.ghoti.

You just need a rod rated to cast that weight. Typically, that would be an ultralight spinning rod and four pound line.

Eating healthy again tonight. Ahi tuna steaks, done extra rare on a smoking hot grill, asparagus done the same way, and a side plate of raspberries, blackberries and mango. Yum!

If you do the work yourself, it wont be that expensive. Thread and epoxy are cheap. Fuji Alconites are about $2 each. You will probably need 8 or 9 guides for that rod. Sometimes a simple spiral wrap will eliminate one guide. If it were mine, I'd use three size 5, and the rest size 4. Nice and light in weight. Unless you have a spinning rod. In that case, a set of Microwave spinning guides would be the ticket for a first attempt. Google up static load testing.

A few unevenly spaced guides in the tip area is quite common when a proper static load test has been performed. It wont effect casting, but will improved how the rod behaves when a fish is on the end of the line. There are way too many variables involved in casting distance when making comparisons between two different power rods.

Call "em up and ask. The worst they could do is say no.

I'm pretty sure you have to go to their place to get a refurb rod.

Be Glenn for a week or two? No thanks. It would flat wear me out.

A grand total of one for me this year, and I had to drive six hours south, to Kent's place, to get that one.

If it were mine, and I wanted to get rid of the white color, I'd do as spoonplugger suggested. Remove the guides, strip the paint, and re-wrap the guides. I would likely go one step further, and put new smaller, lighter guides on it. Alps F series titanium frame guides, Fuji Alconites, Recoils, etc; all in much smaller sizes than what came on the rod originally. With a lighter guide train, and the weight of the finish removed, you just may discover a better performing rod.

I'd be interested to hear why, if you don't mind.

I have a slightly different version. "Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig. After a couple of hours, you realize they like it."

Wow, Big Bait, that is indeed a minimal grip. And a very long handle. Tru Oil?

I bought ten from SA. All different goofy faces. I like "em. They do what they supposed to do. If they had venting for the mouth and nose area, they would be perfect. as an added bonus, I scared the crap out of my youngest grandson with one. It was priceless.

Great idea. I just built a rod specifically for small poppers, and other small top water baits. Have yet to try it out. This looks like a great bait for my new rod's maiden voyage.

Z-Man

If you think it makes a difference, you're likely correct.

You should have had Roland holding that fish so we could all get another look at his giant thumb. LOL

Mick, I'm lucky to have the space for a shop. My first rod building experiments were done on our dining room table, when the wife was away. I had to keep what little stuff I had store in a box in the garage, and get it out when she was not at home. i keep the dust out of the epoxy first with timing. I do my turning when no epoxy work is in progress, or will be in the next couple of days. I use a home made dust collection system, clean up well after turning, and run a whole house HEPA filter non-stop. The filter I have is large enough for a space three times the size it's in. I turn, clean, and two days later no dust in the finish. Ive had several comment on the close proximity of lathe and wrapper. i made 18 rods there last year, and only had a dust problem once. And that was my fault for getting in a hurry.

This thread is locked. Reply in the other thread.

You make it sound easy, Mick. I have a power wrapper, an extra rod dryer and a small wood lathe, so I can spin it at whatever speed is required. I also have mandrels from 1/4" through 5/8" in 1/16 increments. My little rod shop.

I like those ramps. Looks like I'm gonna have to do some research. Do you make your own, pour the cores, etc? I really like that blank. Ive built two spinning rods and one casting rod on that blank.

Better hang on to that woman, dude.

Gary, from Illinois, wants to know if Gerald Swindle still uses Dude Wipes.

I do what Scott does. Order a few extra guides with every build, and acquire an inventory of my most commonly used guides. Don't have 500, but have enough to build three or four rods.

I'm gonna try one your way, Mick.