Well i was on Flea Bay and found an Avet SX 5.3 for $140 new in box. Could not pass that up so I'm building a new rod to go with it now.

So here is the deal. I have an old St Croix musky rod i built 10 years ago for Tarpon. Its a SCII 7' 20-50lb 3/4 - 3oz blank. I have stripped the the rod to the blank and plan on building a new rod with this. This blank has plenty of backbone and is very stiff.

This will be my Med - Heavy Kayak conventional rod. I plan on using it for live bait and trolling in the Chesapeake Bay.

Questions.
1. Seeing the blank is very stiff will this pose any issues trolling or live lining?
2. I was planning to spiral wrap this rod. I have never built a spiral wrapped rod before. I fished up the following layout here and plan to use this as a template.

8 Guides

Guide # - Size - Rotation From top of reel Seat
1 - 10 - 180
2 - 10 - 180
3 - 10 - 180
4 - 10 - 180
5 - 10 - 180
6 - 12 - 175
7 - 16 - 145
8 - 20 - 20

3. Will 3 guides cover the line transition from 0 to 180?
4. Will the stiffness of the blank alter the placement of the transition guides?
5. I will be using 30lb power pro on the reel. Should i add a mono top shot to help add a little give? I'm worried the stiffness of the blank and properties of braid will have negative effects while trolling or live lining.

Any input or ideas are greatly appreciated.

FWIW avets are on sale this month. I think the SX should be fished with no more drag than what one would use for 20# test. If you push it they will eat pinion bearings. I think that blank is too stiff for that reel. Too bad you aren't closer. I'd like that blank for a bottom fishing rod and have some live bait blanks that I think would suit your needs.

Take a look at the rainshadow rclb70L or rclb80L. Good value with a soft enough tip for live bait and enough backbone for trolling.

That blank would probably be about right for tog or cod. I want one for mutton snapper. I like the spiral wrap. I used all #8's on the bottom, a #10 fly rod guide at 90 degrees, and something near a 16 as a butt guide. Reel was a little smaller, penn 525 mag.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.