Custom Travel Spinning Rod

[Lucky Craft Man]

Scott (S.H. Fishin' Sticks) has been cranking out rods for me over the past few monthes.  I don't know what got into him, but he is putting out incredible rods at a faster rate than a Rod Manufacturing Plant located in a Economically Challenged Country (is that P.C. enough?)

 

I wanted a travel spinning rod to compliment my travel fly rod for throwing jerkbaits and spinners for trout when travelling for work.  When I fish for trout, 95% of it is done with my fly rod, but every once in a while, I like to watch those wild browns hunt down and smash a suspending jerkbait worked across the current.  

 

Here is Scott's latest creation (which I'm sure he can fill in all the component details).

 

Tennessee Handle (this is my first Tennessee Handle and I'm anxious to see how it fishes).

 

Recoil Guides (if you guys want to really hear Scott come up with some interesting expletives, order a rod with Recoil Guides).

 

He added thread wraps at various distances from the butt of the rod.  He added this on my last rod, and I don't think I'll get another rod made without it.  Great quick reference to a fishes length when you hold your rod next to him.

 

Thanks Again, Scott for another great custom!  

 

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Nice as always.  

[S Hovanec]

Blank: Rainshadow SB720-4 in TiChrome color (6' 4pc.)
Rings: American Tackle
Guides: Recoil spinning guides and single foot fly runners (Black Pearl color)
Hook keep: Kigan XLA in TiCh finish.
Winding check: Mudhole dimpled (red)

Butt Cap: Mudhole (red/silver)
Cork: Wave burl
Thread: Prowrap Silver Shiner and Gudebrod Red metallic
Finish: ThreadMaster and TM Lite
Decal: Decal Connection red over silver.

 

Measurement marks are located at 16" and 20" from the butt.  I started this rod sometime in December of 2015.  Got the grip turned, then some other projects came up to put this one on the back burner.  Last May I picked it back up and tried to wrap those #$&&+***$&## Recoils.  After some more cussing, I put it back in the bag and there it sat til last week.

 

Steve asked if it was possible to have it done for a trip he was leaving for tomorrow.  I told him "In theory, it was possible.". Last coat of finish went on the stripper guide on Thursday and he was able to pick it up today.  I hope the red pops out in the sun as nicely as it does under my crappy dungeon lighting.

[Dwight Hottle]

I can hear the cussing all the way down here in south Florida!

[MickD]

Can you elaborate on which REC guides were used and why they were such a problem?

 

The workmanship on the rod looks great.  I'm not a fan of all the fancy corks out now, but this one with the "wave" is nice, adds interest without going nutso.

[.ghoti.]

18 hours ago, MickD said:

Can you elaborate on which REC guides were used and why they were such a problem?

 

The workmanship on the rod looks great.  I'm not a fan of all the fancy corks out now, but this one with the "wave" is nice, adds interest without going nutso.

I like the wave cork too. I ordered, and have been using both kinds.

 

I am also interested to hear your problems with Recoils. I've used them on several casting rods, but have not wrapped any on a spinning rod. I have an Avid spinning rod I dropped. Cracked two inserts, and was thinking of trying Recoils to replace all the guides.

Super looking rod, Scott. As usual for you. 

[S Hovanec]

When I started this build, my reasons for disliking Recoils were different (and fewer) than they are now. First off, I hate guides without ceramic inserts.  I can't stand the thought of metal rings touching the line.  Next it is that they are fugly and expensive for all they are, wire guides.  Also, they are short.  Their height is insufficient for laying out the rod using the ring sizes I wanted to use.  Plus, they're FUGLY.

 

After I got over the obstacles in my head, I started prepping them to be wrapped.  These guides cannot be filed, ground or manipulated in any manner that will allow a smooth ramp from the blank to the guide foot.  They are just wires, welded together.......round on all sides.  can't make them lay flat on the blank.  Because of the material type and shape, they are also thicker than stamped guides, meaning the foot profile is higher, thus creating a steeper ramp for the thread to try to climb.

