Hi,

It's about this time of the year in the Pacific Northwest. I am getting ready for salmon in our rivers.

I've got a bunch of build in mind but the one I really need to start with is my spoon/spinner rod. I've completely worn out the guides on my old rod and bought this blank a while ago but never took the time to build it.

Blank details:
Action: EX-Fast
Line: 6-12lbs
Lure: 1/4-1/2oz
Power: Mag light

This setup will go a a spinning with a size 4000 reel (a tad big but it is my most expensive fancy reel)

So here is where I picture my money going next but needing some input.

--> Reel Seat. I need something with locking hardware that won't burst out of shape after 2 seasons... Carbon or whatever fancy stuff as long as it's good quality. I don't need the gold plated but willing to spend if justified.
--> Guides, they need to withstand the abrasion and remain good for casting spoon and spinners. The local shop are loaded with customs rod equipped with ALPS and people are raving about it, these are mostly ALPS Medium XN (MXN) Guides. I was thinking of going with Fuji Torzite guides but I'll let you guys chime in.

Thanks !

I wouldn’t do this build for myself, I’m guessing you have this blank lying around because you grabbed it in one of their big sales promotions. That’s fine, but to put the wrong size Torzite train on it because you want to use too big of a reel is dedicating quite a bit of money to a sale blank that seems destined to always be a compromised build. I’ve been using mostly Torzites for a while. When I do, nothing else is selected that’s not a right match. If it’s a spinning rod with Torzites, that’s likely a KR layout that depends on matching reel size to be really right. CC Alconites are plenty good when “good enough” is put anywhere in the mix.

Other people here may have little to no aversion to building up from a 3000 to a 4000 reel, but few tackle related things feel more crude to me than an oversized spinning reel. The ex-fast action wouldn’t be my choice for most salmon applications for this length of rod, but you may think differently.

Kendall Cikanek Wrote:
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Thanks for your input!

That is correct I got this blank on on of the promo about two years ago.
I am definitely not all set on wanting to keep my 4000 reel on that specific blank at all costs.
I could potentially find a 2000 or 2500 reel to put on it but not throwing 500+ again for a spinning reel.

I thought this 7600 blank was supposed to be really good, at least that's what I was told for the use case. If I build for myself I usually don't look at taking average "good enough" parts.

Cheers!

The ST7600-2 can certainly do the job for salmon under 25 lbs. not in or with heavy current nearby, not my pick for Chinook but I have caught them on it. My pick in that general size for spinners and spoons that can handle all steelhead/salmon would be the ST790-1, a better pick for your reel also. You can throw a salmon size spoon or winter steelhead 2/3 oz. spoon with the ST7600-2 but the ST790-1 wills throw then and #5 spinners and catch fish with much more authority.
Your stick is very versatile and will fish many species other than salmon/steelhead well, spawning browns from the Great Lakes for instance, same with bonefish, Dollies and Char in AK, Lindy rig walleye, river smallies, etc.

The ST7600-2 can certainly do the job for salmon under 25 lbs. not in or with heavy current nearby, not my pick for Chinook but I have caught them on it. My pick in that general size for spinners and spoons that can handle all steelhead/salmon would be the ST790-1, a better pick for your reel also. You can throw a salmon size spoon or winter steelhead 2/3 oz. spoon with the ST7600-2 but the ST790-1 wills throw then and #5 spinners and catch fish with much more authority.
Your stick is very versatile and will fish many species other than salmon/steelhead well, spawning browns from the Great Lakes for instance, same with bonefish, Dollies and Char in AK, Lindy rig walleye, river smallies, etc.

I built that blank in casting for throwing small spinners and spoons for coho and large trouts. It’s definitely not a rod I’d fish chinook on. But the light tip is great for 1/8 to 3/8 lures and jigs. Definitely better suited to a 2500 or 3000 spinning reel. But in reality a 4000 reel isn’t really that large especially if you are filling it with flouro or mono and not braid.

I would follow Spencer’s thoughts and get a bigger blank. This makes a lot of sense since you already have a great real for one. With Chinook sized lines and a 4000 real, the KR guide train is most likely to be anchored by a 25 ring stripping guide (I did a fast simulation on Anglers Resource’s software page). This sends the cost of the Torzites quickly over $150. That is a lot of money to put on your current blank to achieve a rod that would be too small for its reel and would have too large of guides for a correct reel. Even more problematic, those expensive guides won’t change that it’s too small for its intended species.

I've started to peak at better blanks option:
St 903-2 (HM)
Or just carry one with Spencer's advice with the HS 790-1 (IM)

For now I will still go ahead with the 7600 since it's my first spinning setup so I can get a hang of it. It will likely become my girlfriend's rod since she usually show up for pink salmon then maybe Coho whenever I locate a good pool.

I have an old 2500 half decent reel I guess I'll toss that reel on with some braid.
Opting for Alconite guides as recommended above.

I spent my entire afternoon debating on what to pick for the handle & reel seat. Are any of those VSS style reel seat a decent option to jig and throw spoon for salmon?

Hello Ben. The VSS/IPS style has been around about 40 years. It’s a reliable system that is ergonomic for whatever you want to do with a spinning rod. The SeaGuide Octa seats are a great choice for your build, as well. My next steelhead build is going to be for a local charity. It’s going to wear the TCH VSS seat. I’m excited to try this one. I’m going with it because the rod should bring commensurate, plus a generous donation price. Fuji is just a no-brainer for major components on a rod put for public bidding.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/21/2024 01:47AM by Kendall Cikanek.

