Is Rodforge affiliated with St. Croix?
Forum: rodboard

This is why there needs to be ample context when discussing ideal rods. I personally wouldn’t go much above 650 CCS value for a spinnerbait rod where I live. The one I will build later this year is rated at 589 (Eternity ETEC76MSS). I throw 5/8ths ounce ones when they are available and otherwise settle for 1/2 ounce offerings. I fish some vegetation with them, but usually have really nice vertica
Forum: rodboard

I wouldn’t be surprised if BackCreek Custom Rods to the left could do this for you with some lead time. I don’t know if titanium and aluminum take a different process.
Forum: rodboard

El, I hope you are having a good day. I’m taking a building break. These standardized measures are informative data points, but numbers alone will not necessarily tell you the best rod universally for a purpose. I used the St. Croix SCV70MF blank with three inches cut from the butt for my jerkbait rod. I’m focusing on this rod because it so well illustrates my point. It’s rated for 6-12lb line a
Forum: rodboard

I think your idea on informing and letting them decide is best. I know two builders who say building properly on the spine is the biggest reason they avoid buying factory rods. I don’t see a reason to argue either direction.
Forum: rodboard

Aleks Maslov Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > @ Harry - you are going to get A LOT of opinions > on this. We will build on a curved blank, as long > as the curve does not go in the opposite way of > the spine. > > Aleks Harry’s question is the one that I haven’t gotten over yet relative to buying NFC blanks. It doesn’t appear to me li
Forum: rodboard

Four inches off the butt of a 6’8” rod is unlikely to be an extreme change of action. I start to worry at more than six inches off of a 7’ rod, which is about seven percent. This is an even five percent reduction. It will slow it down a little (not necessary 5%), but maybe not enough to move it from a fast to a moderate fast action as defined by action angle in CCS. Looking at the NFC chart, it a
Forum: rodboard

It’s my belief that the more subtle parameters of blank design, like materials and tapers, vary greatly in their importance for supporting specific fishing techniques. Jerkbaits can heavily require specific functions to be performed by every portion of the rod blank. You have to be able to well-cast baits that don’t cast well, control bait movement with a fairly firm tip, and then have some flex
Forum: rodboard

I have built rods for every use you mentioned, except for the 1/2 ounce jigging rod (it’s usually too heavy for bass and walleye and too light for saltwater). I have only used CCS numbers a few times as verification of my selections. I build on just a few blank series and have become familiar with how they are rated. CCS is a great, quantitative comparison system. It’s just that I have learned S
Forum: rodboard

Norman Miller Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > High end high modulus blanks really do have a > unique feel about them. Point Blank, Rainshadow > Eternity, St Croix V, NFC X-ray, CTS blanks are > all extremely light and are very crisp and > responsive. Hard to go wrong with any of these > blanks. > Norm Well said (written) Norm. I’v
Forum: rodboard

I tried that Plano case with terrible results. The TSA inspectors broke my rods twice with it. I’m assuming they slammed the telescoping tubes down on them. I recommend building a full length case out of pvc parts, with a screw cap. I have had no issues, except for bent guides, on quite a few trips after doing this. I did a full length wrap with white gorilla tape and then taped on a nylon strap
Forum: rodboard

I recommend starting with cosmetic simplicity and focusing on absolutely nailing function. There is a temptation for some new builders do the opposite. I’ve not seen that lead to either nice rods or a long duration hobby. The first skill area is planning, which is basically selecting appropriate components and a starting point for guide placement. Then, it’s reaming and using two-part epoxies fol
Forum: rodboard

Big walking baits for stripers is a rod enigma to me. Every parameter, except for one, seems best filled by about a 7’10” rod. The one element that fights with this is being able to actually work the bait well with vertical motions. I’d be tempted to use the C3710XHF with enough butt cut to allow working the bait. The action should move the bait well and this is a strong blank series for their we
Forum: rodboard

This is a very similar blank to your SWC70MF. There might be some construction updates, but the material mix is close to the same. The taper might be slightly slower on the XComp, or the same with a slightly different composite blend. Rod Geek blanks are pretty much repurposed St. Croix ones, and these would be parallel series.
Forum: rodboard

