Hello folks,

I am building up currently a rod where I asked for the number of guides if I' am on the right path:

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Now I' am not sure how far I should bend the rod for a proper distribution of the rings. It is a 10'6 IST1264F batson steelhead rod which I will use for wading in the shore of our Baltic Sea.

So what is the right angle the blank should have for proper determination?

Your comments please, as always.


RGDS,
Ole

Check this out, it should help [www.rodbuilding.org]

For what it's worth, I notice your recent posts and think you are doing exactly what I did about a year ago. I picked up a 1264 steelhead blank and built it for light saltwater use. My approach was a little different in that I started with a BMNAG20 and went down to BLAG8s. I did this for two reasons - the size 20 to promote casting with an ABU 6500 size real and the 8s to give me enough height off the blank to not use too many guides. I ended up with 9 total - BMNAG 20, 16, 12, BLAG10, 8 (x5) and a tip. I also did a split grip - EVA with 18" from butt to back of seat. If I had it to do over I would use probably one or two more guides and get my butt guide farther down to make sure more of the butt is in the fight. I might also make the grip a bit shorter - say 14" to 16" - given that I don't need a lot of leverage to throw the weight I do with this rod. Having said that, I love the rod. It is light enough to use all day, will handle up to 2oz on a reasonable cast and absolutely rocket around 1oz. I landed about a 30" ray at the beach last summer and had no trouble at all.

How much to bend any rod for that matter? I try to static test with a reel similar to what will be used on the rod with drag pressures at or just above the real world levels. I then like to bend the rod until I peel drag. This 'should' closely represent what a true fishing situation will offer.

Jay

Bending graphite rods beyond a 90 degree angle (using the butt and the tip as the two points for the 90 degrees) is inviting trouble in my book, so that's where I stop flexing them at when static testing.

Putter
Williston, ND