Building The Rodfather Cobalt Cutbow (drc #22 RFCC Rainshadow E2 RX9 9' 4pc 5wt) 04Dec22-08Dec22

With the RFCO2 "out" for likely too long (that is, after departure for NZ), I needed to find a potential replacement to take to New Zealand. Enter the Rodfather Cobalt Cutbow. The Kiwis really suggest a 6wt but I think a stout 5wt will suffice, and I like that weight more for CO. I  will load a heavy 5wt on the RFCC, and first measurements on the blank indicate an ERN of 5.9 and AA of 71° ~ so yeah, perfect. I just need to finish it before I leave in 7 days! I got her done; power & speed measurements remained the same after buildout; she delivers line deftly with a sweet swing weight of just 9.65 and a scant buildout weight of 3.5oz... this makes the RFCC as light as my Sage 5wt rods! It is perfectly matched to the Hardy Ultralight loaded with SA Amplitude Infinity WF5F (line is 1800 grains and measured rod power is 1815 grains).

For this build I bought every component, except the grip cork, from Batson companies. The blank is a Rainshadow Eternity2 RX9 (means high modulus) 9' 5wt 4pc; the reel seat is an anodized aluminum uplocker in matte grey with carbon fiber insert; the guides, hook keeper, winding check, and tiptop are standard weight Alps guides in titanium chrome. Everything arrived in the same shipment costing me $240 all up. I began the build by aligning the spline, measuring the blank, and assembling the reel seat... the only sacrifice with an all-Batson build is that I couldn't get an appropriate removable fighting butt, so the RFCC is buttless.

As usual I want a custom built handle appropriate for the rod. The blank is HM graphite painted cobalt blue and so to match that and jibe with the carbon fiber insert I used stuff from my inventory of cork rings of some purple premium burl cork accents and lots of natural flor grade cork rings (these are always lighter than burl or burnt or colored). I cut and reassembled with diamonds and thin sections. Some side diamonds and unbalance front to back make it appear to be turning and unbalanced while steady; I call it the Spun Purple handle. Here's the build up...

The RFCC wrapping scheme was chosen mainly to match the reel seat and play well off of the cobalt blue rod; I used grey & black threads in differing wraps: a two thread spiral near the butt and on ferrules and then black-in & grey-out for the snake guides. It wrapped out classy I feel. The 2nd section was right at 26" so it needed a measuring dot. I was even able to stick a cutbow decal on top.

Unfortunately I've only gotten backyard casting tests done thus far but my sense is that this Rodfather is a demon I will really like; it should rival the CTS and Epic-based rods ~ I will be taking it to New Zealand for sure, along with the RF Stripper 6wt and RF True Five 5wt.