I am building a catfish rod and need to what size seat, size guides and number of guides to use. This will be a casting rod.
I’m not sure what size guides to use. I know the customer uses Abu Ambassador 6500 and 7000 reels.
Blank NFC 8’0” s-glass composite
Medium Heavy , moderate/fast action

Thanks in advance for the info.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/13/2022 08:32PM by Sterling Gray.

Take a look at your post, we are missing a bunch of info, one being, "who's composite blank". Spinning or casting reel, etc. You can edit your post easily.

Ball Park Numbers for how I would build one for myself:

Seat Size: I would go with a 17 to 18 mm size to accommodate the thicker blank diameter on a heavier power rod. I would have my client fit the reel to the seat and see what feels best to her or him. With a big handful of reel, it might feel best to have a 16mm seat if it will fit the blank and the reel foot. Foam arbors for the seat.

Guide Size and Number on a Conventional (guides on top) Build: If not dealing with big leader knots to pass, and braided line in the 30-pound range, I would suggest a RV6 (Reverse Casting guide, 6-ring) with 6-ring runners. Single foot. Probably 10 to 12 runners, plus butt guide, plus tip top, for a total of 12 to 14 all guides included. On the runners, I would go with a minimum of three wide-foot (Fuji KB's) to start, and the rest narrow foot (Fuji KT's) out to the tip top. On a thicker diameter blank, I would go all KB's. Heavier lines, upsize a ring size to 7 on the runners and go with a KW10 for the butt guide.

If you want to go Spiral Wrap, you could get away with a guide or two fewer, perhaps.

I strongly suggest static testing the set up first! This test will really tell you what you need and where you need it!

Les