For inshore rods with 2500 up 4000 Shimano size reels using to 10lb mono or up to 30lb braid they work great. They are also super easy to set up and made with corrosion resistant 316 stainless steel. I built a popping rod to use from a kayak mainly for seattout with the airwaves which are super light and durable. I did use the nanolite tip top. I have been using a Tica Libra 2500 with 8 lb mono a
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Good deals I have seen lately is Anglers Workshop has the St Croix Avid 10ft 1-4 on there closeout deals for $114 and there private label brand made in the USA by Talon is worth a look too. Then Schneiders Rod shop has a Rainshadow 3/4-4oz for $70 I believe their lure weights tend to be underweighted. Maybe someone who has used this model will chime in.
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Rod Geeks and the St Croix Surf rod blanks are great. The only possible issue with them is they are a 70/30 split design instead of 50/50 if you have limited travel space.I have a St Croix Avid 3-8 that I really like and another rod that is a 3/4 to 4oz which covers most of my surf needs in NC. I think a 10 to 11ft blank with a 2 to 6oz rating would be very versatile for FL . You might also be ab
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All of personal batcasting builds in the future will be spiral wrapped. On the subject are gimbals still helpful with a spiral wrapped rod?
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First pic is with (2) 5 oz sinkers on my xc 733 so you can see the bend, granted in real fishing situations it would be bouncing around with current and boat. 2nd pic with 5 lbs hanging to see the flex. 3rd pic showing how the guides spiral around the blank with the pulling force brings the line to the lowest point where it wants to go and most stable. K With this build I
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I wonder if hot melt glue would work? Might be too messy
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I have heard about epoxy injected in then tipped over on a sheet of plastic to make it flush.
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Also I am almost sure that the Rod Geeks SG blanks are used in the St Croix Mojo Cat rods. On the St Croix site they have a 7'6" 30-60 rod. They have it listed as fast action but to me it more mf and the lure weight up to 16oz must be for dropping it down not casting. That is the problem with lure weights,action and lb ratings they are all subjective or not descriptive . Also with fishing fo
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Oh I forgot to also add to check out the S glass fiberglass blanks from Rod Geeks, they have a 7'11" xxh 30-60lb mf action. I flexed these at the rod expo and they feel great. I believe they are based on or very similar to the St Croix Classic Cat rods that were discontinued but very highly regarded. To cut it to size and action liking you would have to tape or zip tie some line with the
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Billy beat me to it to recommend the Rod Geeks X Comp that he was a huge part in developing. I built a 733 in neon green for catfish/ saltwater pier fishing in NC. I am not going after trophy 50lb plus catfish with this rod but if I was the heavier x comps in neon orange would be on the radar. I like the action with them, flexible tip but not floppy to handle some weight going to a smooth loading
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I can see the detail work the brook trout scale pattern would be difficult to get to your liking but I am relatively new to rod building. Maybe a high quality print decal would work.Please post picks when you receive the rod on here and fiberglassflyrodders.
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For high quality blanks that fit your color and size requirements I would check out Ijuin Yomogi from Japan for parabolic slower action or CTS from New Zealand for faster action rods.
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That CRB deflection looks like a great idea. Hopefully I will buy one at the next ICRBE to use for CCS measuring and deflection to adgust guide layout. Also the glow in the dark thread sounds good too for nighttime fishing.
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Happy 4th to Kevin and company and your families. I am loving my Liberty P703 that I built. I made it with a little shorter than norm rear grip and longer foregrip mainly for kayak fishing but it put it to some channel catfish from the bank a couple of weeks ago. As long as I done my part it moved them away from fallen trees a few feet from the bite no problem and worked great with punch bai
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Also for my next fiberglass fly rod build which will probably be a 7'6" 4wt I am going to demo some rods from Cameron's TFM Loaner program. He has the Orvis,Epic and Lamiglas available. 2 weeks to test them out is great way to know what is best for the caster and situations.
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Started with fly rods with a cheap Martin fiberglass and about to build a Lamiglas 843 for small streams in NC. I like the extra durability and slower reaction of fiberglass especially with the shorter fly rods. If I was looking for a 7'6" rod I would take a hard look at the Orvis Super Fine,CTS and Lamiglas.Then there are the some specialty fiberglass blank makers that are highly regarded
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I learned a lot from Morris's wood turning seminars at the expo,I just don't have the space for a lathe right now.I had Archie turn down some Japanese Cherry wood and I shaped them on my DIY drill lathe a touch to my liking then spar varnish finish. Archie is good guy to deal with for sure. Funny you said Sycamore bc I just bought some blanks of that earlier today.I like the look but also seeing
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Chris, First off thank you for your service. No doubt you can build a better performing rod than the Syndicate with the CTS or a Gatti from Rocky Mnt Rod Shop, it will cost about the same as the Syndicate or more depending on what hardware you go with. I bought a Hook and Hackle XI 10ft 3wt blank about 1.5 years ago when they had them 50% off for Christmas. It feels good but I have not held th
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If you need 4 piece check out Bingham Enterprises SHX fly blanks which are titanium chrome color around $60. I have heard many folks talk highly about them.
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Anglers Workshop has the Pac Bay Rainforest II 906 2 peice in their deal section for less than $42. You might also find some good deals from the sponsors with July 4th specials.
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How many coats of CP? Could be areas where cp did not thoroughly coat the wraps and the darker blank color is showing through.
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Sounds very similar to the MHX power tip saltwater blanks.
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Feathers are a great idea for alignment marks. Thanks Donald
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That is the problem with buying any blank on @#$%& without a warranty. I do buy blanks on @#$%& but it better be a deal so I can get 2 just in case of breakage or super cheap where if it does break it would not be a huge loss. No matter if I bought on there or sponsors here with warranty I bend the blanks on all axis to simulate fighting a good sized fish to what the rod is intended for and casti
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Surely the nanolite is lighter and has a greater ID due to a thinner ring. I like using them for the tip top even if I go with aluminum oxide or chromed stainless inserts for the rest.
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I am sure glad I don't use the most accurate rod when I fish because if I did I would have one less excuse.
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Thanks Norm. The ERN confused me because I have only seen it used for fly rods.
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I thought Point Blank numbers aren't true CCS numbers?
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After handling quite many reel seats at the expo the Pac Bay GBS was one of the most comfortable,has a blank touch window and comes in 16 or 18mm.When I get around to doing a spinning rod where maximum feel is needed I will go with one of those. I am not a fan of split spinning seats.Done a Tennessee handle on a surf rod using a carbon fiber tube and secure the reel with a Fuji plate seat, it i
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Here are some thoughts to throw out. Since this material is apparently tough enough for lures could it be suitable to cover grip either new or refurbish. Something with a nice pattern like Douglas fir bark or wood burl. I can see using this on a aluminum reel seat to make it look like it has an insert.
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