I posted something similar to this many moons back. Since solid fiberglass ice rod blanks are so inexpensive, and can be purchased strong enough to land pike, musky, and big lake trout, use AT microwave guides and a solid casting reel on the blank. You'll be amazed at how far it will cast. It is a ton of fun fighting a big smallie, or pike on this rig. And talk about a compact rod for kayak,
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Hi Rod Builders, I’m exploring Stillwater fly fishing for trout and it’s been suggested a 10’6 wt. fly rod is a great tool. I would like to build one but, am not sure on a inexpensive to mid price fly rod blank with a medium-fast action. Your suggestions would be appreciated, Thanks, Leo
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I'm thinking of building a rod for fishing in Montana lakes. Target species would include Kokanee salmon. bull trout, brown trout, whitefish, cut throats, walleye, rainbow trout, maybe even smallmouth bass. This would be a spincast rig, two piece if possible. I see multiple carbon inshore rod blanks, and one Quartz CrystalGlass blank that interest me. Any recommendations as to which CTS blan
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Hey Guys My neighbor wants me to build him three ice fishing rods. I have used CRB brim blanks to build some light action rods in the past but want some input on some good quality blanks for this guy. He wants a light (perch, crappie), medium (trout, walleye) and heavy action (pike, lake trout) rod; all in the 30" range, give or take. What, and who, do you all recommend for a good
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I have a potential customer fot a canal rod. The power canal in Sault Ste Marie, Mi, is 20 foot deep, an 8th mile wide, with a continuous 7 MPH current. It holds whitefish, carp, King salmon. coho,, and the occasional lake trout, and steelhead. The rod needs to be strong enough to pill in a King against that current, maybe lifting it up an embankment. The rod will be either a spin cast, or bait
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I'm grateful to all those on the forum posting helpful hints and answering our many questions- that's what makes this such a great forum! Four years ago I posed a question asking for suggestions on building a short jig rod to target trophy lakers using 20# braid, 10-12# leader, using a 1 oz. jig. I received a few rod blank suggestions and one response stated that those specs for trophy lakers
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What do you all do when the guide foot is wider then the blank? I can grind it down but there will not be much left of the foot if I did that? Any real issue if the guide is a little wider then the blank if wrapped tight and space filled with epoxy when coating the wrap?
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A spinning rod might be able to "bow-and-arrow cast" a lure 20 feet - maximum. A casting rod would be capable of a shorter "bow-and-arrow cast" distance, and a fly rod "bow and arrow cast" even less. Whatever "power" is built into a fish pole it isn't much. Still, there is no denying some rods will cast a noticeably farther than other rods of the same leng
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Is anyone familiar with the Anglers Workshop travel blank, TSP70ML3? It is 7 foot long, 3pc and rated for 1/4-1/2oz lures. I am curious to know what your experience has been - what do you use it for? What lure weights does it actually throw well? Did you build it out as a casting or spinning rod? Thanks in advance.
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Hello rodbuilding community, I’m building my first rods for me and my grandpa, and I picked up a few of the iconoglass blanks from North Fork Composites while they had the sale going. My grandpa lost my grandma after 70 years of marriage last year, and Christmas is an especially hard time for him. She was the matriarch and took care of everything. I live in Europe now, and I haven’t been a
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Searching for a spinning blank to make fairly long casts off a dock using 1/2 - 3/4oz blade baits: target is 4 - 10lb lake trout in 4' - 8' of water. I'm leaning toward a 7' or longer blank (distance), and probably MH power, but not sure of what type of blank (MB, SJ, etc.). Many thanks!
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Decided to splurge and make an impulse buy. I wasn't getting anywhere on inquires for salt water blanks from NFC. So I just bought the one of each of the Xray spin/jig blanks. I don't have a plan for them other than I think I will make them all spinning rods. They seem a little light in power for bait casting use. I fish both fresh and salt water. I have 2500, 3000, and 4000 Stradic reels
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Tow years back, I started building rods. My first rods were ice fishing rods. I learned how to find the spines, and wrap guides. Strong, fiberglass rod blanks are inexpensive, in the extreme. However, after getting premium cork handles, premium guides, and tip top, wrap finish, thread, etc. It's still gonna cost you about $60.00 USD. Why am I telling you this? I used Fuji KL Concept guides
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Anyone have experience with this blank?
