Hello
I'm brand new to rod building and have never built one before and I'm finding some of it a little overwhelming. I just bought a bunch of blanks from NFC during their black Friday sales, first rod I'm going to build is a swimbait rod, (SWB 807). Its going to throw glide baits in that 3-4oz range with 50lb braid and 30lb mono leader with a FG knot. The real confusion is on the guides, there is so many different styles and types. I want to use fuji, stainless steel frames and probably alconite rings, but what types should I be ordering? Is their a overview for these guides that explains these? Any suggestions on the reel seat for a swimbait rod? I'm using the CTRG14 handle, can anyone recommend what fighting butt cap to use?

Salt, or freshwater?

Freshwater, targeting mostly bass and the occasional musky.

I’m assuming it will be a casting rod, so I don’t think you can go wrong using the double foot Fuji KW guides throughout the build or coupling them with the Fuji KB/KT single foot running guides. Not sure what kind of reel you are using, or whether of not you you want a conventional NGC guide train using larger running guides or a KR guide train which uses smaller micro guides. If using a low profile bass reel, for a NGC you could used a KW10 stripper followed by a KW8 (or KW6) to either KW6 runners, or KT6 runners. For a higher profile reel you could use a KW12 as the stripper, For a KR concept use a KW10 stripper, to a KW5.5, followed by two or three KB5.5 or KB5 belly guides followed by KT 5.5 or 5 runners. The tip top in all cases would be a matching LG tip top.
Your handle is designed to fit most size16 and size17 casting trigger reel seats, so pick something you like and use it. The tenon at the end is probably a standard 20 mm diameter, so many different butt caps with a 20 mm ID and a 27 mm OD will probably fit. Hope is this helps, and maybe some others will chime in on their opinions.
Norm

I am in process on a MHX SWB967 that will be used for Umbrellas and big swimbaits. Going to run 20-25# fluorocarbon. I am running a low ratio low profile reel. I am going to try a KW8 , KB6 , then KT5 runners. All alconite. I want to experiment with slightly smaller guides since it is a rod for myself and science. If they need upsized after testing then I get more practice on the power wrapper and I get to buy more guides. Should finish wrapping tonight. Fishing/freezing hopefully Saturday.

I built a RODgeeks C4711XHF 7'11" | Mono. Line Weight: 20 - 40 lb | Lure Weight: 3 - 8 oz | Fast Action, Extra-Heavy Power a few years ago and I used all double foot KW guides (12-10-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8 and 8 tip top) in a spiral wrap. I’ve used the rod for throwing large swimbaits, umbrella rigs, and pier fishing for King Mackerel. I have it paired with a Shimano Tranx 400 with either 25lb mono or 40lb braid. I could down size the guides and it might be a tad better/lighter in the tip. If I ever decide to change to guides I will do 10-8-6 sizes.

Yes casting rod, shimano tranx reel so low profile. thanks Norm

Thanks for the feedback Michael, I will use a 10-8-6 progression

I sized up my guides due to braid to mono connection (I use an FG knot) and wanted ample room for the knot to pass thru the guides. An FG knot with 40lbs braid and 25 - 60lbs mono is about an inch long and stiff, so the larger guides were to allow room for the line to pass and not snag the guides on the way thru. As I stated I could have started with a size 10.

The handle length you chose is important. The rod’s going to have some weight to it and fishing swimbaits is typically a long cast and slow retrieve style of fishing. I set up the handle so that I can use a two hand cast (sort of like a surf rod) and to be able to tuck it under my arm for the retrieve. The handle from fore grip to end cap I ended up building is overall 28”. I did an 8” fore grip, Alps metal seat (I cut down the extra thread), 15.25” rear grip, and an Alps 1” butt cap. The rear length works perfect for my style off casting. It is long enough to lobe a big bait and short enough to be switch over to a reeling position without poking me in the chest on the transition.

The purpose for the 8” fore grip is for when I use it for King Mackerels. They grab your bait and take off like a bullet, peeling line off your reel for minutes at a time. The longer grip gives me somewhere to rest my arms while waiting for the fish to slow down. I plan to build another (lighter version) for A-rigs but the fore grip will be much short or none existent.

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