Hello Everybody!

I'm new here and already with a problem :) I don't have any experience in rod building, though I heard that it's possible to decrease the weight of the rod using a limited wrappings and coating, lightweight reel seat, etc.

I'm not going to do it myslef, but rather to collect your suggestions and follow them to experienced rod builder here in Poland, and eventually, be able to evaluate his job.

I have a blank of Sage TCR 590-4 and I would like to construct a purely distance casting rod.
I would like to decrease the weight of the original rod (3,3/8oz), and maintain the very fast recovery rate (lightweight guides and wrappings), smoothen the cork grip nearby the reel seat, instead of half wells, rather a cigar, which is easier to hold, and allows holding the rod as close the reel seat as possible. Finally - put a downlock reel seat, which suits the best my current casting style. Uplock system limits a wrist movement and shortens the effective lenght of the rod.

The wrappings should be very durable, because of powerfull and fast hauling of the line, which happens to be not the cleanest. The guides should be very durable and thin. The rest is not so important, or rather, I don't see its importance yet :)

Any help very much appreciated. If you have some experiences or suggestions - I'd be grateful for them.

Regards,
Janusz

PS. When the rod is finished, I can submit its CCS data plus other of my rods.

Hi Janusz,

There is several things you can do to lighten the rod and make it lighter than a stock rod, Titanium single foot guides, shorten the grip as much as possible, I'm not sure who builds the lightest reel seats, but I'm sure that there is some one on this board could fill in that blank for you.
Have a great day,
Mike Nicolle
Columbia Custom Rod and Tackle
cell 503-396-2876



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/19/2005 09:05AM by Mike Nicolle.

Janusz,

Keeping the rod as light as possible would be a nice rod building exercise although it makes no sense imho. I had never noticed a difference in recovery when using heavier guides.

If I was trying this I would use:
A cigar grip - this is a good choice for a 5wt rod
Recoil single foot guides with ground feet as the original ones are slightly longer than necessary
Sliding band reel seat with cork insert
Permagloss (or similar) instead of epoxy finish

Alan

Thank you very much,

Alan,

Sliding band reel seat with cork insert - as far as I recall these are suggested to very lightweight rods - mfg rated 2-4. Do you have any particular models in mind, which would be durable?

Janusz

Thank you very much,

Alan,

Sliding band reel seat with cork insert - as far as I recall these are suggested to very lightweight rods - mfg rated 2-4. Do you have any particular models in mind, which would be durable?

Janusz

Janusz,

Yes, they are recommended for using on light rods but they would do fine on heavier rods as well.
Check [www.mind.net] - a sliding band on a 8wt (cool project, by the way)