Building a new UL glassfiber rod...

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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jvelth74
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Building a new UL glassfiber rod...

Post by jvelth74 » Wed Dec 16, 2020 9:52 am

I have been thinking for buying this 6´6 # 3 - 3-pcs blank:
https://www.hilevel.se/en/rod-building/ ... lanks.html

Or this 6´ # 2 - 4-pcs blank:
https://www.hilevel.se/en/news/s-glass-blank-6-2.html

And build ~4' UL baitcasting stream fishing trout rod, by using necessary amount of bought blank/blanks. Maybe making a butt joint if needed and maybe by adding ~1' of rigid bottom part from some old broken rod, for making reel seat and grip area solid (and to add castability a little bit).

Casting distance is not at all a point in what I'm thinking. If 3 gram lure can be cast 15 yards, that's ok... Also sensitivity is pretty much pointless because rainbow trouts, when those strikes to small lure, will be hooked with or without sensitivity of rod. Fun factor with fish is main point in what I'm thinking. And if short casts would be easy to perform, then it would be success in my opinion...

Idea of butt joint is partly from old Shimano Aero Magnumlite spinning rod, where it works really nice by adding some serious backbone for a very light rod. And solid reel seat and grip area just feels good.
Aero Magnumlite 1.JPG
Aero Magnumlite 1.JPG (27.27 KiB) Viewed 7464 times
Aero Magnumlite 2.JPG
Aero Magnumlite 2.JPG (23.36 KiB) Viewed 7464 times
Inspiration for my thoughts is master-caster fisherman Saito and his custom made Anglo&Co fiberglass rods:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrQAta ... Z6zmESV92w

Thoughts?

No-one has used fly blank for baitcast rod?
I have done one, but it was different. It was something light salmon blank, very long, maybe ~12'. Rod that I made from that blank was light 9' seatrout rod. Rod wasn't made from good components and I don't have that any more. But now I'm planning whole different.

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Re: Building a new UL glassfiber rod...

Post by spoonplugger1 » Sun Dec 27, 2020 10:12 pm

Your blank selection is much lighter than the average ultralight blank.

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jvelth74
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Re: Building a new UL glassfiber rod...

Post by jvelth74 » Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:13 am

Yes. This is what I'm planning. As light / soft rod for what it is possible to use in light baitcaster. Rivers here are narrow and because of that short casts are OK. But ease of casting and fun factor with fish is what I'm looking for.

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Re: Building a new UL glassfiber rod...

Post by Sterfry26 » Mon Jan 04, 2021 9:19 am

I would love to see the finished product when you end up creating it. I have been looking for something similar but do not want to invest near 1000 dollars to get a very good Japan-made model. I didn't take the dive yet as I have never built a rod.

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Re: Building a new UL glassfiber rod...

Post by NorCoMike » Mon Feb 22, 2021 7:07 am

I built a baitcaster on glass for a customer and he loves it. I didnt get to fish it before I sent it off but I did test cast it and it casted fine as long as I slowed down. I did build a spinning rod on a 2WT fiberglass fly blank. I use it mainly to throw small spoons 2 grams or less. casts great and handles fish ok did catch a 20 inch pike on it last year. For fun factor its hard to beat a 10 inch rainbow will bend it all the way to the grip. Both blanks were 6 foot 2wt and 4 pieces.

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Re: Building a new UL glassfiber rod...

Post by jvelth74 » Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:09 am

Thanks for answer! Sounds great! I looked component prices. Aliexpress rods are really cheap vs. self built rod. But still it could be good choose to custom build one.

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Re: Building a new UL glassfiber rod...

Post by RMCatchNrelease » Tue Feb 23, 2021 2:46 am

There is a guy on NFC Facebook out of UK building custom BFS rods on their new iconoglass blanks.

Looks really sweet.
IMG_20210223_29966.jpg
IMG_20210223_29966.jpg (49.27 KiB) Viewed 6296 times

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Re: Building a new UL glassfiber rod...

Post by jvelth74 » Tue Feb 23, 2021 10:36 am

^ Man, that looks sweet. Any idea of how much those rods or blanks cost?

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Re: Building a new UL glassfiber rod...

Post by NorCoMike » Tue Feb 23, 2021 2:20 pm

Looks like those NFC blanks start at 150$ for the iconoglass. This one was more budget friendly since im unsure of how useful it will be.
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Re: Building a new UL glassfiber rod...

Post by jvelth74 » Wed Feb 24, 2021 11:05 am

^ Thanks!

And rod looks nice and built for purpose! Yes, components for rod are expensive and at least reel seat and grips is hard to re-use.

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Re: Building a new UL glassfiber rod...

Post by Dalleinf » Wed Feb 24, 2021 12:54 pm

I can recommend the short glass rods for trout fishing. I agree that trout mostly hook themselves and that hooksets are rarely needed. In that respect glass is OK. It will, however, as you mention mean shorter casts and a lot of fun (if you can live with shorter precise casts). I have another 6' and a 6'6" coming.
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Re: Building a new UL glassfiber rod...

Post by RMCatchNrelease » Wed Feb 24, 2021 5:16 pm

Dalleinf wrote:
Wed Feb 24, 2021 12:54 pm
I can recommend the short glass rods for trout fishing. I agree that trout mostly hook themselves and that hooksets are rarely needed. In that respect glass is OK. It will, however, as you mention mean shorter casts and a lot of fun (if you can live with shorter precise casts). I have another 6' and a 6'6" coming.
So awesome. I'm sure it is fun for spoons ans trebel hooked baits.

What does that baby weigh in at? Is that an NFC blank?

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Re: Building a new UL glassfiber rod...

Post by Dalleinf » Wed Feb 24, 2021 11:40 pm

RMCatchNrelease wrote:
Wed Feb 24, 2021 5:16 pm
Dalleinf wrote:
Wed Feb 24, 2021 12:54 pm
I can recommend the short glass rods for trout fishing. I agree that trout mostly hook themselves and that hooksets are rarely needed. In that respect glass is OK. It will, however, as you mention mean shorter casts and a lot of fun (if you can live with shorter precise casts). I have another 6' and a 6'6" coming.
So awesome. I'm sure it is fun for spoons ans trebel hooked baits.

What does that baby weigh in at? Is that an NFC blank?
Great fun! Do not know the blank name, sorry. Custom build and supposedly somewhat of a secret. Weighs 130 g or just below 4.6 oz.

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Re: Building a new UL glassfiber rod...

Post by Dalleinf » Wed Feb 24, 2021 11:40 pm

Great fun! Do not know the blank name, sorry. Custom build and supposedly somewhat of a secret. Weighs 130 g or just below 4.6 oz.
Much of the weight in the handle area.

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Re: Building a new UL glassfiber rod...

Post by jvelth74 » Thu Feb 25, 2021 10:14 am

I'm glad to hear that I'm not alone with my thoughts. And on Tellus there's are at least some people thinking that light glassfiber rod might be nice for trout. And some of people has actually built or ordered rod!

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