Finally Gett'n Around To My 2014 Rod Adiction (Adition)

[Capt.Bob]

Well I been draggin my feet this spring gett'n a new setup. I been really busy with the Walleye since the last week of March and Crappie having a fantastic spring so far for the last 2 weeks. I finally decided on the outfit to bring into the cabinet this year. I do a lot of Smallmouth and Walleye fishing, so after last year when I put a couple new casting rods in the cabinet with some custom work, I thought this year I'd build another spinning setup. I got everything ordered a week or so ago, and yesterday the first package came, now I just need the Guides from REC, I feel like a little kid at Christmas, guess when it comes to some things we never grow up.

  This is a 6'6" MLF (5S66MLF-G) Blank, going for light weigh and sensitivity, with a new Sustain 1000FG hoping to get it around 9 oz. or less, not much bling and really kind of homely with Recoil Black Pearl Guides for weight not looks, and since the two Extremes I bought and customized last year use them, I am a believer in the recoil guides. I will have a minimum of flat colored windings on the guides and am skimping weight everywhere,,,,,but the grip, gotta be cork for me.

 

I want this for finesse fishing for multi species. I hope I don't regret going with the 6'6" blank, but really wanted to keep accuracy along with good distance and keep weight down, and hopefully this will be a trade off for everything, balance casting distance and accuracy, weight, and still have enough rod to handle an 8-10 pound Walleye or a 6-7 lbs. Smally (if I get back to Erie this year these are all probable, not rare). At the same time should be a great rod for Perch'n on the big pond and smaller lakes with some Crappie fishing thrown in. The older I get the fewer outfits I need are the goal I'm trying for. But just like it was when I was a kid,,,,I gotta have a reason to keep adding more outfits to give the grandkids someday!!!!  + I did get rid of 4 outfits over the winter, so my counts gett'n low????    When the guides get here the handle seat and assembly can begin.  I almost taped some spare guides to the blank and and taped the reel on just to try it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,patience is not one of my strong points. 

[S Hovanec]

I have 2 SCVs, an inshore SCV, an inshore SCIV and 4 miscellaneous others on the rack waiting for me to have the time to build some 'me' rods. The wife has been pretty patient too cause she's getting my old 5S69MLXF once I build the new 5S610MLXF.

LOVE the SCVs!!!

[Capt.Bob]

I almost picked that blank but weight was my deciding factor, and I didn't think the 1000FG would balance it with a short enough handle to suite my likes. I have the new Sustain for the one I went with but if the handle requires shortening up much under 7.5" to balance it I might have to buy a Ci4+ in the 1000FA, not the micro line model, to suite me. If that happens I am going to wish I went with the 5S610MLX to keep the Sustain, decisions decisions, hope I picked the right pair.    Like to see it when you complete it, what hardware you gone with?? I am sure you will make it sweet!!    

[S Hovanec]

The 6-10 is getting TiSiC K-frames. Up in the air about the grip. My current rod has a split Tennessee grip and I really like it (and I'm not a big fan of split grips.). I might extend it to 7' too. The plan seems to change daily. The Inshore SCV is getting a set of Torsite k-frames and extended to 7'2", that's all I know for sure right now.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I've got my first set of Torzite K's on order. Have you used them before? These will be for a High Mod Med/F spinning setup.

[S Hovanec]

I haven't used them yet. They're all still in the bags hanging on the wall! I will say that the rings look very thin compared to Alconite and SiC.

[Capt.Bob]

My rod builder showed me those new guides and it was tempting, they are great look'n guides and very light and I am sure very sensitive. But the hole thing I wanted when I thought about this rod was plain jane, in most folks eyes down right uegely, a rod no one would want to steel, kinda like a "RAT ROD" rod, Built for one purpose only, high performance fishing. Plus the fact that after using recoil's they grew on me, and I wanted the lightest most sensitive rugged guide I could get. Believe me, my new build will win no beauty contest. There's no extra decorative wraps, just  guides and a small drop shot keeper. I even bought my own thread in pastel colors, no metallic or bright colors, just kinda dull and plain like the girls I never got to date. I will have a full cork handle with a little contrast added to it, some things you just can't give up.      

