Fishing The Fly Scotland

Index => Rod Building => Topic started by: Dave Olley on 01/02/2009 at 13:49

Title: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Dave Olley on 01/02/2009 at 13:49
Hi
Does anyone know where I can source some fibreglass fly rod blanks?
I have just built a couple of coarse fishing rods on glass blanks and I love the smooth feel of them, especially playing fish.
I have built rods in Carbon and bamboo so would like to try one on a decent quality glass blans.
Anyone know if they are still available?
Thanks
Dave
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 01/02/2009 at 18:11
Dave

I would think Lamiglas, would be your best bet.
Plenty of suppliers stateside, i belive, not sure about the UK though.
There was a company years ago, cant remember their name off hand, will think about it and see.

Scott and winston do as well, but can't find the blanks for sale anywhere.

Still i remember Lamiglas, being quite well regarded and decent value.

Sandy
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Dave Olley on 01/02/2009 at 19:43
Hi Sandy
Thanks for that.
I don't think that Lamiglas do glass fly blanks anymore.
I bought the coarse blanks from Cono-flex but they don't do fly blanks.
The only one I have found are in the States and made by Steffan Brothers. They are not particularly cheap at $120.00 but they get very good reviews so I might try one of theirs. The longest / heaviest they do is an 8' for a 4wt. Sounds about right.
Dave
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Dutchfly on 01/02/2009 at 20:04
Hi Dave,

In the States Diamondback sells fibreglass blanks but I don't know who imports them in the UK. http://www.diamondbackflyrods.com/pages/blanks.php

Good luck,

Jeroen

Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Dave Olley on 01/02/2009 at 20:38
Seems I was wrong as I have located some lamiglas blanks.
The blanks from Steffan Bros. do look kind of nice though :wink
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 01/02/2009 at 23:59
I did not know Conoflex where still doing glass blanks..I had a pair of fast taper 3 pound TC Pike rods and a pair of slow taper 2.5 tc carp rods I built when I first moved to scotland 25 years ago. Would love to get the fast action rods again, they put a bait miles!

There are a few Fibatube blanks still kicking around..could try Somers???
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Dave Olley on 02/02/2009 at 15:15
Hi Rob
I was talking to Conoflex this morning and they will still make up glass blanks to order.
I think that there is a good chance that they could supply what you wanted.
They are doing a 12" fast taper 3lb blank for just over 50.00
I have just built a pair of rods on 11' 1.75tc blanks and they are very very nice. The next project is what they call a trotter blank which is and 11.6" 1.25TC Avon style rod.
They have also offered to make up a 9' 4wt fly blank for around 25.00 so looks like I get my wish.
Worth giving them a shout on  http://www.conoflex.co.uk/freshwater-rods.htm
Dave
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Mike Barrio on 02/02/2009 at 16:24
Hi Dave :z16

That's going to be interesting ..... What do you think the benefits of a fibreglass blank might be?

I just love it when somebody gets down and does something different :cool:

Best wishes
Mike

PS: You gonna buy that pontoon boat from me, it's in the for sale section :wink
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Dave Olley on 02/02/2009 at 20:10
Get thee behind me satan (or mike in this case) Let me have a ponder and sort out my finances :wink

Regarding the fibreglass rod I am not sure. The coarse rods I have made up are very nice. Through action and very smooth. The only penalty I can see is slightly more weight and a fatter blank dia. This doesn't really matter for these rods as they spend most of their lives sitting in a rod rest.
It might however be a problem for a flyrod. Talking to Conoflex this morning the dia. of the blank at the butt is likely to be around 17mm which is a bit big, in fact it would be difficult to find a reelseat with an ID to fit (other than a Fuji which TBH i don't have too much of a problem with) The cork grip would also need an excessive amount of reaming as well, I job I don't enjoy at the best of times. I would expect the action to be slow, almost on a par with bamboo so you might get the sweet slow action without the hefty price tag. That's the thought anyway. The Steffan Bros blank from the States seems to be a higher modulus more advanced blank and may be worth the extra money but I think I will try the conoflex first just for the craic :z4, it would be cheap enough it it doesn't work.
Hope to get over to see you soon, it's my birthday next week so who knows
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 02/02/2009 at 20:15
I would expect the action to be slow, almost on a par with bamboo

Whose bamboo  :wink.

