WC53

If you mean the standard 2021 zillion, I would agree. I have a roro (I think) spool in it, which changes the calculous

The Silver Wolf has been very solid for me. I have been fishing it in the salt with 10lb braid and typically 4-4.5 gram baits of late. I like the line capacity of the Wolf/Zillion vs the smaller spools. I can’t toss the small yozuri pins minnow with accuracy, sub 2gr, but no problems with the 38mm spearhead. No Trout magnet , but a crappie …. Typical bait lately is a 1/32 or 1/16 bonefish jighead with small plastic or hair jig.

Have an NFC CB705 and soft touch grips arriving with some flyrod blanks today. I do like regular carbon grips in hot weather.

I like the silver wolf better than the gek. Both do distance ok, but much better line capacity. The Zillion with a roro spool is a very good bfs reel. For the money, it is tough to beat the Curado, although, my nephew did beat it out of me The Gek will toss the lightest, but those teeny spools bother me

On light spinners Torzite 4.5 are okay. I don’t care for 4’s. If not Torzite then size 5. Could probably just standardize as a 5, 5.5 . I had a bad experience with stainless rings a few years back and never returned. Technology has progressed a lot, but I haven’t;) The AT tiForged pentalite in a size 10 DF are 10 bucks a guide cheaper than a Fuji KW 10 Torzite. Think the Seaguide ti split the cost difference. Fuji has largest ID, then Seaguide. I need to just print ring height and ID charts and keep them handy. Or just order Fuji.

Thanks Spencer, I have been going lighter tackle in recent years. I enjoy shallow negative low tide winter redfish in the creeks tossing light hardbaits, Z-Mann trd’s and hair jigs on 1/16 or maybe 1/8. The heaviest things I cast are 4.5 grams. I typically take a flyrod and a light casting or spinning blank. Just haven’t found a blank I love. I prefer casting and fly. BFS to me is the weight of the lures cast and then apply that towards the target species. I catch redfish and mountain trout on the same small hardbaits, same casting reel with 8lb braid, just different rods. Bait finesse vs bass finesse? I have always used my LM bass and redfish gear in similar manners, so equate them fairly equally. So if someone mention largemouths as a possibility, I think heavier due to larger fish and grass/pads. I have really good largemouth and redfish opportunities in my area. I travel for the others. The bfs rod for trout and small river/creek smallies is easier. I have the P700 and a UL trout/panfish St Croix blank I like a lot. There are lots of nice UL blanks. The P700 handles its upper range better than the lower due its tip action. Ymmv. I have caught flounder and small reds on the P700. I agree it is nothing knew. I expected someone to just say, hey use this blank. Thanks for your input.

On the point blanks I was looking at the L and ML and I didn’t know what RAD power was and thought you might and how it compares to IP in grams. the initial brochure NFC sent out on the P700, if memory serves, listed an IP of 177 grams. The link is dead now. That is why I was asking. I can go measure mine, but I think that is about right. That is what I get when measuring P700 Am I correct on ERN that you convert grams to grains and then go to the chart? I think the P700 is a nice rod for rainbows and river smallies. If the fish get a bit bigger, then I would want a bit more power which I think would necessitate a faster tip to throw the same weight? Although, I have an old Falcon lowrider trout that is rated down to a 1/16 and it is quite moderate. For grins, I’ll measure it tomorrow. Many ways to skin the cat. Falcon Low Rider ultimate trout IP of 398 AA is a bit less than 73. Originally measured as 7’ blank and had to remeasure IP. I agree on the CCS. The IP and AA make sense to me, as a comparative reference. I just have never looked at the ERN or frequency side of that process.

@MickD Mick, I was looking at your often recommended PBML. What is power in RAD? I understand IP in grams. Also, looking at the P700, wouldn’t the ERN be closer to 9? Looking at the chart of 177 grams from NFC x 15.4 =2731. I have never looked at ERN before, so maybe have it wrong. Thanks

Are the nFC seats listed on the website?

That is why I have been thinking blanks used for walley or salmon steelhead where you are throwing/drifting light baits and have a tip to protect light lines but need backbone due to the current. For years,my favorite inshore rod was an old, handed down, SST cut down to 7-6. Go old school and mix and match parts from the 2 piece rods. Light tip with baby got back. Light neds are also pretty much bfs except for the crazy trout magnet crowd ymmv. Especially since everyone knows Rooster Tails > trout magnets. It’s all math, at least that is better than spelling;) Edit: I look at bfs simply as light baits with a casting reel. Rod is based on target species. Of late, I am doing more salt marsh fishing than anything. But it’s just like bass in cover. I tend to look at it through that lens. When looking for bfs for mountain trout, it is much easier finding a blank.

