hello,

im doing my first casting rod atm on a loomis imx MB783 (extended 6") and wanted to know as a general rule the number of guides and how small i can go as i want to use micros but also need to pass 60lb leader to braid knots.

so with your experience how small do you think i can go while still getting good line clearance??
plan on useing fuji TiT SiCs as this will get used in the salt to

i will be attempting a spiral also but still need to read more on the subject.

You won't be using "micros" and passing 60# leader knots, I promise. Stick with #7 guides and you will be fine. I wouldn't try anything smaller with that size leader to ANY size braided line ... the knots are going to be huge.

BTW, why are you using 60# leader on a 3 power IMX blank?

in oz and the target fish like structure and can get big so helps with rub offs and bite throughs and getting bricked, although the 60lb may only be a shock leader of sorts.

i run 15lb braid on the reel ive got to match this with and will mostly only use a 20lb fluro leader, but when chasing some of the 'harder' fish the shock leader needs to be strong

Our fish love structure, too. I haven't met too many that don't. We even have a fish VERY similar to your barramundi, the snook. They really like to inhabit mangrove shorelines. Between the trees and their gill plates, they are tough on line.

However, here's my thinking ... you will be very likely to break that rod. The average 15# braid breaks at just under 30#. With a 60# leader, or a lighter 50, 40 or even 30# leader, you will be highly overrating the blank. Paired with a 6" extension on an IMX blank, which will make the blank significantly faster than the original design ... SNAP, is the first, second and third thought that comes to mind.

IF you haven't already purchased the blank, consider moving to a lower modulus design. IF you have, consider backing off the line/leader ratings.

Hope this helps.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/27/2009 11:46PM by Jim Gamble.

Ben, with that blank in mind as a barra rod, I'd go with size 7's, as the leader knot will rattle a lot through 6's or smaller. Jim's suggestion to downgrade in blank material makes sense, but for a sensitive rod, the IMX should be fine as long as it's used reasonably (not highsticked, etc.). I expect this is not a rod to extract meteries from thick timber?

i use high quality braid that is IGFA rated so running the braid on the rod is not a problem and i dont believe the rod will break (ill get bricked before that haha) and no ted this is not intended for the stick work in the dams, more lighter barra stuff with creek jacks, bass, threadies and jew in mind.

with these fish the battle can be won or lost in the first couple of seconds and using a heavy leader helps with abrasion resistance and 60lb is more a last resort situation if im losing too many more than a regular line rating.

i know that im trying to make this as all-round as possible but this is a relection of budget more than anything

btw - i have fished a glx in the same model running 30lb braid with 80lb leaders for barra in the forrests of peter faust dam trying to get the big girls out!, and this was a guides rod so this is sorta common place to do this thing over here haha