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I think the title sums it up...this went on Ken's custom rod, yes, another 7'6" 4wt. Forecast blank. Folks really like 'em and the price is right.

Here's the butt work - just another quick "practice" rod

That pretty much sums it up.

First trout on that 7pc 4/5 wt....nothing to brag about but a trout is a fish!

I kept this one really conservative, no funky wraps or anything 'cause I only had a day to build it before heading off to NV!

Again, one of the practice rods...these diamond wraps get easier with practice and patience.

One of the few practice rods I built at cost...just cause. Folks requests for trims & colors seemed to be pretty simple.

Like I said, I thought straight blue on the gloss brown would look funky..it does...in a good way.

Rich asked for plain blue wraps, no trim, on this Cabela's PT Blank. I thought he was nuts until I finished it.

Just more "practice" - built this one for my buddy.

The same wrap but this time on the stripper.

I did up Jim's rod with gray and silver thread on the Forecast blank (gloss blue)...turned out to be a good match of colors!

Odd choice of colors that Phil picked, but he likes it!

Just a rod I built for my brother for his birthday.

Finally got to break in the first rod I built for myself, a 6'6" RX7 Rainshadow 2wt. Landed 5 sweet brookies and one little brown in Iowa!

I'm getting BETTER at doing this...practice I guess is the key. The thin burl cork rings were accomplished by simply taking a hacksaw to the burl rings and cutting them in 1/2 (resulting in 1/4" rings). Thanks to Justin at AKRodCrafters for that oh-so-obvious tip (why I didn't figure that one out...hmm).

A pretty good shot of the custom-turned handle on a "practice rod" I built for my buddy Chromeseeker. The majority of the cork is Grade B Burl; the ends are a standard Grade Burl which is finer in composition and should hold up better to abuse. While I couldn't stand this handle after turning it, CS loved it (and that's why it's on HIS rod!)

I saw this stuff and figured it was worth a shot...while THICK to work with, especially on a 4wt. fly rod blank, it got several compliments today during the "first viewing" among some rod building friends.

A 10' 6 wt. fly rod blank from Hook & Hackle is what started this rod. Not complete "yet"! I turned the grips. Utilized a Pac Bay A8 woven graphite reel seat, stripped the cork off a 5" removable fighting butt. Then cut a section of broken blank, epoxied to the 5" metal shaft, and then installed the aft grip on this rod. Ultimately, this rod will function as a single-handed fly rod, 2 handed switch rod, and even a Centrepin / Drift rod setup as I've wrapped it with single foot ceramics! This is arguably going to be my favorite rod!

Of course my handwriting "sucks" but that's my personal mark!

Not much to say, but this shows the overall "convention" in this first rod's wraps.

On this first rod (and some of the next ones I've built) I've opted to go for "subtle" wraps...they just fit better. Fuji Flip Up Hook Keeper in Black.