TONS...I could not have built this rod without TONS of help from Dave Dyer (Creekside Outfitters). Dave spent a late evening with me during and AFTER the fly tying club to teach me how he applies his color preserver and how to PROPERLY mix and apply rod finish. I have to say the results were excellent - I HIGHLY suggest Dave's Rod Building Seminars if you're considering learning how to build a rod. He's also showed me great tricks in assembling reel seats.

Where he really helped out was in concocting the 10" Extension Butt....we literally stripped all the cork off a Pac Bay 5" fighting butt, then epoxied a 9.5" piece of broken blank over the 5" metal rod. After that, it was the simple case of reaming one of the 10" grips I had turned and gluing it onto the blank. I still haven't found the time yet to install the bloodstone cabochon, or two add in the hook keeper and butt wraps. All in good time.

My ultimate goal with this rod was originally to create a lightweight switch rod (short spey rod). Adding the 10" extension turned this into a sweet 10' 10" two-hander..and being removeable I ALSO get a 10' single hand fly rod!

Originally I had read some articles by Bob Miesner about Spey Rod building...he mentioned the use of Ceramic Guides in Spey Rods allowing for less friction and longer life. So when buying the components, I sprung for the Hialoy Ceramic Single Foot Fly Guides. But when working with Dave, he pointed out something I hadn't thought about...this rod will ALSO make a sweet CENTERPIN / DRIFT rod with the extention in place. So I simply get TONS of bang for my buck out of this setup. I'm already scheming another one of these up (unless I just bite the bullet and build my first spey...stay tuned)!