I finally created a custom rod for myself. It has been irritating a little when on the boat and showing potential customers all of my buddy's customs that I built. I have had my eye on a 946 for a while to fill a void in my quiver. It weighs 5.3 oz and rated 25-45 and was designed for big musky fishing. I want it for cobia and mangos when top feeding. The total build came in at 10 3/4 oz and with the Newell G 220 with Tiburon frame the total package is 1 lb 10 3/4 oz.
This is just a beasty rod I maxed out the 220 with a 5 stack drag, delrin under the gear and on top under the Belleville, abec 7 ceramic bearings and a 300 series length handle. I am sure the drag numbers will go quite high for this little tank but plan to fish it at 15 lb of drag and 30 momoi diamond line. This combo worked well on my Conflict 8000 and never broke my line.
The top inlay on the rod is a juvenile great white upper tooth and the bottom inlay is a New Zealand abalone and there you see my custom hook keeper which is coated 150 lb seven strand stainless leader material. The guides are PacBay LCDPCG TICH guides and no longer made but I bought a good stash of them while available. These are really strong saltwater guides without a lot of bulk. The tip top is a carbide ring with no ceramic to break out and sort of bullet proof for a tip top.
I am not a big fan of aluminum seats but Alps does make a nice one so I stuck my neck out here. I did find that on the small 18mm seat that the Tiburon foot is too thick so I used my belt sander to taper the front and rear of the foot and then painted the exposed Alum with gold Testers. Brushed a little Penn blue in the recesses of the seat and on the threads for insurance on corrosion.
If I do another light weight rod it will have a Fuji graphite seat.
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/dwebb49/ISWB946%208_zpstxfp7cra.jpg) (http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/dwebb49/media/ISWB946%208_zpstxfp7cra.jpg.html)
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/dwebb49/ISWB946%209_zps4rqwz7yp.jpg) (http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/dwebb49/media/ISWB946%209_zps4rqwz7yp.jpg.html)
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/dwebb49/ISWB946%202_zpsco8klivw.jpg) (http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/dwebb49/media/ISWB946%202_zpsco8klivw.jpg.html)
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/dwebb49/ISWB946%203_zpsnitxkxvg.jpg) (http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/dwebb49/media/ISWB946%203_zpsnitxkxvg.jpg.html)
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/dwebb49/ISWB946%204_zpsa8zfgvxx.jpg) (http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/dwebb49/media/ISWB946%204_zpsa8zfgvxx.jpg.html)
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/dwebb49/ISWB946%205_zpsctbewezc.jpg) (http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/dwebb49/media/ISWB946%205_zpsctbewezc.jpg.html)
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/dwebb49/ISWB946%207_zpsbx7ghsli.jpg) (http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/dwebb49/media/ISWB946%207_zpsbx7ghsli.jpg.html)
That is one classy rod Dwight. Almost looks too good to fish...ALMOST.
Now, if you only catch sharks with that rod, you know why...they want their tooth back.
You are right Bryan, I am actually not wanting to take it fishing myself now that it is done but just have it on the boat for show. It will be for sale if someone wants it.
You know, when I was wrapping a lot, every one of my rods were sold, and I probably have only 1 custom rod left, which my friend broke the tip of my irreplaceable ultralight rod...so I understand.
Terrific, beautiful job, Dwight --
Your attention to blank selection, along with your skillfull mastery of the Rod-Building craft -- is inspiring.
There is nothing to compare when a strong, lightweight blank is paired with one of Carl Newells smallest and lightest graphite/SS reels. The combination is a pleasure to look at -- and must be even better to fish.
With you and Jon, and a few other rod makers on our board -- we have some great skills showcased.
At the Fred Hall show in Long Beach, that ended Sunday -- we sold a lot of Newell 220s & 229s.
Folks were coming in to specifically ask if we had any, after seeing how many Newells Randy had for sale.
We had to keep pulling them out of the back bins -- just to keep the front displays full every time we sold another Newell. Sold around 35, which was about 2/3s of what Randy brought to the show. Lots of 200 series.
Best,
Fred
Great Job on That Dwight!
Beautiful rod!! I really like the simplicity of the build, yet very attentive to detail! How can you sell that bad boy!
How are you liking the blank? I'm looking at the ISWB945 for a 20# setup.
