Andy007

Ok then it's a couple faster rods, Thanks again for steering me down the better road!

How about the second rod, I will be used more for single hook setups more than crankbaits. I'm little worried about the sensitivity of the crankbait series blanks? I like the idea of the bit slower action but will I feel that light bite that can come with pig&jigs? Guess I'm asking if the mag taper is much more sensitive than crankbait rod? A lot or little? I will be using braided line which will help also. Thanks for your help!!

The st. Croix is quite a bit stiffer then the Fenwick, they're both 6' and I put a bit longer handle on the st. Croix Braided The lightest plastics would be 1/4 and average 3/8 - 1/2. A senco type bait and 1/8 hook puts me pretty close to a 1/2 oz. For the second rod I'm thinking I might be happier wit a faster MH rod? But it will also be casting some baits up to an oz. That where the crankbait rod should be more forgiving?

Have you use both the spin jig and mag taper in the same power? And if so any significant difference? I guessing they're pretty close? I built my lady a Rain shadow 6'6" medium jig spin blank for her spin cast reels. I put a baitcaster and some braided line on her rod and it made a great setup, a little stiffer that what I'm use to and way more than enough hook setting power. That's where I started and compairing to.

I wasn't sure if maybe a medium might not be better, I don't throw spinnerbaits much and I can us the MH if needed. I use Texas type rigs the most with 1/32 to 1/8 sinker the most, kinda weedless finesse. So that's what I really want the main purpose of the light rod. I don't carry many rods on the boat so sometimes they need to be used for plan "B"

I know that’s on the light side, I fish ML St. Croix and Fenwick spinning rods now and work pretty well for Texas rigs up to ½ oz. or so. But they're border line for skirted jigs an trailer I’ve read through a lot of post form you DVT and a couple other rod builders which have given a lot of good advice and thanks for that! Do you have an opinion between the jig spin and mag taper?

Switching to casting rods and could a little reassurance or advise to my plans. For a winter project I’m going to start with building 2 rods using MHX blanks, a ML and MH and go from there. The first one ML jig (SJ842) spin or mag taper (MB842). Will mainly be used for light Texas rigged plastic and some spinner bait, chatter baits and some lighter crankbaits (mostly lippless). Is there much difference between these blanks? From what I’ve read I think the mag taper has a bit more backbone. And for the second a 7 foot MH in the mag taper or crankbait series. This rod will also be used for the same as the first but little heavier lures and also pig & jig setup. I know I’ll lose some sensitivity with the crankbait blank but gain with the treble hooks; I can slow down my hook set with the faster blank if there’s a big sensitivity difference! Both setups will be spooled with braided line. I know these maybe aren’t the best choices but thought I would start towards the extreme side and move on from there. I case it might matter I’m going to try the spiral wrap and I’ve got some questions about the also but first I want to get blanks selected. Thanks

Mine is a pony head also model PHB-5-A 5 cavity 1/32 to 3/8 weights and takes a #12 crane. My only concern is if the cheaper barrel swivels will let the blade spin, I don't see why the wouldn't work. Maybe there's only one way to find out!

Can I substitute barrel swivel for crane swivel in the do-it horse head mold? From what I understand the crane will spin easier?

I was hoping to stay in the 100-150 buck area, I'm leaning towards a lews toury mg because I can find some deals on them. They sound like they cast light lures decent and can be found for around $80? Yes some of the reels a few people have mentioned have a good reputation, but I can put together 2 pretty good rod and reel combos for the price of 1 reel

I have not tried a custom brace but have used braces, wrapped and taped. Taping works good but what a PITA! Ibuprofen works great also, just trying to stay away from drugs for as long as possible. And I can turn those nice spinning rods into casters if they get to dusty!! Any particular brand of reels in your neck of the woods that rule the roost more than others?

