Hey guys I am about to build some stand up rods for florida swordfish and bahamas tuna/marlin and wahoo. I am putting new Tiagra 50WLRS A's on these rods.

I would like the rod to be 5'6'' and I plan on using Winthrop Gold 50-130lb Roller guides. I would like to get away with using a stripper, 3 guides, and a tip top. What do ya'll think?

The butt will be Stuart UB2SC Short Curved Black/Gold Unibutt.

What I need y'alls help on is the blank and the grip. I would really like to do a leather grip with the gold spiral inlay. I know I can get these from Merrick Tackle. I am currently setting up a business account so I can access their wholesale prices. Is there a better place to buy from?

I have heard to use these grips you must first coat the EVA tips with a special glue and then wrap over them several times, then finish. Any advice?

Also, as far as the blank is concerned, I am looking at the Calstar T6455XH. It has the following specifications:

Rating 50-100lbs
Tip- 12
Butt 1.050
Action: Extra Fast

I plan on doing a swordfish weave and a weave of the boat name. I am also thinking about doing some diamond wraps underneath the guides for a really custom look. it will be all black and gold. These will be my first big game rods, but I want to go all out, as I will use them as examples for future customers. If ya'll could help me out with the blank/grip that would be great! Thanks!!

I think Merrick gets the LEather grips from Biscayne, which should be right near you.

How's the Swordfishign been? I went out last month out of North Miami with one very brief run off and that wa it for teh night. HEard 1 other boat that caught. Of course the nextnight the boat I went on had 2 smaller ones 60 & 100#'s.

Hello, I have just built a stand up rod on the same blank and put penn 50vsw's on it. I think the blank is great but it looks a little thin. If I make anymore I was thinking about going with the 6455XXH. Maybe its just me but I would consider the next size up? These 50 class reels can really put down alot of drag and why not go a little heavier on the blank just in case.

Not enough guides for starters. You really need the Rodmaker issue that had the great article on stand up rods. I don't build them myself much but the article really pointed out all the little tricks that you have to use to get a rod that fights the fish rather than the fisherman.

Stephen,
Where else can you get the leather with gold spiral unibutts and also the Winthrop roller guides? I have made a 6455XXH Calstar for my 50 LRSA reel and it feels good. Thanks, I do not have an account with Merrick.
Sanford Hochman

Sanford,
Summer Moon will get you anything that's in the Merrick catalog.

I use the XXH for bluefin - it's overkill for yellowfin. The XH is perfect in my opinion.

Clyde,

Sorry to be so picky, but when you say that blank is perfect for Yellowfin, do you mean 300lb yellowfin or stuff we will encounter more often like 50-150lbers.

Since this blank is 5'6'' I will have to chop off 18 inches for the butt, obviously. How will this affect the action? I was going to buy a 6' blank from Chaos made by Black Magic that I liked alot, but since I want a 5'6'' rod, and their blank is 6', wont cutting it down 2 whole feet effect the action more than cutting down the 5'6'' blank for the butt?

Thanks for ya'lls help. First time is always the hardest, I want to get it right!

I'm talking about the 50+ pounders we catch on the east coast.

I forgot you were using a unibutt, I always build my 50's blank through. I think the XH would still be fine trimmed from the butt and put in a uni butt though. I have used the XXH trimmed for a short curved unibutt for bluefins and put an 80W on it.