I sent Dwight Lyons a Fisher 8'0" 5 wt blank a few months ago, and he wrote me today that it's just about done. He was kind enough to send me pics
to whet my appetite. 
I thought long and hard how to have this blank built up, as it was my first custom build. After looking at a variety of Fisher blanks built up in different ways (a la Winston, Hardy, Cortland, SA, etc.), I decided to build it up like a vintage glass Hardy because I liked the color scheme of the Fibalites (orange wraps, tipped maroon) on the brown blank. Plus, I've never owned a Hardy rod before, despite being a fan of their reels. Dwight was very patient with me as I ruminated over various specifications.
Although my blank came partially assembled with a cork grip and reel seat, I couldn't resist a new grip and reel seat when Dwight told me that he happened to have original Hardy hardware for a slideband "W" pocket seat as well as a NOS Hardy clear agate stripper. I even found spare Hardy decals on ebay for the project. Dwight suggested that he place his name on the rod to avoid any concerns about creating a counterfeit Hardy rod; I wouldn't have had it any other way. The rod isn't actually a replica of any specific Hardy glass series; it is more of a "Hardy Greatest Hits" rod with many of the best features I've come to appreciate in various Hardy models. Plus, we're working on a cool custom rod bag as well.
Here are some pics of the build in evolution, starting with the original partial build. He even included a pic of the rod with its intended mate, a Hardy LRH reel. I'll post more when the rod arrives as well!
I thought long and hard how to have this blank built up, as it was my first custom build. After looking at a variety of Fisher blanks built up in different ways (a la Winston, Hardy, Cortland, SA, etc.), I decided to build it up like a vintage glass Hardy because I liked the color scheme of the Fibalites (orange wraps, tipped maroon) on the brown blank. Plus, I've never owned a Hardy rod before, despite being a fan of their reels. Dwight was very patient with me as I ruminated over various specifications.
Although my blank came partially assembled with a cork grip and reel seat, I couldn't resist a new grip and reel seat when Dwight told me that he happened to have original Hardy hardware for a slideband "W" pocket seat as well as a NOS Hardy clear agate stripper. I even found spare Hardy decals on ebay for the project. Dwight suggested that he place his name on the rod to avoid any concerns about creating a counterfeit Hardy rod; I wouldn't have had it any other way. The rod isn't actually a replica of any specific Hardy glass series; it is more of a "Hardy Greatest Hits" rod with many of the best features I've come to appreciate in various Hardy models. Plus, we're working on a cool custom rod bag as well.
Here are some pics of the build in evolution, starting with the original partial build. He even included a pic of the rod with its intended mate, a Hardy LRH reel. I'll post more when the rod arrives as well!
