I bought a Cascade Composites blank from MudHole - 11'3" - model #ISA1355F. I will build this as a baitcasting rod. I will fish braided line. I will use this rod primarily for tossing spoons. I have built rods in the past - but the last one was about ten years ago.

What ring size tip would you use on this rod?

I plan to start with a ring size 16 guide. Then a 12 (or two). Then a 10 (or two). Then 8's to 7's to 6's until I match the tip ring size. Am I on the right track here? What size guides would you use on this rod?

Thanks for your advise.

Steve Pierson

Sounds good, if you spiral wrap it I think you could use fewer guides, especially out on the tip. Not knowing which reel you are using the 16 sounds ok, but I think you can step down faster to your smaller guide sizes and use single foot ceramic fly guides to decrease you weight, increase stability, and add efficiency to the blank's performance. Something like a # 16 double foot high frame, #12 double foot low frame, 2 ea #10 ceramic fly, 1 ea #8 fly and the rest #6 ceramic fly to the #6 tip would probably work well. The above guide system would also work in the guides on top placement, but the blank will probably need more guides to keep the line from touching the blank while flexed.

Sounds about right, only test casting will tell. You could probably get by with just one 12 and 10, then down to a couple of 8's and out to your 6's, or stay with 7's and a 7 tip top. Spencer's suggestion to spiral wrap is worth thinking about. A word of warning.....that 1355 is going to cast mile and then some!!!!

I would start with a #12 then a couple of #10, two or three #08 then go to #7 and #6 if you want to keep your tip weight down. Good Luck

Dave

Thanks, everyone for your advice. I am researching spiral wraps right now. I have seen rods wrapped in this manner - but have not built one myself.