I don't know of a web site but when you are here next month I will show you how a fly, name or fish can be woven on the butt section.
Dale Clements two books go into detail on decorative wraps.
I will introduce you to a club member that does some of the best I have seen.
Tony
Tom Davenport wrote:
Some of you may remember Rulon Gardner, the Olympic wrestling champion who lives in Star Valley, Wyoming. He is also an avid flyfisherman. Rulon's best fishing buddy, a young man with the last name of Draney (I can't remember his first name), contracted a rare muscle cancer which resulted in the removal of one leg. Draney's response was to learn to build beautiful, decorative custom rods and sell them through his business, Draney's Custom Rods.
Anyway, he came with his rods to all of the sport's expositions in Salt Lake, and I enjoyed talking with him and admiring his work.
Last Thursday I attended the Utah Boat and Fishing Show. Draney's Custom Rod's was there, this time manned by Aaron Jenkins, the founder's good friend and business partner. Sadly, Draney died from the cancer last year.
I spent an hour chatting with Aaron, whose rods are just as beautiful as Draney's.
He said that when death was near, Draney signed 50 beautiful, burled wood rod grips, and Aaron has been building commemorative rods using them, selling them for a flat rate of $1500.00, with all proceeds going to help Draney's wife and two children, who were not only left without a breadwinner, but massive medical bills. This is a wonderful gesture to help his old friend, since the beautiful decorative wraps on these rods must take hours of effort. For my part, if I were a rich man, I would have bought several in a heartbeat.
Speaking of rich men, Aaron says that Draney had one large bill for treatment at the Mayo Clinic, over $50,000.00 . Apparently a stranger walked into a clinic one day and said "I want to pay off someone's medical bill". He was shown Draney's, wrote out a check for the full amount, and then left, asking to remain anonymous. What a great way to use wealth!
Anyway, since I am in the middle of building several rods, I thought it might be fun to dress up the butt section of one with some simple decorative wraps. Does anyone know of a website that gives step by step instructions for decorative rod weaving?
