hi guys been a while since i posted, i just got home from fishing at the cape lookout rock jetty. we fished for reds and specks using spinning gear. i usually try to fly fish all i can but most admit it was a blast! we threw 3/8 oz jig heads tipped with curly tail grups or gulp alive mullets/shrimp. i would like to build a rod that is very light for this application, that i could possibly use for bass fishing as well. suggestions on blank and guides? i would like to try a phenix blank with a ngc setup. what are the pros and cons to using the same REC recoil single footers above the transition guide that i have for fly rods vs. a micro with ceramic inserts or pac bay minimas? do the recoils not offer enough heighth? are they not slick enough? seems like the recoils would be the lightest with the biggest opening? i will probably make a carbon skinned split grip with areo reelseat on the bottom end. thanx for any suggestions.

Dean,
Everything that you have suggested will work fine. Or, if you want, you could run the Pac Bay minimas which have about the same character as the recoils, except for the material at a reduced cost.

But either will work just fine.

Be safe
Roger

I build LOTS of inshore spinning rods. I would suggest looking at Hydra for a very competitively priced US made blank. Something along the lines of a MB873 or MB874 in the NG series would do nicely.

[www.hydrafishing.com]

Alex has a nice lineup of grips, seats and guides and can help you with configuration. He does fish inshore and he fishes the bass professional circuit.

I have to agree with Jim on the Hydras. I have built several and they would be a great fit for what you are looking for. Take a look at their blanks. I really like the power and sensitivity of them, espectially with NGC/micro guide setups.

David Dosser
Coshocton, OH



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/2012 09:14AM by David Dosser.

Dean,

I use single foot Recoil fly guides all the time on spinning rods. They are great, I have never had any problem with them. I don't have any experience with Hydras blanks, but I have been building on Phenix K2 blanks a lot lately. They are really sweet blanks, the lightest, most sensitive blank I have ever built on. A little Pricey though.

Cheers, Matt Sewell

For a blank I would suggest a St Croix S70MF in whatever series best fits the budget. I use my 3S70MF for 3/8 oz football jigs with grubs and it works great.

Dean,
In your seach for a rod blank, don't overlook the RX8 blanks by Batson. Great blanks, with some of the nicest actions on the market, and this new generation of blanks have a very very light physical weight.

Roger

I use a Batson XP 843. Best Trout rod I have I have built and very lite. (3.27 oz) It will handle a 20" Redfish also. The 843 makes a nice Drop Shot Rod also.

Bret,
X10 =
Many of these ligher action RX8 rods have a blank weight that is equal or less than 1.5 ozs each.

Roger

Without a doubt go for the Bushido series, and throw some microwave guides on with a lil' split grip! Thats the move!

I got one and the thing is so light I forget i'm holding it!

Without a doubt go for the Bushido series, and throw some microwave guides on with a lil' split grip! Thats the move!

I got one and the thing is so light I forget i'm holding it!