kayaking_kev

Chronarch on Conquest & Metanium on NRX.

The only one I have experience with is the Fury 702sf. It's rated as a ML, but it's closer to a Medium, IMO. I had a Lew's TP-1 Speed Stick 6'9 ML and it was a lot softer than the Fury 702sf, plus you get a lifetime warranty.

Thanks! I might just go without a double foot to save some weight, because I kind of want to add a 6" carbon fiber skin followed by a decal & hook keeper. How many belly guides and runners if I were going with 9 total, and could they all be size 4.5? I think I also found out the tip is 2mm, so I would need a size 5.0, but do I stay with ring size 4.5 or does it matter if I go smaller or bigger than the rest of the guides? I'm also now questioning whether that 9" grip is going to make the balance bad and if cutting a few inches off of the blank would help with that, or if I should get a longer grip.

I had the 12" selected out, but then I measured my 7'2 Xtasy grip and it was barely over 9", so I switched, because I do fish from a kayak a lot and like a shorter handle. I will probably go with the 12" on the MB-7109 that I have, but I plan on cutting that down from 7"10 to maybe 7'5. Thanks for the help with the guide sizes. When I need some reels serviced, I will for sure hit you up, or if I suck really bad at building I might have to get up with you to do my other 3 builds.

Thanks for the response. I can't seem to find a 1.7 mm tip top, 4 is 1.6 mm and 4.5 is 1.8 mm. A user on this forum named Diggy said that you built a custom for him on this same blank. I never heard of rat tail files, what one would you recommend for this job? I plan on turning it by hand and have already made a box and practiced a little bit by removing the guides from an old rod and putting them back on. What size guides would you recommend for this build? Thanks again!

I've been wanting to build a custom rod for awhile now and finally purchased some blanks yesterday from NFC and I have a few questions. First off, I will list the rod specs and components I'm planning on building with and then I will ask my questions. Blank = NFC X-Ray MB 736 ( 7'3 MH/F ) Casting https://northforkcomposites.com/product/mb-736-1x-ray-lmx/ Tip = 1.7 Butt = 0.49 Reel Seat = American Tackle CCT BLADE G2 https://www.mudhole.com/American-Tackle-CCT-BLADE-G2-Casting-Reel-Seat?quantity=1 Handle Grip = G2 Carbon Handle 9" Full Length Grip Kits for G2 ( Matte 3k Silver Trim ) https://www.mudhole.com/G2-Carbon-Handle-9-Full-Length-Grip-Kits-for-G2-Casting-Reel-Seats?quantity=1&custcol_guide_frame=879 Fore grip = American Tackle Fore Grip Sleeve for G2 Seats with Uni-Lock Hood ( Matte 3k Silver Trim ) Size 16 https://www.mudhole.com/American-Tackle-Fore-Grip-Sleeve-for-G2-Seats-with-Uni-Lock-Hood-ULH?quantity=1&custcol_guide_frame=879&custcol21=180 Hook Keeper = Fuji Stainless Folding Hook Keeper https://www.mudhole.com/Fuji-Stainless-Folding-Hook-Keeper?quantity=1&custcol_guide_frame=1 Guides = Fuji K-Series Polished Alconite Tip Top = Fuji All-Purpose Spin/Cast Top F https://www.mudhole.com/Fuji-All-Purpose-Spin-Cast-Top-F?quantity=1&custcol_guide_frame=298 _____________________________________ My main questions are about guide sizes. I noticed on my Conquest and Xtasy rods that they start with 3 double footed guides, but it seems most builders only use one or two, if any at all. I also noticed they both have I believe 10 guides + tip, but a lot of builders say they usually use 9 guides + tip on blanks of this size. So what I'm asking is how many and what size guides should I use? For starters, I have 3 Fuji KB Size 5, and 6 Fuji KT Size 5 in my cart, but I know I'm going to have to make some changes. Also, what size tip top do I need for that blank, as the tip is listed as 1.7? ____________________________________ My next questions are about the supplies needed, so I'll start by listed what I have selected out. Epoxy = ProPaste Paste Epoxy (8 oz.) https://www.mudhole.com/ProPaste-Paste-Epoxy?quantity=1&custcol21=156 Thread Finish = ProKöte Rod Building Thread Finish (8 oz.) https://www.mudhole.com/ProKote-Rod-Building-Thread-Finish?quantity=1&custcol21=156 Thread Wrap = ProWrap ColorFast Rod Winding Thread (Size D) https://www.mudhole.com/ProWrap-ColorFast-Rod-Winding-Thread?quantity=1&custcol160=2&custcolprowrap=71&custcol_spool_size=1 Trim Thread = ProWrap Metallic Rod Winding Thread (Size A) https://www.mudhole.com/ProWrap-Metallic-Rod-Winding-Thread?quantity=1&custcol160=1&custcolprowrap=117&custcol_spool_size=1 Questions Will 8 oz. of Epoxy and Thread Finish be enough for 4 builds? Do I have the right size of thread wrapping? Am I going to need reamers? And, if so what would you recommend? Is there anything else that I will need? Does Mudhole usually have a Black Friday sale?

