I like Michael D's suggestion on SS ringed guides, and Spencer & Ron on the spiral wrap. Your friend will be amazed how much easier it is to manage something heavy on the end of the line with that spiral wrap setup. If it were me, I would try to find a 7'-8' composite glass blank that is rated for up to 100lb line and build it out with an aluminum reel seat, x-flock over EVA grips or x-fl
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Mark Talmo Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > This particular post has been dead for over 20 > years; I miss the old format. I can't argue with Mark's statement based on this single example (there are several if you search for "spiral wrap"). Part of why I love this site - so much useful info hidden in here.
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Freshwater species are a coin toss if you are targeting fish under 20lbs - I can't seem to feel or notice any major advantage having fished both configurations for bass. However many rod lockers will eat your guides if you aren't careful. Saltwater species targeting >25-30lb grade fish? Acid wrap all the way. It makes a massive difference - much easier to manage the rod, the reel, and th
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1/8-1/4oz on the 735, 3/16-3/8oz on either of the 736's is probably about right. They are on the moderate side of fast in my opinion. Haven't built out the MB764 X-ray.
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El, I would say the 735 HM would be great for a heavy finesse rig, centered around 10lb line. That's what I have mine geared for and it's very well suited for that. The 736 HM isn't that much heavier action than the 735, but you could use it as an all around 12-15lb bass rod (i.e. bladed baits, lighter TX rigs, lighter jigs). The 736 X-ray is about as sensitive as it gets, but also feels a lit
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Having built and fished the MB736 HM and X-ray as well as the MB735 HM, what does your friend want to do with the rod? Critical question before recommending any of those 3 blanks.
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A 13.0mm ECSM fit one I built without any issues on a 10.5in blank butt to lower end of real seat position, but it was a little snug with the spline aligned. However, I would wait until you have the blank in hand to measure out the handle & seat needs. My records indicate a 0.8mm delta between the blank diameters at the top of the reel seat to the bottom of the real seat, with right around
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I would say for general bass fishing, it's a novelty and up to the individual based on preference. On a bass rig it will let you drop guide count, where if you build the guides on top you have to add more guides to prevent blank touch. I have done both and I'm happy with both for bass applications. However... for pelagic species that are going to give you >5-10min of fight? Total game ch
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If I could go back and wrap my saltwater rods over again, I would spiral wrap ever single one rated for 30lb or heavier. Tom is spot-on, it doesn't matter which side of the blank you put the guides on, once you have any pelagic species over 25-30lbs on the other end it's going to pull that reel around once the fish gets remotely close to the boat. It's not just Phenix that acid wraps their
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Jonathan, I actually built that blank for myself with micros as well, but ran a spiral wrap on it using the MB706-1 HM layout from NFC. I taped up the MB706-1 HM casting layout, and although the 8th position guide wasn't an issue, I didn't like the line touch on the 3-5 guide positions. Instead of doing an 11 guide Loomis MBR844 guide spacing copy, I went with with the spiral wrap (addressed th
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Rick Shaffer Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I have ordered a Hybrid NFC CB704 and Hybrid 705 > for casting application.......I am a little > concerned about the 0.66 Butt Diameter and > components to fit.....several people have > indicated they have built on this blank, so I > should be OK??? As Steve mentioned the Zentron 705 is a gre
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El I wouldn't use the FLIP 764 for any reaction baits, the tip isn't right for it. For c-rigs and football jigs, you could definitely sling a 1/2-1oz bait with it, but for pitching/flipping applications I think it would be undergunned for that weight range. If you are mainly pitching a 3/8-1/2oz baits, the FLIP764 could do it, but I think you'd be happier with the FLIP 766. However, if you wan
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Based on building with several blank brands I strongly recommend ordering & receiving the blanks and then taking the seat ID measurements based on the handle lengths you plan on building to, unless you know with certainty that you will need to arbor the seat regardless (i.e. fly blanks, many salt water build outs). I have seen some blank variability on repeat builds with equivalent blank mod
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For any salt build targeting fish over 10lbs I would recommend running double foot guides all the way to the tip top, and use moderate strength ALPS or Fuji guides. But more importantly, what leader/terminal line rating are you going to run on each rod? I feel that plays a more important role in understanding the guide types I need vs. what I might think I want. When pulling on ocean species
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I tend to be a little bit biased towards Shimano products but having used Curado K's and DC's over the last few years I would recommend either. The DC is specifically useful if you are having to pitch through thick overhangs where you often have to get through some stuff to get to a target. The SLX's are also quite nice if you aren't ready for Curado pricing. For pitching baits, I would reco
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COVID supply chains got me into rod building, mainly for salt because stores couldn't get the rods I wanted out of Malaysia. They did me a favor because I won't look back on retail builds for salt or freshwater applications. I challenge everyone questioning blank "straightness" or spline-correctness to visit a local tackle shop, BPS, Cabelas, Dicks, or Academy and pick up some rods.
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Brandon I only had issues with the fighting butt on the two Zentron 706-1 I have built, you can ream a Winn butt for the 705-1 although it was close. The two 706-1 blanks I received had 18mm butt end diameters. I can't comment on the APFG 745 butt diameter, haven't built one (yet). Also, I haven't had any issues wrapping the delta blanks with A or D thread. I took a look and NFC reports t
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Take a look at the Zentron Hybrid 705-1 and 706-1. If you like throwing bigger/heavier bladed baits (>3/8oz) go with the 706-1. The 705-1 could double as a squarebill/light bladed jig rod. The nice thing about these blanks is the tip and the faster action. There's enough tip to let the fish eat the bait but a lot of backbone for getting them out of cover. Very happy with mine, better th
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