Spinning blank for Casting Rod?

[bassripper2000]

So whats the difference besides the ratings... A blank is a blank right?

So could I take a spinning blank rated at ML 4-10lbs and make it a casting rod?

[flechero]

The blank doesn't know if it's a spinning or casting blank, so yes you can build either blank as either type of rod.  

**BUT one thing many people don't consider is that the design of a spinning blank is often times different than that of a casting blank... which is why the ratings are different.  A few are the same and would be listed in a catalog as "casting and spinning blanks" and all in one category.  Generally the spinning blank is softer through the middle and butt sections.  (don't confuse this with faster or slower, it's a power issue)

You can tailor the blank choice exactly to your needs if you know what your looking for... ex: I don't like the feel of most spinning rods so I build all my spinning rods out of casting blanks, in the power and action I want.   That's one of the coolest things about rodbuilding, you can make anything you want.

[Alpster]

You can do anything that you want, but that doesn't mean you should. Spinning blanks differ from casting in taper wall thickness. They are a different animal. I have personally never seen a med. light casting rod and I wonder what reel you would pair it with. If you have a med. light spinning blank, you should wrap a spinning rod with it. Get a heavier casting blank to wrap a baitcasting rod. Good blanks are inexpensive and you will have the right tool for the job. JMHO

Ronnie

[bassripper2000]

Thanks guys

I was thinking of pairing it with a curado 100d... and fish it with 8lbs test, 10lbs max.  

I need a rod for it and I happen to have a St. Croix SCIII spinning blank laying around.

Do you think this set up would work or do you think I should get a casting blank for it.

[.ghoti.]

Bassripper, you just got some advice from a couple of guys with rod builing experience. This is a game I've been studying for a while, but not actually playing. So, take my comments with a handful of salt.

I've wondered the same thing about using spinning blanks for casting rods. In looking at line weight ratings, it almost looks like a medium-heavy spinning rod is close to a medium casting rod. So, your ML spinning rod would make a light power casting rod. As long as you stay within the line ratings when spooling up, I see no reason it wouldn't work.

If that's a moderate action blank, you may end up with a really good rod for small cranks. If it's a fast action, you just might end up the ultimate finesse plastics baitcasting rig. In either case, it sounds like it would be fun to fish with, if you're into light line fishing. Like flechero said, you can make anything you want. I say go for it.

Cheers,

GK

By the way, Alpster, BPS makes 6'9" ML baitcasting rod in their Pro Lite finesse line. I just got one. Paired it up with a JM reel with 8lb test Transition, and have been using it for lightly weighted tubes and unweighted Super Flukes. I like it so far, but I've only got to use it twice. The jury's still out on that one. Not getting in your face, mind you. Just passing it along. I would not dream of trying to start an argument with you.

GK

[Alpster]

By the way, Alpster, BPS makes 6'9" ML baitcasting rod in their Pro Lite finesse line. I just got one. Paired it up with a JM reel with 8lb test Transition, and have been using it for lightly weighted tubes and unweighted Super Flukes. I like it so far, but I've only got to use it twice. The jury's still out on that one. Not getting in your face, mind you. Just passing it along. I would not dream of trying to start an argument with you.

GK

GK,

No arguments from me, LOL. This is all about sharing information and learning what I didn't know. I didn't say there isn't one, I just have not seen one. I have a Loomis CR722c and it's the lightest BC rod I have ever fished with. Loomis calls it a medium, but I say it's much lighter power. Maybe it's just me, but this rod is too light for baitcasting IMHO. I fish it with a 50mg and even with this very light reel, I think a heavier rod is in order. But hey, I built a noodle spinning rod from a Lamiglas flyrod blank, so you really can do "anything you want". I was just trying to make the point that if you already have the spinning blank it could be smarter to build a spinning rod as the other components (guides, grips, seat) are often more expensive than the blank and I would be disappointed if I spent the $ and wasn't happy with the outcome. Whatever bassripper decides, I hope he has a killer rod when he's done.

Tight wraps,

Ronnie

[Guest DavidGreen]

I am currently building a SC2 med.fast casting, and have a Med light fast casting hanging on the wall waiting to be wrapped. I also have a med fast spinning blank on the wall waiting, and can say without a doubt that there is a difference between the two med fast blanks in taper and butt section wall thickness.

I would recommend that if you want to build a casting rod use a casting blank.

Tight Wraps All!!

[.ghoti.]

Ronnie, glad you didn't take offense. I certainly did not mean any. I hear what you're saying about the costs, not to mention the time, involved in building a rod, and not getting what you want out of it. But, some pretty nifty things come from experimentation. This idea was one I have been considering. I'm basically a light line fisherman. 5+ pounders are rare in my neighborhood, so light gear maximizes the fun factor. I've had that Loomis in my hands, and the BPS rod I have is, I think, just about the same power, but with a bit action. It's hard to do a real comparison based on feel in the hand. I'll have a better take on it once the season gets under way. It may very well be too light for a baitcaster. If it as, I'll reserve it for the occassional walleye trip up north.