 

When I tried to wrap them, that's where the next problem popped up.  When I put a wrap of thread on the foot, the steepness of the ramp made the thread push the guide towards the tip.  I tried placing a rubber tube in front of the guide to hold it.....NOPE.  I tried a wrap of tape on the guide foot to hold it....NOPE.  I tried a wrap of tape AND the rubber tube......NOPE.  after a few attempts, I got the stripper guide to stay put.  The next reduction guide required a spot of super glue to hold it still til the thread was up the ramp.  The third guide went OK with tape holding just long enough.  Now on to the single foot fly guides.  Those little sons of buzzards were about the death of me.  Multiple attempts with tape and bands were unsuccessful.  Then I took one of them and ran the ramp across some 80 grit to give the metal some teeth.  that, combined with a band in front to hold it from sliding was the ticket.  Only had 5 of those to do!

 

With everything wrapped up, its time for finish.  Not so fast......it looks like Ray Charles put these guides on.  OK, lets adjust them.  Have fun with that........They're ELASTIC!  Move that one a little to the right, that should do it........NOT.  It snaps back to where it was.  You have to overadjust the freaking things with the hope they will go back to where you want them!

 

Plus, they're fugly.

[A-Jay]

11 minutes ago, S Hovanec said:

When I started this build, my reasons for disliking Recoils were different (and fewer) than they are now. First off, I hate guides without ceramic inserts.  I can't stand the thought of metal rings touching the line.  Next it is that they are fugly and expensive for all they are, wire guides.  Also, they are short.  Their height is insufficient for laying out the rod using the ring sizes I wanted to use.  Plus, they're FUGLY.

 

After I got over the obstacles in my head, I started prepping them to be wrapped.  These guides cannot be filed, ground or manipulated in any manner that will allow a smooth ramp from the blank to the guide foot.  They are just wires, welded together.......round on all sides.  can't make them lay flat on the blank.  Because of the material type and shape, they are also thicker than stamped guides, meaning the foot profile is higher, thus creating a steeper ramp for the thread to try to climb.

 

When I tried to wrap them, that's where the next problem popped up.  When I put a wrap of thread on the foot, the steepness of the ramp made the thread push the guide towards the tip.  I tried placing a rubber tube in front of the guide to hold it.....NOPE.  I tried a wrap of tape on the guide foot to hold it....NOPE.  I tried a wrap of tape AND the rubber tube......NOPE.  after a few attempts, I got the stripper guide to stay put.  The next reduction guide required a spot of super glue to hold it still til the thread was up the ramp.  The third guide went OK with tape holding just long enough.  Now on to the single foot fly guides.  Those little sons of buzzards were about the death of me.  Multiple attempts with tape and bands were unsuccessful.  Then I took one of them and ran the ramp across some 80 grit to give the metal some teeth.  that, combined with a band in front to hold it from sliding was the ticket.  Only had 5 of those to do!

 

With everything wrapped up, its time for finish.  Not so fast......it looks like Ray Charles put these guides on.  OK, lets adjust them.  Have fun with that........They're ELASTIC!  Move that one a little to the right, that should do it........NOT.  It snaps back to where it was.  You have to overadjust the freaking things with the hope they will go back to where you want them!

 

Plus, they're fugly.

 

C'mon ~ don't sugar coat it.

Tell us how you really feel about them  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..

I can see perhaps a "recoil fee" being included on future builds.

A-Jay

[.ghoti.]

So, they are difficult to prep, too steep, won't stay put, hard to reposition, too short, won't lay flat, no ceramic rings; I get it. They are a problem.

 

But,  how do you like they way they look?

[S Hovanec]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

 

C'mon ~ don't sugar coat it.

Tell us how you really feel about them  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..

 

I've been told I need to learn to speak my mind instead of holding it back!

[A-Jay]

Just now, S Hovanec said:

 

I've been told I need to learn to speak my mind instead of holding it back!

 

Seems you're getting better at it. 

