I'm paying homage to an older bass technique that seems to be lost in the past. Building a "stitching rod" for fishing larger soft plastics in the 8"-13" range. A little Bill Murphy style. I found a blank that fits the bill having both a soft tip while still having a good amount of backbone needed to put a hook in a fish at the end of a long cast. I plan to wrap on Pac Bay wire frame guides to keep the build as if it came out of a time capsule while still being a little modern. If I have to, I'll just run straight Alconite guides.

I'd like to build on cone of flight but a couple guys tell me I should wrap NGC. Any Ideas? The goal is to present an 8" -13" plastic worm with minimal weight a LONG distance.

I've built plenty of conventional rods but have yet to attempt a spinning so this is a little foreign to me. Everything states I should start with a size 30 butt guide but I'm a little hesitant based on spool diameter. Can anyone recommend a good guide layout on both wire frame and Fuji Alconites. Not a big fan of the K guide style.

Thank you so much for any tips!

Blank:
Phenix Hybrid PSW-805XL-B
6-17"
Fast Action

Reel:
Garcia 306
Shimano Stradic 5000

Spool Diameter:
2" - 2.5"

Line Type:
Mono / Fluoro 8-12 #

Nothing wrong starting with a size 30 butt guide.

It will work fine for the cone of flight, just use successive smaller guides to reduce the cone and you will be good to go.

The Pac Bay minima guides will work just fine. 30,16, 12, 8, 6 to the tip.

If you want to use a guide that is smaller than a 30, just use a taller butt guide like a match guide and you could go down to a 20 if you like.

This is a nice general purpose guide size that will work just fine with nearly any reel that you want to put on the rod. This layout will work just fine with both pac bay minima as well as the Fuji Alconite guides.

Good luck

I really appreciate that man. I know how these questions can get a little old to answer.

You mite want to look at the micro wave system for distance casting.

last winter I took three identical crank bait rods set up two with micro wave the third the cone of flight setup
my wifes rod and mine far out performed the third casting distance and accuracy .
I always have a couple of flashy rods on deck usualy sparks conversatrion
I let people try them when im out fishing on the water its fun seeing there reactions and faces light up

I also show them spirol wraped rods that's a whole different reactions. you really need tocatch a good fish on one to really appreciate the techneek

got off tract yes check out the micro waves if you try them you wont be disappointed.

Curt

Hey Matt,

'Didn't know you checked out the Rodbuilder.org web site. I would second the suggestion made by Curtis for using the ATC MicroWave Guide set, unless you want to keep it entirely "old school". The MicroWave guide sets are, in IMHO, the smoothest and furthest cast available and super simple to set up!

By the way, thanks for all you suggestions and help when I was in the shop earlier in the week.

Don Campbell
don@sensorfishingrods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/07/2015 10:14AM by Donald R Campbell.