Ken Abrames flyrod question???? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Swimmer · 02-01-2006, 08:31 PM

I have a medium action Sage rplxi that I made, which with medium action the rod is slower and does more of the work much like what is sounds like Kens rod does. I suppose my immediate attraction was how pretty the brown blank was. I cast better with the Sage than I do with the Orvis I have. But I cast better with an older St. Croix than I do with either of the above. I guess what I am thinking of more than anything is a longer rod, but not a spey rod. Does anyone know what the brand name of Kens blank was. Yes Saxatilus I am interested in getting one of the blanks. Ken is kind of proprietary with what he sells, so I wasn't going to bother asking him. Appreciate any help. I used to get a kick out of Kenny saying he raised his own hens for hackle until someone told me to ask Ken where the farm was next time I saw him. My contact said Ken had Mr. Whitings permission to say he grew the hens after he repackaged the saddles and such. Has anybody ever bought or ordered any of Whiting's gold capes? I was wondering if it was worth the cost?

SAXATILUS · 02-01-2006, 08:52 PM

Swimmer, Doubt very highly he would part with just the blank, Pretty sure you would have to buy the finished rod. I believe there are only about a half dozen left. Worth every penny.

Basser · 02-01-2006, 09:08 PM

My understanding is this. The mandrels for those blanks are custom made and do not exist in any blank manufacturer's inventory. So it is not a stock blank. The color and layup is also custom and produced via a small lot special order to a blank manufacturer in lots of 100.

steelhead · 02-01-2006, 10:18 PM

Basser is correct on Ken's blanks. I know from the source....

Swimmer, don't bother with the Gold Whiting saddles. They are pure dry fly saddles. Very skinny and no webbing right down to the base of a hackle. South shore, Bear's Den and Saltwater Edge would probably still have some of Ken's saddles. Bear's Den also dyes their own as I recall.

Roger · 02-01-2006, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swimmer

My contact said Ken had Mr. Whitings permission to say he grew the hens after he repackaged the saddles and such. Has anybody ever bought or ordered any of Whiting's gold capes? I was wondering if it was worth the cost?

The RLS saddles were/are number 3s and lower. I think that's the bronze category. Check with Bear's Den. They may still be getting them from Whiting.