I want to use a Zebco trigger spincast(11plt) to fish for mostly trout and occasionally smallies under 3lbs. Will be throwing mostly Mepps #4 under brush, ect. I have a 5 foot no name graphite blank for this build. It's my understanding from a search on this forum, I need to build it as a spinning rod because the reel in "under slung" and hangs well below the blank. My questions are: Should the first guide be equal to or smaller than the opening of the reel? Does anyone know the diameter of the reel opening? How does the New Concept play into such a build? Should I fish mono for this setup? Preference of guides? Thanx for your time.

IMHO, that reel will be totally overmatched by the you are fishing for. I have one that my 4 yr old uses on an ice rod for dock fishing in the summer. A big crappie is a handful for that reel and he keeps turning the handle the wrong way and backing it off the body. The drag isn't up to a big tussle. If you're dead-set on using it, your first guide doesn't need to be big, as the face of the reel effectively does that job, so you could look at the high pacbay minima match guides to get the line started, then head for the rod quickly.

Dean,
I do have to ask, what is the reason to use this reel?

Just wondering.

By the way, I agree with Scott. I would use a size 16 or 20 high pac bay minima for the first guide.

I would imagine that 4 or 5 guides would be just fine for the total guide count on this rod.
Good luck


Roger



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/19/2012 01:34AM by roger wilson.

Thanx for the responses. I have a couple open face, a baitcaster, and a few fly rods. I just thought it might be a nifty little UL to have in the arsenal. Most the trout caught in my area are under 14-16 in. It would be a rare ocassion to catch trout exceeding 18in or bass over the 2 pound mark right here in front of my house. I live with in 100 yrds. of hatchery supported waters, and less than half mile to the New River(very small until you get close to Virginia). One of my open face reels is the Shakespeare Sigma(18 yrs old) and its on a ugly stick. I caught a lot of fish on this UL set up. Most cast will be inside 20 feet. Do the make an "adult" triggerspin? I am completely open to suggestions.

Dean, I have built several light weight bream/trout rods with an underslung spincast reel for my grandchildren. Using very small reels. Build like a spinning rod, with all guides on the bottom of the blank. The first guide should be about the same diameter, or possibly a very little larger than as opening in the reel. A 2-1/2 pound small mouth was a lot of fun on the build. I used an American Matrix 2 piece blank rated 1/32 to 3/16 oz and the smallest Pfluger under slung I could find. Great fun for the kids and the lesser experienced angler.
Bill

[www.google.com]

Take care
Roger

To actually answeryour original question, I doubt the face opening is any bigger than a 12 guide, but you'll need those high minima's to get the elevation you'll need. Treat the closed face tell like a casting reel, as you won't have the big variation in line location that you'd see in a normal spinning reel. Just get it down to the rod and use the smallest guides you can get away with.