The Xray SJ 736 and SJ 703 are well liked by many. I like the FW 702-2. It would work well with 6# and 1/8 ounce. If more bass guys tried the P704 I think it would have more of a following. The SW 708-2 is more of a saltwater pier/jetty offering but it would likely make a dandy rod for bigger catfish. One of the few blanks that is easily as strong as the rating suggests (most NFC blank
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Just an idea. Don't know if it would work for you. Use one of the reverse pilot bits. Grind down the two flats to the diameter you need. You could take it to a machine shop. They could preserve the cutting edge profile and take equal amounts off both sides.
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Michael, how much weight are you looking to cast, what type of offering, and are you sight or blind casting? Also fly or spin?
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Try the Seeker CLB Series. Calstar Grafighter as well. For a budget blank, the Baston/Rainshadow RCLB. Rod Geeks X-Comp for something more towards the bottom fishing/party boat need. All of these are more King Mackeral blanks than bonefish. You can go pretty light for bonefish. I have a (so called 5 weight cascade composites fly rod) that will do as well as a NFC freshwater series blank
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My two cents. You have the bonefish/sailfish types that are very fast, but aren't really powerful, compared to fish like grouper and amberjack. Those fish (IMHO) need a tip that allows one to cast what is needed but might need a more forgiving backbone "lockup" to handle a sudden high speed surge close to the boat. Hot shot blanks might be a little too quick on the lockup and perha
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Aleks, I think a +/-, or range, from a published CCS number, would be helpful. It does seem there have been occasions in the past where someone may have ended up with something different based on CCS numbers they have posted. Sometimes that works out for the best though (and I dare say David might be a case when I suspected he got a SJ 736).
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Going by the blanks I'd say a new blank might be first on the list. Otherwise keep it cheap on parts and consider it just practice for the real deal. Sorry if that sounded snarky. It is just that your labor/parts/etc.are the same cost on a good blank as a poor blank........and blanks have come a long ways.....so why not get your money's worth on the finished rod?
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You may find this link useful. IMHO, for what you are likely to pay for one today, you won't find a better reel.
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"Any way around that?" Use a jig to leader knot that tests out at lower strength than leader to main line knot. The other option is to use jigs with lighter hooks that will straighten out before your leader/line breaks. I used a loop knot that was basically a simple overhand knot with the tag end passed through that knot and finished with a half hitch. I think it was about a 50%
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Tim are you saying you need ideas for south Florida grouper rods? My advice would be a 6 pack boat to Dry Tortugas. These are the guys I used back in the 1990's. Lots of memorable trips. That Saber will still work fine as the rod will mostly be in the rod holder. But yes, if it is a head boat, the longer rod can come in handy working around others.
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Calstar, Seeker, and Phoneix are some names to consider.
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Dean, HS blanks are just a different animal altogether. They have a very limber tip so they will cast ultra light lures/baits. Then when the fish is hooked the 6-12" of the tip flattens out and it is like you are fighting the fish with a shorter rod of an entirely different power rating. We are talking blanks that are fun to fish for bluegill yet have been reported catching 60# serious
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Chris, on hotshot rods the lure weights are usually trolling, not casting, weights. I have the HS 885-2 and I'd say it's the one you want to try if you want a bit more power than the 7109.
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Jeff, I dug out the blank. I see I have already glued a fighting butt (cork with EVA end, about 1 1/2" total length), a black anodized UL3 up-locking reel seat, and a cork full wells grip on it. It has been awhile but I think the fighting butt was Forecast and the reel seat Pac Bay with Bubinga or Walnut insert. Good chance I have a set of guides for it. I think they are Alps with a doub
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Jeff, I think it is the same blank. Consider that I was looking to fish fresh water from the shore (short casts) and don't know how to fly cast. If a guy could cast into his backing I'm sure it would do fine with a 5 weight line. Like you say, good backbone with a reasonably soft tip. I liked mine enough that I tried hard to find out who made it. I bought it as a closeout so I wasn't given
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I feel your pain. Assuming this is one of the older RXF Excel blanks I think you will find it hard to get a 5 weight that matches. Let me put it this way. I bought a couple from Utmost on closeout and planned to use it for the exotic pan fish down here. Built it up and couldn't cast it well so went for some freebie casting lessons. Instructor cast the rod a few times, laughed, and said, &q
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Why I wouldn't build with this guide layout the following might give you some ideas. I tend to agree with Spencer. One source it. I have fond memories of bluegill fishing at Reelfoot Lake.
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Fuji MN in alconite is a solid proven choice for mono. For braid KW would be better.
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Blue and yellow would also tie in with the Ukraine conflict. In the future that may be looked upon as a world changing event. Twenty years from now he might take pride in saying, "This is my glory to Ukraine rod my Dad made for me when I was eleven".
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What will you be fishing for? Lures or bait? Braid or mono? What pound test? Personally I like the X-ray SJ 736-1 over the SJ 725-1.
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Peter I might be interested in the "tuna rod" if you have no need for it.
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Most of my builds are for salt water. I like to fish relativity light tackle for the size of the fish. Therefore it is important for me to know when my line, knots, and rods will break. For offshore and bottom fishing rods, I want my knots/line to be the weak link. Once that value is determined I know what pound my blank will be tested to. And to make it harder on the blank, I'll have the bl
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Ideally, guides should distribute the load to the blank in keeping with the blank's natural bend tendencies. The stouter the blank, the less it will bend in an unsupported area. Surf blanks are a good bit stronger than freshwater blanks so they don't need as many guides per foot. IFGA style saltwater rods will also have less guides for the same reason. A saltwater conventional built "liv
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The gel type Kardol epoxy is good. Probably have better luck finding at a marine hardware/boat building place.
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Aleks, thank you for this post and all you and your company do. I also think it speaks volumes that a manufacturer would sponsor a forum where it allows its competitors an equal voice. It shows a confidence in one's engineering prowess and product line while encouraging the idea that brilliant ideas can come out of "the mouth of babes". Kendall brings up a lot of good/astute points
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Anytime you cut a blank you are going to make it slower in action. Cutting the butt will reduce the rod's power. I would only cut a blank if I wished to change it's length. That doesn't seem to be the case for you. Sometimes the easiest way to think these things thru is to use an extreme example. If you only left three feet of the tip, likely the blank would bend all the way to the handle (
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For small single foot guides (4 and under) I find the flex coat guide adhesive to be a godsend.
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Kevin I think you might have hit on an something important for Ernie. Good catch! It never occurred to me that he might be wrapping the guides (or deciding on final placement) as he worked his way up the rod. Can't be letting him skip that static line test.
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IMHO the quick and easy way to answer is the following. A longer sight radius gives you better accuracy. But hey, do what works for you.
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Considering what you like......I'd suggest the Xray SJ-703. It is a step up in power from the FW702 (okay maybe a step and a half). But it is a fast blank like the FW702. I have the P704 and it, like most popping blanks, are made to be slower action than a spin/jig. I also feel like the ratings on the website are crossed up between the Xray SJ-732 and SJ-703. To me the SJ-732 is a little
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