I'm looking for some expert advice on a salmon rod I am building for a friend

it is going to be a 8.5 foot medium heavy rod. his main use is going to be casting lures using 15 pound mono. My Main concern is about what type of guides to use. He mentioned wanting micro guides and I was wondering if a size 5 guide will be too small for this type of set up.

I have never build anything bigger than a 6.5 foot walleye rod so any help is greatly appreciated.

they will work but the distance might be a bit impeded IMHO I would do a 6 or 7 because it is mono and it should cast well.

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

#5 will work fine, a rod is a rod, what works on your bass or walleye rod will work on this salmon rod under the same circumstances. Built a Rainshadow XST 1025 for a gentleman with a #10 first guide than all #4s with a #6 ringed tip, it's a cannon for rods that length and very light and sensitive. In my book #5 really aren't micros, they've been around much longer. The first guide being a #10 wasn't much of a stretch for him, his Series One Berkeley rods from the late 80's started with a #10 guide, all in SiC from the factory. Grandkid run his rod through his tailgate.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/09/2017 10:27AM by Spencer Phipps.

I agree with Spencer size 5 runners will do very well. Is this going to be a spinning or casting rod?
Norm

spinning rod built on a mhx st1025 if I remember right.

spinning rod built on a mhx st1025 if I remember right.

one more question. I will be using. CFX carbon fiber grips from mudhole.com what is the best way to put a coat of finish on them with out a lathe available.

and would prokote or permanent gloss be the best?

Unless it for cosmetic reasons you need no additional work on those grips. Epoxy would be the easiest to apply.

The only thing I'll add here is to ask where this rod is going to be used. If it's going to be used in a cold, Northern climate (Northern BC or AK) you may want to reconsider size 5's. They will ice-up very quickly. Here in BC, we fish salmon right through December and I can tell you that there's many times I've had issues with size 8's, let alone 5's.

Brian,
X10 on the use of larger guides if there is any chance that ice will be encountered. For hard core cold weather fishing - I will never use any guide size smaller than size 8, and will often use nothing smaller than size 10.

I like Permagloss as a top finish. You can apply it using a cordless drill and a foam paint brush works extremely well. Basically put the grip on some sort of mandrel, i.e. a piece of broken blank, wooden dowel, threaded steel rod, etc. Chuck the mandel in the drill and coat the grip with Permagloss using a foam brush while turning. Only takes a few seconds and is very easy giving a very nice and durable finish. This thin coat will set up very quickly and thus do not need to keep turning it. Can give additional coats if you want to. If you do not like it can always coat later with epoxy finish, but I think you will like the finish.
I have three personal salmon spin rods from 8.5' - 9', all three were rewraped using Fuji KR concept spin guides using either size 5 or size 4.5 runners, and they all performed much better after the rewrap then they did before the rewrap. Used a size 20 KL-H as a stripper for all of these, but I cast braid on these rods. Do not know the reel size that will be used but using15 Mono I might use a size 25 KL-H stripper. Hope this helps.
Norm

from the sound of it he will be using the rod in the summer around Minnesota with little chance for ice build up on guides.

I guess I will see what i/he think the grips need if anything at all and go from there

thanks for the help

salmon in Minnesota must be fishing lake superior

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/09/2017 03:44PM by Matthew Paul.

I guess I kinda assumed that. he lives there but I never asked where he plans on fishing.

Put a set of AirWaves on the rod and get a couple of extra running guides, or if you want to go with a little bigger guides, get a set of the MicroWave 30's with the single foot running guides.

one more question. I ordered a size 18 reel seat but it looks way too unproportional for the handle and the only other size in the seat, in the style, he wants is a 16 which I feel may be too small.

is a size 16 alright or should I stick with the size 18 even though it looks big?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/14/2017 02:54PM by Brody Haakenson.

Brody Haakenson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> one more question. I ordered a size 18 reel seat
> but it looks way too unproportional for the handle
> and the only other size in the seat, in the style,
> he wants is a 16 which I feel may be too small.
>
> is a size 16 alright or should I stick with the
> size 18 even though it looks big?


I only use size 16 on my salmon rods. It's more about feel in the hand than how it looks.
If the blank diameter isn't larger than the inside diameter of the reel seat I wouldn't hesitate to use size 16.

I also have no problems with a size 16, as long as it fits the blank. The only time a use a size 18 or larger is when the blank's diameter dictates so. What kind of seat are you getting? I am guessing an aluminum seat, if not I am surprised you can't get it a size 17, but can get it in a size 16 and 18.
Norm

its a project x seat from mudhole It only comes in a size 16 and 18. I ordered a size 16 because the size 18 looked bad in my opinion

Should be fine. I have used these before and hold up well.
Norm