I just went ahead and bought the MB-733, MB-736, & MB-7109. I'll just cut the 7'10 Mag Heavy down about 5 inches and use the MB-733 as a Finesse Spinning rod and put G2 Carbon grips and reels seats on all of them. Expect some more questions about guide sizes and what not coming soon.

Has anyone fished with these blanks? I'm wondering about the action & weight on both of these models. I'm also curious about the 765c, because it is made with Fiberglass, but I read that it doesn't have a glass tip like most composite rods, but instead the fiberglass is woven in throughout the whole blank. It's rated up to 2 oz. lures and most seem to get it for moving baits, but I'm looking for a heavy cover rod, flipping/pitching & frogging and was wondering if it would get the job done for what I want to use it for.

The line is Sunline FC Sniper, but not sure how old it is. Interesting, never considered that, I'll have to check what Reel Snot is. I'm using it on a Conquest 843c with a Metanium MGL, so the balance is really good.

I've only used an Ugly Stik Gx2, bought 3 of them in the Wal-Mart clearance section a few years ago for $9 each and they caught me a lot of fish. I keep one 6'0 2 piece Gx2 in my Truck at all times and there have been a few days this year where I left the Conquest & Xtasy at home and only took the Ugly Stik with me. Are you sure you didn't have a rod with crooked guides or a bad blank or something?

That's true! Maybe here in a month or so right before the water freezes I will do some practicing casting with that spool of Fluoro, since it was free and I won't be catching many fish. I've gotten a bit used to MGL, DC, SV reels with braid & mono and not having to thumb the spool that I haven't really had to take my casting to the next level.

I don't use Fluorocarbon much, I always seem to backlash more often with it, unless I crank up the spool tension. Recently, I bought a used Tatula that came with FC Sniper spooled on it, so I decided to leave it on and before I took it out for the first time, I sprayed some Reel Snot line conditioner on and had no problems with backlashes. I then took it out a couple days later and started getting backlashes, so the next time I brought the conditioner with me and sprayed some as I casted. It took a couple of cast before it seemed liked the conditioner soaked in, but then I had no issues. So my question for you guys who have more experience with Fluorocarbon & Conditioner is, do you spray it before each trip, if not how often do you use it? I'm just trying to find out if this is normal or if there is an operator error some where I can address. Thanks!

The Fury 734c is rated as a Heavy also, and if the power rating is comparable to my experience with the MH Fate Black and MH Fury, the 734c Fury should be more powerful, but that is just a guess. I'm not sure what your Heavy Fate Black weighed, but my MH weighed 5.0 oz. and the 734c Champion XP Heavy I have weighs 5.2 oz. The Fury will probably weigh a little more than the Champion, but not by much and my guess is it might be a bit lighter than your Heavy Fate Black. If you're fishing a frog in open water a MH rod should be good enough though, depending on the manufacturer, I wouldn't toss a frog on a MH Fate Black, because as I said they are closer to a Medium than a Dobyns MH is and Dobyns is known for over-rating their powers. I've used my Champion XP 734c for frogs in open water and light cover and it did pretty good. For moderate cover I would go with the 735c and for really heavy cover, the 736c. Out of all those rods I have tried for frogging, I liked the Sierra 735c the best, because I prefer softer tips, but wouldn't be the best for really heavy cover.

