I am getting ready to order parts for a new build. I have 2 different reels that I want to use with this rod. One has a spool Diam. of 35mm and the other is 41mm. The center of the spool for both these reels is the same. I will be using 2lb diam braid on one reel, and 4 or 6lb diam braid on the other. I know that the choker guide is placed by the diam. of the reel spool. Should I use an ave
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So after installing my grip and real seat I realized I put the real seat opposite of the spine:(... What Is the best way to remove the real seat?
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Typically the summer time is when the rod building activity slows down, but that has not been the case around Mud Hole Custom Tackle as we have ramped up the rod building education programs. May 14th and 15th – Mud Hole was in San Diego, California and taught about 40 new rod builders the art of rod building. Check out the photos at: May 26th - It was lights, camera and action as the shop
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Thanks to all the guys responding to my last question i have the curve vs spine problem solved , now for one more i am building this rod with fuji micros 4mm in the gunsmoke color , i needed a 4-5 tip but ordered a 5-4, now i find that to get the tip in a 5, i have to get the 5.5 ring. i would send all of them back , but i have already prepped the guides. Should i go with the 5.5 ring or order a
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Hello Folks, I was reading the thread about "spine vs.curve " and I got to the last entry and I got to thinking about what was said in there. I did a search on our site about the subject header I listed above here, I came up with about nothing. Knowing that some of you are in the business of selling blanks yourselves' and of course its what we use in our craft. I haven't seen anyone
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I am building a st-croix casting rod , my question is if your blank has a curve near the tip that is slight but easy to see looking down the blank, is it best to put the curve up or down ? the curve is slightly off the spine of the blank. any advice will be greatly appreciated .
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As a relatively new rod builder I was surprised in reading a post by Tom Kirkman about the spine not being absolutely essentially to find in building a rod. I do believe that is true in some instances but since I mainly build surf rods for large fish I was concerned about this. The recent article in RM on deadlift capacity shows some interesting data. Now, would some testing on casting distan
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We are happy to announce the next generation of World Class Rod Blanks are set to debut the last week in April. The High Modulus MHX Series is the new gold standard in rod blanks available to the custom rod builder. Constructed of 57 million modulus 100% graphite. High Modulus MHX blanks are among the lightest and most sensitive rod blanks in the world. The High Modulus MHX blanks have been un
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Lets start with static testing. I got 2 rod right now I'm building. The first one is 7' mh fast the seconf is 7'-6" xh fast. I started with the 7' buid. I put 10 micro's on the rod plus the tip and ran the line like I'm suppose to. When I did the test the first time I ended up with 9 guides left which is right so I thought. I did it again and I had 10 guides on the blank left. I understand I
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I can't believe I am asking this question after building (5) fly rods, but I've had some long plane rides lately and brought along Tom Kirkman's book on rod building and on another trip Schenk's? book on building fly rods. The first thing I ever learned about rod building was when Don Morton showed me how to find the spine. Since then I have read or learned to place guides on a fly rod opposi
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How could one build a rod for distance casting only? Not for tournaments...just a local joe kind of thing. I am NOT intending to do so...but might just for the fun of it and the learning of it. What piqued my interest is an aquaintence who appears to want to cast further than anyone. He is an ex tennis player and I notice most of his casts are side arm....go figure huh? Anyway, he is not going to
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Just wondering how many builders that sell custom rods, build for customers that furnish their own blanks and components.
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In the latest edition of Rodmaker magazine there is an interesting article by Mr. Kirkman on a rods spine which basically says that everything you've ever read about in books, seen on videos or have learned from others is an unnessary step in a build. What I find even more interesting is that on this forum nobody has come forward to discuss and/or dispute that claim. Any takers?
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I am reading on spining 2 or more piece rods, itsaid to spine each piece separatley, I have a 2 piece med.lt, 7 foot fast action, do i need to soine the lower half.
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Would there be an advantage in wrapping the ferrules on a 4 piece graphite fly rod prior to flexing the sections to locate the spline? I wonder if this would be applicable when finding the spline on the tip section then adding one section at a time to locate the entire rod.
