Rod building

It has been quite awhile since I last build any fiberglass rods. Making bamboo rod is time consuming and tiring. I got the chance to build a fiberglass rod when a friend of mine requested me to custom build him a Lamiglas FL734.

No preferences on how the rod should look like, the only thing he requested was to have a rattan grip. That's great, no other restriction and that gives me a fee hand to do whatever I like on the rod.

It took me about 2 weeks to complete this.

I did not use any epoxy on the wrapping as I was to keep the finishes as light as possible. This Lami blank is a slow action piece and I do not load it with heavy stuff. I used H&H thin wires guides and light tip top, and Pearsall's Gossamer silk thread for wrapping.

New toy...... AGAIN?

Just a few days back, my fly buddy got a new set of fly rod and reel. Although they were pre-own, my friend still pay a thousand over buckaroos for that set. Quiet Loop fiberglass rod and an Orvis CFO modern classic fly reel, I would say a very matching set for that price he paid.

Not too long ago, he said he had enough of reels and rod but I know that will not be the last or rather, there will be no LAST. Fisherman is never satisfy with their equipments as there will always be newer models and more sophisticated equipments. And upgrading is a continuous procedures.

Similarly I just built myself another 3wt rod from McFarland blanks and got an Orvis CFO II.

It's just like Christmas when the package arrived at my door step. I have wanting to get that reel for quite sometime now... and I am I did. See... what I mean about having my LAST buy...

Shipping by 1st class mail....

I am starting to lose confidence in internationally shipping by post..
So, far 4 items which was sent to me was missing during shipping by post..
Although the items may not be expensive but adding it up is amounting to hundreds...

Priority Mail isn't that priority anymore.. Sometimes, it takes up to 5 weeks for delivery.
Slightly better than 1st class mail...

I am not sure whether it's lost overseas during transit or lost in the local POS OFFICE .........
Getting really fed up!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fly Fishing with my 2nd bamboo rod

After completed my 2nd bamboo, I can't wait to go down to the water to test it. Last week, a few fly buddies and I went to a stream in Tanjung Malim for fly fishing. Normal the species of fish available in the stream are Tengas and Kelah.

Our journey starts before the sunrise and by 6.30am, we have reached the last stopping point at the toll.


We stopped by for breakfast and by 7.30, we were already at the destination and set up our tackles.


And off we go. We track about 20 minutes before reaching the spot.

The water was calm at this part of the creek. The catch was not good perhaps it was due the heavy down pour a couple days ago. It might have washed away the fish from the pool.

We started to venture down stream and we found a lot of rapids along this stream. The current was too strong to sink our nymphs, even our weighted nymphs. We had a hard time wading the stream too.

We cast our flies to the stream side where the water are slower and the chances of hooking up one may be higher.


Yes indeed, most of the catch that day was hooked up at stream side. Finally, I managed to get a hook up on my new bamboo rod. The action of this rod is slightly stiffer than the 1st one I built due to the swell part for the bamboo ferrules.




It was a slow day. The fish was not frenzy, just some nibbling from some small ones.
But I found out that there was a lot of bamboo trees in the area. Great!! Another place to harvest some bamboos for my bamboo rods.


More photos of my bamboo rod.

1st day of work in 2010

1st day of work in 2010... welcomed by the rain... a wet wet morning!! and then the traffic jam!!
...... finally tonnes of emails after my 1 week break!!!!!!!!!!

What a day!!!