Small Rod for Small Lad

[Starvinmarvin]

Need a little advice, want to build my 6 year old a fly rod, he's 1.15 metres tall, I was thinking about an 7' 6" 3wt but not sure, he has used an 8' 6" 3wt but that was a bit big for him, was going to use a G LOOMIS blank possibly a G3, cos I might want to borrow it occasionally ordering from the States so cheap as chips.

 

SM

[Sportsman]

Try here

 

http://www.tomwhite.com/FLYBLANKS.htm

 

I have built 3 rods with these blanks and they are fantastic value.

They are what are called in the States "blems" which means they may have cosmetic blemishes, but they fish great.

Tom always packs them well and sends them as second hand rod parts so you don't pay tax - allegedly

Get one for yourself while your at it

BTW don't get the kits, they are not too good and the blanks deserve better

 

[ 08. September 2005, 05:01 PM: Message edited by: Sportsman ]

[Starvinmarvin]

Thanks Sportsman, have been looking at his blanks, but would prefer a 3 piece for myself, and have been looking at the Hook & Hackle Site, their blanks are more expensive but you get a free kit with them, quality wise I'm not sure, but they have 20% off at the moment for online purchases, G Loomis for under £100 including postage, can't be bad, going to order a different handle and possibly reel holder as well, will wait to see the quality of the guides before deciding on those. But for the lad I may well get one from Toms place, just got to decide.

 

SM

[Sportsman]

I've had a kit from Hook and Hackle and it wasn't too bad but for that quality blank you would probably want a better reel seat.

Try this guy

http://www.insertbyles.com/

I have had a couple of seats with antler inserts which I put on the Loomis IMX blanks.

They look stunning!!

Dave

[argyll]

One of the biggest and best supplier of blanks and rod bitz is at http://www.mudhole.com. Pretty sure there'll be something there to take your fancy.

[Dan G]

I really want to make myself a rod - just fancy it. Are there any uk suppliers of handles, rings, threads, reel seats etc... like the look of the g-loomis blanks. Any good books to help, or is it quite simple??

[argyll]

There ya go Dan http://www.hopkinsholloway.co.uk

 

 

Building a fishing rod requires only patience. Advice is available from any number of websites and forums, so dont waste your money on books. Take a look at http://www.mudhole.com for rod building instructions.

 

[ 09. September 2005, 09:28 AM: Message edited by: argyll ]

[Starvinmarvin]

Thanks chaps, but what about the size for the little fella

 

SM

[Starvinmarvin]

Dan G

 

Check out these American sites that Sportsman kindly forwarded to me, G LOOMIS for under £100 :eek

 

http://www.tomwhite.com/FLYBLANKS.htm

 

http://www.hookhack.com/

 

SM

[argyll]

Lets not get too carried away with the Loomis label guys. Gary Loomis sold his company to Shimano in 1998 and a lot of the bottom end of the range rods are now made in China. I'm not knocking the brand, I have two pre 1998 rods which I treasure, but Loomis isnt Loomis anymore and the alternatives are worth considering. St Croix, Sage, Redington, Thomas and Thomas all make just as good rods and perhaps cheaper too. The GL3 Loomis is pretty ordinary...I'd buy it for a kid but it won't perform like a GLX and thats the whole point of buying a Loomis rod.

There is little point in buying a high end rod blank for a six year old until he has the power to make the rod work effectively. In your position I would be looking for something that will last him 2/3 years, something that he can grow into and something that will handle a decent size rainbow that will inevitably come his way. I would probably want to cut down a 5 weight blank from the butt to a finished length of no more than 7 feet. Anything longer and a six year old will struggle and if he doesn't enjoy the experience then he wont be back.

 

[ 10. September 2005, 10:29 AM: Message edited by: argyll ]