Batson Forecast Completed

[Fruin]

Finally got round to building a 14 footer on a Batson/Forecast Spey Blank. I've built it specifically for shooting heads; hence, the guide spacing and sizes. It was also built as a practice for building a 16 footer on a CTS blank but, unfortunately, the demise of both a cooker and a washing machine in the same week have put the dampners on that for a wee while.
I won't get round to trying it for a few days as child number three is imminent and I'll have to wait for the inlaws to look after the wife before I venture out with the rod. However, here's some pictures in the mean time. For those forum members that are interested in the performance of these blanks, I'll post a report when I've spent some time casting it.

It's not perfect, but hey it's only my second homegrown rod, and I wrapped and finished the bottom section while under the influence ;D

[tweedcast]

Thats a great looking build Fruin - love the JC lacqeuered in and will use that idea if you don't mind.

Malcolm

[Fruin]

Thanks guys.

Springer, I didn't test cast the blank, apart from some waving around, so fingers crossed. The kit wasn't up to much; reel seet too small; handle too short; lots of filler in the cork, rings a bit bent. So, if you're buying from Ebay, you may want some other components. That said, they were all usable. Hook & Hackle in the states do a good price on the blanks.

I used an REC reel seat, fuji Sic stripper guides, and H&H Tich single leg snakes and tip top. The cork is a mixture of rubberised, burl, standard cork and some rubber washers for the detail.

Tweedcast, the jungle cock isn't my idea. A lot of builders in the US use feather inlays; I already stole it, so you're welcome to use it ;D

[Bogyoch]

The rod looks very nice indeed. Looks like you used a whole JC cape!

[davewallbridge]

springer said:

I thought about taping rings in place and doing a bit of test casting without a handle just to check that the blank didnt fail before putting in the hours on the build.

You probably know this but just in case ..............
If you do test the blank, don't forget to put some tight(ish) layers of masking tape or a temporary whipping around the female joints first to avoid splitting the blank.

Dave.

[Fruin]

Cheers guys, it's always good to get a bit of encouragement.

Bogyoch, there is a reason for the fancy JC jewellery. The butt section part is just decoration, but the bits on the ferrules are because I'm lazy and they save me lining up the guides - just butt the two sections together with the JC lined up ;D

Silverstoat, I never like to test cast blanks for that very reason. I simply bend them over at the side of my shed and use the seperation of the planks to get my guide spacing. I go with the very scientific theory of - if it looks correct, then it probably is.
I've heard that people test cast spey rods to find the ideal position for the spine on each section - I've just spined them as you would with any other rod, works for me

Fingers crossed I'll get to try it at the weekend, and fingers crossed the blank doesn't fail on me!!!

[Bogyoch]

Fruin

The Ian Gordon Rods have a thin line and dot for lining up the rod sections, but your JC alignments are much more classy.

[Fruin]

Cheers ;D

[kercock]

It looks superb Gary. If it works as good as it looks you are on a winner. Great job.

[Fruin]

Cheers Dennis,

I certainly hope I've not wasted my time building on a sh*t blank. However, it feels nice with a wobble in the back garden, so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that I like it when I get it to the river.

[Fruin]

I tried this rod out on Saturday afternoon for a few hours. It's definitely a lot of blank for the money. It casts an 11 rated line with ease. I only tried it out on the Leven for a few hours and will give it a better trial on a bigger river. It easily casts the same distances as my Alltmor 15'2" without any noticable disadvantage of losing 1'2". I hoped this would be the case as I wanted a shorter rods for casting shooting heads; too often with the longer rods I have been skipping the anchor when I wanted to force the back cast a bit more.
As I only had a short time with it on Saturday, I didn't get quite into the same comfort zone as I have with the Alltmor and did have to concentrate on the timing a little bit more. However, I'm sure that this was just getting used to the action of the rod.
Although the blank has a stiff/fast action, I could still feel the rod loading. This was a relief, as I've heard some reports that the rod is a bit of a poker - not at all, in my opinion.
Overall, it's not a world beater rod, but for the price of the blank, it's hard to work out how other blank manufacturers get away with charging so much.

[Fruin]

Springer,

Although I'm not a huge fan of the Orvis Spey rods, and I am limited to the rods that I've tried, I would say that it sits somewhere between the Allmor S and the Orvis. By this, I mean that it offers a good shooting head rod, but I don't find it as much of a poker as the Orvis rods.
I would say that I prefer it to the B&W Norways, but you have to bear in mind that I'm most comfortable with an Alltmor S, as that is what I use most often - when it's not in more pieces than it should be
It certainly felt reassuringly strong whilst being a comfortable rod to fish with.
I know that there was another Forum member who was taking his to the Kola P in favour of his Norway, and his preferred line with it was a 10/11 IG 65ft head. This would suggest that it may be quite versatile. If we get rain and I get the time , I'll try it with a full (within reason) range of lines (floating through to fast sinking, from shooting head to 75ft) and test this theory out.

If you like a slower traditional action, you won't like the blank. If you like an action for a shorther, faster casting stroke, you will not find a lot to complain about.

[Fruin]

I've had more time to try this rod now and have, so far, tried it with my range of shooting heads. I actually have shooting heads made from old 65ft spey heads that were past it as far as the running line goes. These are just spey bellies that I attach to my running line. It performs well from 44ft heads right through to 65ft heads in all sink rates; have yet to try it with my 75ft head, but I usually save that one for my 15ft rod.
Being 14ft, it does require a roll cast every time with the sinking lines.
It requires good timing and I can see why relative beginners have struggled with this blank. However, when you get the timing right it fairly punches the line over the river.
I even had three anglers of some experience watching my casting on Saturday and asking about the line and the rod. So I must be doing something right with this set up.
I was a bit worried about the tip section and the way that it seemed to flex. My worry was that it would bend over at too acute an angle over a short distance when I got a fish in close. However, this worry seems to have been unfounded as it was OK when playing a fish.