Ultralight BC North Fork Composite

This will be the last ultralight bait casting rod that I will build for myself..... I hope.

I have a 4-8lb bait casting rod and wanted one slightly lighter, I dug up the stock of blanks that I have and I found what I needed... a 2-6lb, 6'6" North fork composite blank.

Since the 4-8lb rod was using Fuji skeleton reel seat, I wanted something different. Getting bored of Fuji components and so I planned to use components of other brands.

This skeleton reel seat is from Sea-Guide. Looks kind of unique but I took me awhile figuring how to mount it on the blank, until I saw the similar reel seat being used by a rod builder from USA.

I mean seeing is one thing, but I still have to find the suitable material to use for the installation of the reel seat.

Elevation view of the reel seat mounted on the blank for test fitting

Bottom view.

Reel seat aluminum trim and a small straight EVA rear grip on the reel seat.

The handle set up before epoxy.

I made some changes at the fighting butt to make it more interesting. The earlier version was just too plain.

Then I decided on the hood. Plain carbon tube with silver aluminum trim to finish off at the top.

The guides are from ALPS. Titanium frame SiC ring micro guides size #4.5 - #6.

On with the rod decal.

And epoxy.

The guides wrapped. I only put up the guides after getting the decal done.
That's the first coat.

Final coating.

ALPS butt cap

The handle

Completed rod with micro guides.

Just a quick update on the rod testing..

I was using a 4lb fire line in the Quantum Smoke reel.
Tested with LC Wander 60 (6.2 grams) and a few other micro lures and have no problem casting 5 grams to 14 grams lure.

Caught this peacock bass on a spin fly .

ABU GARCIA "FANTASISTA" reborn

One thing that I seldom do is parts salvaging ... especially for reel seat. It is just too time consuming. But I had this reel seat for quite some time and it took me 4 man hours to remove the blank from the reel seat.

The parts that manage to be salvaged are the reel seat, the guides and butt cap.

Test fitting the components

Putting all the components together.

Done with the reel seat and rod decal.

Guide wrapping to match the reel seat color.

After epoxy

Rear view from the butt cap

Guides line up

View from reel seat 

Medium power "slow pitch" Jigger

Another jigging rod project which was shelved a couple of months back as it was a " just for fun" project and I thought of completing it just to clear my work bench.

Using  FUJI PTS-MPK reel seat , some aluminum trims and ALPS titanium guides. 

Setting up and test fitting the reel seat and components.

Yet another spiral guide placement for this jigging rod pending epoxy.
Personally I find that spiral guide placement are rather good for medium to heavy jigging setup which uses over head reels.  You will have more control over the rod during heavy loading and pumping.

Hand signed plus custom decal 

Aligning and centralizing guide placement for incoming line to reel before epoxy

Decal

After epoxy completion.

Complete handle

CRB 12-25 Heavy Cover

Here's another heavy cover rod that I managed to complete recently.

Basic ingredients are CRB blank, ALPS MVT reel seat and SEA-GUIDE guides.

SEA-GUIDE KR concept guides

Rubberize cork butt with decorative trimming.

Setting up of EVA grips

Aluminum trimming between reel seat and rear grip.

A closer look at the decorative trimming at the butt cap.

Reel seat full handle setup and test fit.

Guide wrapping - Black thread with metallic red trim

Epoxy over rod decal.

Epoxy over guide wrapping.

Completed epoxy to guides.

Guide lined up

Completed rod ...

United Composite 5'6" 4-10lb midget

This is the 9th rod for 2016... It's already the beginning of the 2nd half of 2016 and I guess I am slightly behind target. :)

The blank used for this rod is from United Composite, it is 5'6" in length rated at 4-10 pound. Custom built to be a single hand casting rod with cork grip split handle.

I have never tried doing a split handle for single hand casting grip as it is only around 5" long but no harm trying.

Fuji skeleton trigger reel seat with aluminum insert and screw from Matagi.

Done with the little fighting butt and on with the rear grip.

MATAGI butt cap

Lathed rear cork grip

Fitting the handle

Fuji guide setting

Trying out the new Fuji titanium RV guide. It was said to have a faster and smoother line control when casting. It is very light and perfectly sized to work with any low profile bait casting reel.

After epoxy.

Guides layout

And for the fine touch... as usual I will apply the cork seal to the cork handle.

A photo showing before and after the Cork Seal was applied to the cork handle.
You will not see much difference aesthetically and it feels the same too, but it gives you better protection to the cork handle and prolong its' life span.

It took about 6 weeks to complete this, hope its' owner is happy about having his ideas turning into reality.