Bill I would be glad to, except I don't have all the sizes yet. Right now the only smaller size I have are the 7's in the M style frame and 6's in the fly style. I'll be glad to post those.
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I know Pac Bay is working on the new catalog, but I don't know if it will be out by the end of the year. I'll try to post some pic's this weekend. Other than that I don't think they are anywhere to be seen yet.
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Just got my scale in from Harbor Freight, and weighed some guides. The single foot size 6 fly guide weighed exactly the same as the Hialloy ceramic version - 0.2 g, so no real savings to be had here. The up side is they will be available down to size 4's, the design looks like it would be near impossible to pop a ring, and the black frame/gold ring is really sharp. Still really worth a l
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Thanks Spencer, that's what I was really looking for - is how fast are they compared to what I usually build on, spinning and spin jig blanks. The customer actually want's an 8'3" med-lite, fast action, built as a spinning rod for smallmouth - and what I am interrested in is how fast it will be. I know a fast fly rod is generally more like a moderate spinning rod when built as a spinner.
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Hey Rich, I have a spring bobber I made from 80# flourocarbon musky leader that is pretty slick for ice rods. If you are interrested drop me an e-mail.
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I am going to do my first build on Salmon-Steelhead blank. My question is how fast is a fast action Salmon-Steelhead blank compared to a standard spinning rod with a fast action? Thanks, Marc
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Rich - this snow and cold is giving you the itch ain't it!!! I have look for them too, and the only thing I come up with are wire fly type tops with those tiny tube sizes. Sharpen that auger! Marc
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You get some really goofy rod advice from non-rod building "experts". I often hear things like this in sport shops, and don't know how they tell people this stuff with a straight face. Wish that guy would call Jason at St. Croix and tell him to design some lead in the tips of their rods.
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Check out Leland's Lures / Trout Magnet. They have jigs and float systems that work just awesome!! Lite line - 4# max - and 1/64 oz jigs. They have cool videos you can watch too. Can't say enough good about their system of jig/float combo - and I use it for stream smallies, crappie, walleyes too - you name it! Good Luck - Marc
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Does anyone know where this model of Do-It mold is available?
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I even checked the Do-It site, and couldn't find the mold!
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In a not so old issue of rod maker there was an article on rod balancing, and it featured a Do-It mold to make weights. Anyone know which issue, and where that mold is available?
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Can anyone recomend a nice wood rod display rack - looking for something for the rod shop. Somewhat compact would be nice, as room is always tight. Thanks, Marc
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I think Batson dropped their M style guides this year and replaced them with the new Y style, which does not get the same height for a given ring size.
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The American Tackle Matrix crankbait blanks are really nice stuff. A little slower and softer, but way lighter and more sensitive than glass. I don't think you would be disappointed.
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I build almost all my spinning rods with small butt guides - size 16 M style Pac Bay - and they work great. One single transition guide ( I like a size 7 M style) then all small running guides of your choice ( the 4L M style and matching tops make a great round-out, and very lite weight). The only down side is the 16 butt guide is a little small for mono over 10#.
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Thanks DR - I just ordered one! Marc
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After 17 years of building with the "feels good to me" technique, I'd like to get an affordable scale to weigh rod parts. As soon as I do I'll post some numbers on the Pac Bay Minima guides. Any recomendations? Thanks, Marc
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McMaster-Carr will have everything you need and then some. You may just want to look at a Pac Bay 4 rod dryer. I run mine a ton, and you can buy one for less than you can build one.
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Hey Rich, I don't know if I'll be over your way until after deer season. I am hoping to get some it to build with before the holidays. They are really light, and I think a great alternative to micros, without having to deal with those tiny little buggers.
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I don't have much technical data on these guides. I believe the ring substrate is stainless steel. I just got a little info and samples so far. I'll keep you posted if I get anything else.
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After growing up in machining, and using lots of different PVD coatings on cutting tools, I can say they do add a lot of wear resistance. As long as they are quality PVD TiN or TiCH coated, I think there is a lot to look forward too. They may not replace extreme applications stuff like SiC for wire line or really heavy duty work, but for a lot of freshwater stuff maybe.
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I purchase direct from Pac Bay for my rod business. They are not on-line anywhere yet, including Pac Bay's web site. I got a sample, and next years price sheet with the part numbers. I was told the new catalog would be around the end of this year, and they seem to update the web site around the same time. Very cool stuff. Super light weight, and now that Tom mentions it, I acutally had a D
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I just got a sample of the new Pac Bay Minima guides. The are similar to the Berkley SS304's, but I would say appear to be better quality fit and finish wise, and are available with black frames/TiN Gold rings, and a silverish?? frame/TiCH ring that I have seen. They are very light (sorry no weights yet), and available in quite a few styles including SF Fly and M Style spinning. My one que
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They may be similar to the new Minima guides Pac Bay is rolling out. They have several styles, and they look like a higher quality version of the SS304 guides.
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Any composite, burl, or exotic cork you put Cork Seal on is just going to look twice as good!! And it will hold up a little better. Don't hesitat, there's no downside. Have fun - Marc
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OK Bill - I give. I'll be building some micro Walleye rods next week for testing. I did some looking, and noticed that Pac Bay offers their M style guides down to 4 mm size in a low M frame, and matching tops. Has anyone played with these on spinning rods?? I do know the M style guides make great butt guides, and allow me to use smaller, lighter ring sizes and still get good line flow. R
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A very important point Tom on line weight - most of my spinning rods see use with 4# to 8# mono, or lite braids. I have noticed with heavier line the smaller butt guide sizes don't work very well, and with those heavier lines I do have to go to a 25 ring guide to get mono of 10# and up to flow well. I find I can get away with a 25-10-6's set up for my heavier spinning stuff, and with these size
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I built a ton of walleye rods this year with the layout of 16-8-6's to the tip, and it really lightened up the rods, and guys loved them. I test casted the set up against a traditional NGC, and there was no consistant loss of distance, and the longest cast of probably 20-30 total was from the rod with the 16-8-6 set. Just some food for thought. Oh - and no I don't do micros because they don'
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How much difference in feel is there between RX6 and RX7 in the spin bass blanks. I have heard many people say they actually prefer the RX6 in fly blanks, but I am interrested in spinning blanks only. Thanks, Marc
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