Hello fellow rod builders,
As I am working on getting back into building I have been setting up an order for components and it has brought thought to mind. I have a couple Kencor B12H blanks I will be building sturgeon rods from. I really liked the spiral wraps I have built in the past and with the load a large sturgeon can put on a blank it really makes sense to spiral wrap these rods to me.
Besides the line hitting the bottom tip section of the blank during casting which really doesn’t bother me I have been concerned with the possibility of the tip section twisting during the casting of weights reaching a pound and a half. I shore fish the sturgeon with friends and we are really ripping the casts is why I am concerned with the tip section twisting.
As I am right handed I know to roll the guides to the left on the blanks. This will illuminate the possibility of the line wrapping the rod blank if the tip section twists, I would think.
Kencor does make some if not the best joints I have seen on the market so I don’t feel as I could do any better there it’s just the weight and bait we are flinging.

So what are your thoughts and experiences with the heavy casting spiral wraps?


Tight wraps and lines,
Wylie

If you're not having problems with twisting now, with your guides on top of the rod, you're not likely to have problems with twist on a spiral configuration either. Casting is a two-part motion, the rod has to load and unload, so you'll never have all the load to one side of the rod, all the time. One should be no worse, or better, than the other when it comes to casting.

I would securely tape up a set and then give the rod a work-out in the manner in which you intend to use it. That should tell you what you want to know.

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Even if it does shift the tip section during the cast with such a weight, you can always add a sequence to your casting routine...cast, check the joint, spike the rod. In the long run , with such a large fish from shore, the spiral wrap will best benefit the retrieve stresses, regardless.

Tom,
Most of the folks fishing the sturgeon up here use the Ugly Sticks and one that I know of has the guides completely turned on the rod and it was a conventional with the guides on the top to start with. The rod went spiral just because of how hard these fish pull. When the rods are loaded the guides do turn to the bottom of the rods and this was something I didn't think of while stressing the casting.

Thanks Tom

Michael,
The spiral wrap for the sturgeon rods has always been a plan of mine and I guess I have been stressing an issue I have had no need to. If the joints of the Ugly Sticks are not slipping/spinning under casting and landing loads I am sure I will have no problem with the Kencor.
I don't think I am going to stake this rod, these rocks here thrash rods quick and this will be a Euro grip. When I can I bait fish with the rod near level to the water. I figure the fish will feel less and there is less to do in preparing for the hook set.

Thanks for jarring the memories loose guys


Tight wraps and lines,
Wylie