Hello Everyone, I really appreciate all the information on this website. It really helps me as a new rod builder. I was hoping I could get the opinion on this from some seasoned builders. I understand the functionality differences between single and double foot guides, weight, application and so on. My question is would it be sacrilegious to use a double foot stripper guide on some light sp
Forum: rodboard

About a month ago, I completed a spinning build using the K-R Concept, 3+1 guide specification, for NFC's SJ 703 X-Ray (C602) blank. I have fished it extensively since then, and wanted to share my experiences and thought process building and fishing this guide specification with this rod. Seems to me, not much has been written about the 3+1 specification, especially with the 16H guide group, and
Forum: rodboard

Hello, I live in Europe and I fish for carp. (8 to 35 lbs) Contrary to most European carp anglers I don’t like a casting tool. I prefer fishing with a float in the margins. That style of fishing is not popular anymore and you hardly can find suitable rods for the job. Recently I purchased a cheap 10 floater rod with a stated test curve of 2.25 lbs. The blank has nice through action (I n
Forum: rodboard

I'd appreciate if anyone can share their experience using Fuji T-KTTG 4 or 4.5s on a 4wt fly rod? I have a Sexyloop HT4 (fast action, powerful 9' blank) that I built with REC RSF guides. Love the rod but not a fan of the guides. I'd like to rebuild it with ceramics but wish to keep the weight penalty to a minimum......albeit at the expense of internal diameter. I'm thinking a T-LKWTG 10
Forum: rodboard

I am making a spinning rod for someone that is asking for stainless one piece guides with no inserted ring. He is referring to the guides used on the Ugly Sticks. Does anyone have suggestions? Thanks in advance.
Forum: rodboard

After some 10 years without fly fishing at all, I will now go back to this type of fishing. I have built casting rods and ice fishing rods that I really love, I now want to put this love into a couple of fly rods. On my casting rods I uses Torzite guides that I really love, carbon handles is a given too. I know more or less nothing about guides for fly rods. I think I want 2 Torzite stripper guid
Forum: rodboard

Looking for input from anyone that has fished rods with stainless rings, and monofilament. Primarily lighter spinning rods (2# - 8# Lines). The guides are very light, enough to notice, which is really nice. But it seems they put some extra wear on the line. After casting a couple of hours, I notice the last foot or so to get a little "curly". Some of the ones I have used where
Forum: rodboard

Hi all, I haven't posted in some time because there are few good fly rod questions. Maybe the builders are getting better - or fly fishing is in a down-swing. I only build fly rods - so feeling kind of lonely. Herb CTS Rep
Forum: rodboard

I just finished making a 'new' rod out of a a St. Croix Mojo Bass factory rod that was broken off about an inch above the handle. The part I could salvage was 5'10" long; the power is medium heavy. My Steps: a.) Decided on a Spinning Rod over a Casting Rod (and to use only components I had on hand). b.) Removed factory guides and extra epoxy with a razor blade. Carefully. c.) Scraped
Forum: rodboard

Hey everyone, I'm looking to build a 5'6" spinning rod to replace one built in the past. The one I'm using now is a CRB561L through Mudhole. The blank is lacking the action I prefer for the baits I throw, the power isn't the issue it's just the action. I throw for largemouth, smallmouth and sometimes crappie on a bobber rig with minnow. Senkos, flukes, small top water frogs(1/5-1/4oz), bitsy
Forum: rodboard

Hi All. This is my first post, although I have been lurking and reading as a non-member for quite a while now. I've made up a variety of flyrods over the years but am about to embark on a niche project and am pretty l For years we've used 4lb nylon/ 8 lb braid on a small reel (Shimano 500) to pitch unweighted prawns on circle hooks with a flyrod to spotted grunter on the mud flats. (Spot
Forum: rodboard

I have read the the Microwave Air guides are the best guides ever. I bit the bait and ordered a set for a 6'-6" rod. This is going on a bass rod. Has anybody try the Microwave Air Guides?
Forum: rodboard

So as the subject states, I didn't see that I got a small drop of epoxy on two of the eyes of my guides. What would be the best way to remove it? I'm hesitant of using a blade as I could inadvertently scratch the eye. they are titanium fly rod guides. All the help would be much appreciated. Thank you
Forum: rodboard

I got a request, an unreasonable request IMO, from an acquaintance. The request is for an 8’ crappie spinning rod with a reel seat with the blank exposed and non-ceramic guides and the budget is $150. Surely, I can’t be the only one that receives these kind of requests. I can’t fathom this being possible, but am all ears if someone has an option.
Forum: rodboard

I’m building a couple fly rods and I don’t have much experience other than a 6’6” 2wt that I built last year. That smaller rod came out great and I believe I did a size 8 stripper to a size 4 single foot, then single foot 1s the rest of the way. My only complaint is the loop connection catches on the single foots often. One of the rods is an NFC F904-2 and I’m planning on doing a size 10 strip
Forum: rodboard