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It's been a few years since I've built a rod, although prior to that, I'd roll up ~5 a year. I'm not at all familiar with most of the current blanks save for MHX, from I built a few 6wts a couple of years ago, so I'm looking for some recommendations. I recently organized my rod collection, and came across a rod that I built ~15 years ago, a Dan Craft 8'9" 4wt. I think was his Sig IV serie
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Has anyone built a rod where the primary use was to cast umbrella rigs. Thanks
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Guys, looking for some feedback…..Been talking to a cousin of mine who, like me, is a long time fisherman on the Tx Gulf coast. We throw lots of the same plugs, plastic tails, spoons, etc. for trout and slot reds. I’m building my own baitcasting rods now and what I’ve really settled on for my own use are rods built on several blanks, MHX CB843, the Immortal P70M and the Elliott AP7 M-F and AP7
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Im looking to build an UL Acid wrap rod. Its primary use will be from vertical jigging lake trout with jigs up to 1-2oz Im looking at the Black Hole Challenger Bank 691UL, unless anyone has a better suggestion for this application? I have decided to go with titanium guides. However im lost when it comes to sizes. If anyone has any suggestions it would be very much appreciated.
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I just signed up for a fly rod building class which starts in the new year. They state I do not need to buy anything until after the first class. They also state I will be required to buy a kit or all of the components. However, I know there are likely going to be some holiday sales which could save me money. Since this is my first time building a rod I am trying to devour information on what
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Have a couple of general questions on types you would suggest. I’m building 2. One for walleye and one for pannies. I’ve seen some use regular guides but otherzs prefer metal. Could you give me some guidance on preferences and sizes you like to use? Thanks for your help! Chuck
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We have all seen the angler with a bobber, snelled hooks, a package of worms and a large tackle box containing jitterbugs, big red-and-white spoons, a de-liar, a blue-and white stringer and a fish scaler arrive at a fishing spot. There's an old caveat about hunters: "Beware the man who has one gun. He knows how to use it." Same goes for anglers and the guy with one rod and a small box
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Hey All, Looking for a bit of input regarding some winding check finishing on one of my first builds. It's an ice fishing rod being built on the MHX CIB-36MH-MHX blank, intended for use as a Lake Trout ice rod. For this rod, I decided to go "all out" with a carbon fiber split handle setup. The grip components I used are as follows, all ordered from Mudhole, listed from the butt forwa
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Hi all, I've been lurking here for a short while, gathering plenty of info on the A to Z's of rod building, as I just got a beginner's start-up tool/supply kit and I'm planning on getting my feet wet over the upcoming winter season. So far I have learned a ton, so thanks to all the experienced builders on here, as well as past newbies like myself that have already asked a majority of the quest
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I am in the process of building a lead core trolling rod on a rainshadow solidglass .385"X.105"X72. I looked on the website and it says the guide spacing website is down to check the blueprint page and that says it's down to check the guide spacing page. I have enough guides to put up to 8 guides plus tip top. Does anyone have the guide spacing for this particular rod?
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Hi guys my cousins want me to build their dad a lake trout rod for his retirement. They plan on surprising him with it. I have never built a big lake trout rod and I cant ask him since its a surprise. So I need a little education on lake trout rods so I can build one that he will be happy with. Any blank suggestions to guide sizes would be great.
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I am researching my first build. Glad I found this site! i am looking for detailed information on what criteria to consider in choosing blank length. I don't have a specific rod or use in mind yet. I am just looking for the general info to be considered for all rods. As you all know there are a gazillion blanks out there. For example, if I am looking to build a spinning rod for walleye jig
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I'm looking for a new/better blank(s) to build a Lake Trout ice rod on. The rod will be used to jig 1/4-3/4 oz baits and catch lakers 5-15 lbs on average with a real chance at 20+ lb fish as well. It will never be used inside a fish house so the finished length will be 5'-6' long. I definitely want a moderate action to keep the fish pinned so that's led me to fiberglass crankbait blanks. I'm
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Hi All, It's been a long time since I was on this forum. Funny how much time a couple of kids can take up! Really happy to see the conversations are still going strong! I am taking my father-in-law on a fishing trip to Great Bear Lake in July. I wanted to build us a rod each for this trip. It would be used for trolling for very big Lake Trout (30-50lbs). I have no idea what type of Rod is
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Hi All, i'm just getting into rod building, I built 2 trout flyrods back in the 1950s when I lived near the beaverkill and katykill rivers but now I live in Florida (Tampa Bay area) and I'm thinking of surf fishing (no boat). I would like to read all I can about surfrods I'm sure they are different than a trout rod and wonder if any one would could set me onto a web tutorial or good book to buy t
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I am going to build a couple sturgeon rods (spinning) for ice fishing with the rainshadow solid glass blank. The rods will be 42" or 48" I haven't decided yet, they will have 20" handles from butt cap to tip of fore grip. My question is what would be the best guides to use? I was thinking about using the Forecast VD Spinning Guides (double foot), if I decide to go this route do I
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