I would look for blanks with a 4-10 or 6-12 line ratings. A non noodle walley blank, light crank or popping blank along with some drop shot all could have similarities. Or a rod for Neds? if you have a bunch of light spinners rods available. See if they will toss the light weight setup as a spinner. Then try with a casting reel. I agree with Mick on the ratings, I have one 6-12 that is at least a 10-20 and fast.

To me bfs is about taper. Light enough to throw a range of say 2.2-5 grams, but then transition to a stiffer butt. Not a lot around as most are just reimaged Lts. I think the casting trout magnets is just a gimmick. You can maybe cast them, but boy do you have to pay attention. 3-5 grams is the sweet spot for me. 2 grams and under, no thanks. The P700 is much stiffer than a comparable fly rod. It does cast very nice and a great rod for trout and smallies. It doesn’t have the power down low (to me) for around docks or in cover. Haven’t fished it in any fast water to get a feel for that. I haven’t had any big fish on it yet to give that perspective . I have been playing with some of the lighter CB blanks as their softer action seems to do well. No luck in finding nirvana yet. Just as any fyi, what I use the most, the Duel spearhead 38/45s or TRD on 32/16 jigheads. The TRD total weight for me is 4.4 grams and the craw isn’t aerodynamic

On casting, usually 20-30lb prospec or 832 to a 20-30lb leader. Otherwise 8-10lb 832 to leaders thanks for the update

The St Croix are nice, but a tad heavy. The medium is sweet. Loomis imx pro deep flex for the win

Normally do FG at home and Alberto on the water. Been toying with the slim beauty lately as I use it for fly leaders. Regular and Uni version. I have a few KW 5’s laying around and was looking at them trying to decide if I should step up to 5.5.

Thanks Mick. I backed of my tension a bit and that helps. I sight along the blank before starting the locking wrap. This minimizes the later tweaking. Seems to be working better unlike my cold front epoxy applications, lol, the trials and tribulations of a downsized space. Changing topics. Micro sizes for casting, 30lb to 30 leader. Size 5 or 5.5? I still want to run Double feet down the blank, but trying new to me things. Thanks!

Thanks. Maybe I have too much tension. After the locking wraps I can adjust the foot end, but the eye end where the wraps is, well pun intended, locked. I never use cp, just epoxy. I’ll try sighting down the blank better ( in the wrapper) before the locking wraps. without the locking wraps or with the bigger guides it’s not a problem as it is readily apparent. Or just get cataract surgery

As my eyes have been struggling a bit lately getting the teeny guides aligned has been a bit more of a struggle. Typically no big deal. Straighten everything after wrapping doing QC before epoxy. But the dang micro guides are my bain, lol. Is there a trick to adjusting them when locking wraps are used? On 4.5 I have been doing 3 locking followed by 3 blocking. Thanks

I’ve only used the snakes before on flyrod. I was reading a discussion on some folks liking the single foot closer to the tip. This had me notice the CerCoils in single foot guides which I didn’t know existed, and while looking at casting guides, I noticed the micros.. typical rabbit hole. It all started looking at casting rods. Always did at least 2-3 small KW double foot guides before KT5’s on inshore casting. But I guess now they recommend just one RV stripper then KB singles which are strong enough to the KT. I just did a L build this way and it works, but I guess I just miss the double feet ( ) then started looking at other stuff. Own worse enemy.

Was looking at guides and trying to find what was in stock yesterday. Hadn’t noticed the Rec micro guides or the Cerecoil single foot guides before. Anyone have experience with them or how the sizing works? Couldn’t find any chart or size comparisons with them. thanks

The Mojo Bass M glass cranker is a pretty decent all around rod and can be found pretty cheap if looking to dip your toe.

Old, old thread..lol… just wondering how that turned out over the long haul. I was looking at their blanks yesterday and wondered if one would make a decent 6-7.

Double line Pitzen?

10lb suffix unless I am in weeds. It still breaks at like 25. I tried 6 and 8 but tend to gravitate back to 10. The thinner line seems to help in wind with light baits.

Recently did a Matrix popping blank and it is very nice as well. I haven’t tried any Bushido’s yet.