Brett, I built a spinning rod on that exact blank about fifteen years ago to do exactly what you are thinking for schoolie stripers and blues. Overall it worked fine, but it is not the best. I made sure that I only fished it when the water was colder in case I hooked a bigger striper, or in the summer when only the smallest of schoolies are in the bay. I did not want to take a chance f
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I stopped by the Bass Pro Shop in Atlantic City last night to pick up a light for my one boat, and as I walked through the fishing section I spotted a rod/reel combo that had Cabela's / Bass Pro's version of the KR Concept. The rod was a Fish Eagle spinning rod (I take it that it is their house brand) and it had a guide train and micros that mimicked the KR Concept. It looks like even the mass
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Paul, Google "A Spinning Rod for the Flats" by Capt. Fred Everson. He wrote an article that was published in Saltwater Sportsmen about ten or more years ago about this exact subject. I built a rod using a Forecast 7wt rod and trimmed 2" from the tip and 4" from the butt to end with a rod that was 8'6". I used it for casting very light jigs and unweighted plastics to
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I built a jig to make them about ten or twelve years ago, and demonstrated to my local saltwater fly fishing club how to make them. I can say while it was cool to watch them come together, no one in my club that used them seemed to notice any difference over a straight piece of fluoro or mono as a leader for our local waters. If you are fishing where a delicate presentation or shock absor
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Thanks guys. I appreciate it. Billy, I need to get to a customer site in South Amboy in the next month or two, so when I do I will let you know so that I can come by and purchase a blank or two.
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I just found a box with U-40 Rod Bond that was purchased in 2009 (I have the receipt showing the order), and I want to know if it is okay to use. I did call Trondak and they said that it was fine, so I mixed up a small batch on some aluminum foil and left it on my desk for thirty-six hours to see what I get. Well, it is flexible like they claim, and there is a very slight tackiness to it, meani
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Thank you all for your input. This gives me a much better idea of what I need.
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I am about to build a light conventional setup on a Castaway SWR-IP 842 that I got a long time ago. This will be used with a low-profile baitcaster, and I plan to use an exposed blank trigger seat. I have marked out where the reel will sit, and my measurements show between a 9.8 to 9.9 opening at the tip end, to about a 10.1 on the butt end of the area. Am I better off buying a seat (thinking
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Dan, You mentioned flounder, sea bass, and tog, so I am assuming that you are in the Northeast somewhere. If you are, check out the NERBs group that Billy Vivona has created. He has gatherings throughout the winter, and every rod building question you have will be answered. He also goes deep into decorative wraps and custom grips. He is truly an artist, and one that is passionate about passing
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I'm building an ultralight rod, and wanted to use 2.5 size micro guides. I checked all of the vendors, and didn't see anything smaller than size 3.0. I know that I've seen some references to 2.5 guides, but am having trouble locating a vendor. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Gracias.
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Milt, For the floor, I would suggest covering it. Standing on concrete can get you fatigued quickly, which will limit the time that you get to actually enjoy your hobby. Fine Woodworking magazine had an article in their annual "Tools & Shop" issue a few years ago (around January 2004 or January 2005), and it dealt with covering a concrete floor to make the space warmer and
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Billy, Here is the link.
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I was looking at a brochure that I got from MH in the mail a few months ago, and the CRB Split-Grip Handle Kits caught my eye. It looks like they would basically extend the blank a good amount. I have a GUSA 703 DHX that has been cut down to 6'8". I'd like to extend the blank to about 7'4", and think that the CRB Handle Kits could help in this regard. I was just on the MH site, an
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Guys, Thank you so much for all of the suggestions. I have noted all of the different blanks, and will check them out. I have a few Batson rods already, and really like their blanks. I don't have any of the Mudhole blanks yet, but they are on my list for the spring. Chris, I am in Margate. Let me know where you are. It's nice to know that there are some other builders in the area. May
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Hi guys. Happy Holidays. I am going to build my daughter (which I will probably use much more than her) an ultralight rod to use in the back bays of Southern NJ for schoolie sized stripers (usually up to about three lbs) and snapper blues (2 lbs or less). I already have an Okuma Aveon 10 reel, which is about 5 oz, and handles mono from 2 - 6 lbs. I plan on using 8 lb. Crystal Fireline on th
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Keith, I just sent you an email.
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Keith, I did this same thing using a Batson Forecast 2-piece 9 ft 7 wt blank that I picked up from one of the vendors on the left for about $14. I trimmed 2" from the tip, and 4" from the butt to end up with a rod that is 8'6". I have a very short rear grip (about 4"), and paired a Tica Libra 2500 with the rod. I set it up using the New Concept system. I use it to cast un
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Bill, nice video. It's nice to put faces with the names. I must say, your warehouse is definitely one of the neatest that I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot in my profession.
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Thanks guys for your feedback. I just ordered some Madeira yesterday, so I plan on starting something from Billy's book later this week.
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Tom, I'm looking forward to the new issue. By they way, I have a question that I've always wanted to ask but didn't. If an article appears in Rod Maker Magazine, and there is no author's name attached to the article, can I assume that you are the author? Just curious. Thanks.
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I've built a few very simple rods in my day, and have even gotten to where I've done a few of them as spirals. My decorative wrap experience to this point has been diamonds and chevrons on rods that were already completed. I want to start doing some more challenging cross wraps, and am wondering if there is a reason to do the decorative wrap before I install my grips and reel seat. Most of m
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I was thinking of a cheap way to make one of these stakeout anchors as well for my boat. I was walking thru a construction equipment place on Saturday, and I found somthing called a slate bar. It's basically about a five foot long crowbar, with a point on one side, and a flattened bend at about a 45 degree angle on the other side. I figured that this would work great for a stakeout anchor.
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I'm going to build a blank that I have in the closet. The blank is a no-name blank, and one of a few that i picked up at a garage sale years ago. The blank is 6'6", size 4 tip, and .400 butt. I plan on using size three micros, and spinning reel in about the 2500 size. That being said, what do you all suggest for my stripping guide size? Should I go tip-top, size 3 micros, and stripp
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I received my CD in the mail last night, and I only ordered it late last week. Super fast shipping for sure. Thanks Tom. Anyway, the articles on the CD are great. I'm a few pages into the Spiral Wrapping "Making the Transition" article, and already I know that my money was well spent. For anyone thinking about ordering the CD, I can tell you firsthand that it contains a ton of
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I just ordered the CD via the new RodMaker website. Very smoothe transaction. The site looks great Tom.
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Thanks guys for all of the replies. I really appreciate the feedback. I will check them all out.
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I'm headed to Costa Rica in May for a few days for a company-paid vacation, and I will bring a rod. I would like to have something in the 7' Medium-action range, and was trying to find a three or more piece blank that is light on the wallet. I did a search of some vendors, but came up empty. My thought is that I'd pair it with my Tica Libra 2500 with about 10 lb braid, which I'll use to fi
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Guys, I have a friend that is looking for a 6 wt blank that is 6'6" to 7' long. Can anyone make a recommendation? Thanks. Joe
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Well, I just got myself a great 12 rpm gearmotor for $15. It's a Hurst Manufacturing AC gearmotor that Grainger sells for $61, so I'm pretty happy with my purchase. Anyway, I'm trying to figure out the best way to attach a pulley onto the shaft of the motor. The shaft is 3/8" long, and 3/16" diameter. I know that some of you out there have overcome this challenge, so what's the be
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Tom, that's great to hear. I had just read a news article on them laying off over 33% of their workforce, and possibly having to close the plant. It's reassuring to read your comments about them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Warning could foreshadow Gudebrod closing Michelle Karas, mkaras@pott

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