Snook Rod Ideas?

[LoneRanger]

ok, so my friend is wanting me to build him a 7 foot medium action snook rod. He wants a very sensative tip to feel the light hits, and plenty of backbone to get them away from cover. he is using 12 pound line- ( I dont know how much back bone you can put on a fair sized snook to get them out of cover with merely 12 pound line but that is another story! ) He also wants a LIGHT weight rod~ I told him to use a gator glass rod (inexpensive and durable with plenty of backbone) but he "thought" it would be too heavy- I was planning on using a set of titanium guides, and an 8" handle with a graphite fuji reel seat. (basic baiit cast rod) I was going to just get a handle kit~

any one have any great ideas on blank options? or any other pertinant info/ ideas?


L.R.

[Sinker]

( I dont know how much back bone you can put on a fair sized snook to get them out of cover with merely 12 pound line but that is another story! )

I would have to say that you nailed it there. Maybe a GUSA or SHIKARI blank. I will pass this thread of to Finaddict.

[LoneRanger]

Someone else suggested Shikari blanks, I dont think mudhole.com carries them though~ any other resources for them?

L.R.

[Sinker]

You can buy direct from Shikari - at least I have in the past. Not cheap though. I believe they are here in Florida as well - then again my mind is tired and getting old.

I PM'd Finaddict to respond, he can give you the number for Shikari as well I believe.

[Finadict]

Yes, Shikari is a good option.
Sounds like an MB703 would do the job. The MB703 is standard 33 milion modulus graphite. They call it Fast action, but compared to other fast actions im used to, I feel its more of a medium action with good backbone.

Shikari has several versions of this blank:
MB703...33 milion modulus
IMB703...42 million modulus
PMB703...57 million modulus
CB703...glass tip, graphite butt

Of course the higher the modulus the "crisper" the action and lighter the blank...but also the more fragile the graphite and higher the price tag.

Depending on your freinds definition of ''sensitive", the CB703 has a much softer tip than the others. I know some people define "sensitive tip" as a softer, looser tip. The 3 graphite versions are more sensitive as far as subtle vibration transmition goes.

IMO, the standard MB703 would be the ticket...a nice "happy medium" of overall durability and price.

I think you can buy from Shikari, they are in Oklahoma. www.shikariblanks.com

[LoneRanger]

Yes, Shikari is a good option.
Sounds like an MB703 would do the job. The MB703 is standard 33 milion modulus graphite. They call it Fast action, but compared to other fast actions im used to, I feel its more of a medium action with good backbone.

Shikari has several versions of this blank:
MB703...33 milion modulus
IMB703...42 million modulus
PMB703...57 million modulus
CB703...glass tip, graphite butt

www.shikariblanks.com

MB703...33 milion modulus 70.00
IMB703...42 million modulus 94.00
PMB703...57 million modulus 135.00
CB703...glass tip, graphite butt 63.00

I was hoping to keep the cost around 50 bucks~ I am not sure what shipping is on a single blank but I am betting its gonna be around 10 bucks- I am still learning this blank stuff so bear with me!

with the bad arsed Titanium guides running between 50 and 60 bucks for the set (all guides plus tip top) the handle "kit" roughly 20-25, misc extras (thread, hook keeper, decal work) 15.00.
it looks to be a base cost of 170-175.00 before my time assembling/ buildng the rod and any thread work I do. :eek: does this seem about right?
I mean I am not a business, I do this for fun on the side for family and friends (usualy re-wraps of store bought rods) they make great gifts~

I was hoping to be around 100-120.00 total in materials.


I realy appreciate all your help and ideas!

L.R.

[Sinker]

Shikari blanks are anything but cheap no doubt but they are also very good.

The nice thing about building the rod from scratch is you know it will be on spine. Re-wraps you still have to go with what they started with unless you rip off the reel seat and at that point you might as well have started from scratch anyway. Most those rods are not even close to being on spine.

Yep unless you buy in bulk, preferably as a business at wholesale level pricing things will get expensive.

I guess my thing here is if you are going to go with guides like that I would not skimp on the blank that's for darn sure.

Anyone can go to Wal-Mart and buy a rod for 20 to 60 bucks but a quality hand built rod will be in my hands every time and that just isn't going to happen for that price.

For many people the 20 dollar rod will serve them well. On the other hand I can tell you we don't have a Get Bent Sportfishing In-Shore Series rod that sells for less than $140.00 and we buy our components at great wholesale level pricing in bulk, the components are top of the line. If I wanted to buy the parts myself as a regular Joe the parts alone would be that much before even building it and our rods are built by a master rod builder with the latest techniques, tested in deflection tools and more. Trust me enjoy what you are doing as there is not real money in rod building anyway, well at least not in my opinion. We have off-shore rods that go over $1000.00 as well - heck I can't even afford one of them myself but there are people out there who can and do.

Honestly I can say I WISH I was the one getting this rod your working on as it sounds like it is gonna be a GREAT ROD INDEED. I hope he puts a worthy reel with the rod your building him. If he doesn't like it PM me - I'll take it heheehe :)

Make sure you share some pictures of it with us - got my interest....

[LoneRanger]

no way would I ever build to "make money" that is a loosing proposition (to me anyway)


and No Way, again if he dont like the rod I am KEEPING IT! :p


L.R.





edit: I realy appreciate the help and advice~

[LoneRanger]

How would the Shikari blanks compare with St Croix blanks?


just currious as they seem very similar-

[Finadict]

L.R. wrote:
"with the bad arsed Titanium guides running between 50 and 60 bucks for the set (all guides plus tip top) the handle "kit" roughly 20-25, misc extras (thread, hook keeper, decal work) 15.00.
it looks to be a base cost of 170-175.00 before my time assembling/ buildng the rod and any thread work I do. does this seem about right?"

Yup, sounds about right! Welcome to the world of custom rod building! LOL!

...But seriously, with the high-end titanium guides, reasonable quality cork handles and reel seat, medium dificulty wrap job and 2 coats of finish, a typical professional custom builder would retail that rod for 225-270...and thats with the components purchased at wholesale.

If you were to sell that rod to a freind for 225 with you paying retail for the parts...and a professional retailed that rod for the same price paying only level one wholesale for the parts....the profit margin will be close to the same (possibly even higher for you) after the professional pays the federal excise tax, income taxes, buisness insurance, overhead, self employment tax....etc.

[LoneRanger]

I am not charging him anything- just so long as he covers the cost of the materials, my time is my "gift" to him. another friend just gave me 120.00 to build him a 7-7'6" heavier spinning rod (15-30 pound test)- now I've got to get his blank, guides, handle, etc...... but it is fun to do!


L.R.