fishing related art project

coming soon

just an idea I'm bashing around

pics to certainly follow

wherein we spill the beans

last weekend I got the invitation of a lifetime

I was asked to join a scientific expedition through the grand canyon 

w/ the usgs

look fishy que no?

my expenses?

how much do ten cases of pbr cost?

oh yeah babe

I drew a fish

doodling while dipping

I drew my very first ever picture of a trout

I'd kinda like to add a little color to it

I've got a 60 pc prismacolor pencil dealio laying around here somewhere...

I'd also kinda like reduce it to just lines

this can only mean one thing

this shot came out pretty cool

nonetheless it's fucking hot

planing bench before

planing bench after

lathe/glue/wrapping bench before

lathe/glue/wrapping  bench after

high time

I got off my lazy ass and clean up the shoppe and get this ball rolling again

tomorrow I'll post before and after shots of the shoppe

it's a fuggin' mess

done?

tiger maple insert

ready for a rubdown

last rod until fall?

butterflied apexed and ready for glue
after sand out this afternoon maybe I'll clean up the shoppe

actually that sounds like a good project for tomorrow

finally

we're working again in ye olde rod shoppe that rocks

a metric assload of curls

taking split strips (14 - 4 were alreadydone) to butt size

three sections planed to butt size

I had planned to take a pic illustrating the contrast

taking butt size strips to mid size and tip size

but the lovely wife swept it up being helpful after all

the difference was striking

tip mid and butt

3pc 6ft 3wt

ready for glue

woo hoo!

I got a lot done today

casting sequence

josh snapped a series of shots of me 

casting into a sweet slot 

while perched above oak creek canyon

whoa nellie that's a bit sloppy but efficient enough

producing beautiful drifts right down broadway

I was firing dries about 40-45ft on a 3wt line

w/ one backcast

I only like two things that I see in the shots above

the low line hand and the shot clearly showing the rod loaded 

as the forward cast is delivered

state of the craftsmanshit address #5

truth be told I've been neglecting ye olde rod shoppe that wrock

and I prefer fishing to building rods

and I've been getting in my fair share of fishing 

and yes I'm going after it again early next week

meanwhile there is work that remains to be done

pictured above is too little water in for repairs

yesterday saw me cut a new ferrule station on the butt

hopefully it'll hold up

also planed out the final piece of steve's 7012 which is ready for glue

while we wait for temps in the 80s

I also staggered and sized my latest rod a 6ft 3pc 3wt

I'm excited about this little rod

fast action and packable

a package arrived last week a heavy little box

filled w/ bottle openers (none of which work any better than a bic lighter)

and some tool maker clamps

which are pictured above and below

installed as support rails for the binding machine

close-up of large toolmaker clamp

since shooting these pics I've added two smaller clamps closer to the machine itself

thanks again amigo

that's about it for now.

certainly will check in after sticking some up in the high country

we love it up there

dickerson 7012 blank

beginning to look like a fishing pole

in progress

cigar grip

things come together right quickly from here

glued up

and in the cork press

soon now this one's done...

a little of this...

you see something in there don't you?

I see jesse owens sprinting toward gold in berlin

gruntwork

jonrandyjon's 7012 roughed and cooked strips

cooking

breaking news

coming soon from the rodde shoppe the wrocks

well I've got some pics at least

and doing a few things differently

and then there's this...

I'll have to wait and settle in to respond to this nonsense 

with elegance grace and humility

I suppose I'm perceived as a threat of some sort

perhaps because I know the dictator well enough to know he's full of shit

six!

gene's 7012 was recently baptized or blooded

 one ready for glue

and five more in the works

after puttering around thus far in the fall and winter

I'm in the weeds for spring

thanks for that

and 

happy valentines day to all you valentines

state of the craftsmanshit address twenty ten edition

ferrule stations being cut

exciting eh?  for me yeah

ooh ooh ooh sexy two weight in drying cabinet

you want this 

you really really want this

too bad I ain't selling

(pics added)

at least that's what's on today's docket

immediately following a breakfast beer

one of the great thing (the ONLY great thing?) about being a rod maker

on to the state of the craftsmanshit...

while I feel as though I've achieved my goal for the first part of the az rodwork season

it has been a struggle

I do have two brand spanking new smallstream rods

gin clear and skinny 6'0" 1 wt degere taper

too little water 6'8" 2wt degere taper  (second dipping this afternoon)

I've an additional 1wt blank awaiting ferrules and fixtures 

and a beastly 9'0" 7wt in the same boat

I cannot see finishing the beast unless I've a trip to steelhead or bonefish country in the works

even then I'll need a graphite (read plastic) backup

as I also cannot see casting that damn thing all the livelong day

I've neglected fly tying to my great regret

I need to rectify that and hope to tie a half dozen winged wets this afternoon/evening

hey the life of a rod maker is a busy one

LMFAO

also find myself lamenting the loss of the last real flyshop in the country's 

sixth (!) largest city

arizona flyfishing has announced that they're closing shop shortly

while my visits were few and far between I'll miss it dearly

the thought of visiting the big box corporate outlets for their shittily supplied materials

just turns my fucking stomach

I urge my dear reader(s) to support their local independent flyshops and custom rod makers

all the while flipping a bird at the corporate bigwigs

who continue to brainwash us 

that lighter and faster and cheaper (or more expensive) is the new cutting extreme edge of the market

you know who they are

I'd like to see them take it in the ass just like the rest of us have

too little water

this is a 6'8" 2wt

digger degere ice cream parlor hole special

ready to dip and it's a sweet casting tool

once again though I'm held hostage by the weather

now on the bench

on the left - thomas streamer special 9'0" 7wt 3/1

right - thomas 6'8" 3wt 2/1

both these blanks have been a bit of a bother

it will be nice to get them glued up and move on to something else...