Rod Eye Underwrappings on a beachcaster ????

Message

#1 Post by **MAC** » Wed May 31, 2006 11:32 am

I was in a tackle shop the other day and happened to come accross a Century match rod. Can't remember the name. I was looking at the build of the rod when I noticed that the rod eyes were underwrapped in Gold Metallic thread. Normal practice is to just wrap the eye legs on each side. The metallic gold underwrap with green for the legs at each end looked really nice, but is it needed

or even a good idea on a match rod

Underwrappings are normally used on boat rod eyes as the legs are rather thick and it can help with the eye stability, especially in big game fishing. I was also thinking that it might make the tip of the rod more stiff.

Any thoughts

Kev

RobertMcClean · #2 Post by **RobertMcClean** » Wed May 31, 2006 12:01 pm

That rod was a Tip Tornado Super Match I think Kev. Underwrapping is not totally necessary but it does look quite well and can re-enforce the rings and protect the blank.

Later that day I came back and bought it hee hee

Rockhopper · #3 Post by **Rockhopper** » Wed May 31, 2006 1:03 pm

My slant on underwrapping is that, on a beach rod or spinning rod, in fact most lightweight rods it is only for looks, it serves no purpose at all, and it can change the action on some rods. An old school of thought was that it protected the blank from being cut by the guide feet, if the guide feet are filed correctly (easy job) then its not necessary.

Some Big Game rods even have triple wraps, whole different ball game, the angler can't move very far in the cockpit of the boat, he has a massive fish on, twisting and turning at the rod, it can test the skill of any rod made by the best of rod builders, so strength on the wraps is needed.

btw....Triple wraps are made up of one wrap around the blank and two around the guides.

Personally, I think the days of fancy butt wraps and glitzy rods is over, IMHO Rods are a tool of the angler and what ever suits the guy who buys it, fine! I wont knock him for it, but for me, black on black is good and the beauty (if that's the right word) is in the overall look and quality of the build

One thing I will say in favor of underwraps, if you do break a guide on a special rod and want it repared to look as new, then its easier to wrap the new guide in the same place. sometimes, trying to repare a guide and get it in the right place and not mark that gap between the feet can be a pain, you need to take all the old high-buid off, if you dont, then the fecking new thread wont sit right

Tom.

#4 Post by **MAC** » Wed May 31, 2006 2:00 pm

Ye Tart Rob......

I have to say the look of the rod was really nice.

I was just wondering if under wrapping was coming back in

I was also thinking of the effect on the blank. I was thinking that underwrappings especially as you get closer to the eye, might stiffen the rod and in the case of the tip it might hamper bite detection. This could be bad, especially on a match type rod.

BTW... Nice tip on the guide repair Tom... I'll keep that one in mind.

Kev

Rockhopper · #5 Post by **Rockhopper** » Wed May 31, 2006 2:31 pm

Rob,

I don't know if the guy still does the wrapping for Century, but they had a guy called Bill Brooks who built all of their top end rods, he may have built your rod. For my money, he is the best rod builder I have ever come across, whether for the fancy stuff or the plain stuff, the guy knows enough about blank technicals and building not to harm the action, feel safe with the action if he built it...he is a fisherman who can cast with the best of them.

Tom.

RobertMcClean · #6 Post by **RobertMcClean** » Wed May 31, 2006 2:55 pm

Hang on Kev your the one with his own seat and Tea cup at Henry's

yeah its a nice finish Tom but I do echo your comments in as far as beach rods go it's not necesarry. Meta-Lite use to build all their rods with the initial rings underwarpped and the last 5 tip rings single wrapped so not to affect performance!

Rockhopper · #7 Post by **Rockhopper** » Wed May 31, 2006 3:21 pm

Meta-lite..there's a name from the past, I knew old John Metcalfe, God rest his soul, he was a real character, his wife Wendy still fishes for the England Ladies team I believe.

I used to ask him if he got his thread for nothing, he used that much thread on his builds.....the thread on the stripper feet would be about 3" long, possibly more

but like you say, he knew what he was doing regarding the action of the blank.

I know a certain rod manufacturer, who is world famous for his beach rods and casting rods, he has quite a few personal rods of his own, I was informed that only one of his rods is wrapped..all of the other have the guides taped on

, some I am told are over 10 years old and still have the original tape

Tom.

#8 Post by **MAC** » Wed May 31, 2006 3:31 pm

That would be me Rob. We had a quick chat before you left. I used to have my own seat alright. That was before the shop was floor to ceiling tackle. Now you can barely get in the door. I think he moved my seat.

I was thinking along the same lines as yourself Tom. You would think that if there were to be underwraps towards the tip that they would consider this at the blank design stage.

Truely a smashing looking rod though.

Kev

RobertMcClean · #9 Post by **RobertMcClean** » Wed May 31, 2006 3:51 pm

I'd say Pat sold it by accident Kev.

I have a Meta-Lite Storm and there is more wrapping on it than a woolen jumper, but looks that part!!