The Fate Blacks powers are pretty under-rated, even more so than the Dobyns rods. The MH Fate Black was actually .4 oz. heavier than my MH Fury though, and the 734c Fury is probably the strongest of the 734's out of any of the Dobyns series. But, most would use the 735c to frog fish on and I would think that would weigh pretty close to that 7'4 Heavy Fate Black at around 5.5 oz. It's a little heavy, but if that's what your used to and your a strong enough guy then it shouldn't be a problem and you get the lifetime warranty with Dobyns. I had the Sierra 735c for Frog fishing and liked it because it has a little softer of a tip. You can usually find Sierras for under $150 with 20% sales that pop up on Dobyns rods frequently. I have experience with the SLX Heavy rod and they are lighter than Dobyns, but are also tip heavy in the heavier models. I also had a Fenwick HMX 7'6 Heavy and that thing was stiff and weighed 6.0 oz. There's also the Daiwa Tatula 7'4 Heavy Frog Rod If you want a really light rod, try to Phenix Feather 7'3 XHH

I believe the Vanford had Aluminum gears with a Ci4 body and MGL spool, while the Stradic FL is all Aluminum (Hagane), which is why there is a weight difference and that should make the Stradic FL a little more durable and last longer. I'm not sure, but the Vanford might be able to cast farther with that MGL spool. Both are nice reels, but if I had to choose, I would pick the Vanford, just because I like lighter gear.

Lew's Hank Parker Speed Stick

I've had days where I caught multiple Largemouth and Smallmouth from the same Reservoir that's 20 feet deep and using the same gear, and they all were almost identical size and weight, around 18" and just over 3 lbs. The Smallmouth put up much more of a fight and bent my rod like crazy. I also kayak fish a lot for Smallmouth in a shallow river (creek) that's usually no more that 2 foot deep, and although they are hard fighters, there's just not much room for them to dive so they are constantly jumping and the fight just isn't as hard as in deeper water. But, as I mentioned earlier, we have a newer reservoir where the Smallies come from that same River, but now have 40 feet of water to fight and an endless supply of perch to eat and they are some beast to fight. As someone has mentioned, I'm sure there are some docile Smallies that don't fight too hard and some real mean Largemouth that put up great fight, but generally speaking, you can't convince me that Smallmouth don't fight harder.

Why do so many people say they appreciate that they build interest in fishing? IMO, they attract a lot of disrespectful kids, who have to yell and scream "Let's Go" every time they catch a fish. Having said that, I really don't mind the Googan Squad, they are doing their thing and I'm not a hater. After this past season and all the people the Virus has brought out to crowd the fisheries, I want less people taking an interest in fishing.

Jonas and I both made a few more replies.

I always save all my rod tubes from Tackle Warehouse + others and peel off any labels that's on them. I have found that using USPS and printing the label at home is the cheapest. Without insurance, it's usually under $15 to any State except like California, from Ohio. I always get it fully insured and signature on delivery, so it adds to the cost a little bit, it's usually around $20 total. Just make sure you secure the rod to one side of the tube with tape or something so it can't move around. I always throw some packing material in there to fill space and make sure the tip and guides are wrapped in bubble wrap.

Why did some of the last replies get deleted in this thread?

Yes, it's 30%, you have to call them though. My first rod after a Ugly Stik was a Fury 703c, it's a pretty versatile rod. It became my jerkbait rod and I liked it so much I bought the Fury 663c to have a shorter jerkbait rod. I also had the Fury 702sf, and it was more like a Medium Power, IMO. 705cb & 703c would be my favorite Furys.

Sounds like warranty would be pretty important then, I would stay away from Shimano then. Dobyns & iRod have Lifetime warranties and I believe St.Croix have 15 year, not sure about Phenix, Tatula only has 5, and I don't think anyone will recommended a Carrot Stix. Two models I would recommend would be the Sierra 703sf and the iRod Genesis II Fred's Magic Stick, that would handle your Finesse and Power. A Fury 705cb would take care of crankbaits or I'm sure iRod has a Cranking rod, and maybe a Phenix Feather Heavy/Fast for a All Around type rod.

Here we have a pretty new above ground reservoir that is 40 feet deep and the Smallmouth come from the nearby river. So, you take river fighting Smallies and put them in 40 feet of water and the fight is even more amazing. And, they stocked the place with 1.5 million Yellow Perch, so some of the Smallies are getting pretty big.

I had no idea, to the TW wish list it goes.