Thanks for all the suggestions. I get there will always be trade-offs since the techniques I am using are so different, but am looking for the "middle ground". Usually I am heading up river casting hardware and then drift floats on the way back down. So rather than bringing two rods I'll make due with one and the 9'6" seems to be the leading length. I'll check out NFC, MHX
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Hi all. I'm curious what other builders would consider as the most versatile rod length for steelhead? For instance, I fish in the Southern Ontario area in various Great Lakes tributaries which can vary quite a bit in size. Lately I have been sticking to two main methods - casting spinners/spoons and float fishing with jigs/soft plastics/roe bags. I've been using spinning reels with rods
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Hi all. ARE offered a 8" modified full wells/western design cork handle which was a really nice slim handle. Since ARE is no longer taking orders does anyone know if other suppliers have similar versions? I have looked around but cannot find something similar. Thanks Tom
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Thanks for all the suggestions. They have been extremely helpful and I am glad others have found solutions. I tend to build more rods in the winter when it's well below freezing but have always had trouble with the finishing stages. Now I have some great ideas to counter to work with. I'll start with the space heater and see how it goes. My workshop is in an small room/unfinished bathroom w
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Hi all. I'm looking for some advice on how to best finish rods when the weather starts to get cold. I live in Canada - southern Ontario to be more specific - and it's getting colder as fall comes one. We also keep the house fairly cool which doesn't help things. I noticed that the epoxy starts to congeal after mixing and doesn't go on as smoothly. Also the drying time appears to increase.
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Thanks everyone for the input. Grant: Will check out what Utmost has on discount - thanks for the tip!
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Hi all, Does anyone have any experience with Pac Bay's Arctos spinning blanks? I did a search and most of the posts are about the fly blanks. I'm looking to build a couple of spinning rods for my 10 year old son. The price on these is very affordable so it won't be the end of the world if he breaks a rod by accident. thanks Toms
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Thanks for all the feedback. I kind of thought the graphite reel seat would be the preferred option but have always leaned towards a cork Tennessee grip simply for nostalgia's sake. My first "real" steelhead rod had this style grip so I have a soft spot for it.
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Hi all. I was talking about steelhead rods with some friends who also build rods and there were some differing opinions about what set-up would be most sensitive to detect a steelhead hitting a roe bag, feeling that a spinner or spoons is working correctly in current etc. One side said that a graphite reel seat with graphite arbors would be the most sensitive set-up when compared to a cork Ten
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Hi all, I'm building a couple of trout spey rods (2/3 and 3/4) and was wondering about the size of the running guides. What size do you use to accommodate the short shooting heads/trout spey lines? I've never seen some of these lines in person so wasn't sure if they are much larger in diameter than the regular fly line, or if there are connections between heads+running lines to consider.
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I've searched the Spey Pages and the Skagit forum and there is some info there. I'm new to spey casting so some of the technical input is a bit over my head. I was hoping to see if anyone here has built a rod from these blanks to get a rod builders perspective. Although I suppose there are rod builders on those sites as well so I'll give that a try.
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Hi all. I'm wondering if anyone has any recent experiences with the Anglers Roost spey rod blanks? More specifically, the UHM12 Ultra High Modulus Graphite Blanks which come in a 4pc. 3/4 wt. in 12 or 11 foot lengths. I've found some information using the search function but the threads are a couple of years old. I'm thinking of ordering one of these blanks to swing small streamers and sof
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Most of the carp in our area seem to be in the 10-15 pound range. I've seen some huge ones which are likely pushing 25-30 pounds but have never hooked one. So far a 9'6" steelhead blank rated for 8-12 pounds and 10 pound test has worked for the fish I've been catching. For now carp fishing in just for fun, and I can use the same rod for steelhead. Not sure if I'd get the same mileage with
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Thanks for the input and suggestions. The "bolt rig" is simply a hook and sliding sinker (I use bell sinkers) set up but which has a limited amount of line for fish to take before feeling any resistance. For example, the sliding sinker is bracketed by two split shot six inches apart. The fish has then six inches of free line and then feels some weight and then bolts - that's the theo
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Hi all. Does anyone use extra fast rod blanks for their fishing? Most of the rods I use are fast action so I'm not sure of the differences in performance. I was thinking of trying a steelhead blank with this action for close range carp fishing - essentially pitching bolt rigs in the smaller stream/rivers we have here. I figured since most pitching/flipping rods are pretty stiff a extra-fast ac
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Hi all. Has anyone built a rod on this blank and if so, what are your thoughts? I'm considering it for a river smallmouth rod, casting spinners (size 2-3) and soft plastics/jigs under floats. My favorite river has some decent smallmouth in it which are fun on lighter steelhead gear so I thought this blank may fit the bill. thanks Tom.
