Building a LIGHT "heavy duty" rod

minner · Mar-18-2008, 12:28 PM

I'm going to build a jigging/ live bait rod as light as I can to reduce fatigue. This is mostly experimental but I'm planning on using a 7' MH graphite blank and using a guide set such as 16, 12, 10, 10, 10, 8, 8, 8. I am wanting to cut any excess weight that I can and was wondering how much weight I'd save or add using some of the Alps guides versus the braced wire guides such as the PacBay that I am used to using. I can't find any weight info on either brand of guides so I hoped you guys might could help me out.
Also any advice you could think of to help me shave weight. As I said this just a fun experimental build but will see some extended use.

Thanks
Allen

Billy 40 · Mar-18-2008, 12:38 PM

What reel are you going to use? Most people look to cut weight be using lighter guides, which usually amount sto less than an ounce. Tehy ignore the heavy ass reels they use, where if they'd save as much as 3-4oz.

minner · Mar-18-2008, 01:05 PM

you'll laugh so I'll just tell you that the reel weighs 12 oz.

Billy 40 · Mar-18-2008, 01:15 PM

How funny could it be? Abu 5600?

Lend-a-Fish · Mar-18-2008, 01:26 PM

Allen, im getting ready to build the same thing, well sorta. Mine is gonna be a long rod, im thinking no grips, or minimal grips, this will shave weight. Go with a compact size set of guides start with a 12 maybe a 10. I was planning to use an ALPS seat on mine, but am thinking a fuji trigger will be lighter, and i might need the trigger to help with grip for casting all day, since the rod will have poodle grips (cork). Also, most important thing, if you are going to cast with it, make sure you check the lure weights, and try to get some thing XF taper. IMO it is not the extra couple of ounces of weight that will tire you out, but rather having too light a rod to cast with. Trust me, im doing it now with the wrong rod. A rod with too light a tip puts ALOT of load on the back when the rod loads up. It beat the shit out of you. The rod im building must be XH and XF and stiff. Cant wait to build mine.

minner · Mar-18-2008, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy 40

How funny could it be? Abu 5600?

6500!

Billy 40 · Mar-18-2008, 03:08 PM

12oz and from Alabama gave it away. That's a good start though, the Abu's cast better than almost every reel on the market when properly tuned. Of course on this forum they are viewd as junk toys, but they really are great reels for casting, and are light as can be.

There are a lot of things you can do to lighten the rod up, but a lot of those things might not make the rod comfortable to fish with. Look at teh areas adding the most weight, and ty to figure out what you can do to subtract weight. Teh grips & reel seat, the arbor, the amount of epoxy, etc. TEHre's really a lot you can do, outside of switching guides.

minner · Mar-18-2008, 05:48 PM

Thanks. I know the Abu's might seem a little amateurish but they are easy to tweak, build better drags, and get parts for. As you saw in my sig, I am from Alabama and the main use for this rod will be trophy blue catfish. For the most part, blues won't make long runs so I don't need a huge reel for his application; which specifically is controlled drifting, or "jigging" if you will, large cut baits all day. Holding onto to a rod all day during a tournament with 6oz of lead, 1/2lb cut bait and a heavy ass rod gets tiring. This is the reason behind building a light rod with backbone.