I have a customer who is looking for a baitcasting trout rod to go with a scorpion 1001. Looking at a rating of 1/32 to 3/16. Blanks I'm looking at are the mhx-s781, phenix elixir- 661, and the scIII- s66ulf. I have never built a rod like this, any experience with the previous blanks? He also wants an exposed reel seat. Also with the reel seat, smallest size I've found is a 8.5mm (will not be tight fit), should I go with a larger seat and epoxy another blank over top?

For the reel Seat the Fuji SKTS should do (as it need an arbor).

I recently built a fairly light (though not as light as your customer requests) casting rod with the Fuji SK2 reel seat. I put a Revo MGX (about the same profile) on the rod and the small, low profile reel combined with the open blank for a very comfortable and sensitive palming hold on the retrieve/drift. It was also a very light and well balanced set up when built without a fore grip. See if that arrangement appeals to your customer.

Hi, I have recently built 2 casting rods in this category. I've use Phenix Mirage MF771-1 blanks and Fuji SKTS for both. With the SKTS seats, you will need arbors. Both of them utilized 19 micro casting guides. One with Fuji Titanium SIC and the other with Recoil guides. Very Happy with both rods and can cast very well down to 1/16 oz on Shimano Conquest DC 50 reels from Japan. Please note to wrap this many micro guides is a major pain........

Gary Chao Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hi, I have recently built 2 casting rods in this
> category. I've use Phenix Mirage MF771-1 blanks
> and Fuji SKTS for both. With the SKTS seats, you
> will need arbors. Both of them utilized 19 micro
> casting guides. One with Fuji Titanium SIC and
> the other with Recoil guides. Very Happy with
> both rods and can cast very well down to 1/16 oz
> on Shimano Conquest DC 50 reels from Japan.
> Please note to wrap this many micro guides is a
> major pain........


19 guides on a 7'7" rod.. how many do you think I would need without actually static testing the blank first?

matt roach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Gary Chao Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hi, I have recently built 2 casting rods in
> this
> > category. I've use Phenix Mirage MF771-1
> blanks
> > and Fuji SKTS for both. With the SKTS seats,
> you
> > will need arbors. Both of them utilized 19
> micro
> > casting guides. One with Fuji Titanium SIC and
> > the other with Recoil guides. Very Happy with
> > both rods and can cast very well down to 1/16
> oz
> > on Shimano Conquest DC 50 reels from Japan.
> > Please note to wrap this many micro guides is a
> > major pain........
>
>
> 19 guides on a 7'7" rod.. how many do you think I
> would need without actually static testing the
> blank first?

I would say at least 15'ish. Due to micro guides are so low to the blank and the UL blanks bent so parabolic, anything less will cause the line to rub on the blank! I thought about using taller guides, but added too much weight. After 2 builts, I think I'm done!

Gary Chao Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> I would say at least 15'ish. Due to micro guides
> are so low to the blank and the UL blanks bent so
> parabolic, anything less will cause the line to
> rub on the blank! I thought about using taller
> guides, but added too much weight. After 2 builts,
> I think I'm done!


I would think a spiral wrap would be better in this case.

You are absolutely correct!

plus one more on the spiral

What kind of bait? Minnows? Powerbait? In brooks, rivers, or lakes, and with how big a bobber or sinker? Lacking such information I would go with the same specs as for a bullhead rod.