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[MotoBoat]

Yea, I made my own reamer from an old broken rod. Glued emery to it in a candy cane fashion. Worked pretty well. Also made my own wrapped and drying motor out of old reels and an electric motor from an old toy. Going from high rpms low torque to 10 rpm was an interesting adventure, but managed to do it with a few worm gears and other scavenged stuff. The only thing I haven't figured out yet is a foot pedal powered rod wrapper.

It's my first build, but I've got a couple more blanks lined up. Just saving up to get the fancy addons. Also I hate getting things on the internet so trying to find local retailers that sell this stuff is tough. I'm having a lot of fun with it.

The rod I'm building right now is on a pac bay blank, 5 wt. Pac bay guides, and the fancy reel seat. The other blank I have is a st. croix, and a few brandless blanks. I've also got a sage vxp 5 wt blank, and I'm going to wait until I get some practice to build on that, it's a super sweet blank.

I have looked at the "Pac Bay" blanks. But like you. I don't do well with purchasing stuff without being able to touch it first. How would you rate the Pac Bay blanks?
My very first rod build was a 3wt Sage. Turned out good. I did not have a motor to turn the rod. So, I chucked it into a variable speed drill. With a adjustment knob on the trigger, to choose the spin rate or rpm.

[MotoBoat]

"Avid Angler" Lake Forest Park, fly anglers heaven. Look em up, give em a call. they are very close. recently moved to new store but same shopping mall. I haven't checked out new location yet.

Mark, are you saying Avid Angler has relocated to another location within the Lake Forrest Park Mall? They moved from their original location at 117th and 15th Ave NE to the LFPM, well over 10 years ago.

[MarkFromSea]

Yes! I recall them as Avid Angler Archer back 30 years ago on 15th Ave NE.... They moved to Lake Forest Park Mall on 522 just west of Ballinger Way...years ago.. I drove Robyn by there just yesterday morn to look over the mall, I noticed Angler moved to a new store front within the mall. It's tucked in a corner, sorta hard to spot for those that are looking for it. same side as Albertsons. I don't fly fish but they do have some special hooks I use for ice fishing and pan fish. I love them 4X!

Same mall, different location.

[Gringo Pescador]

"Avid Angler" Lake Forest Park, fly anglers heaven. Look em up, give em a call. they are very close. recently moved to new store but same shopping mall. I haven't checked out new location yet.

They are now on the same strip as Albertsons (I think it goes Albertsons=>Dry Cleaner=>Pizza Place=>Avid Angler). They are very nice people in there, but wayy overpriced (IMO).

[MotoBoat]

"Avid Angler" Lake Forest Park, fly anglers heaven. Look em up, give em a call. they are very close. recently moved to new store but same shopping mall. I haven't checked out new location yet.

They are now on the same strip as Albertsons (I think it goes Albertsons=>Dry Cleaner=>Pizza Place=>Avid Angler). They are very nice people in there, but wayy overpriced (IMO).

Is the new location on the upper or lower level? I recall they were below some book store. But have no recollection what so ever as to where the Albertsons was. Unless that was same lower level and to the SW of AA. A.A. Is not to be confused with Anglinarcher.

[natetreat]

I have looked at the "Pac Bay" blanks. But like you. I don't do well with purchasing stuff without being able to touch it first. How would you rate the Pac Bay blanks?
My very first rod build was a 3wt Sage. Turned out good. I did not have a motor to turn the rod. So, I chucked it into a variable speed drill. With a adjustment knob on the trigger, to choose the spin rate or rpm.

They are pretty sweet blanks. The 5 wt I'm building right now is very nice. High quality and seems to have a really good feel to it, lightweight and not clunky like some comparably priced blanks. I got mine for 20 at the show, normally 56. I just might get one of their spinning blanks and give it a shot. Hahaha, hurray for DIY projects! That's a pretty good idea, wish I'd though of it.

