dbass

New Information on St. Croix SCIII (Avid series) Relayed From Karen @ Bingham Enterprises Tight Wraps All!!!

ejtaylor822, I don't do fly rods, but IMO it would be easier to build a 1 piece spiral wrapped casting rod. flechero may be the one to get you started in the fly arena, I think he has built some fly rods... Good Luck & Tight Wraps !!!!

flechero, That's just it. I contacted DC a couple of days ago, to order some ratings decals for a couple of Shikäri SJ702 blanks I got just after the sale to ATC. I could have them made up. But could not have copies of the original Shikäri blank decals (I have 2) done because of the sale. I also have had Karen @ Bingham contact her good friend over at Shikäri about the decals for the blanks that are still being sold, and the word I got was there are none left (decals or original blanks from the sale). So watch out for blems and or seconds being sold as original blanks. There is a way to tell if they are seconds or blems... Tight Wraps All !!!!

No they won't...From the Decal Connection Website... Since Shikäri is no longer in business they cannot contact them for permissions...AnthonyRSS, You need to visit My Building Resources Page Good Luck & Tight Wraps!!!!

MidwestFisherman, Oh yeah a 6'6" - 7' Medium Heavy Fast tip rod will do all the baits you listed. I don't do cranks all that much anymore, I prefer to slow roll spinnerbaits in their place.Tight Lines!!!!

RECOIL® guides are made from an extremely hard but flexible "Shape Memory" alloy (nickel titanium), which does not require plating, cannot corrode in any environment, and returns to its original shape after repeated deformations. RECOIL® guides are marketed exclusively by REC® Components and designed in partnership with Ultimate NiTi Technologies®, Inc, the exclusive manufacturer. The builders that I know that have used them, don't especially like them, while braid safe they tend to be noisy (a singing sound) as the line runs through the guides under heavy loads. Also while made of Shape Memory materials after a few bends and returns they tend to give up and will break. Just my .02¢ Tight Lines!!!!

The one thing that I would have to take into consideration before trying to select a GP rod would be... What main (confidence) baits am I going to be throwing with the system, no ONE rod will cast and work all baits, and picking the main baits i'm going to use would help me decide on the rods power and action, line ratings, lure ratings, etc. Good Luck & Tight Lines !!!

dhark, Sam, said it best "Your overall question has too many variables to give you a proper reply", there are other factors to take into consideration... As a rod builder, IMPO you have to have both and they are equally important.Tight Lines All!!!

Davis, Back reeling is an art IMPO. Anglers use to use it instead of the drag systems that reels from the past were using , because it was smoother than the drag systems on the reels then. I do know a few anglers here that back reel now instead of using the drag system on their newer reels, especially when the fish is up close to the boat. Tight Lines!!!

basspaddler, The pistol grip rod is the easiest rod I build..I am constantly building 5'6" Pistols. I always have one or two up on line....I have 2 that I use for weightless top water plastics (Zulu) and hard tops (ChugBug).. Tight Lines All!!!

JCrzy4SmlMth, It's not Karma, it's experience....... 8-) You really don't need a trailer hook. I used them once many moons ago, I haven't used one since (I hate um). I see your using Strike King Blades, these baits are the worst coming out of the package. Take a real close look at the hook tip (always bent and barbed). Every package of the SK Blades I have opened I have had to re-sharpen. I finally got tired of spending good money for a spinner bait (blade) that I had to re-sharpen right out of the package, and started building my own... The rod in my avatar is a 6'6" MHF with 14# sensation on it. I don't think it is your rod, even in a medium light rating. One question no one has asked is, what reel are you using? The GR and IPC (gear ratio, inches per crank) may be to slow to keep up with any slack line that may occur when the fish makes a quick move in an opposite direction. Because a spinnerbait is a reactionary bait, you shouldn't have to set the hook hardly at all when fishing it. Setting the hook that hard is probably tearing a big hole in the fishes mouth, that while it is fighting you is also making it that much larger, so it can throw the hook... If you have a quality sharpened hook on the Blade the fish should be able to hook it's self. It only takes 3lbs of pressure to penetrate the cartilage in a bass' mouth... Look at the fish in my Avatar, that's a 4-1/2lb spot caught on a Chart/White spinnerbait with a really sharp hook, the fish when it hit the bait literally stopped the bait and I thought I had hit a tree trunk. Spots tend to fight a little more than LMB's and not quite as much as smallies. This fish did fight hard and never could throw the hook. Tight Lines!!!!!

