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 .

1st ROD for 2016

This is a continuation from the "Weaving challenge" ..

After the 1st epoxy coating on the weaving, I test fit the reel seat and the winding check.

 

Fuji KR Concept k-guides in line.

Guide wrapping with black thread and metallic silver spiral trim.

K-Guide arrangement. Pending epoxy.

After fixing up the reel seat, the 2nd epoxy coating was applied.

Completed epoxy.

 

Fuji IPS handle. I find this handle is nicer to grip compared to VSS.

Tested this the next day after completion. 

Nice...............

Mounted with a Biomaster 2500S

Peacock bass in the boat..

Testing my BAMBOO baitcasting rod

I am not sure if you can still remember this rod which was built 3 years ago.
It was the first bamboo bc I built for me..

If you have no idea what I am talking about , click on this link to refresh your memory.

I have fished with it couple of times and it did not hook up or landed any fish.
As I was clearing some of my stuff on the shelf the other day, I saw this rod at one corner and it does not do any justice to let this rod just sit there.

I clean it up and took it out for a lure casting trip with a friend near my place.
Finally after all these years.... it finally landed not just one but two good size catch....


Snakehead on my bamboo baitcasting rod

Peacock bass on my bamboo baitcasting rod..

St Croix ML with MATAGI components

Another St Croix blank built. This 3S63MLXF blank is rated 4~8lb and 6'3" in length.

And it will be built with Matagi components.

Handle setting out before I shape the EVA rear grip and fighting butt.

Red aluminum trim parts with carbon tube insert on ACS reel seat and carbon tube for split grip exposed blank.

Testing fitting the handle parts before I apply epoxy to assemble the components permanently.

Fully Japan Fuji SiC guides. There are 11 guides and a tip on this rod but you see only 10 here as the last one is not able to fit in the photo. My friend told me that this rod is full of rings for  a 6'3" rod...!!  Yup, how I wish I could put lesser!!

I fixed up more guides to prevent the lines from running across the blank when the rod is loaded during the ' fish fight'. Similar to the micro guide system, more micro guides are used.

A rear view

Rod decals

And the rod will be pairing with this reel....


11th June 2012, this rod went for a trial test... Peacock Bass

The real test is yet to COME..

So much for Peacock Bass,.... on the 20th June, this little rod went fighting with a few giant..... snakehead and succeeded.

What else next???