Here is a pic of my first spiral wrapped rod:

[www.onlinedesign.us]

I am very pleased with the performance of this rod. It casts as well or better than my other rods. On the next one I build, I am going to try to place the first 2 guides with more rotation towards the bottom guides and use a less tall "bumper"guide.

I got the blank from the Mud Hole liquidation earlier this year. One of the last Rainshows made by Cascade. Cascade 7' 3 1pc. 15-30lb. 7T 0.735B CLEAR R3/B17

And here is a pic of the first fish that I caught using this rod:

[www.onlinedesign.us]

Muskellunge. From a lake near Boulder Junction, WI on August 6, 2005 at 7:15 pm.
46 inches, 23 pounds, 17 inch girth. After a long fight in hot weather, we were not
able to revive this fish. So, the taxidermist's kids will be going to college after all. My
personal best fish ever.

Sorry for the broken link - here is the pic of the rod:

[www.onlinedesign.us]

One little trick I found works well for me was with the reel on, tape a tip top on, run the line from the reel though the tip add a little weight to the line for some tension. Now just put your guides on according to the line. Looking at the picture I would have goon smaller with the bumper guide

Just a suggestion
After the guides are on put some tension on the rod and adjust the guides



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/15/2005 09:20AM by bill boettcher.

James - I live in Woodruff, very near Boulder Jct. Nice fish, too bad that you couldn't revive her. High water temps this summer have made that a common event this summer. Nice job on the rod - I'm currently building my first musky rod on an 8' Allstar blank - it will be a split grip with a spiral wrap (simple spiral). Do you get up this way often? If so, I'd love to see that rod in person, pick your brain a bit :-)

Rich

Bill,

Good tip! I will do that on the next one. Smaller bumper too.

Rich,

I get up 3 or 4 times during fishing season. Looking at Labor Day weekend as posible next trip or else Sept 24. Then maybe again in early-mid October. Drop me an email: jgs@onlinedesign.us and I will let you know when my plans firm up.

Jim