Rod Building, changing reel seat.

bonz_d

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Apr 22, 2008
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Don't know how many truely avid fishermen are on this site so let's find out!

Has anyone here built a fishing rod? Modified one?

I'm asking because I've started a mod on an old Shimano baitcaster that had the reel seat broken. It was an old style pistol grip, 5.6" long. The rod really doesn't have much value to it other than I like the action on it and it's basically used to throw small spinners and cranks. The blank itself is a compsite and has a lot of flex and I have been useing this with braids as there is very little stretch with the new lines.

So far I have the old handle removed and the end cleaned up. Still thinking as to should I remove the old guides and replace then with newer tech ones with better spacing. The biggest hurdle right now is the blank length and the new reel seat. With the new seats the blank passes through the seat to the butt. The old pistol grips the blank ended just in front of the reel.

As for the new seats I've been looking at a Fuji ALS and two models from Pacific Bay. One is an exposed blank and the other one is not and requires a seat arbor. Either way I'm going to have to extend the end of the blank for the handle. As for grips I'm thinking of using EVA foam instead of cork.

So if anyone here has tried this before how did it turn out and what materials have you used?
 
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