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Since the two handers go through so many different casts....and loads....what is a good way to place the guides....icw the spine? Jim
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Let’s say you are presented with the choice between two blanks that are equivalent in all ways. I’d like to use the word “identical” but I think some would object. Blank A has little to no clearly defined spine. Blank B has one of the most pronounced spines you have ever felt. Which one would you choose? Would you consider either one to be an indication of quality in anyway?
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We recently approved 2 impressive builds to our Approved Rod Builder Program.
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I have an old eagle claw starfire GO200-9' 9 foot 2 pc spinning rod that ive used as a casting rod for years, using a penn peerless #9 casting reel rather than a spinning reel. I love the action of this rod and havent had any problems casting with it even though its a spinning rod. Its time to repair the guide wraps and im going to add some bling to the old rod(snakeskin, colored finish, etc) a
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I am new to rod building, and would like to know what the advantage of micro guides is compared to regular style of guides, and what is the best way to lay them out on a blank?
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i have a 7' crankbait blank i want to build. the tip is crooked , about the last foot or so. the deviation is approx. 1/2"-makes about a 1" circle when blank is turned. i don't want to trim the blank, going to use it myself. my question is should i build with the bend arcing toward the ground or the sky as i cast? why? i did a search already. didn't come up with an answer. i am leani
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Thanks to this board i could solve the guide question in The Determination whether choose the correct wrap, spiraled or conventional, seems to be a fungous issue. Blank data: Length: 6 ft Taper: ex-fast Weight: 46gr Lure: max 3 / 8 (casting) Power: M-ML with L-Tip Tip: 1.4mm Butt: 6.6mm 100% solid with a 50T 30T Carbon Carbon-coated Made in Japan Reel : Presso (BC)
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I have been building rods for about 2 1/2 years and really enjoy it. 100% of my builds have been lite to heavy action bass fishing rods. I am in no way insinuating that I know everything, or even half of what most of you know. When I first started, I bought a bunch of cheap blanks (2nds) to build and learn on. I had 1 blank that had a bad set to it, opposite the spine. Actually, the set
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So a bass guy who is sponsored by high end rod company hit on some points in a blog that I felt were mis-represented, so I replied and got in reply, a lashing on the use of a properly spinned rod..... So if you will here is what was posted initially: "In this blog I will follow the natural progression from reels, which is what I touched on in my last blog, to rods. In the interest of
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I want to let you all know of the coming Seminar in Woodland WA. It is free. It will culminate with a Potluck. You can bring food items or contribute what you can money wise to help with the cost of the meal. There will be a Door Prize drawing at the end. I will be contributing some wood insert fly reel seats I am in the process making. I will be giving more than a Pattern developement presentati
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i has learn about spine locate on spinning rod and i wonder how tough spine loacte on heavy casting rod as muskie or bass magnum rod ? how u do it
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I am somewhat new to the whole rod building thing. I have just over a dozen builds under my belt, and noticed something I thought was odd. I was in a local sporting goods store last night "examining" some factory production rods. (Fenwick, St. Croix, G Loomis, ect.) I notice, as to my knowledge at least, not one rod was spined properly. The only one that came close was a GLX that was
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When building a centerpin rod do you want your guides to be on the spine or opposite the spine. I understood that you want the spine to be the top of the rod. Is this correct? I have also heard that you want your guides to always be placed on the spine. Which one is it?
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Hi all, I have a 15 year old special needs son who loves all things fishing. I've been contemplating Rod Building as something we can enjoy together while at the same time learning a new skill together. I've been researching rod building and lurking in this forum for a few months now as well. I've studied the threads relating to beginners and have socialized them with my son. I'd like adv
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I know I resemble those words in the subject field - and I could probably add - even if you're not new to rod building. At the suggestion of a senior member of this site, in more ways than one :>), and will remain anonymous, Bill Stevens.... I'm going to post what I'm learning about learning using my first rod build as an example. I was bound and determined not to have my first build turn o
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