I am about to build a Barra rod for a client and after some advice.It will be a spinning rod and he will be using a Stella 4000 on it.Blank is a MHX shooter 12 to 17lb.
I am tossing up whether to use the Microwave tidalwaves or not.I am unsure of whether a single foot guide will be up to the job or I will need to go to a double foot
guide.Lures and jig heads will be up to an ounce in weight.Any advice greatly appreciated.


Cheers...

Ray Balmforth
Figtree
NSW
Australia

Hi Ray,
The main drama with using the microwave set for a Barra rod is the smallish running guides that need to pass a serious knot through them, the size 5 is pushing it for clearance of the typical 30-50lb braid to 30-80lb leader knot that will be passing, if your customer ties a good fg or pr knot then it will be marginally suffice but anything like an albright knot and they won't be any good.
A standard guide train with 6-8mm running guides is the safest option unless your client knows exactly what they are dealing with.
Also im yet to test microwaves above a 3000 size reel, so id love to hear what anyone has to offer on that???
Hope this helps

Josh
Weapons custom rods
Qld, Australia

Hey Ray....they TidalWaves will hold up and work great on a barra rod and the 4000 reel will be no issue. We have a company in South Africa using them on surf rods and catching 100# tuna and other sizable fish on them.

_______________________________
God Bless, Don Morse

800-516-1750 ext. 1207 / don@americantackle.us

Rod Building..... It's What We Do.

Hi Buddy,
Sorry, can't help you on this one, we need spiral rollers on the Qld. Barra. They get so big we have to carry them home in a wheelbarra. Take care.

Rod,
Mboro. Qld.

Thanks for the advice so far.John what you are saying is what I was worried about concerning knot size and the running guides.This client wants a spinning rod for his style of fishing over here in the Pilbarra in WA.He basically wants to fish for Barry using soft plastics and hard bodies at times.Definitely thinking of going with the bigger size running guides.Are you using single foot or double foot guides on your builds?

Don I have been using the tidalwaves on most of my builds and have had no problems so far.Is there any chance that there will be a bigger model brought out maybe a double foot stripper.

G'day Rod hope all's well mate can't believe how many queenslanders are over here in the pilbarra mustn't be many left over there.Will be in contact when I get everything sorted out with work.

cheers

Ray Balmforth
Figtree
NSW
Australia

For a bigger primary microwave guide see Lance at Swampland.

Chris Richer
Iroquois ON

I agree with Josh on the potential issue with guide sizes. You might be ok with a microwave set but it is a risk with the small size 5 running guides.
I'm not 100% sure on the specific application but from my experience I have rarely needed distance when chasing these fish. The single feet guide will be fine strength wise for that rod so that's not an issue.

Cheers for the reply Mark looks like I am heading in that direction.

Ray Balmforth
Figtree
NSW
Australia

Ray - I went on a trip to Hinchinbrook Island, Nth QLD a couple of years ago with my father. I built a couple of cheap Batson RX6 3pc 6'6 6-12lb spinning rods to take along. We used 30lb braid and 40lb leader.
I built those rods with size 7 running guides and size 7 tip top and didn't have any problem passing the knots, but I feel that 7 is really the smallest I would comfortably go. All single foot guides, I think it was 25, 16, 10, 8, 7, 7, 7 or something like that. We caught a dozen or so barra up to 80cm. I am no expert on barra fishing, but for a light barra spin rod they worked really well.

Cheers
Dale

Hobart, TAS
Australia



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/15/2014 05:58AM by Dale Holmes.