The "Face Lift" Rod

The “Face Lift” rod is ready for some spring time steel with a new reel seat and decorative wrap.


I built this rod about 7 or 8 years ago and I have fished with it a great deal since then. I thought that I would spruce it up a little with a new wrap, inscription and replace the graphite seat. I love even more now! The reel seat is a Pac Bay and it helps balance out the whole set up. The graphite had a less then desirable feel to it and the old green wrap was not my best work.

Removing the reel seat is a chore. The fighting butt thankfully came off with out heating and then the real work began. Three hours of slowly heating the graphite and breaking it away from the solid spacer below. The fiberglass spacer is strong and makes for a tight fit but really fought me in the removal. I ended up breaking the seat away with pliers bit by bit. The wrap is me all the way. The person the I first learned to build from, Mr. Drives, did these rings types wraps for years and I love the old school look. The wraps are green, dark drown, light brown and cream. I used the serial numbers at the ferrules and I think I will do that, a little finer pen tip, from now on. I like the very functional look.

My advice is that if you plan on removing components it helps to know what is underneath and to go slow. The cork needs to be sanded and retreated and then off to Lake Michigan tributaries we go!



Email: wbhrod@yahoo.com