Piecing together a wire line rod for a first time rod build (this should be fun), it is a 6'6'' American Tackle blank AXWT66M. It will have a size 16 roller tip, but I'm unsure of the guide sizes that experienced rod builders on here would recommend. Also, I plan on installing a slick butt to the rod, is there any pertinent information that is specific concerning adding one to a rod blank that one could share and are there any better epoxies over others for adhesion of the slick butt to blank? Sorry for all of the questions but thank you in advance!

For any of you interested, the rod builder of my last wire line rod (same brand blank, heavy action instead of medium) used 2 size 16 guides and 3 size 12 guides plus the roller tip.

Art:
Having built many wire line rods for both Stainless and Monel wire. I have to say I never used Roller Tips, I prefer Carboloy or carbide tips and guides. Most of the wire rods I build are used in saltwater for trolling Bunker Spoons. I also prefer a 2 piece rod, usually a 6'6" blank with a #14 tip,Instead of using a smooth butt I use a Aftco, Pac Bay or American number #2 Unibutt. Giving me a rod just under 8'. Carbide although expensive is a lot cheaper then the Aftco Standard swivel Roller tips recommended for wire line, also most swivels connecting the leader to the wire will not pass through the Roller tip, but will pass through most carbide tips, additionally roller tips require maintenance from time to time. The only problem with carboloy it is very brittle and subject to breakage if the rod is dropped a lot.


Rich Kline Custom Rods

Rich Kline CR

Like Rich - I would build with Carboloy guides / tip and for all the reasons he has given

Thank you for the intel. The only reason that I'm going slick butt this time around is b/c it is a first time build and I want to get some experience installing a gimbal, reel seat etc. I do plan on building many more rods lol, it is going to become a greater sickness, at least I'll be able to build rods for the reels that I have laying around that need "homes". I've used American Tackle and Pac Bay rods for wire line jigging, but are there any others that you would recommend?

Art:
I believe Seeker has a blank or 2 for wire line, Art Nothing wrong with the slick butt, all of my wire line rods are used by boat fishermen, and the 2 piece rods are easier to store and transport to and from boats. The other advantage is that with a Unibutt you can get extra furrels any make a varieties of wire line rods. My Unibutts for bunker spoons rods also fits #30 IGFA wire rods used for trolling, tubes, feathers, and various rigs.

Rich Kline Custom Rods