OOOOOH GOODIE! My favorite topic. My ABSOLUTE favorite thing to do is Partyboat tuna fish in the Northeast Canyons. I've had numerous discussions on this forum about tuna fishing rods but very few people could relate to what I think is a very "unique" fishing platform = the Northeast Canyon Partyboat. I've learned A LOT from Mark Talmo who also enjoys Partyboat tuna fishing BUT Mark
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Thanks to everyone for the input. This build is the MOST unconventional rod I've ever been involved with but, it's kinda a "bucket list" thing for my 84 year old bestest fishin Bud. I told him he's gonna have a tuff time hanging onto it and his answer was "Well Jon, you're just gonna have to hold me by the belt then..." I've been trying to talk him out of it for years but h
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This is a spiral wrapped rod with roller guides. The ONLY TIP-TOP AVAILABLE is of tube size 10. A conventional guide would defeat the purpose of using rollers.
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I'm hoping to collect some advise...I'm working on an offshore rod. The tip section of the blank tapers to about a size 7 at the tip. The smallest tube tip-top available in the guide model we selected is a size 10. In the past, I've often used a thread wrap to fill the void between a blank and loose tip-top but I've never filled a void this large. I'm thinking I may need 3 or 4 layers of thre
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Hey Mark, Sent you an email Jon
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My ole fishin buddy would like me to make him a spiral wrapped rod with roller guides. A few days ago, I started looking for a set of All American guides. So far, I'm not having any luck finding them. I've gone through the vendor list on AA's website and if the phone lines weren't disconnected, I could only leave a message. Has anyone had recent contact with AA? Are they still in business?
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Mark, Thank you very much for your photo. No worries about the spelling of my name. Mentors of mine in the construction business have created a tendency in me to over-build projects. This mentality makes it difficult for me to recognize that in rod building, sometimes less is more. However, a lock of some sort will, if nothing else, give me peace of mind. I agree that if I just make it pa
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I'm interested in trying some Fuji T-KTSG single foot guides on a med-heavy saltwater rod. I'll be spiral wrapping the rod. I'm not concerned about the guide frames failing but I am a little worried that the guides may pull out of the wrap. I always use a Forhan lock with single foot guides but this single foot guide splits and has 2 "legs" that cradle the guide ring. I'm thinking I
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Haha...There was a day (around the time when titanium guides were "new") that I could hold a 7' or 8' rod with 20lbs of drag but those days are LONG GONE...I fish most often on party(head) boats that have a waist high rail to rest the foregrip on. Now a days that's the ONLY reason I have a use for 20lbs of drag!
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...Just mentioned how I would do it and what works for me... Maybe you're not catching many fish but, when MY rod is loaded, my line stacks on the side of the spool that the line transitions around the rod on. (approx. 350, 55, 118, 180) *** KEY ABBREVIATION- "approx." !!! You're correct most every blank is different. ...personally, I prefer a simple spiral.
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Small world Anthony...I live in Palmerton... Jon
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Kendall, I've had good results with the titanium Alps guides. I'd feel very comfortable using the MXNs for your application. I'm not sure what scale manufacturers use to rate their products but it's my opinion that Alps guides are UNDER rated. I've fished slightly over 20lbs of drag on rods spiral wrapped with MXNs. The Tranx you mention is capable of a little more drag than that but probabl
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The Alps HXN is my choice for heavy offshore rods. They're super strong and the TI is rustproof (unlike some "stainless steel" offerings out there). I also use the MXNs on tuna rods for up to 30lbs of drag. I've never actually fail tested them against other brands BUT the Alps XN series seems to be rated lighter than similar guides from other manufacturers. I KNOW I have OFTEN put t
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Russ, I like the BB 809-1 (IM LMX) for bottom fishing off the Jersey coast in 50-200' of water. My wife prefers the Pelagic 705-1 (SM LMX) for the same but she'd rather a 7' rod.
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Aaahhh yes...pardon me...the list to the LEFT. ...I guess being associated with the left just goes against me...
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I'd consider myself a novice/hobbyist rod builder. I've finished about 2 dozen rods over 10 years. During that time, I've struggled with achieving the "perfect" finish. I've read about and watched videos about every brand finish on the market and how "easy" and "perfect" each one finishes. Well, let me tell you, I felt pretty disgusted until I finally settled on
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Check out: alantani.com
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IMHO...It makes no sense not to!
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I'm a sheet metal fabricator by trade and at work I use a dial. At home in the rod shop I use a digital. I like the digital for rod building because I'm not really proficient with the metric system and the digital makes converting simple. As others have said, batteries are a pain in the butt and it seems they don't last long.
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Thank you Ron. It was a pleasure doing business with you. I'm looking forward to it again in the future. Jon
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My way is kinda crude but effective... I took 2 pieces of 2x4, each about a foot long and routered a 1"x1" grove into them. I padded the grooves with some scrap EVA leftovers and use the wood blocks to sandwich the rod grip. I clamp the rod inside the blocks and then to an old "Bean Bag" game goal that the kids don't play with anymore. The 45* face of the goal holds the ro
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Ken, I've had nothing but GOOD experiences with the Mudhole MHX SW series blanks. I have at least 1 of each of the 7'ers and a few 8'ers. They're light as a feather and super strong. The carbon fiber checker pattern and high gloss finish look cool too. They're not the straightest blanks I've ever built on but, I prefer to keep mine bent anyway! For saltwater stripers, I'd go with the next s
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I live in Palmerton, PA
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I've had good results using black hypalon dust and white craft glue (like Elmer's) to fill gaps in a hypalon grip. I just mixed the sanding dust with the glue and glopped it in the void. I overfilled the void then sanded it flush after the glue cured. After dozens of uses, the repair is "noticeable" to me because I made it but, I don't think most would pick up on it.
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I've had good results using the practice golf balls to make butt caps. The color selection is limited but, I needed yellow and blue and was able to find them easily at Amazon. I'd like to experiment with trying to dye them black but have not taken the time to try that yet.
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Hey Bob, I'm not sure where, other than Mudhole, that you could handle an MHX Saltwater blank. Maybe someone on this board knows and can chime in. It's kind of unfortunate. I just rolled the dice and bought one to try and I'm super glad I did. I have a Grafighter 7' GF700XL which also turned out to be a very good rod but, I still like the MXH blanks better. The MHX is MUCH lighter and
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Bob, I LIVE for late summer and fall to fish the canyons for tuna! My favorite "style" is night time chunking on party or six packs. I don't have my own boat and prefer party boats. I looked around a long time for the perfect rod for chunking and that's what lead me to rod building. I couldn't find exactly what I wanted so I learned how to do it myself. Long story short.
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Ooohhhhh! Shame on me! That's what I get for letting my Rodmaker subscription lapse! I think I understand what you mean and I like that idea. Thank you Pat
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I realize that a big part of rod building is having the ability to be creative but, I'm stumped on this one. I'm building a med.-heavy saltwater rod for a young friend for Christmas. He is emphatic about the color yellow so I want to use as much yellow as I can. I'd like to use a yellow EVA grip which was easy to find from a sponser but, I can't find anything yellow to use as a butt cap. To m
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I've had great luck with the AmTack Virtus guides on spiral rods only slightly lighter than you're describing. They're lightweight, heavy duty, and look great. I'd have no fear usimg them on a 100lb rod.
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