I think new builders should fully expect their first rod to turn out well. Mine did, it just took me much longer than they do now. My point is to build a rod you really want to use instead of one you are willing to mess up. Maybe you don’t start with a $200 dollar SCV blank and Torzite guides, but an Immortal with Fazlite or LZR guides isn’t near that strata. Utmost or Voodoo can help with pricin
Forum: rodboard

I haven’t purchased a straight pipe reel seat, alone or on a rod, literally since the Reagan administration. There are so many more ergonomic designs that I can’t see going way up in internal diameter to use one comfortably on an ultralight rod.
Forum: rodboard

There is no industry standard ratio for drag weight versus line weight. A conservative rule of thumb is 33% for rated mono weight, which in your composite’s case would be 10lbs. I have enough experience with these SCII composites to go a couple of pounds more without any worry. That’s enough to get most of your target fish species away from the bottom up to the low to maybe mid-40lb size class. I
Forum: rodboard

You can see both models in these rod charts. I would use them without hesitation for anything in their weight range. Both of these rod series had good reputations for reasonable sensitivity while being durable. The Mojo saltwater doesn’t carry a casting weight as they were more multi-purpose, including jigging and bait. I’d think it could easily handle six ounce jigs as I’ve used them on
Forum: rodboard

Spencer Phipps Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Sage has spent a lot of time and money > trying to get the actions of these old rods with > their high end carbon and resins, I think the vast > majority think they didn't succeed, if they have > actually fished the old models. I sold and occasionally used Sage rods just a little before this er
Forum: rodboard

In my opinion, the premium fly rods of that vintage were fairly sophisticated and the better designed ones hold their own okay relative to contemporary ones. The resin systems have progressed, but some blanks in the early 2000’s had improved quite a bit in this area over the early to mid 90’s. Those prices wouldn’t seem much out of line if a warranty was in effect.
Forum: rodboard

I get great bubble release in the foil containers with Gen4. I’ve only noticed a couple on the wraps and they readily released. I’ve only lit my burner once with Gen4 and I don’t think it was needed.
Forum: rodboard

Use whatever vintage of components you desire, but absolutely expect your first build to come out well. There is no reason a first time builder can’t succeed in building an attractive and well functioning rod. I’ve only seen one first time build be problematic, and that was because of silicone fish eyes.
Forum: rodboard

Thanks Lynn, my one caveat with Nanofil is that despite its nice strength, it is low in shock resistance. It’s not friendly to violent hook sets and other types of fast, high impacts.
Forum: rodboard

Michael’s guide train is the same as I now use on similar rods, except I add a couple of more runners.
Forum: rodboard

I think it is ridiculous, alright, and halfway in-between. The better blank companies seem to put maximum cut-offs at about six inches. RodGeeks has long stated this. Doubling this length seems a bit ridiculous. However, this is a rod for kids and slowing it down this much might even be an advantage for young anglers. Thus, it’s probably alright. Finally, there is probably some ultimate strength
Forum: rodboard

John Santos Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > With braid, I > don’t think spool diameters need to be so big > anymore. I do wonder about this as I have an FI version of the Stradic 1000 that casts further with Nanofil than any other spinning reel and line combination I’ve ever tried. It defies conventional wisdom, but does the lack of coil memory cha
Forum: rodboard

I’ve built multiple similar rods with Torzite trains anchored with 16 and 20 guides. I’ve stopped at 4.5 runners simply for the reason that they work and can’t add up to much more weight than 4.0’s. I’m hesitant to go further because at some point it is spending Torzite money and building time to get a rod that doesn’t pass Alberto knots as well. The only time I’ve thought the 20’s casted far
Forum: rodboard

I really like the price point. Preceding ones have been lots more expensive than I would spend for even a special build.
Forum: rodboard

Jason Vormbaum Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Huh, older….wow. The little 4 piece fenwicks > have drawn some interest but not much else. I’m > keeping at least one to make a backpacking rod. > Otherwise as much as people say, “cool” when > they see it apparently it’s not really worth > anything. > > Which is good, I have lo
Forum: rodboard

The photos show quite a time capsule. The fiberglass blanks seem to have a lot of handling and storage wear. This doesn’t necessarily mean they have integrity issues. I think many are in the 1970’s range more than the 1980’s. The early 1980’s was a very transitional period so they could extend into that time. I bought a couple of their rods in the mid-80’s that I still have. Your blanks appear to
Forum: rodboard