[MarkFromSea]

Lower level, 522 side, NW corner, head to the same Lake Forest Park location that you were familiar with, read the sign in the window, LOL, or, just turn to your left as you're facing the old store front at Lake Forest Park. If you find yourself on 15th Ave NE,,,,,, I really can't help you! LMAO

30-35 years ago when Avid Angler and Archer first opened on 15th Ave NE it was also an archery store, I bought arrows there. A neighbor was the Archer. I bought his car for $100. He left Avid Angler, bought himself a lake resort in Canada. It's been just an angler store since, just fly fishing gear, nothing more. No fast moving razor sharp instruments to put meat on the table. Link below to assist.

http://www.avidangler.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MotoBoat]

I have looked at the "Pac Bay" blanks. But like you. I don't do well with purchasing stuff without being able to touch it first. How would you rate the Pac Bay blanks?
My very first rod build was a 3wt Sage. Turned out good. I did not have a motor to turn the rod. So, I chucked it into a variable speed drill. With a adjustment knob on the trigger, to choose the spin rate or rpm.

They are pretty sweet blanks. The 5 wt I'm building right now is very nice. High quality and seems to have a really good feel to it, lightweight and not clunky like some comparably priced blanks. I got mine for 20 at the show, normally 56. I just might get one of their spinning blanks and give it a shot. Hahaha, hurray for DIY projects! That's a pretty good idea, wish I'd though of it.

I used a corded drill so I wouldn't have to worry about the battery drain affecting the rpm and stopping while I was in bed!

If you think that is cool. I did the same thing to create a Lathe for custom cork handle shaping. To keep from chucking the rod blank into the drill and damaging it. I inserted the round end of a chopstick into the blank and the square end into the chuck. Shape the cork handle, remove chop stick from rod blank and plug handle end and rod blank with matching cork. Sand that by hand after epoxy dries.

[MotoBoat]

Lower level, 522 side, NW corner, head to the same Lake Forest Park location that you were familiar with, read the sign in the window, LOL, or, just turn to your left as you're facing the old store front at Lake Forest Park. If you find yourself on 15th Ave NE,,,,,, I really can't help you! LMAO /

Funny Mark. I spent way more time in AA when it was located on 15 ave NE than it's present, seams like pricier location. Sound to be located where the over priced bread store is/was. Umpqua bread, or Palouse bread baking Co?

[MarkFromSea]

Can't recall the bread store, I must not have been hungry. Even though it is the closest "fishing" store currently to my location, I've only been in it once. Pricey??? I just bought some hooks then bent them 4Xs into jig shape, no one has just jig hooks with out weights and that is what I wanted for ice fishing and pan fishing. So I'm probably with ya on the amount of money spent, I spent way more when at the other location, buying arrows and blades.

I ONLY mentioned it since, I think it was Nate said he didn't have a fly fishing supply store near him OR some such.

I release all bass but my soul is a meat hunter!

Added later: weightless jig hooks size 8 and/or 10, couldn't find them last year so made them out of 4X fly tying hooks.

[kzoo]

Definitely a unique service. Good Luck!

[MarkFromSea]

http://www.natetreatfishing.com/

My website is now up and ready to look at! You'll be able to keep up with our adventures on my blog, and I'll update it regularly so keep checking back. It's been a work in progress for a while now, but it's 100% ready to go now.

So how is your weekend looking, booked? Any HOT prospects for catching, no need to mention your hot spots? How about for the next several weeks ahead? Is the Columbia River salmon endorsement required for most of the rivers you fish?

I've enjoyed reading your material here the last, seems like, couple of years.

[tsath24]

Website looks great. The only thing is I can't read the font with that background! I do recommend changing the font color or background.

[blurock]

Awesome website Nate!

[natetreat]

http://www.natetreatfishing.com/

My website is now up and ready to look at! You'll be able to keep up with our adventures on my blog, and I'll update it regularly so keep checking back. It's been a work in progress for a while now, but it's 100% ready to go now.

So how is your weekend looking, booked? Any HOT prospects for catching, no need to mention your hot spots? How about for the next several weeks ahead? Is the Columbia River salmon endorsement required for most of the rivers you fish?

I've enjoyed reading your material here the last, seems like, couple of years.

Thanks, Mark! We have to get out again and catch some steelhead now that you're back in the area for a while. Things have been looking up at my spots lately. Not all the rivers need the endorsement. I like to get off the beaten path, which means avoiding the columbia tribs a lot of the time.