Did you know that fibreglass is generally a lower modulus than bamboo :grin

Sandy
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Dave Olley on 02/02/2009 at 20:58
Sandy, i wouldn't dare argue  :z4
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 02/02/2009 at 21:45
awe :z10 more's the pity. :z4 :z4

I just thought it was an interesting piece of trivia. Fibreglass replaced bamboo, because it was cheaper not necessarily better :z18
So much, like much in life these days :z6

Sandy
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 03/02/2009 at 09:13
Dave,
Thats interesting about the 3lb blanks..because I well remember the cost of the blanks way back in about 1985/86..they where £43 each! £7 in 20+ years aint too bad ;)

I use cane and fibreglass blanks for stalking carp, and the reason is the action. It bends and bends and you just clamp up on the centrepin and hold. They will stop fish in there tracks without locking up or exploding :)

For years I used 1.25tc rods from North Western and they where a dream to play carp, tench and barbel on. I then stepped up to the 1.75 version for bigger carp. In 1910 I got a pair of the Carbon versions of the 1.75 and although they outcast the glass versions by some way, they just did not have that "feel" about them when playing fish.

As for glass fly rods, I think the advantage comes with short light line rods..say a 7 foot 3 weight. The natural weight of the blank allows the rod to flex more thus making short casts on small rivers easy. With a carbon rod you frequently have to arialise more line or over line the rod to get it to work close in.

I think glass still has a place in fishing, both fly and otherwise, as does cane.
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Dave Olley on 03/02/2009 at 11:10
In 1910 I got a pair of the Carbon versions

They must have been some of the earlier carbon blanks then, made from coal?   :z4
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 03/02/2009 at 12:22
He's just showing his age, Dave  :z4 :z4 :z4
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Iain Goolager on 03/02/2009 at 12:37
 :z4 :z4 :z4

Old Fart!
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 05/02/2009 at 08:42
LOL..ok..I meantv 1980!!..lol..although I am an old bugger!!
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Dave Olley on 16/03/2009 at 18:14
Well, haven't done much about the fibreglass fly rod yet but I do have an excuse.
On Feb 10th we were pretty well snowed in and I thought I would take the dogs for a walk down the road. As I was leaving my wife called out "be careful on that ice, you could fall down and break your neck" and guess what, I made about 75 yards up the road, stepped on some ice and fell down and broke my neck, and not a drop taken :z4
I am out of hospital now, though still wearing scaffolding to hold my head up. I am due back in April to see if I require surgery or not so the rod building and the fishing are going to have to wait a bit.
Having said all that, I've seen the results of the scan and given the possible alternative I am quite happy to be sitting here at the computer "talking" about it.
Cheers Dave
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Barry Robertson on 16/03/2009 at 18:25
That sounds a bit spooky but glad to hear you are still in one piece, you must be having some major withdrawl pangs from fishing by now surely  :z4
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 16/03/2009 at 18:47
Hope you make a full recovery...and soon!!!! What a nightmare!!!
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 16/03/2009 at 19:55
F-ing hell dave :shock

Never mind spooky sounds bloody sore to me :z10, take it easy mate hope you start to get about about a bit soon :z16

 :z18

Sandy

Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Mike Barrio on 16/03/2009 at 20:12
What a fright that must have given you Dave :shock

Sounds more than a bit uncomfortable and sore, but I guess you're lucky it wasn't worse :roll

Look after yourself
Best wishes
Mike
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Jim Eddie on 16/03/2009 at 20:26
Unlucky mate , get well soon.

 :z18

Jim
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Jim Doyle on 17/03/2009 at 19:51
I suppose the neighbours hadnt bothered clearing the paths again dave, some thing needs to be done about these freeloaders!!! :wink :wink  hope your recovery is quick. Now about that insurance policy that your mrs took out in january!!  I,ve got a 12ft fibre glass bruce and walker avon in the attic which we can discuss when you feel up to it.  theres an auction sale at taylors of montrose coming up it might be worth looking up their catalogue on line , if theres any thing you want me to look at for you I,d be pleased to go along .  jim
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: Dave Olley on 22/03/2009 at 19:08
Well Mr Doyle, would be glad to discuss the B&W Avon rod, they can't be worth much more than a fiver these days, can they? :wink
Thanks for the heads up re the auction. Will have a look on the site and get back to you
Cheers
Dave
Title: Re: Fibreglass rod blanks
Post by: PDScott on 22/03/2009 at 19:49
Dave,
Sorry to hear about your fall - it seems an extreme method of getting out of buying the pontoon however! Mind you, it could be more comfortable in your present condition.
All the best and hope to see you at Haddo soon.
Peter