Below is a list of blanks that I am going to build up for demos for a bass club. I know nothing about bass fishing or the rods they use. This is a new area for me and I need some advice from the experts. I've been told that the bass guys use a mix of baitcasting and spinning rods. Of the list below, are there certain types of rods that they prefer set up as casting or spinning? Or is it more of just a personal preference? Thanks

These are all Batson blanks

ISB822.5 Drop shot/small tubes

CB60MH Crankbait
CB76MH " "

IFT904 Telescoping flipping stick

IMB Mag Bass

ISB782 Jigs/Worms




Jeff Hunter

Yes, the Drop Shot would be spin and all the rest cast. And might try spiral wrapping with split grip and no foregrip. That is pretty much the "thing" for custom bass rods.

BILL, Do you have a picture of the no Foregrip. I am new to this also and just can't picture how this would be done. It sounds great and I would love to do it. Scott

Here's a link to George Roth's site. He's got great info on it for building bass rods. He's got some good "how-to's" as well. This link is pictures of handle assemblies.

[www.georgescustomrods.com]

I had some questions too on the no-foregrip design. Looked at George's site; this gave me a lot of ideas - Thanks!
I am going to build by first split-grip soon, and was thinking about just sealing up the end of the reelseat with Rod Bond, colored to match the blank. From what I have read here, that might work well. Anybody tried this?
Thanks
Steve Broadwell

Steve Rod Bond will work fine. On my seats I use the Graphite arbors at the front end of the seat then just wrap a trim thread in front and the epoxy coating (LS Supreme) will fill in the end of the seat to make a nice looking finish. Most folks also trim the threaded part of the seat to remove excess threads. The graphite arbor can be pretty rough looking sticking out of the seat but just trim it flush and coat. George has some pictures of the finished seats if I remember correctly. I credit Rich Forhan for inspiring me to go to the split grip, no foregrip look. I like it a lot in use too!

Bill - thanks for the info. I have a bunch of unused arbors, so I think I will give that a try. Just cut it so that it is flush. The problem I am having is that I have never personally seen a rod with a split grip. It appears, though, that, like everything else, there are many ways to skin the cat.
Steve Broadwell

Check the Photo Page. There are plenty of pix of split grips as well as some of no fore grip rods

Mike

Mike - I have looked at a bunch of them there, but there is nothing like really seeing one in person. Speaking of that, I spent an hour looking at rods at the BPS today. All price ranges. It is amazing how good those rods looked to me a few months ago, and how bad they look now. Guess I have developed those "rodbuilder" eyes.