Recent builds

When production rods are not enough, it's time to go custom. Come share your experiences building and/or ordering a custom rod and tell us if you'll ever go back to off the shelf.
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5bites
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Recent builds

Post by 5bites » Tue Nov 06, 2018 9:38 am

I’ll start by saying I wasn’t going to post anything because I’m not a good builder. I’m sure most everyone who jumps into rod building (lunatics) are far, far better builders than me. I don’t have the patience to do the awesome and meticulous thread work some of you are capable of. I also could use some refinement on my equipment. Right now it is what it is. I build for me, so my builds are simple. More assembling than building I guess.

Anyhow here are a few from the last few months. Nothing special but they fill a purpose as I’m inching through culling out my factory rods.

This first one is a Point Blank 7’3” Medium xfast. This is primarily a finesse jig rod. It’s one of my most favorite ways to fish and this blank is absolutely perfect for it. My very first cast produced a keeper and it literally felt like someone flipped the tip-top guide. It’s impossibly light and with the aldebaran it’s the perfect combo, imo. I struggled with the sticker on this rod because I’m an idiot. So the edges are waaaay more obvious than I’d like. One day it might get redone.
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5bites
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Re: Recent builds

Post by 5bites » Tue Nov 06, 2018 9:41 am

Couple more
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hoohoorjoo
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Re: Recent builds

Post by hoohoorjoo » Tue Nov 06, 2018 9:48 am

No need for humility. Those look nice to me. I know of a couple of people that sell custom rods on ebay who could take a few lessons from you lol!
Try not to let your mind wander. It is much too small to be outside unsupervised.

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Re: Recent builds

Post by 5bites » Tue Nov 06, 2018 9:53 am

The next rod is a Mhx Elite-x 873.5 blank. It’s a good blank for sure but I do wish it balanced better. Somehow they managed to make a blank that weighs 2.25oz feel tip heavy. Now, after it’s completed it feels much more balanced. It finished at 3.68oz, which is really good imo for a rod that’s 7’3” with this much power. It definitely has the power too. It could almost be used as a frog rod, and for sure could if you’re not frogging matted, thick moss etc. I’m using it for big worms, football jig, general casting power applications for bottom contact lures. It’s sensitive and though it’s fast enough to pitch with, it loads up nicely on a fish. It would be great for paddle tails too.
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5bites
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Re: Recent builds

Post by 5bites » Tue Nov 06, 2018 10:47 am

This rod was apparently destined to be a mistake. I accidentally put the wrong blank in the cart which is to powerful for throwing hard jerkbaits. So now I have a good spinnerbait and soft jerkbait rod. It would probably do ok with squarebills if you are using beefy enough hooks. Also the reel seat was supposed to be a gunmetal grey, not a shiny primer grey lol. Nevertheless I figured I’d just make do after waiting a month for it and really didn’t want to be negative to the guy since it is a good looking seat imo. Kind of a hot rod look.

Anyway this blank is a Mhx Elite-x 813, 6’9”mh xfast. It feels ok. It definitely carries the tip heavy trend but is worse. Somehow this blank weighs essentially the same as the 7’3” above. It balances worse too. I haven’t got to fish it yet but the feel is honestly disappointing. It’s still light at 3.7oz but it’s no Point Blank. This rod should weigh 3.2ish. It might be my last Elite-X build which stinks because I like options. Anyway I will update this if the fluke bite is still going Friday.
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5bites
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Re: Recent builds

Post by 5bites » Tue Nov 06, 2018 10:49 am

One more
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Re: Recent builds

Post by 5bites » Tue Nov 06, 2018 10:58 am

hoohoorjoo wrote:No need for humility. Those look nice to me. I know of a couple of people that sell custom rods on ebay who could take a few lessons from you lol!
Well I appreciate that but there are some true craftsman on here. One day I’m going to have Mattman build me one. He’s been a massive help over the years. A great mentor.

I get rushed and sloppy sometimes partially due to needing to take the time to get a better setup. It’s not necessarily something I want to do as in I could spend my evenings doing something else and be fine with it. It is nice when the rods are done though and you know it’s better than anything off the shelf. That’s how I get suckered into it.

