I second adding support near the guide. I have a couple of mobile supports I use for this. A tiny drop of superglue can do wonders if you are struggling. You probably need a little more tension. I use a weighted bobbin for my thread. They make life a lot easier.
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As far as applying, you can use a small brush or I make applicators from that clear plastic that so many things get packed in. It's flexible and thin and easy to cut. I cut strips in several widths to match the wrap of the guides, I apply a bit of epoxy and then lightly touch the leveler to the wrap, and then pull away, and I get a perfectly level coat within seconds. I rarely use seale
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It does not affect casting distance at all. Some bass guys who lay their rods down don't like how they lay. Others want the spiral either to the left or right, depending on how they lay their rods down when running. Spiral wrapping is a benefit in rods that are cast or when fighting larger fish because you can use lighter guides, yet still retain maximum fish fighting power. My favori
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I like to build spinning rods so the stiffest arc is on the back of the rod. I used to build conventional rods just the opposite, and then I went to spiral wrapping my rods, so back to the back being the stiffest. It probably makes little difference in reality, but I was taught this many years ago, and old habits die hard!
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warm the spot up with a hair dryer and pick it off
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Greetings all. Years ago, when G.Loomis was going through some changes, some of their family members started a company called Rogue. They made a VERY nice blank, similar to a GLX series. I got one to try, a MB 844, and it's still one of my fav blanks. Life got busy and I stopped building and fishing much, but now I would like to dust off the equipment and get back into it. Does Rogu
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I just build rods for myself, and I mostly fish in salt water with 12-30 lb braid for stripers and redfish, and occasionally casting offshore for Mahi and even sailfish. I use single foot guides on all of my spinning rods, starting with either a 25 or 30, tapering to a size 6 for the last few guides and the tip. I like to use Fuji Alconite, but I haven't bought any in a long time. Still usi
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As a follow up, that rod is still going strong, 13 years later. -TH
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Wow, Lou, you are all-in! Asking about a specific blank here has been my absolute-best resource! But even then, you meet to sift to those who fish like you do. I mostly cast jigs to stripers, 1/2-1 1/2 oz plus plastic. I have learned that the Mag Bass taper is one I love, so I stick to those. Love my Loomis and Rogue blanks, but am about to try some new ones. So, I'd advise you to find a
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Oh man... I've got another problem. I love the grips by Fuji, that have the reel seat under the cork fore grip and look almost like a Tennessee grip when done. Same diameter from front to back. I always bought them from Custom Tackle, but C.T. is gone! The grips I love came with factory-cut cork, for a perfect fit to the handle. But now, all the grips I see now have the fore grip that looks
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Ryan, $50 would be sweet for an exact-match rod. What kind of warranty do they have? Any suggestions of where to buy? Bill, Yes, he's happy to pay for it. He put a tip guide on my old rod, and he says he loves it for Big Rubba. I think in the end, it's become equiv. to a MB785. So all is well that ends well. -TH
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I'm going to give the MHX blank a try, due to the reasonable cost and lifetime guarantee. Just trying to decide between the 844 and the 845, Has anyone used either of there blanks for casting 1-1/2 ounce jigs + plastics to stripers or similar fish? Thanks
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First, let me say THANK YOU for the help. I'm really bummed about losing my all-time favorite rod. I have had countless beautiful mornings and memorable days with that rod in my hand. It was one of the first rods I ever built, which doubles the loss. The NFC is VERY interesting, because it's designed by G. Loomis, so I'm guessing the action is going to be very similar. The MHX blank
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I still find that arbors made from1/2" strips of fiberglass drywall tape smeared with epoxy paste are quick, easy to make fit exactly, and strong. Once I have them sized where they friction fit the inside of the reel seat, I coat them with rod bond and slide the reel seats down on them. They are very light are rigid, and work great. Also, in my later rods, I would turn down the the end
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Saying thank you to a specific answer to your question seems like common courtesy to me. But it seems to be a generation thing. It seems that most younger people, in their 20's, and even some in their 30's think that saying thank you is unnecessary, or even a waste of time. So when I meet a young person with good manners, I praise them and the parents who taught them! Just my opinion, o
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I usually use the one made for it. Have also used a 4" foregrip, bored out to fit. I tapered it so it looked pretty much like the factory cork, just a little longer. To be honest, I have to look to which rod is which to tell the difference. Both work just fine. IF you put an extra ring on it, it won't hurt. Bore the lower ones to fit the HPS nut body, then bore the extra one to fi
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Friends, Sorry I haven't been here in a while, but life has been very busy, so fishing and rodbuilding are way down on my list. But I DID get out fishing a couple of weeks ago. We were having a great morning, catching spanish macks, bluefish and red drum. My buddies had to go home for a kid party or something, so we dropped them off. About 10 minutes after they left, I realized that they h
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I used to flats fish in central FL. A balanced rod, especially if an 8 footer, is a must! I recommend that you tape your reel to the blank and figure out your favorite placement before adding anything else. Then once you have comfortable placement, the grips and guides tend to balance each other out, keeping the rod balanced. Agreed on the burl cork rear grip. If there is going to be w
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When mixing, I stir it up, then "smear" it out thin, then scrape it back up, then stir, then smear again. I repeat this several times, and this method seems to be a fast way to really mix it thoroughly. When I think it's mixed, I do one last smear, and then scrape it into a pile. This gets rid of most of the bubbles, although they don't really matter when bonding grips and seats.
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"My plans are to make a 9' spiral wrap casting rod with micro guides for casting small lures with 12-15# braided line for steelhead and salmon at river mouths. I'm not sure just how small the lures could go but at that length, using 2 handed casting, it could be a very comfortable rod to cast light lures either while wading, from a boat or a kayak/canoe. " Richard, Thanks for sharin
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They work great for "8 & bait" and plugging. Strong and forgiving. For jigging, graphite is the way to go.
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Hmmm... Sorry I asked! -TH
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With Loomis stopping it's blank sales, has anyone found any clearance sales? Also, will they continue to warranty their existing blanks? Thanks. -TH
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Got curious on @#$%&, and won one of these for a low price. As the seller warned, it's VERY stiff for casting a fly line. I put a 12# sinking line on it, and I DID manage 60' casts, but it's VERY rigid. Now, what do I do with this rod? I'm not going to troll flies, I don't think. Should I strip it down and make a finesse rod out of it? Perhaps a long casting crankbait rod? Any
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I've had several things damaged by USPS and they have great claim service. Just make sure to insure your package for a sufficient amount to cover repair/replacement. It's definitely worth the cost. -TH
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I just wanted to post a thanks to both of you for all the help you have both provided, both in quick and helpful responses, and your great articles. You two and everyone else here have greatly expanded both my thinking and my skills, and I really appreciate it. I had a #9/10 IM-6 fly rod snap right above the ferrule. So I read the turorial on how to fix a rod properly. Because of the locati
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I looked around and found quite a bit of info. Most guys who chum with chopped clams just put a little strip of bunny skin on a #4 or #6 hook. In NC, they chum with jelly balls, a small type of jellyfish. They tie flies that look like small jellyfish. Here is a link to the fly and how they are tied:
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Spadefish eat jellyfish. I've seen discussions about jellyfish flies slaying the spades. Maybe try a google search on jellyfish flies? It was on Tidalfish, if I recall. I think they tied a bit of plastic bag to a hook, but I can't really remember. I'll go research it and get back to you. -TH
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10, 8, 8, 8, 6, 6, 6, 6, 7 tip top. Or somewhere about there.
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Also, the thread colors have changed over the years. It depends on what YEAR rod it is. I found this out the hard way, not long ago. -TH
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