Sage Z-Axis 7136-4 Conversion

I just realized this should have been placed in the centre-pin section...please move if possible.

WOW! Thank you very kindly! I don't post to have my ego massaged, but rather to show others that I TRULY LOVE BUILDING RODS. The challenge to remain fresh, deliver products that are adored and also to my standards is like a good work out for me. This rod, to be perfectly candid, had me sweating during certain steps, but in the end....I'm happy with it.

Again, I appreciate the kudos!

Humbly...Dj

ORIGINAL: KJH807

great attention to detail

looks like a very attractive, but ruined, rod

Beautiful workmanship. How long did it take?  Nice camera work also.

I was told there are some awesome rodbuilders posting on this forum.  Looks like it's true. 
 
Awesome work DJ, as usual.
 
I guess i'll stay around and learn a thing or two.
 
 

I am not DJ but I may be able to help you Drake. Alot of the sage spey blanks make some of the best center pin rods available today. That is why there are so many conversions done on their blanks.  They are also the right length and line wt to use for pinning.  I personally think there are very few good high end pin blanks on the market (CTS one of the few). I personally would choose a Sage conversion if I had the choice of any rod for pinning. Hope this helps some.

The silence is deafening.

Please let us reserve debates on centre-pinning versus fly fishing for another thread! FWIW- I would suggest that these pinners that you saw fishing an 18' wide creek with 13' rods may have not had a smaller rod to fish with? They may have been new to the sport and thus only had what they brought. Specificially for this purpose, there are certainly smaller options available whether store bought or custom. It may have been an "affordability" factor for them.

Here's a link to explore: http://www.infinityrodcreations.com/project_feather_light.htm although it is built upon a 4wt. blank there are many options available that would step up the blank rating to the size fish one is targeting.

Doubletaper and SilverKype-

If I've learned anything over the years, it is a respect for one another and the different fishing styles / methods. Although frustrating in abscence, if we can respect each other's methods and be polite anglers...I think we would develope an appreciation for how we focus our passion for trout (or any other species) fishing into the gear we drag to the river.

I'm a spinning, turned fly, turned fly floatin' pinner, turned spey, turned back to fly floatin' pinner / little trout-dry fly fisherman. I love the sport, I love the challenges of the different methods, I appreciate conservation and 99.9% catch and release my catches, but at the same time...I've got no problems with a person who uses a method different than I and harvests the legal limit with respect to the fishery and surrounding fisherman.

DT & SK-

Here's a build that will make you slightly dizzy: http://www.infinityrodcreations.com/batson_evolution.htm
And another: http://www.infinityrodcreations.com/Project_Big_Boo.htm

I hope that my first post doesn't head South as I would just assume delete it all if it is going to create contraversy!

I've witnessed similiar posts, derailed and steered toward the outhouse in the past of other forums. I'd like to prevent this on a "rodbuilding" thread where it doesn't apply. I completely understand the opinions and thoughts, although they may be better suited in another thread, IMO.

If fishing involves standing elbow to elbow, it is going to be tough regardless of the fishing methods. I'm more inclined to walk, even if it involves leaving potentially good water and fish, than to fight it out with impolite or ignorant anglers (once again, regardless of the gear in their hands).

This may be a shock to some, but my strongest belief is that good-expert fly fisherman make the best and most successful centrepin anglers. Why? Fly anglers (good ones that know what their doing and aren't raking redds) know how to read water, think like a fish, understand flow/clarity/temps/seasonal tendencies, etc...They've done their homework and are argueably using the most challenging means to hook fish...If they can master the technique and knowledge behind fly / spey fishing...then centre-pinning is second nature once the casting method is mastered.

Again...this comment and belief is better placed on another thread aimed at this specific subject.

ORIGINAL: .Dj. 7-13-2010 @ 1:10:31PM

I just realized this should have been placed in the centre-pin section...please move if possible.

Beautiful work... threadmaster finish?

ORIGINAL: .Dj.

ORIGINAL: thedrake

Having it here is no doubt going to spark comments about pinners. There's not a steelbow fisherman on this thread who hasn't watched as a pinner stood at the top of a run and drifted in front of a dozen people. I'm not saying all pinners would do this, but it does happen, and it does give people a bad impression of the technique.

I will remain silent with any possible rebuttal in keeping with the request that a debate be posted elsewhere.

+1 This could get bad in a hurry otherwise. By the way you did a great job as you always do with all of them!

ORIGINAL: .Dj.

Please let us reserve debates on centre-pinning versus fly fishing for another thread! FWIW- I would suggest that these pinners that you saw fishing an 18' wide creek with 13' rods may have not had a smaller rod to fish with? They may have been new to the sport and thus only had what they brought. Specificially for this purpose, there are certainly smaller options available whether store bought or custom. It may have been an "affordability" factor for them.

 
Dj - to answer your question.  The fella with the pin was not new to pinning or fishing.  He had another rod and was sporting patagonia waders.   He does lots of types of fishing as well and is a regular another steelheadish site.     Nice guy no doubt, I was just playin, not trashin.
 
The water I'm refering to is no larger than mid crooked creek so 18 feet was probably over estimating.   And I understand the choice of fishing equipment and have respect for all types.  I don't care what people use.. but I can tell you fishing summer steelhead on a brushy creek that small with a rod greater than 9 feet is tough...and perhaps that was the purpose.. to make it tough.   The pin guys get pretty beat up here.. but it's all in good fun.  It just isn't for PA crowds unless you're on Conneaut. 

10' could be considered a good length for PA. If I had only one rod to choose for steelheading it'd be 10' but wouldn't be ideal for Indiana's upper reaches. But it doesn't matter, folks will do what they do.. no length could be considered "wrong."

ORIGINAL: SilverKype

10' could be considered a good length for PA. If I had only one rod to choose for steelheading it'd be 10' but wouldn't be ideal for Indiana's upper reaches. But it doesn't matter, folks will do what they do.. no length could be considered "wrong."

For a trout rod, yes. I converted a 9' 8 wt into a spinning rod with a split grip. I used it with my centerpin a few times. You loose a bit of reach for mending, but it works great on streams the size of meadow run up to lower chartiers and similar. It is really nice on streams with lots of overhead tree cover as you're not catching the rod on every move. I had an 11'6" rod for a while and I think it is about the perfect overall PA length. It was enough to fish the bigger streams well enough (even the yough) but still small enough to be used on small/med streams. Of course if the great lakes tribs and bigger water are your bag, then 13' is the minimum and 15' is even better if you are physically up to it.

Thanks
Rick