Hi all. I am looking to build a grouper rod in the 50Lb. line class 6' 6'' to 7'. The set up will be for live bait with a penn 9000 spinning reel. I am looking for blank and guide sugestions. Thanks all.

I'd rather be catching!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/15/2008 03:21PM by Eddie Anderson.

Eddie - I do a lot of Grouper fishing in the Tampa area - Gulf mostly. I am a little curious why you would be making a Spinning grouper rod...? I have an Accurate Twinspin that I built on a Calstar 700H blank - awesome combination, BUT I tried it for grouper and the spinning action just does not work for bottom fishing. Maybe you are casting at rock piles? Anyway, if you are really going to go with a 50lb Spinning outfit, the 700H is a great blank. Otherwise I built a conventional grouper rod on a Calstar 765ML - I would also recommend this blank, but not for spinning.

-Steve

Tampa, FL

GUSA SW70H, or XH, or Monster Mag, these are all graphite so they are much lighter & stiffer than the composites.

Eddie the only place I have ever seen anyone use a spinning rod was in Marathon in the Keys for grouper, 50lb line on a spinning reel is quite a bit of strain.
If I had to build one I would go with the GUSA blanks along with some heavy frame guides
John

I agree with those above. 99% of spinning reels don't have the drag or turning power for grouper. Senator or Daiwa "H" models is what you find on all the commercial and charter boats for good reason.

I use spinning gear alot for grouper fishing. Been using a Shimano Saragosa 8000 (33# of drag) lately with 55# Saltiga braid, on a shimano xxh jigging blank. It's put gags in the boat in the 25# range and many reds in the teens. I like to have a spinning and a conv set up so when one arm gets tired i can switch rods. Mudhole has some jigging blanks coming out later this month, the 400-500 gram models will be great for grouper and large amberjacks.

That's why I said 99% of the spinning reels with the Penn 9000 Eddie mentioned included. But I still don't see why a high speed reel (conventional or spinning) is needed? I can see using a spinner for butterfly jigging but IMO a high-torque conventional will beat any spinner for typical live bait bottom fishing.

High speed sure makes it easier to re-bait!

Hi all. I agree a conventional rod would be better, but the person asking for the rod insisted on the spinning set up.

If you are interested in going the GUSA route, here is what I currently have in stock, in several colors, and I'm expecting more this week: [northeastrodbuilders.com]

Billy - any problem trimming these blanks from the butt? Most everyone I know likes their jigging rods in the 5'2" - 5'6" range.

I'm going to be getting blanks made that length soon, so they do not need to be cut. A couple of inches, is OK, not more than that because the are designed to shut off at a certain point, and when you move that point back towards the butt it might lose some power. I am getting 5' composite jigging blanks in stock this week, I'll have pics of weights hanging off the tips soon enough. HEre is wha tI've taken pics of so far: [northeastrodbuilders.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/2008 11:02AM by Billy Vivona.

The first 10 or 15 rapid, uninterupted cranks on your reel usually are the difference between fillets and rocks when fishing groupers. The high gear ratio of most spinning reels makes this cranking - not pumping - quite difficult. I would go with a low retrieve-rate conventional reel and a rod to match - a short one, too.

Phil, I'm not disagreeing with what you are saying, but the "PG" (Power Gear) series of spinning reels from Shimano have gear ratios of 4.6:1, which is comparable to conventional. Persoanlly, I would never use a spinning reel for bottom fishing, especially where you might have to sit in freespool to let the fish run with the bait like when Mutton fishing. But to each his own.

If you come to South Louisiana to fish wif us for Grouper don't bring no peashooter!

Trick -

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Or Treat -

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Lagnaippe!

[www.rodbuilding.org]

If you let em swim they will go into the submerged platform and cut off and you will cry cry cry!

All on Seeker XXH Winch and Windless!

Hook em up and drag em out!

Gon Fishn



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/17/2008 02:48PM by Bill Stevens.