Help Please. Don't do many of these and need starting point. I have read all the stuff on set up by Tom in the Library and by Fuji on their site on New Concept.

1. 6' 6" medium bass spinning rod for under pier work - no long casts. Using a Matrix blank which is not real light to start with.

2. I don't have the reel or know which one he is using - gift. I think it is a Shimano 4000. I do not have one to set up the table edge test.

3. I have a Double foot 30 Amtak Gold Ring and a Single foot 25 Amtak Gold Ring. I have heard this guy complain about line slap before. Which of these two guides would you use to set up another reel. If the 25 rings looks OK set at 26.5 inches from the seat would it be OK. The 30 sits a lot closer but it weighs a ton.

4. For the tip end guides I have Amtak fly 7s and V Frame 6s and 7s. Which of the two issues is more important - lower line or weight - the Amtaks are lower but really a lot heavier than the V frames.

If you have been there done that any advice would really be helpful.

Thanks Bill Stevens

I think I would try to stay with any of the guides to keep the weight down as much as possible. For being able to cast under docks with a skip cast, you want this rod to be as responsive as possible. The least amount of weight added to this kind of rod would be best.

You really should find out the size of the reel for sure before you proceed. I for one would always use a 2000 (or the new 2500) size reel for bass fishing with a 6'6". Bass don't make long runs and you don't need the extra line (and weight) of a 4000. Exception is if he is using heavier line than usual for a spinning rod. So find out. Then, if it's a 2000 or 2500, a size 25 guide is all you need. If a 4000, it's borderline, I would test cast. Yes the 30 is heavy, but it's set far from the tip, so I'd go by the test-casting results.

If you can find out what size line he will be using you may be able to figure what reel he will use?? Then if you can borrow one to set it up??

Then again the single foot will weigh a lot less!!

If you can't use a reel, I would put the "intersect" guide where the blank flexes 90 degrees. I would definately go with the single foot 25 maybe a 12, 10 and fly 6's(or 7's to the tip.
No need to use double foots on a spinning rod, even for musky IMO

Mike



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2005 05:05PM by Mike Barkley.

I also agree that the shimano 4000 reel woudl be oversized for a medium power bass rod. The 2000 size or the new AVID St. Coix 1500 size would be ideal with probably a good quality 8 lb. copolymer line for a spinning setup to work well on a custom (or factory) rod.

Using double foot high frame guides is overkill for a medium power bass spinning rod. It adds unnecessary weight and winding. Use single foot guides and go with some good quality ceramic ring material like the zirconia, alconite, or SiC.

I wouldn't think you'de need larger than size 6 ring guides going to the tip if you line up for your concept setup. I'de guess size 30 single foot butt guide, followed by a 16, 10, 8, and then low frame fly single foot 6's with a 6 ring tip.

Rich Garbowski
Richard's Rod & Reel

info@rodreel.com