Michigander

A lot of comments on casting distance but what about pitching? Which is going to pitch a 1/2-3/4oz (with trailer) jig better? A Curado or Tatula?

Slumming it with Miller Lite tonight. ?

Doesn't cost you anything to try on here first. You'll get to keep all the money too instead of lining eBay's pockets.

I looked around and there's some for sale, looks like $80ish is the going rate.

Weight can't be the only factor, my most sensitive rod is a 7'5" Heavy Flip TFO Tactical Elite. It totally steps on the neck of my other rods as far as what I can feel and it's clocking in at 4.7oz. I didn't know rods could be that sensitive so it sent me spiraling down a similar path as you in this regard, lol. On the other end of the spectrum, my panfish rod barely weighs anything at all and sensitivity on that rod is marginal at best. So if weight was the only factor, then my other $200 rods would automatically be more sensitive because they are lighter than my TFO. However, this is not the case.

Unfortunately, I don't think it's easy to figure the blank weight from a finished rod. A longer medium blank is expectedly heavier than a shorter medium light, and the Cronos looks like it has a lot more metal trim bling which is going to add weight as well. You'd be better off comparing weights between the same length/power rods. I don't think the guide train weight difference is going to be more than a gram or two. You also don't know if any weight was added to the butt section for balance purposes.

It'll fish fine. Just being OCD about neatness. ?

I find this thread fascinating. I'm a new rod builder so everything is a mystery to me. In my other hobbies I really like to get into the nitty gritty differences between products so rod building is no different. So is there kind of an optimum guide train build for bottom contact sensitivity where maximizing casting distance is irrelevant? I'm still researching what I want to put on my X-rays and maximum feel is important to me but I won't be casting very far. Mostly pitching to nearby targets. I've never had pure stainless guides groove on me or fail. But is their lack of insert decreasing sensitivity because they don't have that extra hardness? Even if they are lighter in weight because they don't have the inserts?

Unhappy with the bluegill, probably retie that one but I tried again with the crappie jig and it came out much better I think.

Did a test paint on some weighted wacky hooks. Added a skirt to the bluegill one. I'm so rusty at tying skirts, but I'll be a pro again by the end of winter! Little guy needs a boot tail trailer and he'll be all ready to go.

I tie hybrid jigs like that and have a lot of success pitching sunken trees/stumps as well.

First field test on some finesse heads. Tried acrylic paint, made some eyes, and sealed with a UV finish. Alumi-UV should be stronger and better but I wanted to get a proof of concept. I think they turned out pretty good for a first try. There wasn't much surface area to work with. Going for a baby bluegill and a baby crappie.

What hook size? I have 1/8 jigs with a 1/0 and 1/8 jigs with a 5/0. ?

What size jig we talking about?

So now that I have some extra info and some parts in front of me... Note that my scale only does full grams... So my Winn Grip setup: Pac Bay Minima exposed seat: 22 grams Winn 3.5" rear grip: 10 grams Winn butt: 4 grams Winding checks for build: 2 grams Total weight: 38 grams (1.34 oz) Similar split grip build using G2 components (using grips/cap/trim weights from @kayaking_kev) G2 Razor reel seat: 21 grams Reel seat insert: 5 grams G2 grips: 14.26 grams G2 end cap: 10.30 grams G2 trim pieces: 3.94 grams Total weight: 54.5 grams (1.92 oz) So that's about 2/3 of an ounce heavier on the G2 layout. Interesting....

And bling they have, some of the fancier CF grips look super cool. It's just murky to me what the actual benefits are now. Are the CFX ones closer to home built ones?

I've found that, on a given day, the fish prefer one or the other. Gotta throw them both to find out.

I do too, that's why I am interested in exploring what carbon fiber has to offer

So amusingly, I do already own a powder spray gun, lol. That's not the purpose I bought it for, but now that I see the picture in that site, that's what I have.

@kayaking_kev ok, no worries. I get the need to assemble. I just finished my first build today and my final part came in for the next one so tomorrow I'm rolling right into that one. Need to weigh my Pac Bay Minima seat vs the G2 with insert. Curious how they compare now that I have both in hand. I'm just surprised that the whole grip and butt assembly weighs an ounce. I was thinking that Carbon Fiber would be half the weight of Winn Grips but the Winn Grips are actually lighter. So the alleged sensitivity increase isn't coming from weight savings. I wonder if it has to do with the rigidity of the grips....

I was looking at the diameter charts and it looks like Gold Label's diameter is the same as the next pound rating down of Blue Label, so that's cool.

Join us.... It's bliss....

And here I thought I had a month or so to pick my grips, lol.

My favorite bank rod was a 5'6" to get around trees and bushes, may it rest in pieces. Personally, I don't think I would go longer than 6'6" for a dedicated bank rod.

Got any links to jumpstart my research? I wasn't finding a ton with my search terms.