Hello, got a call yesterday from a guy who wants me to build him a 13 ft surf rod able to throw a 5oz hopkins lure 150 yds. He will be using a spinning reel don't know the brand yet. He wants single foot guides. He will be using 15lb. line with a 30lb shock leader. What set up have ya'll used to build this type of rod.

For General Reference:
"Complete Guide to Building Surf Rods"
by Tom Kirkman - Article in
RodMaker Magazine (Feb. 2004)
RMM Vol.7, Issue #1
Back Issues are $7 each at
[www.rodmakermagazine.com]


For General Reference
RodMaker Magazine INDEX Volumes 1 - 7
RODBUILDING.ORG LIBRARY
[www.rodbuilding.org]
* (V = Volume, # = Issue Number)
*Rod Building News and the Q&A Column are not included in this index.

I second the back issue of RMM dealing with surf rods. It has helped me immensely, and I still go back to it fairly regularly.

Regarding your specific question: I have no idea. Sorry. I could build what you're looking for, but it would take me at least a few hours of test casting to come up with an array. Maybe someone here will be able to help. Good luck.

I'd set it up with the New Guide Concept as outlined in the magazine and in the short primer on our library page here. Watch the shock leader knot - it may dictate the size guides you'll have to use on the mid and tip areas of the rod. Doubtful you can go smaller than #12s.

Search the various blank catalogs and find a blank with the specs you require. Hard to say on the handle, you have a lot of options there. Cord wrap, split cork or EVA, etc. Pipe seat or plate.

..............

Scott, I build primarily surf rods for use on the NC Coast. You should not have any trouble finding a blank to fit the bill. The only troubling fact is your customer wanting single foot guides on a rod that can generate that much power. 15 lb line and a 30 lb shock leader should make for a small enough knot. The reason I bring this up is I watched it happen this weekend. The rod was built with single foot guides and on a blank rated 4-7 oz. The shock knot hit one of the running guides near the top of the rod and bent it straight up. Most comments following this I'm sure will state that if the guide spacing is correct it should not make contact with any of the guides, while this is true, it will happen.

Scott Parsons Wrote:
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> Hello, got a call yesterday from a guy who wants
> me to build him a 13 ft surf rod able to throw a
> 5oz hopkins lure 150 yds. He will be using a
> spinning reel don't know the brand yet. He wants
> single foot guides. He will be using 15lb. line
> with a 30lb shock leader. What set up have ya'll
> used to build this type of rod.

"5oz hopkins lure 150 yds"
Depending on the aerodynamics of the lure, this may be a difficult task. And then repetitive casts with a 13' rod may tend to wear down a person. Is braided line a consideration?

"He will be using 15lb. line with a 30lb shock leader"
The shock leader rule of thumb for casting is 10:1. This implies 50# shock leader for a 5 ounce sinker or lure. Although it may sound more than sufficient, I have had my sinker clip tear through new 60# shock line on a hard cast. For this reason I use a palomar knot to attach my sinker clip. Back to topic, a moderate action, less powerful rod may be required to cast the lure without breaking off the shock leader. In the Zziplex line, a Primo Synchro should be an excellent choice. I believe Chuck Wilson, previous US spinning champion, used one configured as a spinning rod for tournament purposes. Chuck did use a Daiwa Emblem spinning reel. In the Conoflex line, the Nemesis Plus may be a solution. However the action may be a little too fast. In CTS, the Makoi 305 may work.

One of the things we do to prevent guide damage when using heavy shock line / rub line when shore fishing is to build a ramp in front of the shock leader knot with unwaxed dental floss. This may be coated with finger nail polish to prevent fraying. I have never had this requirement on shock leader of 60# or less, as my guides are usually 16 mm and larger,

Regarding the single foot guides, a friend has a 14 or 15' surf rod. Only the top three guides are single foot. It seems to work well for him.

Hope this is helpful,
Don