My rod building, up to this point, has only been wrapping guides on old broken rods, for practice. I don't know why I kept them, but I'm glad now that I did. I've wrapped about 20 guides so far, and still don't like the looks of them. I kepp cutting them off and trying again. About all I can say is the last couple look better than the first couple. That's progress, I guess. I think most of my problems are in the area of tension on the thread. I've been using an old marine engineerign text as a tensioning device. So far, about page 65 seems to be the best. Real scientific, eh? That locking wrap is still difficult for me too. But I'll get there. Then it will be on to finishing the wraps. Iexpect to dork up a few of those too before I figure it out. By then maybe my workbench will be ready, and I can get some real components, and really screw up. ;D

Thanks for your thoughts.

Cheers,

GK

[flechero]

Do you think this set up would work or do you think I should get a casting blank for it.

It will work, but you most likely will not like it... it will feel like an ultralight... the CU100D is not a finesse reel either so you are almost going to have to buy a reel to go with the new rod - defeating your purpose.  

If it were a heavier spinning blank I'd be 100% behind your idea.  I built a  3C66MLF (med-lite casting) as a spinning rod... as a casting rod, it would be a super finesse rod and it's rated heavier than yours.

Good luck, either way!

[Munkin]

Looks like we had the same idea? I planned on a Avid 66MLF spinning blank for a casting rod for small topwaters and jerkbaits. Those 65sp LC pointers and Bevy pop 50's are hard to cast on a M casting rod. I was planning on one of those BPS lite finesse BC reels with some 6- 8lb mono.

Allen

[bassripper2000]

HEHE... Allen.... Exactly my problem.  I figured something light for small cranks/jerks and topwater.  Dropshoting would be excellent too if I didn't want to use a spinning rig for it.  Dunno man.  I'll let you know if I do it and how it turns out if I do.  Thanks for all the advice!

[.ghoti.]

You gotta love it. Here we have three guys, who have lots of rod building experience, saying, hey, maybe that's not such a good idea. And then there are three of us, with little or no experience saying, hey, I'm gonna give it a shot.

Cheers,

GK

[Cephkiller]

I am not insulting anyone here, but I have observed that when people ask for advice (especially those doing so on an internet forum), they are most often actually looking for validation of their preconceived ideas. I am certainly not exempt from this criticism. There is a reason that the phrase "He needs to find out the hard way" has become a clich é.

On the other hand, many successful innovators have been told by "those in the know" that their ideas are crazy, so one never knows.

In any case, good luck in your rod building adventures and let us know how it turns out.

[flechero]

Please don't misunderstand me/us...  the reason I advised against it is because he said he was going to use it for a finesse rod with a CU100D which he already has... but IMO it isn't a finesse reel so the plan as a whole isn't going to be what he wanted.  He could by a very nice new blank for the CU100D for way less less than a new finesse reel.  My response was only motivated by money in this case.

The fact that I think the blank is too light for me to use a casting rod is not a factor.

I'm all for experimenting- I have purposely busted rods just to see how strong different single footed guides are and lots of other crazy stuff... much of it, I won't ever admit to!  ...lol  Experimentation can be half the fun!  

[Cephkiller]

I've detected a slight tendency toward jerkiness in my recent posting history.  Sorry if I offended.

[bassripper2000]

Thanks for all the input guys.  What happened was that I bought a St. Croix Med Lite spinning and it was broken in shipping.  About an inch off the top (it's a 7 footer).  So I called the comapny and they are shipping me a new blank and told me to trash the one I have.  Now why would I do that??

Basically I have a Med. Light Crucial DS rod ( LOVE IT) and will have a Med Light St. Croix rod for DS also.  Sooo I really don't need three Medium Light Rods.  So I figured I would experiment because I don't have a rod for the Curado.  

By the way, does anyone know where to get guides and they don't charge an arm and a leg for shipping?  I only need 4 Fuji alconite guides size 6, those things can ship for 37 cents.  

[Cephkiller]

I was browsing the Lamiglas site yesterday and noticed that they make no distinction between spinning and casting blanks.  Am I reading this wrong or do they have a different philosophy?

http://www.lamiglas.com/blank_indiv.php?id=10

[flechero]

Ceph-

Some companies do use the same blanks for both, while some don't.  If you scroll up and see my first post.

Bassripper,

Makes more sense now that all the facts are in.  Try calling Mudhole on the phone, I have done it a few times when I only needed guides.... they sent them in a little padded envelope for under $1.00

[bassripper2000]

Thanks Flec

I will do just that.  ;D