Another snapper rod that focuses on fun

[JasonGotaProblem]

I built one similar to this a little while ago that I use with my accurate 270. More than anything what sticks out to me most about that rod is how fun it is to use. That's both intangible and important.

My Newell 220 needs a rod. So I built another similar one on the same model blank. This started life as a 20# rod but it'll bend beyond 180° without breaking (I know because I broke one at around 200° when the shark swam under the dock).

The prior one was VERY decorated. This one I decided to go full utilitarian.

Guides are Fuji BCLCAG16, LCAG12, MNAG12(X2), LAG10 AND MNAT10 tip. All black wraps on a non-clearcoated blank.

I've got the Newell spooled with 40# braid and a 50# flouro leader but I may go to a heavier leader for my trip next week since sometimes the groupers show up.

I'm trying to figure out what the white spots are that showed up in the guide epoxy. I don't think they're bubbles because they didn't pop with the heat gun. If I had tried for a really pretty rod I'd have been extremely upset about that.

[oldmanjoe]

It appears to be Epoxy crystallization , old or cold does it .  Both can be cured with warming up the epoxy before mixing .

[steelfish]

yep, those looks like micro bubbles or micro crystals of the resin part which tend to crystalize with the cold temps, to have a crystal clear epoxy job do what Joe just said, warm the bottle resin part before mixing a little bit, you can also find some bottle warmers which were based on the baby milk bottle warmers , check

I read that some guys were/are buying the Milk bottle warmers for babies because they work the same and are cheaper.

the micro bubbles are pretty hard to make them disappear with heat because they are too small to find its way out on the epoxy or to pop out with heat, when I pouring epoxy on a wrap and I see them I heat the epoxy on the thread a bit and brush out the most epoxy I can leaving a really thin layer of epoxy, next day I put another really thing layer of epoxy and normally that take care of the micro bubbles problems.

[oldmanjoe]

15 seconds blast in the microwave works well also.  You will see the crystals disappear. 

[JasonGotaProblem]

Funny, I heated up the epoxy before mixing but then waited to long I guess.

Joe, you'll get to see this one next week.

And I already have a bottle warmer in the garage. Good idea.

[redfish12]

What blank?

[JasonGotaProblem]

This rod, with the guides foregrip and reel seat removed, and 6" trimmed off the tip. These things will bend pretty far safely.

https://www.tackledirect.com/tsunami-tsseais701mh-seatech-inshore-spinning-rod.html

(I didn't pay anywhere near that much though)

[steelfish]

Tsunami is my favorite budget brand for fishing rods, I still have a Tsunami airwave 9ft rod (still no mods) from when I was only shore fisherman 

[JasonGotaProblem]

I'm not too cool for a budget build. I think I've demonstrated that by now. Maybe it's just me, but "super light, fun to use, and hard to break" sounds expensive. It's great when it's not.

[steelfish]

but "super light, fun to use, and hard to break" sounds expensive. It's great when it's not.

yep, sounds like someone is talking about seeker rods, Calstars, etc.so, yep, its great when something that worth 1/2 or even 1/3 of the price is performing similar.

[jgp12000]

Its pretty to me...I kinda like it shows off the graphite more, prolly be your "Excalibur" rod

[jgp12000]

You need some mullet gut on that cork soon...for aesthetics

[JasonGotaProblem]

You need some mullet gut on that cork soon...for aesthetics

I mean you're not wrong. I thought about rubbing some dirt on it. Not sure who I learned that from but it was here.