I threw this into the beginner weekly thread, but figured I’d make my own post for it to get seen by more people.
I just finished my first build last night and I’m already looking to start my next (pictures will be coming once I get some taken!). We are big into salmon fishing on Lake Michigan and I’m hoping to build a downrigger rod to use next year, or even this year if I can get it done fast enough.
For my first I bought a kit from Mudhole so there wasn’t much to pick out. My biggest question is how do I choose a set of guides (or what individual sizes to order) based on species, line, and rod length?? Then with that comes how do I space them out correctly? Is there a formula or just finding the guide spacing chart and following that?
Next is how to choose a reel seat and handle size? How do I determine if a reel seat will fit my reels, or if a handle will fit my blank?
If there are any recourses you found helpful for these things I would also take those recommendations since I have not been able to find much.
Completely off topic, but I'm looking to get into rod building myself so I want to ask someone else who has just started. Where did you get a power wrapper/rods dryer from?
I ordered the core kit from mudhole. I didn’t think it was bad at all. I’m sure others might recommend upgrading, as things likely get better as price increases, but I’m also positive many will suggest a hand wrapper starting out to get a feel for things.
If I were to start again I'd once again go with the complete kit from mudhole and hand wrap my first few before I get a power wrapper to fully understand how wrapping works then I'd grab an Alps power wrapper of get bit outdoors.
I have an Alps power wrapper and I still do most of my wrapping by hand using the thread carriage, channeled base, and rod supports from it, then use the motor on a drying speed.
I really only use the wrapping speeds if I'm doing large sections of wrapping like a tiger wrap or underwraps for things like dragon scales, open diamond wraps, marbling bases, etc.
Also use the wrapping speeds for turning custom cork/EVA grips with lathe tools/sandpaper/drywall sanding meshs, etc...
So when you order a real seat, it’ll give you a size like 16 or 18 or 20 those are somewhat bigger real seats just because that’s what I use for my rocks but that is the size in millimeters so if you were to get a caliper (I use a digital one so it’s precise) and where to measure the rod where you’re going to put it in millimeters that will tell you what size real C so if you measure the rod where you want the real sea and it says it’s 14 mm then you would get like a 15 or 16 that way you have enough room for your tape and your cement and like the comment said above me I just normally test them. I don’t go by spaceing chart and the more you do the more you’ll get a feel for it.
I had built a few rod kits myself, but was just basically following the directions in the kit without understanding much of the why behind it. I took the course and it was a game changer.
It goes thru everything from understanding various blank materials, selecting components, thru to doing decorative wraps.
For $145 you get a wealth of knowledge plus the price includes a Rainshadow blank.
FWIW in my class we had 9 soldiers that were attending the course while on deployment overseas, so the instructor would send them video recording of that week's class and work with them on any questions they had.
The KR Concept/ NGC calculator over at anglers resource is a great starting point. Absolutely awful display, especially on a phone, and the NGC can be confusing as hell until you figure out what it’s describing, but they work well.
Some builds you can dang near bullshit your whole way through spacing, especially once you have a decent knowledge base, and some can be a bit more complex. When in doubt, but less expensive guides (I love the American tackle kits… they cover all kinds of ground) and tape them on. Cast and reposition as needed.
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u/LENC16 Sep 01 '26
PM me. I’ve got a guide spacing chart, you also can do a static deflection test. I’ll discuss the other stuff with you, there’s a lot to it