Hey guys,

I've built quite a few inshore casting and spinning rods using the KR concept. I'm wanting to build a casting surf rod, but don't have a clue where to start. I've done some digging but I'm not coming up with much. I have narrowed it down to two blanks and three reels. The blanks are St. Croix 3SRS120HMF2 and 4SRS120HMF2, and the reels are Penn Squall Star Drag SQL25N, Avet SX 5.3 MC, or an Avet MXL 5.8 MC.

My questions are:
Where do I even begin? How do I figure out where the reel seat goes, or do I even use a reel seat?
Should I just use heat shrink or an overwrap instead of a rear grip?
I keep seeing that the KR concept covers all rods up to 13' surf rods, but can I really just use a KW 10, KW 5.5, then 4.5s to the tip?

Lots of questions. Maybe just pointing me in the direction of some resources would be best, because I'm having no luck with my research. Thanks!

sent you a pm via hushmail

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

Thanks Matthew, but there was only text in the email. No link or location in there.

Have you looked at images of surf rods? Are there rods near you that you can look at? There are commercially made surf rods, have you looked at heir web sites?

Any of these should give you at least an indication of the rod layout.

Have you looked at images of surf rods? Are there rods near you that you can look at? There are commercially made surf rods, have you looked at heir web sites?

Any of these should give you at least an indication of the rod layout.

Have you looked at images of surf rods? Are there rods near you that you can look at? There are commercially made surf rods, have you looked at heir web sites?

Any of these should give you at least an indication of the rod layout.

sent you another one

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

Best when form follows function. Will you be soaking bait or chucking plugs? Braid or mono? Trying to maximize distance, strength, or durability? Cold water or warm water? Clean water or gritty water?
Compromises in components and construction are necessary, but I believe even compromises should vary according to the environment(s) you expect your rod to most frequently encounter.

Throwing weight and bait. Haven’t decided, but either all 30 lb mono or half braid and the top half mono. I’m not sure what I’m trying you maximize, honestly. Warm water. The first time I use it will be in Ft. Walton beach this summer, but after that it will be used in upper coast TX, so gritty?

Looking mostly to catch bull reds, not looking for a full grown shark rig

How much sinker weight do you typically use to hold bottom?

On my 11 ft St Croix Avid built as a spinner I have braid going to a 70lb shock leader. The typical rule is 10lbs of shock leader strength per 1oz of weight to cast for safety reasons.

I wouldn’t go any smaller than a 10mm running guide or tip top due to the shock leader knot and the grass/seaweed that gets stuck on the line.Your first guide closest to reel will probably be a 20mm for those casting reels.

For reel seat distance use the spacing on the St Croix site and then adjust it up or down to fit you. Glue the tip top on and hang some weights that intend to cast and see how it feels.

5.5 oz typically, but up to 8 oz. I will be using half 65 lb braid and the top half will be 30 lb mono, so essentially I'll be casting mono. I will be using a leader with a swivel, so the only knot that might pass is the FG knot connecting the mono to the braid backer.

Checked out St. Croix's website (not sure why I didn't think to do that before). Looks like the reel seat on the 12' rod is ~27".

Here are my ideas so far
Winn Sphyrna Black End Cap, Fuji Tapered Rubber Cap, or CRB Vinyl Butt Cap
CRB Colored Heat Shrink Grip Material
Winn Rubber End Caps
Fuji DPSD20 OR DPSD22, not sure which
Winn Saltwater Trolling Cigar Grip 6" (no taper)

I still don't have a clue on the guides. 10 mm sounds really big to me for running guides. The picture of the Legend Surf at the top of the page shows two RV-H guides followed by KWs to the top. They look like maybe a size 7 to me.

They might be 8mm in that pic but we don’t know what model it is. There is a big difference between a 1-4oz rod and a 2-8oz, also the intended usage such as lure fishing using thin braid going to a short fluorocarbon leader where the connection knot during casting is outside of the tip top vs casting bait using a 7 oz sinker connected to a long 70lb shock leader where the connection knot is under at least 3 turns on the reel during casting.

Also talking about differences there is a big difference betrween the Avid and Legend 12 ft blanks in their casting range. With the weight your casting I would recommend the Avid. My 3-8 oz Avid for me cast the best with 5oz so about in the middle of it’s range. 7 and bait is really pushing it. For the 2-8 oz Legend my guess is that it is probably ideal for 4oz and bait.

The RV-Hs would be used for spinning rods not casting rods. For casting rods could use the new LRV guides or KW guides. Running guides are your choice, 10, 8, or 7 (single ft or double ft).
Norm

Norman Miller Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The RV-Hs would be used for spinning rods not
> casting rods. For casting rods could use the new
> LRV guides or KW guides. Running guides are your
> choice, 10, 8, or 7 (single ft or double ft).
> Norm


Thanks Norm. Would a LRV 12, LRV 8, then KT 7s to the tip be a good place to start?

I have not built a surf rod in years, but I think think that would be a very good start. Hope you realize that the LRVs only come in titanium frames, thus are more expensive.
Norm

Just for ideas, check out the selections on the catalog page. Built up rods ranging in price from $20-$500.

If you are only going to be using a rod once or twice a year, would it make more sense just to pick up an inexpensive completed rod to get the feel for surf fishing and to decide whether you want to put more into it than just a bit?

[www.tackledirect.com]

Your 30 lb line will eventually snap with the weight your casting. Then you will have a 5oz + piece of lead projectile going who knows what direction down the beach. I have heard that one went through someone radiator but at least that didn’t hit a person. I would use 20lb mono going to a 60 to 80lb shock leader depending on what weight is needed to hold bottom.


If you want to save a lot of money check out Rod Geeks surf blanks, they are St Croix materials, designs but made in Mexico. They have a 13ft that has an ideal casting range but not shipping right now due to Fed Ex placing overage charges on anything over 8 foot long.

Tommy Farmer of Carolina Cast Pro also has a 4-8 oz blank. He is a powerful competitive caster so his ratings are different than St Croix’s.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/2018 07:36PM by David Miller.

If you're going to use mono and a shock leader you will need to move up to 12mm running guides and tip. Built a 1569 used 16s as running guides I have no problem with 17# mono and 50# shock leader. Just built two CCP 13 3to6 & 12'6" 4to8 oz nice rods used 12s as running guides.

If you're going to use mono and a shock leader you will need to move up to 12mm running guides and tip. Built a 1569 used 16s as running guides I have no problem with 17# mono and 50# shock leader. Just built two CCP 13 3to6 & 12'6" 4to8 oz nice rods used 12s as running guides.

roger wilson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just for ideas, check out the selections on the
> catalog page. Built up rods ranging in price from
> $20-$500.
>
> If you are only going to be using a rod once or
> twice a year, would it make more sense just to
> pick up an inexpensive completed rod to get the
> feel for surf fishing and to decide whether you
> want to put more into it than just a bit?
>
> [www.tackledirect.com]
> tml

I've thought about it, and I think realistically this makes the most sense. I have no business building something I fundamentally don't understand, so I will just buy some cheaper rods for now and build later if I get more into it.