Hello all , i was wondering if you could pass on some guidance, im asked to build a short trolling rod and have chosen a united composites CX40XO blank , anybody here have a "recipie" so to speak? Looking for guide and seat suggestions customer wants a roller tip , but are roller guides all the way really the only option ? Any help appreciated TIA

Have you checked out the rod recipe in the guide spacing section of the Batson site? Check out the STUB80 recipe.

ethan,
I plead ignorance to the “CX40XO” you described. Apparently, it is a very short (4ft), 130lb blank = that is a very serious blank for serious fish and I can only assume you will be employing a “uni-butt” of sorts. A serious rod deserves serious attention from the owner = maintenance. While rollers may not be “required” on such a build, WHY NOT? I would opt for rollers on anything > 80lb, often only 50lb. It only makes common sense other than dealing with those who will not assume the responsibility of proper, albeit minimal, roller maintenance. To meet the demands of such large targeted fish, not only would I use ALL roller guides, but I would spiral-wrap them to eliminate wasted energy attempting to counter SEVERE rod torque so it can be applied directly to fighting the fish. The ONLY rollers guides designed for spiral-wrapping are from All American Roller Guides = great product / great owners / great service. Don’t leave the dock without them!!!

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

I would absolutely use a roller top......I have built similar rods (just a bit longer) with a roller top and a roller stripper and HD boat running guides but with a 4ft blank 60-130 why not all rollers?

The idea behind using standard guides as opposed to rollers is purely a budget concern ... but a roller stripper and topwould ceartainly bring the price down a bit more manageable

ethan johnson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The idea behind using standard guides as opposed
> to rollers is purely a budget concern ... but a
> roller stripper and topwould ceartainly bring the
> price down a bit more manageable

I have built about a dozen that way and they have performed very well. They have been used for stand up tuna and shark and trolling for yellowfin tuna & wahoo.....no problems reported.

Roller tip, only, trolling rods are quite popular from Northern California to Alaska. It’s the tip that takes most of the wear when trolling in rougher waters. The combination of waves and flashers constantly moves a foot or so of line in and out of the tip. A full roller train comes with increased, cost, weight, and maintenance tariffs. It takes really dynamic fish for the benefits of a full roller setup to be realized. Sometimes you see a hybrid with a roller stripper and tip. I have one of these. I like it, but I am not sure the roller stripper helps.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/18/2021 10:52PM by Kendall Cikanek.

Thankss guys , any particular reccomendations for the guides? A full set conventional w roller tip, and roller stripper/tip?- thisis a litte outside my area of expertise so to speak so id like to make sure i use the right ones

If your application is Cest Coast my recommendations are as follows:

1) It matters not whether a unibutt is involved. A 4' blank properly outfitted is just fine, or a unibutt version which will put the overall rod length at anout 5 1/2 ft, mebbe a smidge more.
2) For trolling ONLY, I would go AT LEAST roller stripper and Roller tip, if not all rollers. The issue is line stress for hours on end, and there is no substitute for rollers on this - even over SIC conventional guides.
3) If bait fishing is a dual-use, I'd go Turbo guides and Roller tips. Starting with a size 25 at stripper.

Good luck!

Whit