Newbie trying again. I'd like to get into rodbuilding. Rather than building a kit spinning or casting rod (I have plenty), I'd rather build something I need. Namely, a saltwater trolling rod to pull plugs like Mann Stretch 25's and 30's on 65 lb spectra for grouper and snapper. I use Penn Senator 113H's for this. Most of the rods I've seen for this are about 6'6" with fairly flexible tips and stiff midsections. I'd like to do a spiral wrap if I could.

Questions are as follows:

1. Is a spiral wrap too ambitious for a first rod?
2. What blanks (across price ranges) might be recommended?
3. What rings (I don't want to use all rollers) would be good with the spectra? What sizes would I need?
4. Do I need a roller tip?

Thanks in advance. Chris

Hi CHris,

I was in the prossess of answering your question lastnight and your posr disapeared.

1. You can do a spiral wrap for your first rod. Just get the back copies of RodMaker magazine covering the process and you will be all set. Really no difference than putting the guides on conventional style except the 1st 3 guides fron the foregrip are placed degrees off 0 dreeges.

2. Blanks I like Forcast, their eglass and a good blank for the money. We use SWB70H or SWB70XH with Fuji Nitride Guides. You didn't say what length you wanted. The 2 blanks I listed are 7 foorers. We cut them to 6'6". We cut about 2"s of the tip and 4"" off the butt. Make a nice spirial setup.


3. Fuji - Silicon Nitride II Guide - Fuji #BHNNT.

4. Have never used roller guides or tip so I have no answer for you.

Email me if you have any more questions or post here and get great help from the other wrappers here. Hope this helps.


Hank
On The Rocks Fishing
Wells, ME.