SciGuy
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dual red striper
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Reged: 11/24/03
Posts: 346
Loc: Seattle, WA
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I have several fly rods and I am considering converting one to a spinning rod for float/dink fishing. First, has anyone done this and is it a good or bad idea? Second, where do I go to find out how to remove guides? Finally, any of you guys what to make a little cash and do it for me? 
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Bill
Put 'em back.
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nivtup
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Rod Artisan
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Reged: 10/02/02
Posts: 229
Loc: Shelton
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Bill,
Removing guides is the easy part, but....
To remove guides,
I usually start by applying a bit of heat to the wraps of concern with a hair dryer on a low setting, you do not want to get things any hotter than is comfortable to the touch. Take a new single edge razor blade and cut through the wraps on top of the guide foot. Do not cut on the blank section. Re-apply a bit of heat to soften things up a bit, at this point you can usually grab the guide, and twist slightly, popping the guide free of the rod blank.
Start peeling the remaining thread until you catch the solid thread, it will un-wrap all the way down the wrap pulling most of the epoxy off along the way.
Now you are left with some small bit of epoxy on the blank, once again apply a bit of heat with your trusty hair dryer, using a thumbnail, or other non-abrasive tool, scrape the remaining epoxy from the blank.
WARNING: I have never had a blank come out in pristine condition after performing this task. Usually the finish (if present) is damaged, and frequently there are impressions left in the finish by the wrapping thread.
So, if you are still game, consider guide setup.
It is likely that you would not want to place your new guides in the same positions as those found on the factory rod. If the factory rod is setup with snake guides, you will be changing them all out. I would recommend Fuji Alconite, "New Concept" guides for this application, which consist of single foot spinning guides, probably sizes 30,16, 10, 8L, and some single foot fly guides, sizes 7 and 6.
I also assume you are going to re-work the handle / reel seat?
This can be done also, using boiling water, cold water shock treatment, but............
I recommend that if you are interested in this, that you purchase a blank, and required components and build that rod starting from the ground up.
Then again,
I could be wrong.
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DPCustom Rods
Handcrafted Custom Fishing Rods
"Where Performance Meets Craftsmanship"
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Will fish for food
Offline
Thick Tail
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Reged: 08/28/02
Posts: 2164
Loc: South West Washington
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Nivtup is right start from scratch. I built a 13' Rainshadow
rod for float fishing and love it. Yes it is long and if I am fishing near trees I use a shorter rod. I can keep the line off the water over 50' away and still mend the line 100' down stream.
WFFF
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Take A Kid Fishing It Will Be Good For Both Of You
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SciGuy
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dual red striper
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Reged: 11/24/03
Posts: 346
Loc: Seattle, WA
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Thanks guys. I think I can leave the handle and reel seat intact because it has a long 8-10 inch fighting butt and I should be able to use it like the Loomis Skamania rods. Yes, the rod has snake guides right now. I was considering leaving some on but I wasn't sure if braided line would be bad for the guides or get tangled in them. What do you think? Do you guys know anyone who would put the new guides on once I stripped the rod?
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Bill
Put 'em back.
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SciGuy
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dual red striper
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Reged: 11/24/03
Posts: 346
Loc: Seattle, WA
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Nivtup,
I just checked out your website...your rods are frick'n beautiful!
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Bill
Put 'em back.
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nivtup
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Rod Artisan
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Reged: 10/02/02
Posts: 229
Loc: Shelton
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Bill,
Are you sure frick'n is a word?
The braid will probably get at the snake guides.
If your handle setup is workable, you might not be to bad off on your project. Depending on factory guide placement, you could strip of the snakes, all of the tip guides could be placed in the same locations, a bit longer than normal wrap could hide any issues (probably) so you are down to the single foot spinning guide locations.
Chances are the locations will need to be different than what the original setup was/is. There is a chance that with some creative trim bands, etc. you could end up with a presentable rod.
I am curious, what is the platform you are starting with? Make and model of the factory rod?
And yes I know somebody that just might help you out. 
Don
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DPCustom Rods
Handcrafted Custom Fishing Rods
"Where Performance Meets Craftsmanship"
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JRfishing
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sockeye
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Reged: 09/21/02
Posts: 86
Loc: Mill Creek
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I would look at starting out with new blank and getting a better fishing tool. I'm just starting to build a rainshadow 10'6 float rod. Depending on components you can get a rod built and designed for the task at a very good price. I agree with Don usally the factory spacing is not allways the best for the blank. By preforming some static test rather than a chart, the guides can be place for optimal casting.
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www.JRsCustomRods.com
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SciGuy
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dual red striper
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Reged: 11/24/03
Posts: 346
Loc: Seattle, WA
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Don, I don't think "frick'n" is in Webster's but it does get the point across w/o being vulgar! My blank is a 9 weight (I think) 10'6" Sage. The rod was made by my late grandfather about 10 years ago. I think the blank was $400-600 at the time. Normally I would keep such a rod intact but he actually made three identical rods, two of which I have. I use one regularly use on of them but the other has never been used and begs me for some action everyday. I'd prefer converting this rod rather than buying new to save some cash. Maybe someone would be interested in making a trade?
