Thanks for the quick reply.
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Hi, curious at the expo reception Tom talked about a rod sleeve protector he used to put over rods to give to people. I am making a few rods for friends and was wondering what sleeves people recommend. The rod is a 7’ spinning rod. Thanks Mitch
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Is there a link? Thanks, Mitch
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Peter, I have built several 130 lb class stand up rods for myself over the years and fished them numerous times. I have used roller and conventional guides. I have caught tuna and swordfish on them. I do an under wrap with A thread and I do a Size D thread double wrap on the guides. The way I do the double wrap is I wrap up the guide and then back down as a continuous wrap. I then finish with
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I have a copy of the paperback on my shelf that I bought in 1984. It has a lot of epoxy and color preservative stains on it. Still a classic. Now I get most info from Tom’s magazine and YouTube.
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The first rod I ever made in 1985 was a yellow Fenwick blank, I believe they called the color “Honey”. I built it for winter flounder fishing when there were winter flounder. To date it is a great rod that still fishes well. If you can find them they are great blanks.
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Thanks, got it. Yes will mostly be a jigging rod. Very helpful as usual.
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Tom thanks for the quick response. So you just eyeball and test the running guides and place the stripping guide by running the string to the tip top?
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Ok so I got a Bushiso BNEX72/50-80 that I need to build for tuna jigging by next Saturday. The reel is a Penn Torque S7 and when I look at the concept system with that reel. It puts the choker guide at 72” which is off the end of the blank. I seem to remember some discussion on this. I can not find it so I am curious how others would lay out this rod I am using Fuji TKWSG guides. Thanks
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Jon, Mark, and Robert Thanks for the well thought out answers. I have been NE Party Boat tuna fishing since 1984 from Point Judith to NJ and from Hydrographer to Baltimore canyons. My built go to rod has been a 5’8” Saber Stroker rated 80-130 that I built with a Penn 50 TW International in 1990 with grip lengths as described. I have used the rod as a rail rod at times and can put significant
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Most fights, not all. Will be a stand up which may involve a harness occasionally. Used on a headboat or less frequently private boat. I have used Batson products on many builds but are not familiar with their tuna type blanks.
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Love your answer Mike. My Sabre has caught over 50 tuna to 200lbs and most fights are over in less than 15 minutes. Do you have any specific model of the Calstar, Seeker, or Thrasher to recommend. Thanks, Mitch
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I will be live bait fishing with squid or mackerel and bait fishing with butterfish or anchovies. I would prefer a slightly longer rod than 5’6” because I will mostly be fishing from party boats and it will help keep the line away from the boat. I have a Sabre Stroker 80-130 rod that I made 25 years ago that is a slayer with amazing leverage. It is heavy compared to current standards and is not e
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Thanks for the quick response. I will look these over and call with any questions. Mitch
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I have built several tuna rods prior to the new generation of blanks and want to build a killer rod that is light, strong, and can put significant pressure on a fish. This is for NE tuna fishing mostly from Headboats so fish can be 30-40lbs to 150 lbs. Have also gotten swords in the mix. Nothing like catching a big fish on a self built rod. Looking for conventional setup. Thanks, Mitch
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I have had this happen with older rods I have built and used. They can be restored to beautiful condition with the application of a new coat of epoxy. Mitch
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Just curious I am getting thread spools all over the place and was wondering what people use to organize and store their threads. I am looking for a method that lets you see the threads and keep them organized. Thanks, Mitch
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Are you demoing or selling?
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Tom, when does the magazine ship with the tickets for the reception. Thanks. Mitch
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Wow greater than $170 per blank. I would love to know what % profit they make on that blank. I wonder what the real production costs are.
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Depends what you want. I built on the heavy and have fished for tiles with 3lbs of weight no problem and also fluking in 60-90 feet of water with 6-8oz. I also have the inshore light Hercules and they fish fine for Stripers and fluke. I have 30 Daiwa Saltist conventional on them and a 40 Daiwa Saltiga on the heavy. Billy is on hiatus due to Sandy damage to his operation. Mudhole caries the blan
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I built a rod from a Seeker Hercules blank GTS70H that I use for deep water NE fishing. I have used it for wreck fishing, Tile fishing, and live lining for stripers. It is extremely versitile and is a great perfoming rod.
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FYI 16 hours from Syracuse to High Pont by Amtrak with a change in NYC. Rather drive the 9.5 hours with a book on tape or the IPod.
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Jim, I do not see an amtrak connection from Syracuse, NY to Winston Salem.
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Lou, Your drive is almost identical to mine by distance. I am coming from central NY so unfortunately I have to go through the mountains so snow is a variable. Thanks
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On getting to the Expo I can fly to Duram and drive to WS or drive from home 10 (hour drive). Just curious is it better to drive so that i can drive my goodies home or do the exibitors ship purchaces and at what charge? Not sure the airlines would let me bring blanks on the plane. Anyone have experience with ship or drive. Previously I drove but I lived closer then. Thanks, Mitch
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I am driving from NY 10 hours with my IPOD and room to bring back stuff.
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To far south a lot of us come from the north. Atlanta is a 15+ hour drive from NJ. It hopefully will move further North not South. Mitch
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I say Baltimore, MD? Mitch
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I just used aluminum winding checks for the first time and was curious if people run the epoxy up the check or stop at the beginning of it. I seem to see photos of both and was wondering what the pluses do minuses of epoxying over them is. Thanks
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