Help with Grouper Rod

[Glenn W]

I know this should go in the rod building forum but more pudd'n head pokers here---
I am a novice at rod building and always just piddled with grouper fishing but want to build a nice bottom fishing rod for Grouper
Please critisize these ideas:
Blank: either
Super Seeker SS-CJBF60 (6'0" #9 tip .995 butt) or;
Calstar GF7460L (6' 0" #9 tip .93 butt
I think I want a 6'0" stick---- that's a question

Next delimea:
Winthrop Tools roller tip: not positive a roller tip is the way to go so critque on this please. If I do go with a roller the reason for the Winthrop is to prevent the Braid from ever getting caught between the roller and frame.

Guides: no brainer--- Fuji Concept turbo style SIC

reel seat: don't know Alum or plastic? weight is very important as I want this to be as light as possible, but I know the alum is barley heavier

butt: I recon a Stuart slick butt.

Finally, butt and seat arbors: will the fancy foam type be strong enough? (as opposed to fiberglass tape and Rod bond) remember the weight
Fire away with suggestions.

[paul708]

the GUSA WAHOO JR has been used (tested) for bottom fishing down south.(capt to shy to post) ..works great..BUT its graphite. so its very light, and needs the "care" a Graphite rod needs. i think ring guides would be fine, better quality ring guides. and ring tip.. will you be fishing from rod holder? if so then "maybe" slick butt..tape is fine for arbors, reelseat your choice.i dont think you will have a problem with a quality graphite seat, unles you tighten the nut to much..the SS seekers are a little "heavy" if you are concerned with weight.not a good choice..( BUT A GREAT BLANK). ...another choice. check the dragon with the Ti frame rollers on my site(my rod)..the blank weighs about 5oz the SET of ROLLER GUIDES weigh 1.34 oz..YES 1.34oz..blank rated 50-100..roller guides have a VERY tight tolarance for braid..setup is LIGHT as a FEATHER for a 80# setup ..the GF series is a good choice also ..i am getting the 74XX series soon. little more power and backbone..worth looking at..

[swell rider]

Sent you a PM...

[Capt. Lyndon]

My personal preference for holding the rod is a 5'6" 80 class rod with chromed ring guides and a slick butt. Fishing deep water and leaving the rod in the holder, a heavy bent-butt with a short blank a roller swivel tip, basically a planer rod.

[paul708]

My personal preference for holding the rod is a 5'6" 80 class rod with chromed ring guides and a slick butt. Fishing deep water and leaving the rod in the holder, a heavy bent-butt with a short blank a roller swivel tip, basically a planer rod.

totally agree with the deep water, in holder....and i know its personal choice..i am always curious..why "holding" do you like a slick butt?,,,OH Yeah..Capt Lyndon.WELCOME TO THE SITE

[JMS-ILM]

glenn, heres my preferences:

6ft blank....some sort of glass or glass composite. the rod i use most now is a T-glass/E-glass....whatever that means.....but i really like it. i dont think graphite is a good choice for the abuse doled out when bottomfishing.

graphite reel seat....fuji DPS i think.

stay away from the rollers....they are not needed and open up the possibility for headaches. i dont think SiC rings are really necessary either.

defintily a slick butt, standard length. ive seen rods with a stand-up length slick butt and they do not have enough length to tuck completely under your arm for leverage and the gimbal ends up right in your arm pit.....sucks.

and the reasoning for a slick butt. grouper fishing is nasty. your hands are always covered in cigar minnow juice, grouper slime, blood from many sources including your own, squid ink.....and lord only knows what else. all of this shit ends up deeply ground into EVA foam. also, your rod goes in and out of the rod holder many, many times during the day and EVA will get chewed all to hell. also, depending on the way you fish, the rod butt is tucked under your arm. EVA is grabby and gets all frigged up and twisted in your t-shirt.

this is what i have found works best over the past few years. and we catch a grouper or two every once in a while.....

[Glenn W]

My personal preference for holding the rod is a 5'6" 80 class rod with chromed ring guides and a slick butt. Fishing deep water and leaving the rod in the holder, a heavy bent-butt with a short blank a roller swivel tip, basically a planer rod.

I'm good to go in that department. What I'm wanting is for what I will refer to a shallow water bottom fishing--- say 120'. Something that is light and comfortable to hold and crank-- sensitive enough to feel a seahorse bumping the line and enough ass to get them turned and out of the rock.

Paul, that's for the info on the SS, I have not seen one yet and didn't know they were so heavy. I gave alot of consideration to the GUSA but it will get knocked aroound a bit and I'm sure someone will high stick it. So, the good ole Calstar is sounding about right. Please enlighten on the Calstar Blank comment, I'm confused. The blank I am considering is the 7560L--- you recommend what?
With this stick I guess you are right in that an EVA butt section would be better?
Keep em coming ya'll
Oh yea--- reels?----

[paul708]

reels..saltiga 30, 30T..light and crank great, the 30T has bigger drag. yeah the slick/ EVA is personal choice. i do like hearing why guys choose either, but its thier choice. i put what i like on my rods. what size fish do you expect to target? the GUSA would take some abuse..but not highsticking..(not many can) ..

[Glenn W]

Typical NC Gags for the most part--- say up to 25 lbs or so. I was afraid the first thing on the reels would be a Saltiga--- just have a mental thing about Diawa. So what Grafighter you got in mind?
Oh yea, thanks

[Bay Fishin]

I would give the avet hoo x a try. If you are willing to spennd $410 on the saltiga 30 you must well spend a little bit extra and get a leverdrag.

http://www.alltackle.com/avet_hoo-x.htm