Ronald That blank will be over kill on GL salmon and trout. I built one up to use on Tarpon and Sharks. ;) A 6wt spey conversion works well out your way maybe 7wt if chasing chinny's but the 9/10 will make your arm fall off after a day on the water.
Forum: rodboard

Rolly I have done a couple and am currently working on a couple more. I did a 14' 9/10 wt Batson for pinning tarpon and shark for myself. I also have built a Sage Z-Axis 7136-4 for myself for West coast salmon and steel. Currently working on a pair of Sage One 5126-4 builds for a client for him to take to New Zealand. Probably going to build myself another Sage One either 5126-4 or 6126-4 fo
Forum: rodboard

Tim I have built a lot of CP rods over the years. My go to guide set up is 20, 12, 8, Running guides of choice, tip If winter fishing 8's are good. Or you can go as small as 6's if using minima guides. 20, 12,8,8...........tip If an all around rod with some cold weather use drop down a size on the running and tip guide size. 20,12,8,7.................tip Warm weather only or semi cold (aroun
Forum: rodboard

I'll be there some time in March. :)
Forum: rodboard

The IST1141F is too light for what the OP wants to do with it. The Salmon river gets a big run of large chinooks and is a controlled waterway that can have some pretty high flows like Western rivers. I really like the Batson XST blanks and have built quite a few of thier centerpin rods as well as fly and spinning. As everyone has said you want a rear grip where the butt cap just touches your
Forum: rodboard

Col Chaseling Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi Zac, > I think there is room for improvement in float rod > guide trains and I'm going to try a bit. Teryy > sounds like he has a similar idea. I will get a > new Batson blank at the Expo to go with a > handcrafted centre pin. I'm going to try to keep > the step path out of it and keep
Forum: rodboard

Guess I sould have waited a week to order my stuff, huh Mick? ;)
Forum: rodboard

I have a ton of CP rods with blanks from Lews, Hardy, Raven, CTS and Batson. The Ravens are decent blanks and the CTS is a very good but spendy blank. I have 2 Batson XST 1562-3 rods so that must say something about them. ;) Probably going to build another CTS as well. Got the parts for a 13' Lamiglas ready to go this winter as well, because you can never have too many rods.
Forum: rodboard

Tony I build a lot of CP rods and over time have come up with a good setup. I run 20, 12, 8 and then 6's, 7's or 8's on out to the tip depending on use. My own rods run 6's as I don't winter steelhead any more. I also use mid or high frames for the first 3 guides and single foot fly guides for the rest and a conventional tip top. I'm currently trying out the minima guides on a 13' Lamigl
Forum: rodboard

I have been building all of my laker rods on this Batson solid glass blank. .385X.105X72 GB 6'0" 12-20lbs 0.385 7.0 I usually cut down to 42" from the tip. Here are a couple of shots of it in action. And the trout on the other end. :)
Forum: rodboard

I have been using 6' solid glass saltwater blanks from Batson for a few years now to build my heavy ice rods. I cut them down to 32"-42" depending on use and required action/power. They have been great for large lake trout and pike and have been getting more interest from anglers wishing to get into a custom heavy ice rod here in Canada as well as the US.
Forum: rodboard

The Batson IC747-3 or IC847-3 should do the trick. What length does the customer want?
Forum: rodboard

Y'all are missing out on the obvious choice!!!!! . . . . . . . . . . GOBBLERS KNOB PA.!!!!! LOL
Forum: rodboard

26, 17,10
Forum: rodboard

I have to heat mine every time I use it. Living in the arctic has some challenges. My home is kept in the lower 60's temp wise and my epoxy (even lite build) gets pretty thick. I give it a few seconds in the micro to warm up and flow better. And as Tom says reheat as often as you want, no problem. ;)
Forum: rodboard

I don't have a gnat problem just a dog hair problem. Will this work with dogs too? :D
Forum: rodboard

bill boettcher Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Dave > > Sent Custom Tackle an e-mail It came back ?? He > still around ?? > > he does have a phone number on his site Not sure Bill as I haven't dealt with them in a long time. I believe they are as I'm still getting my copies of Rodmaker Mag. :) CustomTackle.com P.O. Box 413
Forum: rodboard

I use a coffee filter folded several times for applying CA and BLO. No lint or tearing issues.
Forum: rodboard

Bill Here's a couple I know in Ontario. Angling Specialties 2104 Hwy 7 W, CONCORD, ON L4K 2S9 905-660-9707 I also do a few for others but mostly just for myself. ;)
Forum: rodboard

As has been said it depends on how the angler holds their rod. A buddy of mine likes the forgrip long and the but short (about 6 inches or so). I like my butt section to be 9 inches from the butt cap to the back end of the reel seat. I know others that like 10 or 12 inches for the butt section. It really depends on how it's held and how long the anglers arm is. For the fore grip I like bet
Forum: rodboard

Thanks Chris Not sure there is even an art supply store in Yellowknife. LOL Or at least one that would carry it. I'll have to have a look and see.
Forum: rodboard

Yep, fiberglass drywall tape.
Forum: rodboard

When using gel pens to do an inscription on a rod, what is the best way to seal it before putting on finish. Want to do something on a rod I'm building and in testing the gel never seems to dry and is easily rubbed off. It also smears if I try to put a light coat of cp on to seal it. What is the best way to write and seal when using one of these gel pen things? :) Thanks all for your help.
Forum: rodboard

I have a STX1143-MHX 9 1/2' MHX 6-12 that I built as a bottom bouncing/lure chucking rod and I actually used it with my CP this fall and it worked well. I would think the STX1142-MHX 9 1/2' 4-8 would be perfect for a small stream CP rod in the East.
Forum: rodboard

I have gotten away from high frame guides on my float rod builds of late and like it much better. For a 13' rod you are looking at 12 or 13 guides plus tip. I run a 20, 12, 8 mid frame guide and then the rest I use matching single foot fly guides and matching tip. It cuts down on guide breakage issues as well as weight on the tip of the rod. I have just ordered up a set of ALPs (Batson) XYTLG
Forum: rodboard

There are a lot of things to consider here. 1/ Target species and average size of said species. 2/ Flow characteristics of the rivers where you will be fishing. 3/ What pound test lines and leaders will be used. For instance a rod used mainly for GL steelhead is not the same as one that will be used mainly for West coast kings. The Z-Axis spey blank makes a very good West coast big rive
Forum: rodboard

Drew Pollock Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Glad you lived to tell the tale. That's a > dangerous river with the fast current and the drop > off just out from the bank. > Tight lines! > > Drew You got that right Drew. Just last week my buddy and I had to save 5 L48'ers that went down the wrong braid in the Upper and ended up with
Forum: rodboard

I hope to see them come out with some manly ice blanks as the ones currently available are only good for catching bait up here in the NWT. ;)
Forum: rodboard

I have an older version of the Rainshadow RX-7 blank I use. It's a 10 1/2' 7wt, unfortunately it is no longer produced. They do however make a 10' 7wt model #IF1007 as well as the mentioned model #IF1087 switch blank.
Forum: rodboard

I have built on the ST1143-MHX blank and am quite pleased with it. I haven't had a chance to use it yet (I built it for my fall trip to Alaska) but can tell you it would probably be a good cat rod for mid sized fish. It has quite a bit of back bone and I think it will be great at turning big trout and salmon in current. They seem to be quite well constructed, especially for the low cost. Can't
Forum: rodboard