At ICRBE I decided to acquire another long crankbait rod. The folks at Swampland helped me zero in on a glass blank designed and built by Al Jackson and I love it. I made some custom carbon grips for it, with the front grip having ridges for your fingers and is slightly eliptical. The Batson counter weight was milled to fit, and is spot on for balancing the rod right at the middle of the reel se
Forum: rodboard

At ICRBE I decided to acquire another long crankbait rod. The folks at Swampland helped me zero in on a glass blank designed and built by Al Jackson and I love it. I made some custom carbon grips for it, with the front grip having ridges for your fingers and is slightly eliptical. The Batson counter weight was milled to fit, and is spot on for balancing the rod right at the middle of the reel se
Forum: rodboard

At ICRBE I decided to acquire another long crankbait rod. The folks at Swampland helped me zero in on a glass blank designed and built by Al Jackson and I love it. I made some custom carbon grips for it, with the front grip having ridges for your fingers and is slightly eliptical. The Batson counter weight was milled to fit, and is spot on for balancing the rod right at the middle of the reel se
Forum: rodboard

At ICRBE I decided to acquire another long crankbait rod. The folks at Swampland helped me zero in on a glass blank designed and built by Al Jackson and I love it. I made some custom carbon grips for it, with the front grip having ridges for your fingers and is slightly eliptical. The Batson counter weight was milled to fit, and is spot on for balancing the rod right at the middle of the reel se
Forum: rodboard

I need to repair a couple of rods. So I am rying to locate the guides/tips used on a couple of rods. The Wright & McGill Skeet Reese rods and an Abu Garcia Veritas rod. Any assistance would be appreciated.
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I would second this option for the 812. If the person is tall they may want the longer 843 but not necessarily. I am 6'6" and think the 812 is a nice blank, but if you know you are around a lot of grass most of the time then perhaps your best bet is the 843 or 783, but you will definitely give up some of the tip action for casting.
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I have a friend who wants me to repair a Bass Pro Rod for them. I need two guides for a Tourney Special casting rod. I think they are American Tackle Halide guides. If you know what guides were used on these rods, please let me know.
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I think this thread was hijacked to an extent. The original rod is broken so it can't be checked. I was really hoping someone was familiar with the original 2008 Kistler finesse blanks and would know an acurate replacement based on their knowledge of the original blank. However, thanks for the suggestions so far.
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I saw the MHX DS blank and was wondering if it is just a bit heavier action than the Batson version. I have several of the Batson RX8 822.5 and I am looking for a blank just a little bit stiffer overall but about the same action. I just don't want the tip to be too fast. Flukes were one of the top baits thrown on the rod that broke along with 1/4oz and less shaky head.
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I need to build a new rod to replace a rod built on a 2008 Kistler blank. This was roughly a 6'10" finesse rod with plenty of backbone but yet pretty darn light. Since the rod is broken I can't really compare a new blanks action to it, but was really hoping folks on here were familiar with those blanks and might be able to point me at a close replacement. I hate to say it but I can't affo
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I too have been making my own as of late. I use Malin Hard-Wire Stainless Steel Leader, as I have it on hand from making prop baits and crank baits... Get some good round nose pliers or if you already have a wire bender great. A hardened steel punch will make flattening the ends much easier or you can cut the excess off after flattening if your worried about your fingers. :)
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you may be able to find what you want here
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orange with blue and white random accents
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if you want real pop you can also air brush if you have the equipment.
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Jeremy, I think for drop shot / finesse rods you will be pleased with using carbon. I have the same Batson RX8 drop shot blank built with cork and with carbon and I prefer the carbon hands down. I also use carbon on my Senko rod (and a few others) and truly just like the smoothness (and looks). I don't leave the carbon weave texture and built them out smooth even though this will add to the we
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The Batson set up above is spot on for me except for grips and reel seat. I have large hands and if I make a spinning rod for me, it will have an Aero reel seat and I use split grips and no foregrip to keep it light as well. But the Batson blanks and spacing referenced works well for ceramic guides. The last one I made using that blank, I used the black Recoils and had to adjust the spacing a
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+1
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+1 on the Aero seat.
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Just like you said, I like glass for most cranking but use graphite for some light baits, topwater and traps. But most 'crank' baits I prefer glass. I am tall and love the glass rod I picked up from Swampland at ICRBE. It was designed and built by Al Jackson and I can't say enough about it.
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Thanks, I agree it is good to know they can be had with out the comfort finish.
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OK, the first few aren't bad but aren't as exacting as I would like, after sliding on the sleeve there just seems to be a lot of loose fibers that break loose and get into the first coating. So am I just overworking it as I wipe it down to get the excess epoxy out of the first coat and to get it to adhere to the core shape? Next there as got to be a bit of info folks will share about how to g
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+1 This coupon is just like every coupon I ever cut out. Somehow they never seem to make if to the store, event, shop whatever.
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I just bought a new blank from Swampland while at ICRBE. It is one that Bill Stevens helped me pick out and had Al Jackson who designed the rod talk with me about the rod. Now they kept calling it a 7'10" rod but in reality the rod is 7'11.25" This rod is light for being more or less an 8' S Glass rod, and I can't wait to build it. Now I won't be building this one spiral wrapped bu
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pretty cheap if you look through all the listings, some are sold as non dental and tend to be less expensive
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You have to 'check in' and pay a fee at Randleman so it is a tad slow which makes the Ramp activity a bit less crazy in the AM. But it can backup waiting to get into the parking area to get checked in. I suspect that it will be a madhouse this spring, but probably worth the wait.
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Yeah Randleman is nice, but you pay 15$ for up to 3 people to fish, I have only been once but we did catch a couple of 4lb fish and about 20 1.5 - 2 lb fish.
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High Rock Lake isn't far from town, and should be warming up nicely by the time of ICRBE. I wish I could say I was available on Friday or Sunday, but I won't know till the last minute. There are lots of guys around that might me able to hit a nearby lake, so perhaps someone will be available. Email me and I will check back at the beginning of next week.
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I have put mine on a mandrel or drill bit spun the grip to score a nice straight line and then just cut it off using a band saw. But once it is scored nice and square you could use what ever you want to cut it and then just shape with sand paper, just don't use to rough of a paper before you get down to a 600 to 1000 grit or so to leave the same level of smooth finish as the rest of the grip.
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I make / paint custom baits as well as building a few rods. I have painted a few blanks using airbrush paints and clearcoating the section painted with a Dupont 2 part automotive clear. I haven't had them painted but for several months and so far I have no issues at all. If you are only painting the lower section below the first guide I really don't think you'll have any issues. I only recent
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Paul Lindsey Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I agree with what Bob said and i think Ken's > suggestion will work the best. my .02 +1 A couple weeks ago I did a personal rebuild of an old Team Daiwa rod where the finish was cracking like mad, one guide cracked but I loved the rod, so off it all came but the reel seet. I just didn't have a pot dee
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