KB, When I slow roll my SB's over windy points, I like to pick up either my 6'6" or 7' Medium Heavy, fast or mod fast tip rod, depending on the distance I want to cast to. The GR I use for all of my spinnerbaits is 5.1:1, anything faster than that, and I start to get the bait rotating on retrieve. Tight Lines!!!

I have built the TBC710HM Mag Crank blank. The TBS66MLF Split Shot blank, and modified it over to casting for an angler that wanted to use that rod with his Pixy. Nice blanks they build up real sweat, but will have to move over when the Avid series blanks get their make overs. Tight Lines All!!!

Davis, You should really enjoy that new rod. As a builder I build on the St.Croix blanks, and they are nothing but top quality. I am currently working on a 3C68MXF blank, and they are sweet rod blanks. Good luck and hookup on your PB with that new rod.. Good Luck & Tight lines!!!!

For those of you wondering..... Here's what he is talking about.... St Croix Rod Selector

Yes...A clear photo of the rod from the first guide off of the reel face, back showing the printing, back all the way to the butt, and if you can a good close up of the lettering. The handle section you describe is a tennessee grip. Because you mention the Daiwa reel I would start looking there.

The reason for the price breaks on the avids in racks at this time, is that St.Croix has started production of the new Avid series rods with the IPC and ART technology that the upper end LT and LE rods were only privy to. I have been in contact with my St.Croix rod blank distributor, and she has confirmed they are in production but no one knows when they will hit the store racks. One thing she passed on to me is that they will have a higher MSRP. Also the new modifications to the LE and LT rods with the split grips, will also have a new higher MSRP... Tight Lines All!!!!

I wouldn't throw that much weight on a NEW rod that wasn't rated for it, and definitely not on a rod that has been beat to death and left for dead...But hey do what you have to do, to satisfy whatever it is that your trying to satisfy... ;D

frogtog, being 61 I remember them all.8-) My parents were spouting most of them to me as a kid. The only thing that hasn't happened yet are the Hovercrafts..

Yup, looking at the young mans profile, nothing that was said here would make a differance. He's going to fish it anyway. 8-)

BASS fisherman, As a custom builder I have been building with the split grip for years now, the rod manufacturers are just now catching on... The split grip handle design increases casting and hook-setting performance by creating an improved fulcrum point, and a slightly reduced overall weight of the rod. Low_Budget_Hookers, Rich has been on the tacklemaking side of the forums. He showed us those grips awhile back, they are some sweet work.. Tight Lines All!!!!

As a rod builder. If you were to ask that of me, I would say No you are over loading the rod. If the tip or any other section of the rod were to snap on a cast or even a hook set then your SOL. Not only that but with that amount of weight you will not get a decent or accurate cast. So if you were in doubt enough to have to ask here, don't do it. Buy a rod rated for the lure, and go fishing. Tight Lines!!!!

No you don't need a tip top gauge, you can use a caliper.. or a Drill Bit Gauge Either way make sure you measuring is converted to 64th's The Crucial rod is using Fuji Alconite guides and tips... Good Luck & Tight Lines!!!

Back in the late 90's I had a chance to build up about 50 of the HMG rod blanks with the new (then) Aramid Veil technology, Berkley was just introducing Kevlar fishing line also. Anyway they were a great blank IMPO light, tough, and looked good... Tight lines!!!

I would recommend like RW contact Shimano for a new tip, then read this article for the how to.. Tip Replacement Good Luck & Tight Lines!!!!