I am trying to build a rod to use for trolling or misc. bottom fishing. I have purchased a lamiglas 5'6" blank 50-100 pound blank ,And an atc complete aluminum butt. I am relatively new to rod building but have built fly rods and casting rods. My question is how to join the butt to the rod.
And any other advice is welcome as I am a beginner at best! The fit between the ferrule and rod is close. Do I use drywall tape or I read somewhere that there may be a bushing to use. I also was wondering if the u40 rod bond will work. Thanks in adavance I would post a pic but I am unsure how.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/09/2015 09:23PM by Robert lee.

RodBond will work. You should shim the blank to take up any ill-fitting space. Drywall tape would be fine but make sure you get plenty of RodBond into the openings on the tape and onto the surface inside the butt ferrule. Drill a small hole in the end of the ferrule to allow air to escape when you slide the ferrule onto the rod butt.

If glass mesh drywall tape proves too thick, you can try building up the butt with A thread, spiraled along the rod blank butt. If you use thread, turn the ferrule onto the rod blank butt as if screwing it onto the thread spirals. Again, make sure everything is coated with epoxy.

You want a "slip-fit" which means the parts shouldn't exhibit any slop or wobble, but you don't want a tight fit either. Just a close, smooth slip-fit.

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Thanks for the quick reply. Do you mean drill the hole near the bottom of the ferrule? Tom What's your opinion on roller guides I plan on using this rod trolling some bottom fishing for Kingfish? Nothing real big. Do you think the benefits out weigh the cost? Thanks again for the help.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/09/2015 10:26PM by Robert lee.

In the bottom of the ferrule - the flat part. There may be a locating V machined/molded in there.

Roller guides are great. Whether or not you actually need them is something a bit harder to answer. I typically stayed with high quality ringed guides up through 30, sometimes 50, but almost always went to rollers by the time we were looking at an 80.

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