Putter

When I decided to build a fly rod for my niece's birthday, I asked Stan Grace for a bit of advice. What I received from this craftsman/gentleman was much more than a bit of help! Thank you a lot; Candy's going to treasure this! I'll let Stan respond to any questions; comments.

Finally got off my duff and finished getting pics chosen and cropped. Had to dedicate this picture to Myles and Sasha's brand new daughter-born today down under!! Myles helped by sending me some pink Testor's; got here a bit late, but we got 'er done anyhow. Congratulations to your wonderful family, Myles!

I haven't had a whole lot of time; I'll try and get the rest of the photos gone through and post another later this week. Kind of a sneak view on a spiral split grip I built recently. I enjoyed doing this one a great deal and took a bit more time planning and doing it. I only took the marbling off 3 times before it came out the way I wanted it to...

Well, this is his favorite color. It matched the guide wrap very well and the trim bands' colors are in there, too. Another Christmas rod and he's very happy with the outcome; a really sensitive, 6'6" one piece med. light/fast fishin' rod!

One I built for Christmas; tried to match his favorite color of burgundy. I used some "purple metallic" Testor's for the marble color. Thanks to Stan Grace for getting this for me!!

Different flames; combination of marbling and flames. Merry Christmas to all of the wonderful friends I've met here this year!!!

Well, at least I didn't marble the split grip... Actually about half and half threads and marble. Lord, is it purple, though!!! Now back to the race-where the H is Jim??? Jeez, is he way up there already?

She wanted purple and sparkles! Thanks to Ron Walter (mrrwally) for sharing a great idea.

This isn't adjustable like the new St. Croix model. I purchased a lot of these years ago from HT Enterprises-I think they made Polar tip-ups, also. This was a rod that I built for my father in 1989 on his birthday. I'll save it for one of the grandkids; dad never did fish with it...

I finished this last weekend. I marbled the butt a lighter blue to contrast the dark cobalt blue blank a bit more. This was one of those that got set aside for 3 or 4 other projects; slowly doing bits and pieces.

Marbled the split grip area of the CTS blank. Added some feathers of Kate's to customize.

I wrapped 12 different color bands and showed it to Ron. Then I wrapped several different trim bands with the color he chose for the main guide wrap. All Madeira thread; along with the AMTAK hologram frame/hologram ring guides. This was all of his choosing. Had to throw my new ink pen in there, too!!!

Pacific Bay's new camo grip material on a spiral bait caster. Didn't get a green to perfectly match on the marble, but with the brighter guides, it really levels out together well. Last birthday rod for 6 brothers.

Doug, I tried to make it look as good as yours. Probably should have practiced a few times first. It was fun planning it out, though!

I tried a lot of colors to go with the camo grips and the Pac Bay Tradition blank in plum color. This really popped both of them for me. Actually, the wife provided that input. All Pac Bay; again... Size 8 double foot Pac Bay guide. Size A Gudebrod threads.

Front view of Okuma line counter reel that I marbled with blue, white, and gold Testor's paint pigments. I took over 50 photos; still can't really get any that capture this reel's look.

Side view of the Okuma line counter reel that I marbled with blue, white & gold Testor's paint this past week.

I built this rod last February and finally got the reel marbled for it. ATC SW fly rod blank made into a spiral wrapped walleye trolling rod.

I started marbeling this earlier this week and finished it today. I'll get some decent photos of it completed later this week some time...

The decal paper from Jimi @ Decal Connection is getting more familiar for me. Thanks to Jeff Bucchino for the Saddam clip art!! I put the red circle & slash on it. Nice to have this one done; way too many hours in all of this, but it's well worth it. The red in the decal and the little bit I added in the split grip marble touch base with each other pretty nicely.

Got the marbeling done tonight. Will do the stickers tomorrow. Put a bit of red for contrast in the split grip area. The marble is smooth, top picture is just the depth of the colors...

Trying to tie in the "blue flame" reel seat with the guides... Have a really choice decal made; going to inlay in the fore cork. The Madeira black and silver (silver is holographic) really soaks up the finish??

Decided to just build a nice lookin' rod for the guys... Jason-thanks for inspiring me! Chris K-Thanks for the ideas!

After the printer's finally emailed me the logo for our OUTLAW Derby, I made a couple of stickers and finished the rod up. I can't believe how much this added to the rod. I guess you'd have to see the whole thing; can't do it in pictures. (I hope that I catch the largest walleye in this one; I hate letting go of this rod)

Finished this one up for a give away at our local river tournament. This was my first split grip rod. Man, is this thing comfortable in the hand!! Matched the blue in the marbeling as close as I could to the ice blue used to split the guide wraps.