 

You guy's have a way of making me second guess myself, they rely are the guides my builder first recommended. But that is why there is always next years rod!!!! Besides if the handle doesn't balance the rod within the length I want  with the Sustain, and I have to buy a Stradic C14+ in a 1000 size,,,,,,,well I would probably have to build another rod then for the Sustain?????? sounds logical to me, then I would go with the new K- frames,,,,,don't know if Jeannine would understand, sometimes women don't seem to have the same kind of common sense I do,,,,,,,,,,,,,,    

[Jrob78]

Be sure to post a pic when you get it finished up.  My last 2 personal builds were SCV's, built plain jane.  That is the way to go on personal rods.  All performance and no flash.

[Capt.Bob]

Wow what a hassle working with USPS!! I ordered the recoil guides I wanted on the 19th of May paid for 2 day priority mail, got a tracking # the 20th and it said they were received in Mass. The left at 4:03 am the 21st, and the expected delivery date is 5-22-2014 OK!! Woopes not OK,,,,,seems with the holiday weekend stuff must have been delayed,,,,,,,,,   So I look Tuesday morning the 28th I think or something like that, and USPS tracking still says the same thing, the last they were seen was the 21st at 4:03 am???? So I called,,(not a good thing to do if you already have high blood pressure!!!!

 

I explained the situation to the rep. who then asked if I had the tracking # and she would help me,,, ya,,,right! After what seemed an eternity she let me know my package was received on the 20th and was reported to have left the facility at 4:03 am on the 21st,,,,,,,,,,,,,,ya I know I told her, my question is why did I pay for 2 day priority and 7 days later no one has seen it for 6 days. So she let me know there is no guarantee of being delivered in two days but usually it will be in 2 or 3, I ship all the time and know this, but what came next was enough to blow your stack. She said in 21 days I could make a missing package report and if not found in 60 days it was insured and  I could at that time file for my money back for the insured price. I let her know that didn't help me as I need the package to start a project on a time schedule and since the package is lost I need to do that now and get another order on it's way. She apologized and informed me it was not lost yet until there is no update in there system for more than 20 day's our GOVERNMENT run Postal service does not consider it LOST????  Imagine That!!!! who would "a" thunk it!!

 

Lucky for me the folks at Rec. took care of me, they said if they ever find it and it comes please send it back. They put another order together and sent it UPS for no other charges and I had it 3 days later on Friday morning. I got everything to my builder Monday and the build is now under way, only because we cut our United States Post Office ouy of the picture. I am pretty sure after talking with K....... we will get this build together between 2.5 and 3oz. complete, and the main thing,,,,in time for my trip north the first week of July. we will see, if the post office ends up loosing the package or not in another week,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,only the Government would have to waite 3 weeks to understand something is lost!!!    

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Just curious, why doesn't the builder gather your components for you? Is he a hobby builder that just helps you out?

[Capt.Bob]

We both work together, any customer I have that has need for rod repairs he does, I don't make a thing the charges are all given directly to him. We are friends and I can't give names or prices but I am deeply discounted to the degree every thing he does for me I am charged so little for the labor I end up giving nearly as much in tip's!! I don't need to be guided in what I want. I pick my own component's and design what and how I want it done, I also buy from most suppliers he does in my business, I get the same discounts as he does, I just don't get passed on the charges for taking up his time doing the same thing I can do.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

I've caught a 40'something lb. blue cat and a 16.5lb. snakehead on this rod in a 6'9" dropshotting, and the rod held up like it was nothing. It will handle a 10lb. walleye with ease. It could probably handle a big pike or muskie. I love these rods.

[Capt.Bob]

Like you said in open water it will handle about anything if you have enough line and know how to use it!! Most think reels are made to run 20lbs line and locked down drags and on MH rods???? Oh how they don't get to enjoy the thrill of the fight!! This was caught at Dale Hollow a few years back using a Saros 1000F on a Tennessee handled 5' UL BPS Micro light and 6lbs fireline w/4lbs test mono leader,,,,, made for a great catch, even though we were after Crappie,,,,

Only about an 8 pounder but when fishing for Crappie it becomes the big fish of the day. This would have been just another catfish fish on a 6' or 7' MF w/10lbs test, but instead it was worth taking a picture and becoming a memory, as a matter of fact it was the only fish I remember that particular day.