MF article – Hadrian Whittle – Modified MAP Rod

[TF_Irk the purists]

Interesting read about how Hadrian won the Hereford Angling Festival.

In the article he makes reference to using a modified MAP 18/20 rod which now stands at 16ft length.

Does anyone know what he did to achieve that length (it may be obvious I know!!) and why he made the modification in the 1 st place?

~think

[TF_daveroberts]

Irk

Basically achieved by manufacturibg a ‘Dolly’ butt section.

The MAPs came mainly with an extension piece and a long handle. Woody in the local shop basically turned the 2′ extension piece into a butt section by adding a duplon handle and reel seat and hey presto a 16′ Rod. Very effective.

We did the same with my old Shakespeare Annex as well.

[TF_Irk the purists]

Thanks Dave….

Ingenious!!

~clap

I have the 18/20 Annex and was planning to sell it to finance a 15/16ft rod but have just had a waggle with the 2 ft extn in and it does feel good…

Will have to investigate the cost of a modified handle for it!!

[TF_D.W.]

Irk, if there are no rings going to be on the new handles section, it is not an expensive job at all really and something that you could do yourself in an hour or so.

Reel seat (Fuji screw down type) will cost you around a tenner, a roll of masking tape (to form arbours under the reel seat to centre it and to give the glue something to grip onto), epoxy resin (araldite normal is perfect) and the duplon handle itself (about a fiver for a 12″ section).

Remove all rings first and varnish where the handle and reel seat will be (leaving an extra inch or so where the reel seat ends so it still looks good). If you have a ring towards the end where the rest of the rod fits then this will have to be removed and the varnish rubbed down. Wipe down with thinners so all grease and residue is removed. Place a thin layer of epoxy resin on the lower (thicker) end of the blank section (you can put a small amount around 4 or 5″ of the section and when the duplon is slid down from the thin end, it will spread the glue down. Once the duplon is in place, wipe away any residual glue and leave to dry for half hour. Make two or three turns around the blank leaving a couple of inches between the actual sections using the masking tape and build each layer of tape up until the reel seat sits loosely centred on them. You will probably want 3 x layered wraps for most seats. Spread the epoxy over the wraps with more over the blank areas and slide the reel seat down to the duplon. Wipe any excess glue away from the duplon, and leave overnight to fully cure. Job done.

It sounds complicated but it is simplicity. If I can do it, anyone can!!!!

If you want me to do it for you Irk, buy the bits and get them to me and I will.

[TF_daveroberts]

Irk

As Darren says it’s not a complicated process it’s just some are better craftsmen than others.

I might still have said dolly butt for the annex as I broke the rod some years back but sure I kept the Butt. I’ll have a look for it this week and let you know. If I’ve got it you can have it. Lovely rod. I was gutted the day I broke it!

[TF_Irk the purists]

Much appreciated Darren and Dave,

I have made up rod blanks in the past so will probably give the dolly a go….

If you do find the old Dolly Dave let me know and I’ll sort things with you….

~clap ~clap ~clap

[TF_Rhino]

You may have or can source a rod butt that can be cut to size. I did this with an old 12′ float rod to make my 20′ Milo New Era into a 17′ version and it works lovely. Or it would do if I ever fish on deep rivers again!!! (a distinct possibility given the ongoing ice issues!)

[TF_Irk the purists]

Fuji reel seat purchased at Ted Carters this eve, perfect fit, duplon on order….

Advice much appreciated chaps….

~clap ~clap ~clap

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