A-Jay

[MickD]

2 hours ago, S Hovanec said:

When I started this build, my reasons for disliking Recoils were different (and fewer) than they are now. First off, I hate guides without ceramic inserts.  I can't stand the thought of metal rings touching the line.  Next it is that they are fugly and expensive for all they are, wire guides.  Also, they are short.  Their height is insufficient for laying out the rod using the ring sizes I wanted to use.  Plus, they're FUGLY.

 

After I got over the obstacles in my head, I started prepping them to be wrapped.  These guides cannot be filed, ground or manipulated in any manner that will allow a smooth ramp from the blank to the guide foot.  They are just wires, welded together.......round on all sides.  can't make them lay flat on the blank.  Because of the material type and shape, they are also thicker than stamped guides, meaning the foot profile is higher, thus creating a steeper ramp for the thread to try to climb.

 

When I tried to wrap them, that's where the next problem popped up.  When I put a wrap of thread on the foot, the steepness of the ramp made the thread push the guide towards the tip.  I tried placing a rubber tube in front of the guide to hold it.....NOPE.  I tried a wrap of tape on the guide foot to hold it....NOPE.  I tried a wrap of tape AND the rubber tube......NOPE.  after a few attempts, I got the stripper guide to stay put.  The next reduction guide required a spot of super glue to hold it still til the thread was up the ramp.  The third guide went OK with tape holding just long enough.  Now on to the single foot fly guides.  Those little sons of buzzards were about the death of me.  Multiple attempts with tape and bands were unsuccessful.  Then I took one of them and ran the ramp across some 80 grit to give the metal some teeth.  that, combined with a band in front to hold it from sliding was the ticket.  Only had 5 of those to do!

 

With everything wrapped up, its time for finish.  Not so fast......it looks like Ray Charles put these guides on.  OK, lets adjust them.  Have fun with that........They're ELASTIC!  Move that one a little to the right, that should do it........NOT.  It snaps back to where it was.  You have to overadjust the freaking things with the hope they will go back to where you want them!

 

Plus, they're fugly.

 

Are they fugly?  Thanks for the detail, just what I asked for.

 

[S Hovanec]

Even though I said they are fugly, I have to admit they look pretty OK on this build.  In person, they are almost the exact same color as the blank.

[Lucky Craft Man]

I got a real good chuckle over Scott's recount with those ReCoils.  I just wanted them, because I thought they would be the best with ice.  I didn't know they would send Scott to a very dark place.

[S Hovanec]

3 minutes ago, Lucky Craft Man said:

  I didn't know they would send Scott to a very dark place.

 

Another dark place you sent me was with that 7pc fly rod.  I haven't used import snakes since.  They required more bending and tweaking than a little.  Nothing but Universal Snakes after that.

[Lucky Craft Man]

2 hours ago, S Hovanec said:

 

Another dark place you sent me was with that 7pc fly rod.  I haven't used import snakes since.  They required more bending and tweaking than a little.  Nothing but Universal Snakes after that.

 

So both my travel rod builds cause you major grief?  I better not tell you that I want a travel musky rod then.

[S Hovanec]

8 hours ago, Lucky Craft Man said:

I better not tell you that I want a travel musky rod then.

 

Finding a blank for that might be a tall task.

[Lyman X]

I don't care for metal rings much, but if I was going to use them my first choice would be Pac Bay Minimas. They look way better than recoils.

[S Hovanec]

On 3/19/2017 at 6:54 PM, Lyman X said:

I don't care for metal rings much, but if I was going to use them my first choice would be Pac Bay Minimas. They look way better than recoils.

 

I agree, and i dont care for minimas for that reason too.

 

The reason recoils were selected was their resiliency.   On a rod where ice buildup could be a problem, a little tug and flick of the guide clears the ice and it snaps back into position.

 

Now to contradict myself, I will be using Ti framed Minimas on an upcoming personal build,  just to see how light I can build it.  It is a first gen MHX HM 7'2" dropshot. 

[Hogsticker]

Sharp!!