Great to hear your opinion of the NSJ870. I bought one after using the using the HM-SJ871 with plenty of success and pleasure. I call this rod the "Schloofer". Works well in lots of different situations. Plenty of muscle down the bottom and like a buggy whip up top. Unfortunately, I don't think it is on the list currently. I'm sure the NSJ870 will match or beat it. Cheers Braith
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I'm disappointed you didn't go for the 720. I love this blank. i am building my second and the blank for the third is waiting in my rack. If I can can find a 6'6" rod that will match it, i will buy it. The rod will cast down to 1/24th oz and has caught fish over ten pound. Throwing light weights accurately for Trout and Bream in Australia is what I use this rod for. When I find a better bl
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The sj720 is an excellent rod for trout, especially in scrubby territory. I am led to beleive that it was based on a G Loomis design. The HMSJ871 is a lot different. Casts further but has a a bit less feedback when casting. It is yet to catch afish (hasn't been on the water yet) but feels like it will be very stable with a fish on. It has a solid butt and a ridicularsly soft tip. Thanks to every
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How do I upload a picture in a reply? I'm not very computer literate. Braith
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OK, I'm sold. Where can I buy them from... They will need to be sent to Australia. What stripping guide and transitional guide should I put in this guide train? I intend using a Shimano Stradic 1000 reel on this rod. I'm not a fan of using a high stripper because it ends up a bit close to the reel. I'm definitely glad I started this thread. I think this will be a good rod.
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Thanks Joe, That is small! Do you run a knot through them or do you run the main line straight to the lure? Braith
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I have bought an SJ720 and a HM SJ871 from the helpful crew at Mudhouse. I think I'm on the right track. Tom, Could you tell me more about the 2 mm micro please? Is 2 mm the ID? What is the bfull name of these guides? Where would a retail customer buy them? I love the sound of the North Fork blank, but I tend to be a bit rough on them, so I get nervous clambering through the scrub with a top s
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Thanks Joe, That has definitely cleared a few things up for me and given me something to ponder regarding the extra weight in the top of the rod. The light lures I use include Atomic teasers in 1/16 oz and 1/32 oz, soft plastics down to those weights and with resin heads that sink slowly. I can see your point regarding the size and shape of the lures. I was using a 4g woo
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Sub zero is not a problem. With running guides, I'm just trying to achieve the lowest resistance and hopefully best (longest) cast. I'm happy to go smaller if it doesn't slow down the line. I thought bigger may have been less resistance for the line. Braith
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What do you suggest would be the maximum size for running guides on an ultra light rod? I am (still) chasing a rod that will cast weightless lures well. On my last rod I used Fuji TLSG6Js. Thanks Braith
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Joe, The 5 running guides are Fuji TLSG 6Js. How big do you reckon I could have gone? Braith
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Thanks for your comments and suggestions. Fatigue isn't the reason that I've considered moving the balance point. The rod weighs 93 grams bare and 312 grams with the reel on it (I think that's OK). If I move the balance point, it will be to try and improve the tip speed to hopefully improve the casting distance with light lures. I'd do this before the butt cap goes on, or find a setup that is a
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Weigh them. Titanium is about 2/3rds the weight of stainless. Braith
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Where do you think the balance point of an Ultra Light rod with reel be? Is it important enough to add weights to change it? The 7 footer I have just about finished has it's balance point about 30 mm forward of the very front of the drag screw on the reel. Is that good or should I do something about counterbalancing it? Thanks Brait
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Eugene Moore Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- Thanks Gene, That sounds like an excellent option. I do use a fly rod, but some of these streams are too overgrown for any sort of back cast. Braith
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First things first. I am seeking a great blank for this job. There must be a dozen blanks that fit this bill. I am presently using 10 lb sunline castaway which is fairly fine (about.1 mm), round, smooth and silent. I am using the tidal wave guide set which I think is fine. Normally i would have used a TATSG set for this setup. Are there any more expert opinions on blank selection out there?
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Thanks for the suggestions, The Samurai 001x that I built can only throw 1 gm about 13 metres in my hands. A lot of respondents are happy with a 6 foot rod. Is that how it goes in this lure size? It is a handy size to toss in the back of the ute. What about the HM-SJ871-MHX. It sounds like the kit, but nobody has pushed it. I am keen to get this b
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I built a rod to cast 1/32 oz plastics to Trout. But when I get down to 1/16 oz, that's it.Any lower and it hardly launches. Any size between 6 ft and 7 ft 3 inches, One piece, 2 piece, doesn't matter, I just want to get that tiny lure out there! Please Help Paul Braithwaite
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Thanks for the advice gentlemen, I left the blank alone and reamed a bit out of the bore of the tip top with 400 weight paper This resulted in a tight fit. I then glued it up with Araldite, a 24hr 2 part epoxy. As soon as it dries, I can get on with wrapping the rest of the runners... Can't wait Thanks Fellas
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Is there a danger in lightly sanding the tip of a rod to fit the tip top on. Thanks
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Thanks for your well informed advice. I am starting to get the trick. I have been using an old single speed drill with an aluminium holder at the other end of the mandrel. For the learner: Don't use skinny, soft mild steel mandrels. They flex and wobble. I am going to use a small variable speed drill with a 10 mm high tensile threaded rod for a mandrel. I can put nuts and lock nuts on
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What is your preferred cork turning (sanding) speed?
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William, Do they cost less than $0.00? How much is the freight? Braith
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As a returning rod builder with no previous with cork, I wanted a cheap cork to practice on. I found that if you put champagne corks in boiling water in a sealed jar a few times they lose their waste and become acceptable for this purpose. Braith
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Thanks Ray, I'm from Tamworth. I'm building this rod as a spinning rod to go with a 2500 Twinpowers to use on (hopefully) large flatties with medium to large plastics. Regards Braith
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Have you used this fore grip setup? Does it loosen the reel seat grip as you are using it? I am building a rod on a CTS ES704 blank and want get this thing spot on, first go... Maybe a big ask, but I can try. Thanks for any input Braith
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Mark. I am happy to drop the line class, I am not expecting to catch anything over 10 lbs in this situation. However I need to maintain the lure weight as I plan to use plastics up to 1 oz if the rod handles it. I've got a Pflueger Medallist 2-6lb rod for the little lures.I don't want to go over an absolute maximum of 7'2" because I hate breaking rods(I want 1 piece) on dry land a
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I want to build a rod to fish for flathead on the saltwater flats out of my small tinny in QLD, Australia. The line weight will be about 8-15 lb. The lure weight will be between 1/8-3/4oz. The length will be about 7 ft. Long casting will be good if I can get it. So far, I have found 3 blanks that could fit the bill: A) The HM-P844-MHX B) The HM-MB862-MHX or C) The CTS ES704 No doubt there ar
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