Hi all, Looking to make my first spinning rod.  I have wrapped many fly rods so am familiar with wrapping, gluing, epoxy, etc. Wanting a 6.5 - 7' all purpose rod for lures from 1/8 - 3/8 oz including jig heads/plastic bodies, small crankbaits like rebel crawdads, spinners like rooster tails and small spinnerbaits.  To be used when wading rivers and out of my canoe in lakes.  I would prefer a reel seat/grip with hidden threads as my store bought rods have this and I like it.  Never fished a split grip rod but they do look interesting.  Was planning on using Fuji seat and guides and hoping to use a NFC or other quality blank. Thinking that a MLF or MF blank might work best but I read that there is so much variation in these designations it makes it hard to pick a blank.  Smallmouth are the target fish but as you know anything is possible some days.

your opinions on blank and other components would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

6 - 12 lb. SJ blank from just about anybody you can afford, just be advised 3/8 really is the top end on these type blanks, go over and they start getting sloppy quickly. Not saying there is no power, you have no tip left.

I built myself an all purpose spinning rod out of a custom rod components CFX medium-fast blank and love it, especially as a less expensive option. I have not had a ton of luck with NFC from a durability perspective. I have a couple I love, but I've also blown a few up when I didn't think they should blow up from regular bass duty.

 

-Jared

I personally liked a shorter rod for wading...6' and even 5'6"...The river I waded had a lot of overhanging limb.

Select a blank with the length you want that has a lure weight recommendation range that brackets your intended lure weights, line pound test range means nothing of importance.  If you match the recommended lure range with your intended lures the rod will cast efficiently/easily since it will be loaded well on the cast.  Action can be from moderate-fast to fast and will work well for most techniques.