I've built quite a few of these rods for Kingfishermen on the NC coast and in my opinion the best blank for the job is the Seeker CLB 704. Composite with a fiberglas tip and a graphite butt.
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Several years ago I built the Lami GSB 1321M for myself and it is favorite surf rod. 11 feet long and rated 4-12oz., it covers about all of my needs and yet is short enough and light enough to fish all day.
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I agree with Donald, but it really helps to have the absolute sharpest blade available. I've tried single-edge and double-edge razor blades, surgical scalpel blades, and solid scalpels, and by far the sharpest blade available are the blades that beauticians and barbers use to cut hair. Go to a Sally's or other beautician supply house and get the blades used for cutting hair. They're not cheap,
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Unless its going to be used on the rail, I like using a 14" hard EVA for the foregrip; a nylon slickbutt (heavy nylon sleeve) mounted over five graphite bushings; and a gimbal to match the reelseat for the rear. The slickbutt makes it easier to get the rod out of a rodholder when its under heavy load, and is considerably less expensive than an Aftco aluminium butt.
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Billy, Teh barbecue we had that night was Lexington barbecue from "Lexington Barbecue" on I-85, owned by Wayne Monk ( third generation) who has been on national TV several times. Basically, Lexington barbecue has a sauce based on ketchup, vinegar, water, and pepper. Eastern NC barbecue has a sauce based on vinegar, brown sugar, pepper, but NO tomato. I served the same barbecue at
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The tendency toward lack of crosswraps is strongly re-inforced by the major high end factory rods. What the fisherman knows is that he can get a crosswrap of sorts on a $20 Wally World special, but if you buy a Loomis, St.Croix, or Lamiglas rod it is plain jane. What my customers want (and what everyone wants) is their name on the rod and many want a decorative decal of the fish for which the r
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Steve, I'd recommend the IP844 or IP845 from Batson. These are 7' popping rods intended to cast live shrimp without throwing them off. The latter is rated 10-20 lb. and is the heaviest in the popping rod line. If you need something heavier, then consider a composite live bait blank either a Seeker CLB-704 or one of the RCLB line of blanks from Batson.
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I use a plastic pallette knife to dip out equal parts of epoxy and hardener (wiping with alcohol and paper towel between hardener and epoxy) onto a cheap paper plate where I paste the two parts together with the same knife and also apply the mixture with the same pallette knife. Pallette knives available at either Wally-World or Hobby Lobby. Leave the plate on the bench to check the next day to
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After building rods for several years, it is impossible to pick up a factory rod without all of the small defects jumping out at you. Admittedly, I really don't look at factory rods too much anymore. In the fishing catalogs, I'm just starting to see some of the high-end rods use higher grade guides than Fuji Hardaloy. Still almost all use lower grade filled cork grips and very standard reelsea
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You might also check with Bob McKamey at Custom Tackle Supply. Bob is a G.Loomis distributor. If you have a tax number, wholesale shouldn't be a problem with many of our good sponsors, (to the left) who handle G.Loomis blanks. Lynn Huffman LH Custom Rods
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I need to try the Threadmaster from Andy, but at the moment I've got too much Flex-coat I need to use up. I've never gotten anything but exceptional products and work from Andy, so I have to believe he's got a good product in the Threadmaster finish. I had a couple of samples of the LS Supreme Hi-Build and liked the way it worked. Great for single coat repairs. Lynn Huffman LH Custom Rods
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The Fuji Alconites have the best chrome plating I've ever seen. I have several rods with these guides which have been used in saltwater for a number of years. All the guide frames look like new. I do clean my rods after each trip. Only Titanium is better. Much better than any of Fuji's gold frame guides.
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John, Lexington is only 20-25 miles south of High Point on I-85. Maybe we can get up a shuttle everyday at lunch, or maybe Wayne Monk will consider setting up catering for the event at ShowPlace each day. Honey Monk's is my favorite place in Lexington. Good stuff. Ask Billy V. Even a NERB from the "Big Apple" knows good barbecue when he tastes it. The best redneck candy ( pork sk
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Tom, Too many clues for locals not to know whereof you speak.
