Builing a Surf Rod

[SkullJug]

** Sorry about the Novel : >

Hi All,

I really love my surf fishing but have been out of the game for a while, Unfortunately I am no longer in possesion of any of my gear (only an alvey 600b and my very light surf / estuary rod remains) for reasons that I can't talk about without crying.

The upshot being that the combo I have left is the only one I was ever 100% happy with so I have a chance to rebuild my arsenal. I want two more rods - A medium action all purpose surf rod that I'll use the alvey 600b (probably get the most use from this one) and a heavy surf rod for those really good days with a 650 or 700 alvey.

I'm going to get the medium surfy first and, after reading this forum, would love to have a crack at building one! I am pretty good at fiddly stuff and have the patience for DIY and would love to get a great result - But first - Research.

I've already figured on a snyder glas blank and think the m144 7w is what i'm looking for - Can anyone comment on this blank? It's called a "multi tapered" surf blank can anyone comment on them and the difference from the standard blanks? I'm pretty much basing my decision on length, line rating and Snyders reputation so any info would be awesome.

Oh I found these blanks ons www.therodworks.com.au - Good site ??

As for thread - I want the whole thing black With maybe a very small amount of either white or green - Can anyone recommend a brand?

I also don't know jack about grips and reel holders - I like my reel nice and low on the rod for balance (one of the things I like about building the rod is choosing how I want the rod balanced) any recomendations?

Any help is really, really appreciated - I'm only at the beginning of considering this so might be buggin you all a fair bit over the coming months.

Cheers.

[bung]

Good medium weight (7kg ish) surf rod for bait fishing. Tailor, jew etc.
to set up for alvey you could either use a wood spike, no butt grip; or short butt grip 8inch with rubber butt cap. Reel seat typically fixed head down. 12 inch top grip.

Thread - I personally like gudebrod brand because the black is a true black. Speed thread tends to be charcoally.

[SkullJug]

Hey bung,

Thanks heaps for the reply - Sounds like the blank I'm after then! Will be going for the short bottom grip with cap.

I want to so cork grips with leather overlays - I borrowed an awesome rod of my uncles that had this - Was comfy!

Thanks for the heads up on the black thread - However I've decided to go for white now as most of the fishing I do is at night! Won't look as good but will be more practical

I've read on the net that the best setup is to have the first guide 50% of the way between the reel and the tip and the next one 50% between first guide and tip then continue the 50% rule - Any comments?

[rockfisho]

hi

Mate, when u mean the MT 7144, are you referring to your heavy outfit? Because i have a Snyder Mt7144, it is a very heavy rod designed for tailor and jewies ,and i would recommend that you dont use it for the light stuff becasue it has a stiff tip and will make hooksets very difficult with fish like dart and bream

cheers

rockfisho

[SkullJug]

Thanks Rocko,

Bungs post already had me nervous about this being to heavy so I appreciate the confirmation.

I've done a bit more reading and am a little lost about blank selection - I want don't want anything too heavy but at the same time want something with a bit of length so I can throw some distance when I need to.

Hmmm more reading to do I guess!

[cammac]

Im not super proficient on the rod models but i would suggest a fast taper 144 4 wrap so would be FT144 4W will load up nice and quickly. if you want to get the weight down further go one of the graphite blanks over glass


Cam

[bung]

This is my take on the MT's

MT4144: 4kg
5144: 4-6kg
6144:6kg
7144:8kg
8144: 10kg (this is what I use for jewies in SYdney)

Do they make FT4144???

rodworks.com.au is pretty good. Ordered some stuff the other day and it was shipped out the next day. This was rod components only though, haven't ordered any blanks off there but it looks like they have a big range.

[finga]

Gidday Skulljug.
Mate, your not on your Pat Mallone in getting confused with blanks and their specs.
The only way I can make up my mind is to hold the bugger in my hot little hands and give it the once over.
I've had ideas in my mind which blanks to buy but when the time comes I usually come home with a blank (or two) that are only similar to the one I had in mind.
Where are you as a lot of tackle shops have blanks so it may be a good idea to have a gander at what you want and then do some pricing.
Don't forget to do the picture thing when you build your rod/s
Cheers and good luck.
Scott

[SkullJug]

Thanks for all thie info guys!! So helpful!

After reading this and getting some info from Stuart I leaning more towards the graphite blanks - The Magraphite Bream 126 (3.2m long 3-5kg) and The Magraphite Surf for my heavier rig. Will start with the bream 126 first : >

Can anyone help me with the spacing - Am I right that the 1st guide is 50% from tip to reel holder, 2nd from 1st to tip e.tc e.tc?

One again - your help is really appreciated - Will definately post picks - Even if the end up in a post called "what not to do"

[straddie]

Heya SkullJug

If you already have a light rod suitable for a 600B that should be fine for whiting, bream and dart or smaller choppers in close.

A 4 wrap in the 12ft to 13'6" (the 13'6" is better suited to a 650) range will be your workhorse and probably catch 90% of your fish, like dart and tailor out wider while still being soft enough for bream and firm enough to take on any bigger guys that happen along if you have patience. 6kg line fishes nicely.

Once you step up to 7 or 8 wrap you are into the 3 or 4kg plus fish range, ie greenbacks and jew. Great for tossing big baits long distances.

The 50% rule is a rough guide only and depending on the particular blank, reel and the guide sizes you can gain some marginal increases in casting distance. If you can get the measurements of a similar factory models guides then start there. You have a good opportunity to learn a lot building it if you wander down to a park with a roll of electrical tape and an extra guide or two and try different configurations.

[SkullJug]

Once again - Thanks all for the replies!

Straddie - You pretty much summed up exactly what I needed to know!! So thanks heaps! Am going to cruise around some tackle shops tommorow to get a feel for these blanks (If I can find em!) but will be looking to follow your advice pretty damn closely!

Played some poker at the casino last night and caught some awesome cards so the project is already funded as well!

[JewseeTHAT]

Best way I've found to position the stripper guide is to tape it in the approx place, and then mount the reel with the line you'll be using. Go through a few casts with it, with the sun behind your shoulder. Watch the line as it comes off the reel, it will look like a shiny funnel. You want the funnel to be the same diameter as the inside of your stripper guide when it gets to your guide. Too close to the reel and the stripper guide will choke the line. Too far away and the line will slap the blank. Sorry if my description is a bit hard to decipher, it's one thing to know what I mean, but another to put it into words.

[bung]

The stripper guide should act as a funneling guide for the loops of line coming off the reel; the 2nd guide is the "choker" which constricts the loops of line and turns it into a straight path of line as it passes thru the guides.

[mikeyh]

Hey ho Skull Jug,
as I am a newcomer to this site you have probably already built your rod..however for my 2c worth.......
another option for the heavier blank which goes so well with an Alvey is a FSU4120 with a 100cm butt extension. These blanks have an extremely fast taper and as a 4 wrap rod are light...but extremely powerful - they will out cast any other "normal" blank - years ago I met Ross Garven (Aus casting champ) and he put me onto this style of rod. In comparison a MT 7144 will feel like a heavy piece of spaghetti. I have caught whiting - large sharks with thi style of rod - I have 3 of them in different length configurations and built quite a few for friends.

tight lines mate, Mike

[SkullJug]

Hey Tanned,

Thanks for your response - An no, I haven't built it yet - Am still doing some on and off research. When I do something like this I like to take my time - Don't be surpised if you don't see a finished product for another few months

This blank sounds really good - I did a little reading and it sounds really popular although there are a few mentions of a fault causing these blanks to snap during casting.

Can anyone else comment on this blank?