Dave's Fly Bench: Wrapping up my rod wrapping rodeo

Seems like I've spent more time wrapping rods than tying flies or fishing. Which is not a bad thing because I really love wrapping rods. But at some point you need to use what you've created.

So – since it takes quite a bit of time to write each post, I’m going to combine a few rod wrapping posts into one so I can get on to sharing our Bennett Spring Family Fishing Vacation (not to be confused with National Lampoon’s Vacation movies – but at times, not by much!)

Griswold car packed and ready to roll!

My car packed and ready to roll!

Wild and crazy kids at Bennett Spring

When I reinvigorated my interest in rod wrapping about a year ago, after over 25 years of not wrapping rods, I realized how much I forgot about wrapping techniques. But, one rod at a time, I remembered the tricks of the trade and enhanced some of the tools I made 25 years ago to make the job easier.

One of the key elements in wrapping rods is determining the colors of the thread for wrapping. 25 years ago, the thread color preservers were not very good so I never used them.

I knew that the thread would get darker when I applied the Flex Coat wrap preserver, but the only way to view the possible end result was to soak the wraps in water to see how dark they got – then dry them, and it was just too much of a chore for too little results.

But, I did some research and learned there were improvements in color preservers, so I decided to buy Flex Coat Color Preserver and test the color of thread with and without the color preserver and without soaking in water.

Flex Coat Rod Wrapping Finish and Color Preserver & Thread Sealer

The results were very interesting and allowed me to design based on adding the color preserver or not – as the case may be.

Here are a couple of photos to explain.

Multiple color tests on dowel rods

To test thread color, I wrapped 2 colors next to each other and applied Flex Coat color preserver to the center where the colors met. At the top, you can see that the red and blue were much more visible with the color preserver than without.

Same technique showing how much brighter the thread is with the preserver - above and below.

Metallic silver and gold were not affected by the preserver.

And now –

here are some photos

documenting my

rod wrapping rodeo round up!

Emerald Green of Ireland for my wife Joyce. Her Maternal ancestors were world class salmon fly tiers and river keepers - Gillies of Galway.

Color preserver kept the thread lighter in color than the rod for a classic look.

The three Amigos spin on fishing -

Capt. Ron, Joe and I are the three Amigos of fishing, but Capt. Ron and Joe don't fly fish. So, I designed a spinning rod suitable for steelhead, smallmouth bass and perch - 7' IM9, 1 piece, fast action, and made one for each of us.

Three Amigos spin rod components.

Split grip handles

Last wrap is the butt wrap - 2 almost done and one more to go.

Joe's rod basking in the sunshine.

Capt. Ron, with new rod - caught a basket of jumbo Lake Erie Perch.

Niece Jeni's flyrod

Components

Reaming handle to fit the rod

Each guide needs to be beveled for a smooth thread transition from guide foot to rod.

Wrapped and ready for Flex Coat finish - no color preserver this time - the darker look was best - check it out below.

Jeni's rod ready to ship - finally!

So – am I rid of rod wrapping?

– Wrong!

I have about 10 blanks in my inventory, including a 14’ Spey rod blank that need to be wrapped, rigged and ready to rapidly reel in ridiculous numbers of really fun fish!

But, now that winter is approaching – we recently had over 7 feet of snow fall on us and winter is officially still weeks away –