Seen pricing on @#$%& for a replacement and no way will I pay $100 plus for one guide. Also not keen on shipping a rod back to manufacture to replace one guide. The guide I need to replace is the stripper guide off a first gen steez ags 76mml. Took rod sleeve off rod and noticed the stripper had a lot of movement to find the guide foot is cracked. The id of the ring measures out to just under
Forum: rodboard

I'm trying to put together an order for componenets, and am unsure of which guides best suit my needs. I've used Minimas and SF ceramics, as well as SF wire guides, in the past. All work well, for the various trout rods I've built, but, I've never built a rod to throw 500-600 grains, shooting heads, sinking tips, etc. For this build, I am wondering about wear vs. weight and guide height. I want
Forum: rodboard

After finding Minima match guides out of Mudhole stock I began searching for them via the internet rod building sites. This "Mudholez" site eventually appeared. They present a very close parallel to the legit Mudhole. Whats the deal here? Anyone know? John1
Forum: rodboard

Although I've crafted fly rod blanks for many years and many rods, I have never used single foot snake guides. A fishing friend is building his first fly rod, and has said he likes the way single foot guides look. He asked me to comment, and of course I couldn't say much, other than to reply lots of fly fishers use them. Personally, I prefer the balanced look of double foot guides, and instinc
Forum: rodboard

Over the years I must of built at least 50 fly rods. All my builds have been with snake guides. Working on another fly build and was thinking about the single foot guides. Hoping for some pro's and con's single foot vs snake's. My feeling is the single ft with an insert is going to add weight that would change the dynamics of the blanks action. Maybe i'm over thinking it, who knows. Input is welc
Forum: rodboard

Hey guys, could someone recommend a good rod blank for a crappie rod, 6'6" and guide selection, I like Fuji and usually use 4.5 KB,KT runners , love Point Blank and have built all my rods ( 7) using them. just don't know about the best choices for lighter stuff, probably will see nothing but roadrunners and jigs in the 1/64- 1/8 range. Thank you in advance.
Forum: rodboard

I read on another threat the suggestion that Pac Bay's Minima line of guides are being discontinued. I checked Mudhole, and sure 'nuff they have all their Minimas on clearance. This is news to me. Anyone have any sense why this line was axed? It seems like people talk about the guides all the time, so I assume they are being bought and used...
Forum: rodboard

I am building a 12' 6" double handed rod for overhead casting for stripped bass from the shore. This rod is going to be used with mono running line and a shooting head. Now to my dilemma, single footed guides or snake guides for this build. I am looking for more distance when casting. Thanks in advance for any recommendations.
Forum: rodboard

Do you guys think coatings have any measurable effect on guide weight (such as a black or chrome version of same guide set)? I don't see any info about guide weight when looking to purchase, do you just kind of go by experience/visual and material input to guess? They come in so many sizes and shapes it's crazy - American Tackle Microwave and Airwave and all that look appealing - your thoug
Forum: rodboard

So my passion really is light, sensitive spinning rods. After playing with quite a few guides, I can't seem to find anything that touches the Stainless frame with Stainless insert ring style, outside of going with Recoils (which are not my favorite). What's your go-to for light guides on a light rod? Talking freshwater 4# - 8# line generally.
Forum: rodboard

I really really REALLY want a baitcasting rod that will excel in throwing 3/8-5/8 for jigging walleye and throwing some megabass vision oneten’s @ 1/2oz. Oh and I want it a medium light. I’m not asking which blank to get, I’m asking more: off the top of your head can it be done? With the right reel and the right guides etc, I’m sure it can be done? And if so, what guides would you use? Any parti
Forum: rodboard

I’m going to build a jigging world ghost hunter popping rod and I’m looking for guide recommendations. I’ve had a factory popping rod with Fuji mnsg guides and was not a fan of how they controlled the line. I would like to stick with Fuji and use either Kw guides or try the RV-H guides
Forum: rodboard

As I selected components for my most recent build (9 ft medium power rod build on a steelhead blank), I learned that a guide with a stainless steel ring is not necessarily lighter than a guide of similar size with a ceramic ring. I had originally planned on using Fuji KR concept guides for the reduction train and tip top (16H, 8M, 5.5L, 4.5KG, 4LG) with SeaGuide MKGs in size 4 with stainless ring
Forum: rodboard

Hi all, Once again I am reaching out for help. I am building on NF SB683 blank, tip top. 4.5. Blank O.D. 1.6mm. I will use 4.5 Fuji TORZITE Titanium T2-KTTG running guides. Should I use 4.5f- 1.8mm tip top pipe size or 1.6mm will be enough? or should I go with 4F or 5F tip top and 1.8mm or 1.6 mm pipe? Is there "tip top" general rule you all use? Thanks.
Forum: rodboard

Recently broke my Walleye jig rod and looking to build a new one. Wondering if anyone has any recommendations/experience with a build on an NFC X-ray blank that is cut down to 6’3” or 6’4” but hoping to end up with a ML XF or M XF type action. I will use the rod almost entirely for vertical jigging walleye with 1/8-3/8 oz jigs. I use this on our Canada trip, so it will frequently tangle with wal
Forum: rodboard