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Re: Recent builds

Post by Hogsticker2 » Tue Nov 06, 2018 1:07 pm

I think you're doing just fine right outta the gates. Question, do you prefer that offset area between the top of the grip and the reel seat? I would think that would become uncomfortable, but perhaps you fish with 4 fingers under the reel. I was never really impressed with mhx myself. Had a few high mods, but sold them. I feel you're getting a better blank if you swap over to the Rainshadow Immortal line for about the same price. Another even better option in that price range is the Phenix UMBX. I've stuck with Phenix and Point Blank for the past few years. Their blanks suit my needs and desires very well, and I haven't been disappointed yet.

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Re: Recent builds

Post by 5bites » Tue Nov 06, 2018 4:15 pm

Hogsticker2 wrote:I think you're doing just fine right outta the gates. Question, do you prefer that offset area between the top of the grip and the reel seat? I would think that would become uncomfortable, but perhaps you fish with 4 fingers under the reel. I was never really impressed with mhx myself. Had a few high mods, but sold them. I feel you're getting a better blank if you swap over to the Rainshadow Immortal line for about the same price. Another even better option in that price range is the Phenix UMBX. I've stuck with Phenix and Point Blank for the past few years. Their blanks suit my needs and desires very well, and I haven't been disappointed yet.
I’ve been building off and on for 10-12 years or so but not often and not for a while either. The last several years has just been misc repairs for myself and some locals. I appreciate the awesome work some guys do but I have no motivation to learn a the complicated thread work. Simple and clean is what I like.

I believe you are referring to the diameter difference? You don’t even notice it. A guy could taper down like typical sk grips grips but just radiusing over like in the pics works great for me. The fuji grips for the sk seats have kind of a pointed spot half way down and I wanted straight. Plus I wanted the right diameter and one turned to match the sk seat diameter would be way small.

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Re: Recent builds

Post by hoohoorjoo » Tue Nov 06, 2018 5:04 pm

Those SK seats are the worst seat ever, at least for me. Of course, I don't like any split reel seat. I guess that's why we have choices, and I like choices.
Try not to let your mind wander. It is much too small to be outside unsupervised.

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Re: Recent builds

Post by toddmc » Wed Nov 07, 2018 9:45 am

hoohoorjoo wrote:Those SK seats are the worst seat ever, at least for me. Of course, I don't like any split reel seat. I guess that's why we have choices, and I like choices.
I didn't care for the one and only SK seat that I had a rod built with until I used tennis racquet grip tape as an arbor to fill the gap between the front and rear part, and to cover the threads. It's not as sensitive or light, but at least it is comfortable enough to use for long periods.

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Re: Recent builds

Post by hoohoorjoo » Wed Nov 07, 2018 11:01 am

toddmc wrote:
hoohoorjoo wrote:Those SK seats are the worst seat ever, at least for me. Of course, I don't like any split reel seat. I guess that's why we have choices, and I like choices.
I didn't care for the one and only SK seat that I had a rod built with until I used tennis racquet grip tape as an arbor to fill the gap between the front and rear part, and to cover the threads. It's not as sensitive or light, but at least it is comfortable enough to use for long periods.
That gap did bother me, but the thick, stubby trigger actually caused my hand to cramp up after about 10 minutes of use. Plus, it always felt like the rod was gonna fly out of my hand on a hard cast. There was just no good way for me to hold it(because of how I palm a reel).
Try not to let your mind wander. It is much too small to be outside unsupervised.

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Re: Recent builds

Post by 5bites » Wed Nov 07, 2018 12:26 pm

I’m a big sk fan. It’s light and comfortable for me. I’ve modified ecs seats to a split style before the sk came along but since the sk exists there’s obviously no need. Now if the trigger bothers you the modified ecs might be the way to go. The acs I do not care for at all.

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Re: Recent builds

Post by toddmc » Fri Nov 09, 2018 8:27 am

5bites wrote:I’m a big sk fan. It’s light and comfortable for me. I’ve modified ecs seats to a split style before the sk came along but since the sk exists there’s obviously no need. Now if the trigger bothers you the modified ecs might be the way to go. The acs I do not care for at all.
I've also modified a lot of seats over the years to get them where I want them. I sand on most of them. Reel seats will always be a subjective thing because of our different hands and the different ways that we hold the rod. It's nice that Fuji has been adding many new seat models recently to address our different needs.

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Re: Recent builds

Post by Reservoir » Wed Nov 14, 2018 8:51 pm

That’s a very very nice rod. I love that you kept it simple.

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