Lure rod from top half of a c**p rod?

[saddlebags]

Waste not want not.

The tip section of a broken or Chub Outcast 2.75lb c**p rod looks as though it might be worth reincarnation as a light jerk rod.

Anyone done anything similar?

I haven't tried taping any rings on yet; but a see-how-much-it-bends-against-the-ceiling test shows it's test curve is greater than my ST ButchLight 30-100g and less than my StCroix (that carries no casting weight markings) which is much less much less than a Grey's 150

[Mike J]

Yes.
Almost everything has potential its just looking beyond the bling.
One of the best (sea) bream rods I ever saw was made for the tip section of a Ziplex beachcaster.
Most Uptide rods have the potential to be converted into half decent lure rods.
I have a Dutch friend who converts split cane salmon rods into some very nice barbel rods.
I have a B&W Hexagraph 11ft fly rod I intend to convert into a small stream chub trotter/ledger rod.
My first lure caught 20 came on a coverted Avon.

Never ever throw a rod away has always been my motto, result seven in regular use and well over a hundred just waiting......

[John Milford]

Go for it!

Before specialist lure rods were widely available (other than 'spinning' rods) we tried all sorts of customization of other blanks.

My first lure rod was built for me by Gary Peet at the 'Tackle Box' (when it was still the little shop at Sutton-at-Hone). It started out as a 1 3/4 lb t.c. 11ft North Western carp blank which I got Gary to bend into its 'fighting curve' while I made two chalk marks indicating the bit I wanted. The result was a pokier 8 ft rod of unequal sections (radical at the time!). It was finished off with Fuji guides and a short handle.

Before UK built Jerkbait rods were available, Chris Leibbrand had two built (one for him and one for me) on light uptide tip sections. They were miles better than the US 'broom sticks' that came in soon after.

[phil.c]

About 30 years ago my mate Marc who is a rod builder, sorted through a pile of old broken blanks in his workshop.

He found a couple of 6ft tips which he paired with a 2ft handle spigoted in to it.

They made a great 8ft lure rod.

Mine eventually exploded playing a 26pounder on one of the western loughs.

[davelumb]

Mine eventually exploded playing a 26pounder on one of the western loughs.

That is the potential drawback to using a carp rod tip section. Juts because the action's right doesn't mean the blank strength is. It might stand up to being used for lure fishing, or it might not.

That said a blank doesn't know what it's supposed to be used for. I've a lovely ten foot Avon rod I built on a fly blank.

[hb904460]

Bob James used to use fly rod blanks as the base for his roach feeder rods.

[Kev Berry]

Ive made a couple from carp top sections---still going well.
Before I went to the trouble of putting handles on I threaded em up and gave them the old heave ho, nothing exploded. Both of them have spliced tips in them.
one was a 3.25 top and the other was a lighter one about 2.25

[saddlebags]

Rings on. Three coats of epoxy (first time using this) and a short butt-extension with a minimal handle. Epoxy dry by last night.

Does it work?

Five fish on medium jerks (45 to 75g) before breakfast today...and not broken yet!

[John Milford]

Rings on. Three coats of epoxy (first time using this) and a short butt-extension with a minimal handle. Epoxy dry by last night.

Does it work?

Five fish on medium jerks (45 to 75g) before breakfast today...and not broken yet!

[Mike J]

Very nice, well done.
Now your hooked on a rod making a whole new world awaits beleive me.

Could you post a pic looking along the rod so we can see the handle and ringing, and another from the side when its under load to see the fighting curve?

Perhaps we could start a new section on rod modifications and new builds?

(my next project designing and making a butt extension/fighting butt for a fly rod).

[Andytheammer]

Very nice, well done.
Now your hooked on a rod making a whole new world awaits beleive me.

Could you post a pic looking along the rod so we can see the handle and ringing, and another from the side when its under load to see the fighting curve?

Perhaps we could start a new section on rod modifications and new builds?

(my next project designing and making a butt extension/fighting butt for a fly rod).

Happy Days
Nice idea Mike

[Curts]

Rings on. Three coats of epoxy (first time using this) and a short butt-extension with a minimal handle. Epoxy dry by last night.

Does it work?

Five fish on medium jerks (45 to 75g) before breakfast today...and not broken yet!

Nice! Result.

[saddlebags]

Loaded (750g)
- see following pic.s for comparison
I'd say it look and feels sl. less tippy than the SavageGear 40-100g rod & obviously is bent a little more under that same load.
It cast 45g to 75g OK at weekend..I'd say best at 50-70g

[saddlebags]

Savage Gear Butch Light (bottom photo) and Unknown St Croix (top) with same load

[saddlebags]

Just out of interest I loaded two heavier rods, with 1000g this time.

DLST Sledgehammer IV (bottom) is more through action than Greys Ultra 150...that is noticeable in use

But what surprised me was that the SH deflects more than the Greys....it feels teh stiffer of the two in use

[saddlebags]

Mike,

You asked about handles and mentioned fighting-butt. So here's the handle, made with (mostly) bits and bobs from the workshop (the idea was to spend nothing) and an extension constructed from part of the carp rod's butt and a glass spigot. The woven carbon is a sham, it looks like a thin covering (the butt is really thick walled).

I chose the handle length carefully as some lure rods have handles that I personally find too short...see the comparison shot of the difference between this set (the black duplon on the SG rod is a spigotted extension too...and that's lasted OK for three or four years)

[Mike J]

Hi,
Thanks for the rod and handle pics and taking the time to vary the loadings.
Its interesting the difference in blank diameters yet how alike each blank performs under the same load.
DLSTs blank performed as I would expect, slow progression of power with plenty in reserve.
I would have loved to run a micrometer along each blank while under load, just to see it there was any deformation (oval section).

Your handle modification is similar to what I have on a number of rods, I have a heavy lure rod from Holland, that has an extending bottom section, extended to gain leverage on the cast, shortened to reel and fight a fish, a Guideline Switch rod (fly) has an extending butt section (the latest model of the rod has a full length fixed butt section perhaps the idea didn't find much favour).

When fighting a big fish under the rod tip or trying to lift it, a stiff butt is the far better option which is why I always fully load any rod before buying. I dont fish small lures so for casting I prefer a stiffish butt and semi-fast recovery tip section because I find this combination ensures (me) a decent hook-up on the strike.

Like you I never throw anything away and am always picking up broken or cast-offs whenever I see them, cuz we never know when they just might come in handy do we