RDP Custom Flyrods

[codywf]

Anyone ever buy a rod from them? I personally just picked up a couple of 1wt 7'6" rods from him, Got one for me and one for my girlfriend, they will be our backcountry and small stream rods.

Really good customer service, and was very thorough with me as to what I wanted.

I'll give an update later in the spring/summer as to the performance.

http://www.rdpflyrods.com/index.html

[ryanheartssteelhead]

A friend of mine from Montana has a couple too. We found them very soft. He lined his down. 4 wt rod, 3 wt line.
They were tough to cast a matching line, but casted an under weighted line well. They seem like good small stream rods, but I wouldn't use them for big river/big trout

[brianscott]

Looking at the pics the guy uses bottom end components and goes a little overboard with the wraps, usually i have about 4-5 turns then i am up on the guide foot. He looks to have about 20, this will kill the action of the rod, and in thinner sections it will become prone to breakage. Wraps are pretty basic as well, but hey differet strokes for different folks.
I just wrapped up a stripping guide on my 4 wt a few mins ago ill see if i can post a pic to show the difference in the amount of wraps a guy really needsto hold a foot down

[brianscott]

These rods have good components and can be built for a relatively cheap price still, then you can do it exactly how you like.

As seen in the one pic you dont need an inch of wraps to hold down a guide foot, i was able to get a good look and some nice decorative wraps in and the wrap was 3/8 of an inch long.
The guides used by the builder looked cheap and the cork has quite a bit of filler in it by the looks of it.

Simple things like a 3$ winding check vs a. 75¢ one will dress up a rod quite nicely.

I guess what i am getting at is just because you can build a rod doesnt mean you are a rod builder.

Btw the two rods i have put pics up of are the first two i have ever done, i am no expert at it but its no t hard to tell a well built rod from a poorly built one

[ryanheartssteelhead]

I don't have alot of experience with rod building, but shouldn't the wrap on the guides be a little longer?

[pikergolf]

You get what you pay for, and at that price no your not going to get top end cork and reel seats. As for the wraps I don't see one wrap, up on the end of the rod that matters that's over done, the butt end well that's where personal taste comes in, I like brianscott prefer a minimal look. If your happy with the rod and it fishes well then be happy, but I don't think your getting a substandard rod, especially when compared to a factory rod.

[jeprli]

Nice rods for the money. Never seen one in real life but from the pictures they seem fair for the price.

Overwrapped indeed but its builders preference. I keep mine as short as i can.
Single color wrap does it for me, and same colour as the blank.

Nice rods brianscott, what blank is in the first picture??? im guessing rainshadow... That sceleton seat looks interesting, not my cup of tea but nice to see something different. I got a small project going too, just needs glue and its done.