The differences between a Shimano 4000 size reel and a 2000 size reel is the 4000 will hold a little more line and be a tad heavier and their drag capability's will be very very close if not identical to each other so you don't need to purchase another reel if you weren't planning to . Don't get hung up on "This particular reel is too big for my rod" nonsense , while some reels clearly are a mismatch on some rods the differences between what you guys are discussing is minimal . I'm specifically referring to Shimano's spinners.

If using lighter braids spool diameter has very very little effect on performance so don't let a reels spool diameter determine your guide choices . Spool diameter becomes a major factor when using much heavier and especially non braided lines. You also don't need to follow guidelines that indicate to use a certain size braid based on what strength mono you typically use , It's nothing but rubbish and it's intent is to get the angler to feel as comfortable as possible when switching over to braid from monofilament by trying to match up the line diameters which is fine but far from ideal if wanting the best possible performance out of your spinning setup

I always use considerably lighter lines than what a specific reels line specs indicate and I do that to increase a rod/reels performance potential , unlike conventional reels line choice on spinners is numero uno and todays lighter braids will whip sizable fish in very short order .

With the on-going sale I am tempted to just put an order in...

Spencer, in your previous message you mentioned the ST790-1

All I can find is the following: HS 790-1 (IM)

That's the one, though there is the HS760-2 (HM) that looks like it is the same higher power and 2 piece if you choose.

After throwing multiple blank in a spreadsheet to compare the numbers...

I am tempted to go for the X-Ray but that's going to be quite a budget so I am thinking about the following:

HS 760-2(HM) {I will get some authority on landing fish and it's only 1.6oz and easier to pack than the HS 790-1 coming in at 2.47oz}
St 904-2(HM) {The 902 for small Coho on 6lbs in skinny pressured rivers but it won't do well with any large fish I could potentially hook and would be close enough to the 7600's specs. The St 905 looked a bit overkill unless I specifically target Chinook so I'll be going in the middle with the 904}
St 964-2 (HM) {A bit longer rod for larger rivers, I will probably sell that rod down the road to get onto the X-Ray}

My X-Ray pick to cover all grounds would have been the St 993 or 1004 and 10105 (that will likely be pushed to next season)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/2024 09:07PM by Ben Lori.

There are so many habitat variables and such a size spread in salmon fishing that three rods are a stretch to cover these without even getting into the demands of various techniques.

I agree, since I am fishing in a water system getting Chinook, Pink, Sockeye, Chum, Coho. Some years the run of some spices are happening roughly at the same time.
Then you have scenarios where the Coho are running while the chinook and chum are just dying boots and the chum are notoriously aggressive and just attacking everything going nearby. Some years the fish are small and other they are twice the size so I don't want to be caught with a rod too big for the job.

In my scenario I am just focusing on 4 of my local water which are drastically different in size and flow but overall the idea is just using a spinning reel with spoon, spinner, jig. The river profile and size of the fish in the on-going run will define what I'll bring on the bank, one spinning rod and one conventional drift rod. I will keep the spare rod in my car in case there are fresh fish coming in at a very different size than what I saw in the previous days. I always keep spare rods in the car just in case.
Some water will run a 1/4oz spoon or jig while other will run the 5/8th spoon and 3/4oz jig because the flow and depth are a lot higher.

To drift roe I'll be using a bait caster as I haven't really got the bug when I tried the center pin. But the drift rod is another topic on its own.

Just spit balling here, but if you have a spinner rod you like (apparently, since you wore out the guides), why not put new guides on it and build something more suited for the blank you have?

Daryl, It's an old bass rod I bought 15 years ago. Abu Garcia 6'10" Medium - 6-12lbs 3/16-5/8oz. The rating on that rod is way out of spec. The reel seat doesn't lock tight enough on the reel and is quite uncomfortable. So basically I'd be stripping the entire rod to build something I'd sell because fighting salmon on that rod was the worse. I landed that salmon and retired the rod right after. I've fished a cheap Luhr-Jensen legacy salmon rod after and it's doing ok until you have to cast heavier stuff or gain authority on a larger fish.

As I am more of a fly fishing guy, stacking multiple rods is a hobby. Now that I bought all the materials to build rods, I may as well use it.

Ah, okay. Now, that I know the brand, I retract my refurb comment. I love Abu Garcia reels, their rods not so much.

Figured I would post a little update.

I just got the blanks.

HS 760-1 (Lambda LMX) Mag Medium 1/4 - 5/8oz Ex-Fast 8-15lbs
HS 760-2(HM) Mag Medium 1/4 - 3/4 Ex-Fast 8-15 lbs

Just flexing the blank in my garage was quite interesting. There's a bigger difference than I thought between the two blanks and I would probably trust the HS 760-1 (Lambda LMX) better it just feels like it has a tad smother transition into backbone and distribution of power. (Very subjective to my own taste)


I would go for 30lbs braid and for the guides I am currently eyeballing the KR concept 20H / 10H / 5.5M and debating Alconite vs Sic.
(Torzite might be for an X-ray build next year)