Joe, If you’re only using braid, you can easily get by with a #12 butt guide. The braid will also allow you to use smaller spooled/lighter reels. If you’ll unhide your email (or send me an email), I’ll send you the results of test casting that was done a couple of years ago using smaller guides.
Forum: rodboard

I had a similar problem with a Duckett “Micro Magic” rod that I won in a drawing. The rod had a very pronounced bend. I ended up completely stripping off all the components (including paint) and rebuilding (w/Fuji 3.5’s) and orienting the curve up (belly down). Although the bend is still there, it is far less noticeable. It turned out to be a very nice rod….and very light (2.35 oz).
Forum: rodboard

I absolutely love split grips and even have them on rods with short (<6”) grips. I’ve found that ergonomically, the tapered grip allows the hand to conform more naturally during a cast. If you roll your fingers so as to simulate holding a rod grip and extend your forefinger, you’ll see that the space toward the heel of your hand becomes smaller. They do save considerable weight and if
Forum: rodboard

As Tom mentioned, bending the guide’s foot to achieve more height is an option. I typically modify Fuji TYSG’s, BLAG’s and TATSG’s to gain height as butt guides. Using braided line allows me to use 12’s. I sometimes modify the guide following the butt guide if the spacing between the first 3 guides causes the diameters to be non-concentric (bulls-eye).
Forum: rodboard

Gene, I’ve been using wrapped on single foot guides (Fuji 3.5’s) for tip-tops on all my rods (spinning and casting) for several years and have had no problems whatsoever. My “frog rods”(non-spiral) are used for pulling Bass out of heavy grass mats. Prior to using the wrap-ons, I had used unbraced fly guides on some rods and did have a few bending issues. Apparently the “wrap-ons” are
Forum: rodboard

FWIW, I weighed 14 of the Batson BMKLG 2mm guides and they averaged .028 grams each.
Forum: rodboard

I think rod length is usually a personal preference. It is one of several factors where compromise is an issue….depending on, as Tom said, what the priorities are. Most of the rods I use for Bass fishing are under 6’. They allow me to better manipulate lures, make short accurate casts and give me more leverage.
Forum: rodboard

Recently, I won a Skeet Reese rod in a drawing at a local tackle shop and decided to pay the dollar difference and upgrade to a Duckett “Micro Magic” rod (DFMM66MHC 6’-6”MH. “Recommended for 1/2 oz spinnerbaits, square bill crankbaits in timber.”) I CCS’d the rod and determined its power was about average for the med-heavy classification and the action was moderate. I figured that
Forum: rodboard

Bill, Can you give us the inside diameters of these guides?
Forum: rodboard

Bill, I assumed the outside diameter of the ring was the same as the inside diameter of the frame. Regardless….I’m only concerned with the I.D.s and the weights. There are a lot of posts regarding micro guide sizes and I’m not sure everyone realizes that the actual size differs dramatically from one manufacturer to another. A generic reference to a size 3 or 4 micro is pretty ambiguous wit
Forum: rodboard

Thanks Steve. That's what I needed to know.
Forum: rodboard

Micro guides sizes are frequently discussed on this board generically, and as we all know, they’re sized by the outside ring diameter, so the I.D.’s vary considerably, depending on the manufacturer. I’m looking for alternative choices for “micro” guides. I’ve been using Fuji 3.5’s which have an INSIDE diameter of 1.57mm (.062”). I know that equal and smaller/lighter sizes are mad
Forum: rodboard

Greg, There was further clarification in the CCS info site at left. See the CCS Quick Tips section. Also see TK’s quote below. It was also in RodMaker Vol 12-Issue 4 page 29. Anything other than 10% can skew measurements significantly even though the blank is relatively stiff toward the butt. The type of handle/grip can also affect measurements compared to a bare blank. Posted by: Tom Kirkm
Forum: rodboard

Whatever happened to supporting the blank at 10% of the overall length????
Forum: rodboard

Doug, This is a little off topic, but I have both the Core and Aldebaran reels and I’ve found that, there is a pesky bump on the palm side of the reel that can be uncomfortable depending on how you grip the rod/palm the reel. It is what the pivot shaft for the swing-away side plate is pressed into. Anyway, I solved the problem by grinding it (the bump) off flush.
Forum: rodboard