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Electric Motor 101 The speed of a pure AC motor is tied to the frequency of the current. Generally that is 60 cycles per second in the USA. To make an AC motor variable speed, you have to use an inverter (expensive) to change the number of cycles per second of the current. A DC motor's speed is controlled by varying the voltage that goes to the motor, You need to control the voltage by the
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James, This is a very good board with many rodbuilders of all experience levels who are glad to answer questions, but it would be best if you did a little homework on your own first and then ask questions. Every one of your questions has been answered repeatedly on this board and the answers can be had by: 1) Read the FAQ section 2) Using the search feature on the board, do searches for the a
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Secrets to a smooth bore: Forsner bit, high RPM, Slow feed LH Custom Rods
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Tim, I couldn't agree more. Tom and Andy are really special people, as are most of the suppliers that we have as sponsors on this board. It's truly a pleasure to be involved with and gain advice from all of the suppliers and master builders that inhabit this board. I feel privliged, every day to be involved in this craft and to be able to associate with my fellow rodbuilders, who are so will
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The Gudebrod 811 CP will work with any of the epoxy finishes and holds original spool color better than any of the other CP's now available. I normally thin the first coat about 25% with denatured alcohol, and apply the second coat at full strength. This gives you good thread penetration on the first coat, and a good sealing coat on the second coat. It also eliminates bubbles from the air tr
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My "day job" is making yarn and thread from filament polyester and nylon. The elasticity of the two are very similar and depend more on how the thread is processed, rather than the initial chemistry of the two polymers. Generally speaking, nylon is 20% stronger than polyester. Nylon has about 4-4.5% moisture regain, and polyester only has .5% moisture regain. Due to significant diff
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The only tool I use is a plastic artist knife/spatula available at Hobby Lobby or Walmart. I dip out a blob of Part A with the tip, put it on a paper plate, wipe the blade one time with denatured alcohol and a paper towel, dip out a like-sized blob of Part B and put it seperately on the plate, re- evaluate the size of the two blobs and adjust Part B, then paste up the two parts with the knife, a
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Sorry Bill, Better luck next time. Jeff, the belts won't wear as much as you might think, but they're not expensive. Reversing the wiring may also work, but I knew the belt trick would work. Lynn
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Jeff, My CPW has one flat belt and one round belt on the step down unit. Just cross the round belt so it does a figure 8 and it will reverse the rotation. Lynn
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Marc, Bill's steaming tea kettle will definitely work. It takes some time, but I've used the method several times. LH Custom Rods
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Tom, Welcome! I would recommend "Rod-Building Guide: Fly, Cast, Spin" by Tom Kirkman. This is probably the best book for a beginner. Over 100 color pictures, and clear explanations of each step in the process of building rods. Tom Kirkman is the owner of this website, one-man show at Rodmaker Magazine, the driving force behind the National Rodbuilder's Show in Charlotte, and an all
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They can be installed over an EVA grip turned down to the right diameter, but I use 5 of the Pac-Bay or Fuji brick arbors evenly spaced. Go slightly oversize with the arbors and hand sand to fit the sleeve. Very solid.
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Ralph, Mixing the two parts of epoxy creates an exothermeic reaction. That is, the mixtures heats up due to the chemical reaction. Heat causes epoxy to harden quicker. By putting the mixture on a flat sheet of aluminum foil, you allow the mixture to spread out and quickly dissapate the heat of the reaction into the aluminum foil which is an excellent heat conductor. I actually cover a large
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Stephen, You might try a Hardaloy BSVLG30. I don't think they're quite as high as the BHVLG surf guides. Lynn in Liberty, NC
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Check out the Flor flygrips from Angler's Workshop. Very nice grips and the OD of each grip is listed on their webpage.
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Ken, If kings are a major part of his fishing, I'd avoid most of the levelwind reels that have been recommended. Most levelwinds will wear out quickly from the high-speed runs of a kingfish. If money's not a problem, one of the favorite reels on the kingfish tour is the Penn International 12LT spooled with either 20 or 30 lb. line. Another standard for many years has been the Penn Senator 4/0
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