Hello,

Im looking to build a new rod for bait fishing (live 2" redfin minnows) for trout.

I want an 8' or longer UL spinning rod, maybe build from a fast action 8' to 9' 3wt fly blank.. ?

I want to utilize the new style guides for increased casting distance and accuracy.

Recommendations please? Price range for blank, decent cork handle and good reel seat, and guides... $75 to $150.


On a second note, can an existing 10 nymph rod be converted to use effecively for both spin and fly fishing? I have a Cortland 10' 3wt....

Thanks


Jesse

Your rod responds only to how much weight it is casting, not whether the weight is minnow, sinker, or lure. I have found absolutely NO published data - in feet and inches - of which guides yield the greatest casting distance or accuracy. If you come across such information please post it.

Jesse

I will only say one thing. If you want more distance - go with a light action rod, rather than an ultra light. Not as much fun to catch small fish but the slightly heavier rod will give you a lot more distance.
For a similar reason, if you want distance, I would not go with a fly rod.

I have built fly rods of various weights with spinning guides and spinning rod grips and I will just generally say that I was never very pleased with the fishing results of such a build.

Perhaps for others, it works fine. But for the examples that I built, I simply found that too much of the rod blank was too light for the effective use of the rod for longer distance casting.

If in doubt, build an 8 foot rod on an ultra light blank. Build an 8 foot rod on a light power blank. Build an 8 foot rod on a 3-5 power fly rod and see which of the rods work best for you and your particular style of fishing. Sell or give away the rods that you don't care to use and let us know what you find out.

Take care

Well, perhaps someone here can recommend something. Experience means more to me than data.

I have seen 8' 3wt blanks that were built as spinng rods, but not as a combination spin and fly rod.

If you want a rod that is better at being a fly rod and fair as a spin, use a fly blank, but something in the 4-6 wt range.
If you want a better long light spin rod, consider a 1 or 2 power Steelhead blank.
We have done both, the fly blank gives a nice moderate action, but the cast is more of a"lob".
As Roger points out, if you like something a little more "snappy" in performance, then a fly blank is not the best choice.
Here is a link;
[www.schneidersrods.com]

Best wishes,
Ron Schneider
Schneider's Rod Shop
Mountain Home, Arkansas
[www.schneidersrods.com]
mtnron40@yahoo.com
870-424-3381

I am currently using a newer Fenwick 6' (?) ultra light spinning rod for my trout fishing. I use mostly 4lb test and I use 5x trout hunter leader for my tippet materials. When needed, I go to something even lighter.

My biggest single issue with this rod is the rebounding wiggle when I cast a light jig or minnow. It just shakes too much, and it robs distance from my cast. I am sure that a faster action may be the answer here, but, I do want something at least 8' in length. I fish small to medium sized trout streams in Pennsylvania, the added length would give me more line control and aid in putting my baits in the zone required.

I am also looking into the new guides (like the mircowave) that help reduce line slap and increase accuracy and distance.

This said, I need a vendor who can sell me the blank, those guides, and a decent handle kit.

Anyone...? Thanks Jesse

As Ron pointed out, a light steel head rod works very well for long distance casting to trout.

I have a pair of 7'10" #2 steel head rods that I built from Shakari blanks and they excel for this sort of fishing. The tip wobble is exactly why I do not use ultra light rods for any of my fishing any more.

For line slap issues, I just make sure that the first stripper guide is at least a size 20 match guide. The taller guide just simply eliminates the line slap. This tall guide is somewhat unusual for most comparative rods on the market but - in a nutshell - it works.

Then, with the current successful thinking go down to a size 10, a size 8 and runners in the size that you wish for the tip and you will have a stellar rod.


Best wishes

If you examine the advertisements for fishing rods in several different outdoor magazines you should be able to find the rod blanks and the guides which produce the least line slap and the most accuracy and distance.

There are all kinds of guide systems that will work fine (casting distance) with very light line. For this rod I believe your main priority is sensitivity and fast tip response, which will lead you to small, light , guides. As readers of this forum know already, I'm a big fan of the Fuji KLH reduction train and KB/KW running guides. They are offerred in many different ring and frame materials, and frame finishes. Some are very affordable. Go to the Anglers Resource site in the left margin for all the info you'll need, if Fuji is your choice.

I have a couple spin rods built from fly blanks, and they are as others have mentioned, a little sloppy, so I don't think they are the best option either.

To eliminate the "wag" you don't like, shop for the highest modulus blank you can afford. It will "recover" much faster and eliminate the "wag" but you will have to deal with the inherent stiffness of this particular kind of blank. You will love the sensitivity and weight.

In my opinion, fly rod blanks made into spin rods are just too sloppy for my taste, but some like them. Phenix makes a number of longer UL blanks, from extra fast to moderate soft. I have built using a few of them and I like the Elixir series they make very nice rods. For 7’ UL Rod blanks I like both the MHX and Rainshadow Revelation models, they are quite similar to each other. As far as guides are concerned, I am also a big fan of Fuji KR concept guides, or as lighter option I also like PacBay Minima guides using M guides for the reduction train and F guides as runners. When using either of these guide trains use a size 16 based reduction train (KL16H, KL8H, and KL5.5M; or 16M, 8M, and 5M) with runners all of the same size (5 or 4.5, or 4). I personally prefer a split grip handle.
Norm

Use sets priorities in rod building. If you are fishing bait then the elusive "accurate" rod is of little concern. If you are fishing water no more than 30 or 40 feet wide any rod can do that. If you are fishing with monofilament line a change to braided line will increase "sensitivity" a whole lot more than new blanks or guides will. If you are fly-casting a half-hour lesson with a competent teacher will improve your casting distance and accuracy ten times as much as any new blacks or guides will, no matter how expensive or well-advertised they are.

You may be able to improve the rod you already have by cutting off the guides that are currently on it and replacing them with KR concept micro guides. The micro runners and tip top may lighten the tip section and make the rod more responsive which will help to reduce or even eliminate the wag you don’t like. Is your current rod graphite or fiberglass, and what kind and size guides are being used used? Braid does increase both casting distance and sensitivity, and a light leader can be spliced in using an FG knot.
I once had a 7’ UL to L powered rod that I made a long time ago using ceramic guides with the runners being a size 6 with a size 6 tip top. I hated that rod it was just too sloppy for me. When the KR concept was first being introduced I tried this concept on that rod. The results where amazing, it made the rod much more responsive and casted much further with less effort. Like two different rods, Day vs Night. Ever since I have been a KR convert. Might be a simple fix for you.
Norm

I would stay away from Microwaves for this build.

This is very interesting. Im an occasional rod builder. I build a few rods every few years, its not something that I do every day. I find it mind boggling to go through all of the ads and posts to try and define what I need. You guys have been very helpful, and I do appreciate it. Thanks.

Not an ultralight, but a light power blank on sale. Could easily add the components & stay under $150.

[www.mudhole.com]

Thanks to all, I have found what I need to try. Very much appreciated.

Good luck and please!