Couple of Super Seekers just completed

Steve K · Apr-29-2009, 08:06 AM

Built a 2 X 4 and a CTSF63XXXH (6463XXXH) for fishing the big ones. Fishing both of these with Avet SDS reels and hope to bend them pretty good on this next trip.

For the 2 X 4 I used 8 of those very nice and very light AmTak Titan guides. A titanium turbo guide with what they are calling a "Nanolite" ring, apparently similar in hardness to SIC and less prone to breakage. I went with 8 guides and the 25 size for the first guide to lift the line higher off the blank. Tip is a 14 UST Fuji. Many thanks to Bill Casper for the help in the configuration and layout of this one.

The 3X got the double double arrangement of Aftco roller guides with a WO47, HD51, 2 ea HD41 and 2 ea HD31 chrome guides and a 16 roller tip, as I decided to go retro. This double stripper arrangement also contributes to lifting the line higher off the blank at the butt end, and according to Randy at Seeker, back loads the blanks better so there's more of a load towards the butt and less at the tip. He just likes everything about it. It's what Seeker is doing with all of their heavier tuna sticks.

Both got Pac Bay gimbals and Pac Bay Channel Lock reel seats. CL26M-S and AG27-S (Silver) for the 3X and then CL26M-C and AG27-C (TiCH) for the 2 X 4. I used 10" hypalon for the butt grips on both and a 14" hyp for the foregrip on the 3X with a 16" hyp on the 2 X 4.

yft1979 · Apr-29-2009, 01:01 PM

Cool rods steve, I have a 3x ss that is waiting for me to wrap. Still dont know what guides I am gonna use. I do really like those amtak titans, but they sure are spendy!

graya · Apr-29-2009, 02:02 PM

nice work on the rods Steve hope you kill some cows with them i am in process of building a rod with those Amtak guides they are light hope they can stand up to cow fishing i would like to hear how they perform on big fish.

Steve K · Apr-29-2009, 02:06 PM

We should get David Choate to do a drive by here. He has several rods wrapped with the Titans and likes them very much. I seem to recall him slaying quite a number of big ones with his rods wrapped with Titans.

I plan on using the 2 X 4 to fish the flylined Sardines and the 3X for chunking, big baits, and sliding and sinker fishing.

The Bushman · Apr-29-2009, 09:22 PM

Nice work Steve...now all ya gotta do is go catch some cows!!

Produce Man · Apr-29-2009, 11:08 PM

Perfect thread color to use on a 2x4, looks like wood!

Fyremo · May-02-2009, 09:54 PM

Hey Steve, I was at the Rod Show today and bought a 2x4 to wrap for my Intrepid Trip with Willy/Wahoodad. I was all about the Titan Turbo guides but the AmTak rep was steering me toward the new NIC Titan Casting guides and he said they were stronger. What do you think? What do any of you guys think? I sure do like the look of strength that the Turbos guides exude. Perhaps it just might give me that confidence to get a Super Cow!

Steve K · May-02-2009, 10:52 PM

I don't think you need anything "stonger" than the Turbo Guides. You need a guide that lifts the line high enough off the blank to keep it from cutting into the foregrip and to lessen the angle from a tall reel like a 50 size, Avet SDS, Accurate 50 or Penn 50. Maybe if you took a look at the guides and did some measuring? I started with a size 25 for mine and it's almost as tall as a WO47. Check them out and tell us what you think.

wahoodad · May-02-2009, 11:11 PM

I'm not a rod builder, but fish my rods pretty hard. I have a SS6463 XXXXH, 2 XXXH, and a XXH, plus 2-2x4s with the Am Tak Titans. One of my 3X rods, the cold shrink is getting worn out it has caught some many big ones.
I have had two of the guides get damaged, but it's been from the big rod pile at the end of the trip. You know, the crew members put them in a big pile in a corner upstairs.

redbeard · May-03-2009, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fyremo

Hey Steve, I was at the Rod Show today and bought a 2x4 to wrap for my Intrepid Trip with Willy/Wahoodad. I was all about the Titan Turbo guides but the AmTak rep was steering me toward the new NIC Titan Casting guides and he said they were stronger. What do you think? What do any of you guys think? I sure do like the look of strength that the Turbos guides exude. Perhaps it just might give me that confidence to get a Super Cow!

I was over at the rod show today myself. I had purchased a 2x4 blank at Day at the Docks. I was really looking forward to the show and talking to the suppliers. The AmTak rep showed me the new style of guides, there calling them Ring Lock. Gave me the same speech about stronger, lighter. I was comparing it with the tried and true turbo's. The turbo's have a lot more "meat" around the insert. One of my concerns with the new style guide was that if the rod was dropped it looked like the eye was vulnerable. Also the #25 guide is not as high for a stripper, the turbo is. I do not want to be 10 days from home and my rod gets bumped and an insert pops out. I agree 100% that the turbo's exude strength, so that is what came home with me.
Does anybody know what the difference is between the Pac Bay titanium RB guides and the AmTak turbo titanium, they look like the same thing. I asked the AmTak rep and he said that the titanium was a different alloy. Went over to the Pac Bay booth, and it could not get any info on the guides. There flyer say's they have a zirconia ring, were as the Titan say's theirs is Nanolite.