Doug, In the spirit of replacing that 7 ½ foot worm rod in order to detect that subtle bite…. From that same 7 ½ foot rod, I would trim an 1 ½” from the tip and 17 ½” from the butt, install a 9” split grip behind split reel seat, wrap on seven 3.5’s Fuji’s (1 being the tip). Then I’d install a Core 50MG7 reel (5.5 oz.) with 20 lb braid. Total weight well under 10 ounces. Grant
Forum: rodboard

Tom, “The rod hand in the realm of 8 to 12 inches from the butt of the blank” Therein lays the problem. That variable of where the rod is gripped not only changes the effective length of the rod (dynamically), but by how much, determined by that location….hence, justifying a rod rating vs. a blank rating. By using 1/3 of the length from the RS to tip (for rod rating), the variable of diff
Forum: rodboard

Tom, In regards to the “just for kicks”, I agree with what you’re saying. By my selection of the reel seat location, I see it as a practical feature from which to measure. Most anglers grip the rod very close to the reel…or palm the reel itself. It’s kinda like the arbitrary 1/3 of rod length. In any type of system, it’s difficult to be all-inclusive, but we try to provide for the ru
Forum: rodboard

Marc, Sounds like Robert has your solution but, I have extended quite a few old rods that used the old Fuji pistol grip by installing the extension inside the butt section by 2 ½ to 3” and doing an overwrap for reinforcement. These were all relatively heavy powered rods and never had a failure of any kind.
Forum: rodboard

Peter, (and Tom) I agree with you. The CCS can’t tell the difference if you are measuring a fly rod blank or a casting or spinning blank. The issue is that the measurement is for the BLANK, not the COMPLETED ROD. How much does a fly rod flex behind where the angler grips it? Wouldn’t you think that even a COMPLETED fly rod’s “effective length” (as far as dynamics are concerned) might m
Forum: rodboard

Bill, The reason that I (and probably others) have not used the site is because until recently, ERN values in the range of my rods were not readily available….or I should say, not easily converted to cents (and vice versa). And as you say, there isn’t much there (casting/spinning). Maybe that’ll change with more ERN/Cents conversion Data (another issue). Also, my primary interest is in th
Forum: rodboard

Joe, Actually, since I almost always trim blanks, I make the measurement 3 times. Once before trim, then the other two. In theory, the calculation accommodates the trimmed length, but I measure before trimming anyway. I don’t see the characteristics/dynamics of the blank vs. the finished rod as being the same. Granted, the blank always stays the same, but we don’t fish with a bare blank
Forum: rodboard

Phil, Agreed....except for the rod being gripped ahead of the reel....effectively shortening the length.
Forum: rodboard

Bill, I think you missed my point.
Forum: rodboard

The Common Cents System is arguably the best method for rating rods and I’ve found that making measurements of “Power” and “Action Angle” in two separate configurations are advantageous. Taking standard CCS measurements of bare blanks using the deflection of 1/3 of the overall length facilitates categorizing and makes the selection of blanks based on the desired criteria easier…. e
Forum: rodboard

Aside from the normal considerations like technique/application, how do you factor in size of angler and how it affects rod length? I assume the issues are leverage, fatigue, ease of manipulation (casting/lure control). While longer grip lengths might offset leverage disadvantage, it can also mean more weight and awkward handling. I have a difficult time recommending appropriate rod length beca
Forum: rodboard

I hope I’m not being politically incorrect, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard any mention of how physical stature might influence rod length requirements. When I see a “bantamweight” (man, women or child) fishing with a rod that seems disproportionably long, I can’t help but wonder if the advantages gained by the longer rod might be offset by other considerations. Anyone think that t
Forum: rodboard

If in fact, the weights given are accurate, they’re impressive. Most of my rods are in that weight range and in looking at their pictures, I think some “reverse engineering” is called for. Unless the blank itself is extremely light, the grips must be a low density EVA. The guides and wraps certainly aren’t lightweight.
Forum: rodboard

In a previous posts regarding “Micro” guide sizes, there has been some ambiguity because the I.D.s of guides differ depending on manufacturer. The following is a list I.D.s and weights of small Fuji guides. (I have included 5.5’s and 6’s which are not considered micros but are sometimes used in set-ups) TLSG 3.5J .060”(1.52mm) I.D. .046g (.040g prepped-shortened foot) TLS
Forum: rodboard

I’m not sure everyone realizes that guide sizes (I.D.s) vary considerably depending on the make. Giving a size alone is not very definitive.
Forum: rodboard