Hi everyone, I've been out of the rod building scene for a few years now... and I have to say that boy things have changed... G.Loomis doesn't sell blanks anymore? holy cow! lol

But anyways, I am wanting to build myself a new salmon/steelie river spin rod, and I'm looking for recommendations since products and technologies have changed so much over the last few years.

I want to build a 9' rod, L or ML power, with an action somewhere between moderate and noodle with a Michigan style foregrip (length?) and 9" rear grip.

Any ideas for the blank? I'd ultimately like a black blank to go along with the color scheme I want, but colors can be changed, blank performance can't. I have done some searching and found the St. Croix 3S90LM2, the characteristics seem like what I want, and the carbon pearl finish would look sweet, but $140 is a tad steep. I wouldn't be against using a fly rod blank but I haven't turned up anything that seems right to me... I'm guessing I would need an 8 weight?

I want to go with something kind of flashy for the guide color and wraps (red and blue color) I found the fireball red guides at mudhole, but I would really love to have guides with blue frames... Does anyone make them? If not, are the mudhole fireball red guides rugged enough to handle the abuse? (think combat fishing, Salmon river, NY if anyone is familiar)... not casting far, but more fish fighting and general knocking around abuse than most rods see... I have had frames bend and rings fall out of the Fuji guides on another salmon rod I built.

Also, a question on reel seats, I really like the look of the mudhole tribal ink reel seats, but again how do they hold up? I don't need the threads backing out while fighting a 25 lb salmon, especially since for the most part I won't be holding the reel and rod at the same time with the Michigan grip. I do see that they are built with AmTac deluxe graphite seats, Does anyone know if I can get the AmTac skeleton with blue hoods and just use the "inked" insert? that could look cool.... :D

And lastly, grip lengths, I'm thinking somewhere around an 11" foregrip, and 9" rear. Does that seem about right?

Sorry for the long post with so many questions, but like I said... things have changed, and I want to make sure that this rod looks and performs as awesome as I dream.

Thanks in advance for the help!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/10/2013 03:40PM by Josh Martineau.

If you are going after 25 lb. salmon as stated I'd recommend more power and a faster action than you are considering. A medium to medium heavy powered steelhead blank with a fast action seems more appropriate than the blank you are thinking of using. Most fishermen have hand to elbow lengths around 17-18 inches so handles longer than 18 inches stick out beyond their elbows catching on clothing or just getting in the way. A 7 inch fore grip, down locking size 17 reel seat, and a 6.5 inch rear grip works well with a spinning reel in the area where I live.

In spite of Ross's excellent comments, I like to have a rod that is relatively well balanced.

With that requirement - only - in mind, I would reverse your foregrip and rear grip.
i.e. I would make an 11 -14 inch rear grip and about a 5 inch fore grip. Really not a lot of reason for a very long fore grip.

Thank you for the comments so far. As far as the blank choice goes, I really do want the light-ML power, moderate-slow-noodle action... The way I plan to use the rod is light line (6lb), and light weight, which is why I need to have such a low power/slow action blank. I used a friend's $50 ultralight noodle with the Michigan style handle a couple times last year, but it left much to be desired as far as quality was concerned, but the fight was a lot more fun than with my med. power fast action. I really really don't want to come off as condescending, but I have built 6 weight moderate action fly rods for a couple guides in Alaska for kings and have never heard a complaint or had a failure. It's all about how you handle the rod... Please don't take that as not accepting advice, but I know what power and action I want, I'm just looking for advice as to what blanks might fit the bill.

roger- the reason for the long foregrip is to allow you to choke up while fighting the fish, and also because the style of river fishing on the Salmon river is kind of like "chuck and duck" where you aren't really casting, just flipping the line and weights out 10'-20', so holding up higher on the fore grip actually helps to balance the rod if that makes sense?

I have made a few calls and sent some emails asking about the blue frame guides, but haven't turned up much of anything.... I'm thinking I will probably use the blue ringed or holo/holo guides from American tackle.

I guess that only leaves the questions of blank recommendation and how durable the AmTac deluxe graphite reel seats are?

Again, thank you for the help, and please don't take my stubbornness on the blank power and action the wrong way. I think that the fishing style must be very localized and some people might not understand.

For a blank consideration, you might try the Rainshadow IST1141F. 9'6" rated for 4-8lb line. If you are throwing light lines and small baits, you might consider a longer length as well. The center pin float guys have this down to an art and Batsons has longer lengths available in this model line.

I would second the recommendation for rear grip length. A 9" grip is way too short for a steelhead/salmon rod as you'll want more grip under your forearm when fighting a fish. Typical length is around 12" to 13" or just so it hits you right above the elbow. A 4" to 5" fore grip is plenty but longer won't hurt anything, just use more cork.

Terry

The IST1141F is too light for what the OP wants to do with it.
The Salmon river gets a big run of large chinooks and is a controlled waterway that can have some pretty high flows like Western rivers.

I really like the Batson XST blanks and have built quite a few of thier centerpin rods as well as fly and spinning.
As everyone has said you want a rear grip where the butt cap just touches your elbow when holding the reel where you regularly would. Fore grip length is up to you. I like mine in the 6-8 inch range.

I would personally go with a heavier blank such as XST1143F which is 8-12# 9' 6" or XST1144F which is 10-17# 9'6".
There are also 10'6" versions of these blanks for a little better reach if you like.

Regards
Dave

Fishing is Life the rest is just Details