All I see are the imperfections.
The finish has some runs and is uneven in places. Some of the silk wraps aren’t tight enough. There is a glue line visible where I had to replace a cork ring, a result of boogering-up a $75.00 reelseat. It’s not a rod I could sell or even gift, but it is my first cane rod.
It’s an 8’ 2 piece, 2 tip, 6 weight rod built on one of Jim Payne’s tapers. I haven’t fished it yet, but I’ve cast it. It has decent to very good touch with a WF line up close, and is a real cannon for distance casting, with an exceptionally smooth action evidencing little vibration or wobble. It will be a fabulous rod for smallmouth and larger trout streams.
Most importantly, and with great thanks to George Maxwell, I had a big hand in building it. I made innumerable mistakes and learned from all of them. I kept notes. I bought and made and otherwise acquired new tools. Now I have strips for the second tip to plane. I already know what I’m going to do different and better.
I can’t freekin wait!
And one of these days, this snow is going to melt around here. Then there will be stoneflies, and I’m going to take this rod and go see about them. Stay tuned…
