Guide
Joined: 01/04/18
Posts: 397
Location: Belair Maryland/Swanton Maryland
Wicked looking lil small stream stick Roy! :)
Those Ben’s blanks look so Sweeeeeet !

Good thing you can’t make it to the Maryland Clave sine I couldn’t vouch for the safety of that rod .
It might of accidentally just fell into the hatchback of my Toyota ! LoL :lol
Tight lines in 23
Scotto


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Post 25 Feb 2023, 10:24 • #11 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/22/16
Posts: 1760
Location: SJC
Super nice work, Roy. I'm glad to see you found a 2wt blank you liked.


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Post 25 Feb 2023, 12:01 • #12 
Guide
Joined: 02/17/23
Posts: 112
That looks truly fine! I am liking the idea and the looks of the ventilated grip.

Well done!


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Post 25 Feb 2023, 12:17 • #13 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 01/02/12
Posts: 1859
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Again, thank you all for your kind comments. It really is a nice blank and looking forward to fishing it this summer. Roy


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Post 25 Feb 2023, 13:20 • #14 
Master Guide
Joined: 08/23/19
Posts: 371
Location: North Central Oregon
Roy, Very nice build! I think you will have fun with that rod. I have the 7'5" 4wt that I built and it is fun to fish.


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