Hi all,

I am planning to build steelhead rod. I have few questions I need help with, any input will be appreciated.

1. I am leaning toward northfork ST 904 blank. There are 2 options- HM and IM. what will be the main difference between those besides blank weight and price? Is this one of those -"u get what you pay" or else?
2. How do I find spine on 2 piece blank?
3. I am thinking stradic 4500 reel. is it to big for this blank?
4. Is fuji VSS 17 reel seat good size seat for 4500 size reel?
5. I would like to use Fuji K series guides. Should I use NF spacing guide or KR placement software? Help with guide placement, please.

Thank you all.

Double post.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/11/2022 03:01AM by Spencer Phipps.

I wouldn't use that large a reel, 2500/3000 size, 4000 max if using 12 lb mono, this blank's forte is drift fishing bait, if you are looking for a more versatile rig there are better choices, especially on our larger rivers. Do you have winter and summer runs, and are 20 lb+ fish possible? Your component choice is fine, Fuji KR concept should be fine. HM will be fine, if you are rough on gear and need guide boat like durability, go IM, especially if you use braid.

2. Depends what camp you are in.
- Using spine finder/applying pressure and rolling; Do each piece individually and line up the "spines."

-Straightest axis; Find the straightest axis of each piece. Mark them and align them.

"Steelhead fishing" could be drift fishing, or trolling, or live bait fishing, or bottom fishing, or casting. It might be wiser to build the rod to fit the fishing method rather than the target species.

1. Both blanks are very good, your choice.

2. Go with the straightest axis, with the tip up. You don’t what your rod tip pointing to the left or right. With the tip pointing up you will slightly increase dead lift power.

3. I also believe a 4500 reel is too large and heavy. I’m with Spencer on reel size.

4. A VSS17 reel seat will work fine. I like them a lot, especially with a hidden thread hood. Very comfortable. You can fit it with, cork, EVA, or carbon fiber grips. I really like the carbon fiber grips, they are almost bullet proof.

5. If you want to use KR guides, then use the KR GPS. I have found the KR concept to be exceptionally good, the best I’ve ever used.

Norm

Norm,

How many running guides should I use and what size? I am thinking 7 size 4.5 or bump it up a bit?

Thanks.

The way steelhead gear is used, there are few reasons to worry about running guide size unless you fish in deep, hard freeze conditions which happen almost never in the WA & OR rivers I fish. What advantage can you see? A 10 ft. steelhead rod I built a few years ago had exactly 1/2 the guide weight with a Microwave guide set over a standard guide setup. You can feel the difference easily. There is little difference between KR concept and Microwave concept except the stripper guide. If we knew your location and line used it would help give more definitive answers.

Spencer,

Lake Michigan and surrounding rivers fishing. 10 lb Braid
Thanks.

Spencer,

Lake Michigan and surrounding rivers fishing. 10 lb Braid
Thanks.

I'd use New Guide Concept instead of KR Concept, 20 mm stripper, 7mm runners. The year I lived in Cheboygan, MI., in the 80's, I had snow before Thanksgiving and it stayed till March, I was able to use my G Loomis STR 1024S, 30 mm V frame stripper to 7mm runners with few ill effects. (Pretty standard layout back then, usually 8 lb. mono) My STR1141S was more of a handful keeping guides clear with 4 mm runners.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/11/2022 01:47PM by Spencer Phipps.

Dee, I’ve built 9’ steelhead spinning rods with either 10 or 11 guides (7 or 8 runners). It depends on the action of the blank. On a slower action blank I use 11 guides to help spread out the load along the length of the rod, on a faster action blank 10 guides. The IM ST904-2 has a published IP of about 340 gm (ERN = 13.5) and an AA of about 68, making more of a moderate fast action. On that rod I think you can use either 10 or 11guides, won’t make a big difference. I would use a KL20H based reduction train, with either size 4.5 or 5 KB/KT runners. I normally use 2 KBs after the reduction train, with the remaining runners being KTs. If you need help with a tentative guide layout, contact me.
Norm

Norm,

I could use tentative guide layout.

Thanks a lot.

Email me.
Norm

What are the distinguishing characteristics of a "steelhead rod"? Can they be measured? I might like to build one, but not one of those snatch-hook rods they use for Great-Lakes steelhead - I'll continue to use my wife's clothes-poles for them.

When I was back there in the 80's a 10 ft 7 wt. Sage fly blank, built spinning by Thorne Bros. was a pretty popular setup. After many tried my Loomis STR1141S IM6, many had rods built on that blank, was considerably cheaper and worked well. Drift fishing bait, and running plugs was not well received back then, spinners and small baits and egg sacks under floats was the thing, many streams were pretty slow running. Rods like the Loomis HSR 9000S in length and power were popular on the smaller streams fishing spinners for steelhead and large browns.

Hey Norm, where are you getting all your NFC CCS data, if you don't mind me asking? Thanks.

Jordan - A number of years ago NFC published CCS data on their blanks. A member here, Gib Portwood, archived some of this CCS data in an Ecel data base, it includes data from some other manufacturers such a PacBay, and Point Blank. The front page contains an ERN calculator, but you have to get into the edit mode to use it. I’ve posted this information on several occasions, so here it is again.
[onedrive.live.com]
Norm

Thank you sir! This is great information.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/12/2022 08:32PM by Jordan Smith.