I might be asking for too much and if needed I’ll maybe go to heaver line or I maybe the Abu 4500 can be tweaked a bit for lighter lures. Been reading and will probably start with a Lews tournament MG and hope I can make it work. I have a nice spinning St Croix I built with a bit longer handle that can lay along my forearm while fighting fish and 2 handed casting has helped, but on them 30+ fish evening the wrist lets me know. I added 2 inches to the butt of the casting blank I’ve been using so it can be held between my elbow and side so the stain on my wrist isn’t too bad. Not sure if it weight, motion or position but the bait casting setup seems to help. Andy

Have considered using a copolymer line but really like the braid because of the stretch. Once in a while I grab one my ladies rods that has a spin cast reel with mono and it takes a bit to get used to. It has a lot of give when you have 50’ out and wrapped around weeds, there’s a noticeable difference in sensitivity and the larger diameter won’t cut through the weeds nearly as nice when they’re 10-20 foot in. I’m not saying my way is the best but it works for my style of fishing. I often wonder if I get fewer bites not using an invisible or somewhat invisible line? Guess I try to compensate for an invisible line with the smallest I can get away with! Everybody has stupid ideas……….This is maybe mine? Thanks for your help everyone! I've read about the old pro max reels and will be high on the garage sell list next season.

What kind of reels do you use?

First a little background. Due to a bum wrist I’m going to switch away from spinning to casting rods. My favorite way to fish is with plastics on jigs or Texas rigged in the deeper weeds. About 12+ years ago went from mono to 10 pound braided line and ML fast spinning rods and that setup has worked quite well. Have used casting reels but mainly for heavier line and lures for pike and muskies. After reading about light lures on baitcasters I grabbed my Abu Garcia 4500c and loaded it with 10 pound power pro and a 6’ MH rod. After I've caught few hundred fish I’m hooked!! I've had no line digging in or bad birds nest. Gets a little tricky with ¼ lures and wind, but doable For a winter project, plan on building 2 rods to start with, a 7’ ML jig spin for my lighter plastics, and a 7’ MH crankbait rod for the heaver side. Maybe not ideal but both rods will also second for chatter baits, spinners and cranks. To start with I will put my 4500 on the MH rod and buy a low profile for the ML blank. After searching and reading many forums, not many use lighter than #30 braid, and with lighter line some have bad luck while others like it. In the few post that I find there’s usually no mention what brand or make of reel! Finally to the question……….Are there brands or models of casting reels that work better with 10 pound braid? Any incite or experience, good or bad would be most helpful Thanks and have a good weekend!!

I'm pretty open to which brand I get, I will purchase and have looked low profile models and they have very little difference in over all shape. From what I've used and read brakes become more important when you mix some wind and light lures, I fish some windy days with 30 mph gusts but most around the 10 mph range. Been watching ebay a bit and Lews reconditioned reels can be had at 2/3 the new price. right now there's Lew's lite LFS reconditioned on ebay that's at the 150 mark but sales for 240 new. Sounds like a good bang for the buck? It'll most likely come down to braking and a deal more than brand. Thanks for your help & input!!

Thinking of switching from spinning to baitcasters for lighter ¼ to ½ oz. plastics. I have an Abu Garcia 4600C and 5500C that I’ve switched back and forth on a 6’ MH and 6’6” M rods. The 4600 cast much lighter baits lighter longer rod is better also. Been searching the forums and could use some advice. I have 10# power pro on the Abu’s and works great without any digging in and will spool the new reel with the same line. Looking at aluminum frame and plan on spending 80-130 dollars, and from reading many postings all the major brands sound comparable at a given price. Other than feel what can I expect between my old round and new low profile reels with light baits? Distance? Duel vs single braking? Lighter the bait is duel more beneficial? (Using the 4600 I haven’t had much trouble with birdnests, but throwing into wind requires some thumbing) Thanks for your time!

For me yes there is! Sorry this got quite windy! 10-15 years ago had a hand, wrist injury and the heavy spinning rods with light Texas rigs and mono was killing me. I fish mostly outside weed lines or deep Lilly pads and some can get quite thick but not much matting. Switched over to 6’ ML rods with 10# power pro and I felt my catch success really didn’t change or maybe improved with better hook sets because of line stretch. Just joined this forum looking for advice on lighter casting rods. Planning on building a medium light casting rod and didn’t know if I was crazy or not? Been surfing a lot of forums lately and most people use heavy rods and heavy braided line. I would like a light rod with 10# (weight not diameter) braided line to throw Texas rigged plastics that weigh ¼ to ½ oz. total. Not worried about setting the hook, with a fast tip it’ll bury the hook without much effort. I’ve been playing with Abu Garcia 4600 reel on my ladies 6’6” medium Rainshadow blank and seems way more than stiff enough and casts quite well with senko type baits. Does anybody else fish light setups like this?