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Bill
Put 'em back.
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Mad_Catter
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king
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Reged: 12/05/01
Posts: 134
Loc: Bremerton
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Quote:
SciGuy said:
The rod was made by my late grandfather about 10 years ago.
Keep it in tact... if for no other reasons... sentimental
I have all of my grandpa's old fly rods, he didn't make any of them but everytime I look at them I think of him.
In twenty years or so you'll thank me!
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Team RiverDawg.....Cataraft Frames
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JR32
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fingerling
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Reged: 01/26/03
Posts: 11
Loc: Shelton, WA
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I would keep it intact for no other reason then fly rods are not designed to be casting rods. A lot of blank manufactures void their warranty if you build a fly blank into a spinning rod because it stresses the blank in ways it was not intended to be. I however have ignored this and built a fly blank into a steelhead rod. To be honest I hate the thing it doesn't cast or fish very well. I was forced to replace it with a Rainshadow 1141. If you really want to use the rod set up a rotation use a different rod each time on the river. removing guides leaves marks on the blank most times and if you are changing guide placement these marks can be an eyesore. If you want a float rod build with a new blank and components if you shop around you can find good prices. I hope this helps.
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SciGuy
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dual red striper
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Reged: 11/24/03
Posts: 346
Loc: Seattle, WA
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You're probably right Mad Catter. It has sentimental value because he made it specifically for me.
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Bill
Put 'em back.
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JRfishing
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sockeye
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Reged: 09/21/02
Posts: 86
Loc: Mill Creek
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Just finished the cork for the float rod. Since im using a rainshadow rod in olive green with a metallic red and gold. I use some red burl, natural burl & standard cork for the grips. For the first time I stained the cork green, except for the burl cork and fished it with Tru-oil. It looks very nice, I will post a picture soon. after static testing it the rod is going to have 12 Titanium frames with Gold Zirc guides.
I'am making for our PSA sno-king chapter's Feb. Meeting. Dave Vedder is the guest speaker and we are going to raffle off the rod to raise money for our chapter. The meeting is the 10th at the Edmonds Yacht club. It is free to attend. hope to see some of you there.
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www.JRsCustomRods.com
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JRfishing
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sockeye
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Reged: 09/21/02
Posts: 86
Loc: Mill Creek
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Finished Float Rod Pics
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www.JRsCustomRods.com
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Will fish for food
Offline
Thick Tail
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Reged: 08/28/02
Posts: 2164
Loc: South West Washington
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Now that's a Hottie
WFFF
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Take A Kid Fishing It Will Be Good For Both Of You
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nivtup
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Rod Artisan
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Reged: 10/02/02
Posts: 229
Loc: Shelton
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Nice work JR
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DPCustom Rods
Handcrafted Custom Fishing Rods
"Where Performance Meets Craftsmanship"
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JRfishing
Offline
sockeye
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Reged: 09/21/02
Posts: 86
Loc: Mill Creek
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Nivtup,
I have seen your work on your web site, outstanding would be my first thought. I look forward to meeting you sometime soon.
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www.JRsCustomRods.com
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rainyday
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3 salt
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Reged: 08/05/04
Posts: 33
Loc: everett,washington
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id be willing to help you out,email me at rainyday6@juno.com
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Brewer
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Then They Turned @ Last To Me, We Shall Call You Brewer, The Slayer Of Salmons You Shall Be'
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Reged: 12/01/02
Posts: 3340
Loc: The Mass Production Zone.
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brewer knew if i went back far enough i'd find this subject. was wondering about all this recently. i've got a 9' 9wt. st.croix fly rod that never gets used at all. been coming across guys who have built bobber rods from fly blanks. they seem to really like thier rods. so i was thinking about switching over the rod to a spinning rod. now i'm not so sure...
if i try to sell this fly rod whats it worth? bought in the mid 80's. i've used this rod with a spinning reel, so some of the snake guide are showing some wear. any thoughts???
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Brewer's reel cleaning service is up and rolling. Contact me through PM for info and address.
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fredaevans
Offline
Thick Tail
Profile Status:
Reged: 06/12/03
Posts: 3902
Loc: Upper Rogue River- Oregon
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In the past, I've made two out of fly rods. One was a 10' blank, the other an 11'er. BOTH were 'rated' as 9wt rods. (actually, come to think about it, the 11' was from a Lamiglas "S" blank, the other was graphite material).
Anyway, both made WONDERFUL float rods for 6 to 8# line.
One other companies rod blanks to consider is Talon's; several rod/blanks designed exactly for this purpose.
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Fred A. Evans
Edited by fredaevans (06/29/05 01:09 PM)
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