The Custom Graphite Fly Rod (Hardcover)

by Skip Morris (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A crisp, practical guide to designing and building a customized fly rod with graphite blanks.

From the Back Cover
This compact, practical guide is for everyone who would like to design and build a custom fly rod with graphite blanks to his own specifications. Morris describes the complete rod-building process - from selecting components wisely for specific fishing needs to handsome finishing. There are invaluable chapters on reel seats, cork grips, thread wraps, and adding a signature to your work; and Morris has included an important chapter on how to make all of the repairs that, sooner or later, a well-used fly rod requires. There are also chapters on design and advanced building techniques for the sophisticated rod builder - and an essential section on safety for everyone with a home workshop. The helpful diagrammatic drawings and dozens of carefully framed photographs make Skip Morris's description particularly clear. (7 1/4 X 10 1/4, 132 pages, b&w photos, diagrams, charts)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (January 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558210113
• ISBN-13: 978-1558210110
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,568,062 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Online information is lots better, January 12, 2004

By	J. King (Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this book on the basis of all the good reviews here. What a mistake. There is very little here that you can't find online with better explanations and colour photos. This book was written in 1989 and the photos are B&W. I am sure that Skip Morris is a very good rodbuilder, however the writing is a bit hurried and probably reflects his being young when he wrote this.

One of the most important bits of information for rod building is finding the spine of the rod blank, and Skip's instructions are opposite to everything I have seen from contemporary sources like Tom Kirkman and Al Campbell. On that basis, as well as the note to file a groove in the top of the rod to make a better fit with the tip top, I am putting the book on the shelf and won't be referring to it any time soon.

There is a good section on shop safety.

4.0 out of 5 stars The Custom Graphite Fly Rod : Design and Construction, June 14, 2000

By	David Kilhefner (Portland, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews

The Custom Graphite Fly Rod is a great book for the fly fisherman who'd like to save money building his own rod, customize or repair a cherished rod or simply learn more about fly rod design and construction. And the information spans subjects I previously didn't know existed, such as altering the action of a fly rod blank, stripping and refinishing graphite rods, several different ways to build your own cork grips, etc. The basics of thread wrapping + guide spacing charts are included along with excellent tips on making your rod beautiful. One thing I really like about this book is the building techniques illustrated show you how to build a rod by hand, with hand tools. Most books I've seen on rod building tend to rely on specialized rod building machinery, which is nice if you have it but creates a road block if you don't. However, some advanced techniques do require power machinery and Skip Morris gives you enough information to build your own machinery from garage sale items.

Regardless if you want to build a rod from a kit as simply and easily as possible or really go all out on customization, this book is money well spent.