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Thanks Norm for the input about the guides and also the FG knot. I'll look it up and learn to tie it as suggested. Tom.
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Hi all, I'm "repurposing" a steelhead blank for carp fishing. The running guides for the blank are Fuji Alconites, BYAGs in a size 6. I plan on using some braided line with this rod, probably a 17.5 braid with a 10-12 pound mono leader. I've never used braided lines before so was wondering if the size 6's would be too small for the braid-mono knot or if Alconites are a bad choic
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Michael - I'm not sure if it would work in terms of distance, especially if I needed to do a gentle lob. The spots i'm fishing usually aren't at super long ranges as some fish in the UK. I don't even know if I would need a weight that heavy for a marker float and will likely try the technique first with a lighter weight.
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Hi all. I was wondering about the risks of exceeding the weight requirements on a rod blank? For example, I use steelhead/salmon blanks for carp fishing some of which have a max rating of 3/4 ounce. Some carp gear, such as marker floats, use weights of 3-4 ounces. Is there risk of doing real damage to my gear by exceeding the weight by so much? I would assume so but would like some more opini
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Hi Spencer The butt grip is just over 4" but the reel seat threads add another inch or so. I found the butt section would always catch on my wading jacket pockets when moving the rod from a lower position to high sticking. Maybe I'm keeping my arms too close to my sides while fishing - but so much of my casting is short distances and essentially lobbing the rig for short drifts I wante
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Herb and Phil, thanks for the additional comments. For me, the compromise is my wallet - a CTS blank sounds nice but the budget doesn't allow it. Thanks again for your thoughts. Tom.
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I'm in need of a little clarification here. I was under the impression that the reason for the "switch" designation was because you could use either T/H or S/H? Is it a case of technically you could cast with S/H but in no way does it match a proper S/H rod?
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Thanks guys. I'm happy to hear of your experiences. I was worried the longer blank would be a bit cumbersome but hoped that balancing it correctly with the right reel would help. Also, the blank I have is a medium fast action so it should fit the bill well.
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Hi all. I was wondering if anyone has used a switch rod blank for a single hand rod? I realize that switch rods are technically designed to be cast with both or a single hand, but they are usually build in a two hand style - and I guess with single handed casting only done occasionally. I have a 10'8" blank I was going to use for steelhead. At this point 90% of my fishing is with an
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Hi Gene, I finally had a chance to set up the rod. I haven't cast it yet (hopefully tomorrow) but at first look and an impromptu static test the 8 guide spacing works really well. I'll confirm the guide location after some casting but i doubt I will need to do much. Thanks for your help. best Tom.
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Hi Gene, Thanks for the measurements. I'll try the 8 guide formula and let you know how it turns out. best Tom
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Hello all, Thanks for the additional advice. Lots of things to try and consider when it comes to fine tuning, Hi Gene, Thanks for the offer, I couldn't find the spreadsheets either. Here is the information for this rod. The length from the reel seat to tip is 104.5 inches, and the tip-top is 4.5 size.I'd like to try 8 guides. best, Tom.
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Thanks for all of the input. I usually place the initial guides as per the manufacturer's recommendations and the then start with the static loading + reducing guides. I usually end up with one less than they recommended. Gene, if you don't use the visual clues do you have a mathematical/measurement based formula of the placement? thanks Tom.
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Hi all. Just curious, how many guides do you typically end up with on your 9 foot fly rods? thanks Tom.
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