Among all the broken tip tops, missing guides, refurbish projects, and everything else Jacob was able to finish up a bamboo build of his own.

It began as a glued up blank from Charlie Downs, of Yallerhammer Rods, Jacob's mentor and the one who taught him the most about bamboo. A Cattanach, 6032 taper, it's a short quintessential East coast, small water bamboo rod. The pair usually ends up putting out two or three rods a year that they've built together. And one of them always ends up as a donation rod that gets raffled off at the beginning of the year.

Jacob has set a really high bar for himself this year, challenging himself to complete three bamboo rods, this one included, before we head out West next month.

 Through all the late night conversations about reel seats, shimmers, different varnishing techniques, not being allowed to take the laundry down to the basement for days, and thread wrap choices, I'm always in awe when I see it all come together.

So, one down, and two to go, with only a month to spare!