Fishing The Fly Scotland
Index => Rod Building => Topic started by: Rob Brownfield on 09/12/2013 at 10:14
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Right, I am away to build a "stealth" czech nymph rod and I have narrowed down the blanks to the following:
CTS Affinity 10'6" #3 matt carbon
PacBay 10 or 11' #4 gloss black
MHX 10' #4 matt carbon
They all come in about the same price at around £120 or less if bought in the UK. I get about a £25 - £30 saving if I buy in the US and Cass brings across the blanks with her.
All three blanks get great reviews on the US forums, BUT, they are all fastish actions, which seem to go against the Czech Nymph standard from Europe.
The rod will be a stealth model and I have a special grip and reel seat in the making and I will be using unconventional rings :) Its not goping to be cheap...but it will be unusual..lol
So, any opinions on the blanks? The MHX has the best warranty, the CTS perhaps the best pedigree.
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CTS :z16
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I'm still thinking about a CTS 103, I've got an Affinity X 905 and it is nice, my T38 arrived the other day and the finish & quality is as good as I've seen so far on a blank. CTS do lifetime warranty to my knowledge but, unless you find a blank in stock from a dealer or CTS happen to have one in stock it could take up to 3 months, my T38 was built to order and has taken about 11 weeks from order to delivery.
Cheers
Ben
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CTS it is then...I think..lol
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I priced a few things from them and it works out little more, if at all, to get them through H&H. Easier than posting overseas from them and you don't have to wait until after 12PM to place the order :z4
Ben
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Trouble is H&H (Guides n blanks) have miss listed the blank :roll ...I ordered what I thought was a 10' 6" #3 but it turns out it is actually a 10' #6 3 piece..grrrr.
It was only on the receipt I noticed the reference number was the duplicate of another blank and on checking on their site they have two rods listed with the same code.
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CTS Affinity X 10ft #3 4pc clear finish [CTS AX1034]
Order that one Rob, the Affinity X 10' #3, fairly sure you will be happy with that.
Or, if you want 10'6" order this one [FX1063-4], that is CTS code for Affinity X 10'6" #3. Link to their site is here http://www.ctsfishing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=694 (http://www.ctsfishing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=694) but it will probably take about 2 - 3 months to arrive.
Cheers
Ben
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I've built three CTS rods they're all great. However I managed to break the top section of my 10ft #5 which was a dream for fishing the Don estuary. The 13' are ace. If you PM I'll dig out the blank details.
Matt
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CTS Affinity X 10ft #3 4pc clear finish [CTS AX1034]
Order that one Rob, the Affinity X 10' #3, fairly sure you will be happy with that.
Or, if you want 10'6" order this one [FX1063-4], that is CTS code for Affinity X 10'6" #3. Link to their site is here http://www.ctsfishing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=694 (http://www.ctsfishing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=694) but it will probably take about 2 - 3 months to arrive.
Cheers
Ben
Hi Ben, its the MX I want. Looking at the figures, the X is going to be way to stiff for 3lb tippets and fast flows....well, reading all the write ups I can on the Rodbuilding forum etc seems to imply that. Its interesting that in Europe, the Maxia blanks etc are all pretty soft whilst in the US/NZ, they prefer a fast blank.
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Where did you find figures ROb, I'd be interested to see them? I'm not a fan of chewy rods for any application really, I will probably end up getting an X at some point next season.
Cheers
Ben
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Its on their site Ben. X described as, Taper Fast, Action Fast-Extra Fast. MX is Taper Medium Fast, Action Fast.
http://www.ctsfishing.com/flytermsexplained.php
What I am looking for is something with a sensitive tip, but bends deep when it needs too.
Looking at the Hends and Hanak blanks, they all have a pretty through action when under load but seem to be "tippy" when setting the hook. I do, however, wonder if both are specialist comp rods designed for winkling out lots of small fish quickly.
I will be using the rod mainly for Grayling and hope to be targetting the bigger fish so it needs to handle 2lb plus fish in heavy flows, although Iain seems to find the method better for salmon! :)
I use a #4 Western 2 just now, and although it handles bigger fish, it does feel somewhat underpowered in heavy flow and maybe a bit slow when it comes to making a strike at a knock or flick of the indicator.
Also worth mentioning that I do not use fly line for my nymphing, but 36-40 feet of red 15 or 20lb Amnesia to an indicator, so the rod does need a bit of flex to allow me to fish a bit further out if need be. Typically I am fishing with 10 feet of this out the tip ring.
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What I am looking for is something with a sensitive tip, but bends deep when it needs too.
Fnar Fnar :z4 :z4
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Had a wiggle of both the Greys Streamflex and Wychwood Stream and River 10 footers against my Western.
I would say the actions of all three are remarkably similer. The Greys is possibly a tad lighter, although that might have been a balance thing.
So, the two rods that the forums are raving about do not appear to be any different to what I already have...lol
Perhaps the Affinity X over the MX is the answer? I just cant get one just now...grrrr
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Perhaps the Affinity X over the MX is the answer? I just cant get one just now..
... think positively... it'll give you time to finish any existing rod re-builds.... hint hint.
:-)
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... think positively... it'll give you time to finish any existing rod re-builds.... hint hint.
:-)
My cunning plan is to finish existing projects during the Christmas break :)
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This is a great question.
But the answer is, in my opinion, one of the mysteries of fly fishing.
Over the years I have searched for the perfect Nymphing rod.
Every length and line weight was tested and many got close.
Then I found the answer by chance:
A Shakespeare Nymph International, Black colour, Brown bindings, not much to look at.
10' long #8/9 rating, material glass.
Unbelievable, typical glass but without any recoil, I would not call it backbone but positive when straightening the rod.
After a year or so the stripping ring required a but of attention and I sent it down to Mick Glover( formally of Perth) to be refurbished completely.
Mick loved the rod's action, could be used for almost any type of fish.
When stripped, shock/ horror- not glass at all but a composite of glass and something(has to graphite) but no, probably Boron.
Anyway a great rod for all fish but for all forms of Nymphing just perfect.
Shakespeare have no records published of this rod but the double tipped bindings suggest the USA as a source.
Nymphing rods are so personal, I hope you find yours and Tight Lines.
Ps. Mick will finish my rod early in next year.
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10' long #8/9 rating, material glass.
Ouch! I doubt I would be able to fish with that all day.
I have several 10-11 foot rods rated around that in carbon or carbon kevlar but the ones I have would break 3lb nylon in an instant as they are all very powerful rods.
Still looking for a blank...I will probably go with a Quickline as they are only $60 in the US. The right ups are all superb and the Rodbuuilding Formum chaps seem chuffed with them too. As i only get out half a dozen times a year, this rod should do me fine :)
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Rob did you made your CTS 1063-4 rod? I am looking to made one for nymphing and competition.
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Rob did you made your CTS 1063-4 rod? I am looking to made one for nymphing and competition.
Sorry, no, I went for the Quickline instead. Superb blank indeed.
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TNX