Saturday, October 12, 2013

Building an Affordable Fly Rod Rack


How many of you guys tube your fly rods when you are not using them? I am guessing here but I would say the majority of all fly fishermen and women tube their fly rods when they are not fishing with them. I feel I am in the minority, because I never tube my fly rods, unless I know I am not going to use it for at least a season; or I know I am traveling some distance to fish. So where do I keep my 5 fly rods when they are idle? Well the 6 wt. is safe in its tube until next spring, the other four, which includes my two 3 weights, 4 wt. and the 5 wt. are all neatly placed in my newly constructed fly rod rack. 
This rack is inexpensive and easy to build and consists of the following materials:
One piece of ½” plywood 22” tall by 20” wide
One piece ½” plywood 7 ½” wide by 22 tall both plywood pieces have all the edges rounded
Four 2x2 pieces holding the rods in place are 7 ½” long with a concave cut out for the rod to rest against
The other 4 short 2x2 pieces are 2 ¾” long with the same concave cut for the base of the rod to rest on
A 4 ft. 2x4 can be used for all 8 rods rest
The tools you will need to complete this project would be a router with a concave bit and a skilsaw or hand saw to rip the 2x4 in half. Be sure to use the router to cut the concave in the 2x4 before you rip it in half. It is much easier to route a wide 2x4 as opposed to routing a narrow half 2x2. All the pieces are assembled with glue and screws, with the screws being driven in from the back.
Your materials for this project can be scraps of wood you may find laying around your house, or your neighbor’s house. If you don’t have a router you might borrow one from a friend or neighbor. I built the entire rack in a couple of hours and painted it to blend with the garage walls.
Notice the blind over the window, it is not only used to screen out sunlight, but I also use it to hook my flies in the fabric loops on the blinds. The blind loops not only pins the fly but it helps to keep the leader/tippet straight until my next trip. I don’t like to fish with a leader or tippet that is not straight.
When I am traveling to the lake or tailrace which is a short distance, I simply break the fly rod down in two pieces and tie with two short pipe cleaners. The pipe cleaners works perfect because they are so durable and bend well to hold the fly rod together until I get to my destination.
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

14 comments:

  1. Nice idea Bill. I keep all my rods tubed just because if something bad is going to happen, it will. I bought a corner rod rack that sits on the floor from Cabelas a few years ago and really like it since I don't have wall space. By the way, everything I build turns out being an ashtray.

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  2. I have to hand it to you Bill, that is a nice looking job you have done on your rod rack. I tend to agree with Howard. I try to tube my rods during transportation just because I would never forgive myself if something bad happened that I could have prevented. On the other hand, if you have the tools and the creative mind and skills to do something that is personal, that is great too!

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  3. From one woodworker to another, good job on the rack. I tube my rods when I move them. Broke too many tips in the past.

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  4. Man, are those GLoomis reels I see?

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  5. Bill nicely done. I generally have mine it tubes. Often the rod I favor at the time stays strung up and laid flat where it's safe.

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  6. Howard
    I got tired of unpacking and packing my fly rods that I used on a regular basis, so enter the rack, it makes things easier. thanks for the comment

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  7. Mel
    I tube the fly rods when I am traveling a long distance to fly fish. Thanks for the comment

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  8. Mark
    I was using peg board at first with the metal clips, which didn't work that well; so I came up with the design for the wooden rack, which works so much better. Thanks for the comment

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  9. Josh
    Those GLoomis fly reels are some of the best fly reels I have ever used. I like the free spool retrieve, along with the quality you get with GLoomis. GLoomis discontinued the reel a couple of years ago, really a shame, fantastic reel. I own 3 of them. Thanks for the comment

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  10. Alan
    I do tube the fly rods that I am not using, but for convenience I went with the rack. If I travel I will tube the fly rod otherwise they stay on the wall for easy access. Thanks for the comment

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  11. Looks good! Might not work out for me though, as I travel with my rods each week, so I tube them. = ) But, in your case, they could be strung up and ready to go...

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  12. RD
    I could see where you would not be using a rack, with as much fish traveling as you do. Thanks for the comment

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  13. Nice rack Bill! I am impressed with the position that it holds the rods. I have to hand it to ya. I do not have the confidence to store my rods because I can find a rod tip on a dark football field and it is me and the rod! Excellent post!

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  14. Noco
    I am one of these organize junkies and the rack proves it. Everything has to have its place. thanks for the comment

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