:o sweet looking for sure 8)
Quote from: fIsHsTiiCkS on March 11, 2015, 03:49:49 PM
Beautiful rod!! I really like the simplicity of the build, yet very attentive to detail! How can you sell that bad boy!
How are you liking the blank? I'm looking at the ISWB945 for a 20# setup.
The 945 is a beautiful stick with that awesome green color and really strong. I built my sons and put a 1 1/2 oz weight on it and made a cast. I had to stop before I spooled my Lew's reel. Very strong stick. The bass guys are using 50 and 80 lb braid on that set up for flipping. I have two of those blanks here and one is sold and the other was going to be mine and it already has the Red Winn Grips and trigger seat glued in place. Yours if you want it. I can get more. After my wife gets home to take a pic I can show you what the 946 looks like at 15 lb of drag.
My buddy at Witchdoctor Tackle LLC in south Fl has lots of 945s made up and sells to the FLW guys. I think they are about $250 to 270 range. May depend on cork or winn grip. He has both. Look him up if you want a 945 and tell him I sent you and may cut you a little better deal. He has such a nice setup and skill that he can knock them out faster than I can.
My rods are built for battle. ;D The drag started to slip just before the 20 lb dumbbell started to lift. Drag was set at 15 lb.
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/dwebb49/IMG_0766_zpsogsurjp6.jpg) (http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/dwebb49/media/IMG_0766_zpsogsurjp6.jpg.html)
Nice rod bud ...watch your toes, I need you to stay healthy ;).
Sal
Nice build Dwight. Love the action on that rod!
That's is a nice solid rod there Dwight! Those rainshadow blanks seem to hold up very well!
That's a great price for a custom rod from your friend! I just have really gotten addicted to the acid wrap and the feel it has on the rod. If he has any wrapped like that I might be in!
Adam certainly knows how to acid wrap. All you have to do is ask. When I still had a good job and before I started building he build two Seeker Hercules rods acid wrapped and they are awesome sticks for heavy fish and the reel never wants to twist.
I do know he does not like the casting of them on the small micro guides and probably because of the closeness to the blank and friction. With normal size 12 to 10s to 8s that should not be an issue.Those micros have a really low profile.
He calls the 945 flipping stick the Hydrilla Gorilla.
Quote from: Newell Nut on March 11, 2015, 04:55:08 PM
Quote from: fIsHsTiiCkS on March 11, 2015, 03:49:49 PM
Beautiful rod!! I really like the simplicity of the build, yet very attentive to detail! How can you sell that bad boy!
How are you liking the blank? I'm looking at the ISWB945 for a 20# setup.
The 945 is a beautiful stick with that awesome green color and really strong. I built my sons and put a 1 1/2 oz weight on it and made a cast. I had to stop before I spooled my Lew's reel. Very strong stick. The bass guys are using 50 and 80 lb braid on that set up for flipping. I have two of those blanks here and one is sold and the other was going to be mine and it already has the Red Winn Grips and trigger seat glued in place. Yours if you want it. I can get more. After my wife gets home to take a pic I can show you what the 946 looks like at 15 lb of drag.
My buddy at Witchdoctor Tackle LLC in south Fl has lots of 945s made up and sells to the FLW guys. I think they are about $250 to 270 range. May depend on cork or winn grip. He has both. Look him up if you want a 945 and tell him I sent you and may cut you a little better deal. He has such a nice setup and skill that he can knock them out faster than I can.
My rods are built for battle. ;D The drag started to slip just before the 20 lb dumbbell started to lift. Drag was set at 15 lb.
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/dwebb49/IMG_0766_zpsogsurjp6.jpg) (http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/dwebb49/media/IMG_0766_zpsogsurjp6.jpg.html)
wow I was all set on get me a RCLB70XL but seen the action of this 946 Im now debating between this two blanks
Funny, it doesn't seem to look like a fast action blank based on the bend. Looks more like a medium-fast to me. Could be many things, including camera angle, guide placement,...
Looks like a strong and mightly rod.
Quote from: steelfish on March 12, 2015, 04:09:03 PM
Quote from: Newell Nut on March 11, 2015, 04:55:08 PM
Quote from: fIsHsTiiCkS on March 11, 2015, 03:49:49 PM
Beautiful rod!! I really like the simplicity of the build, yet very attentive to detail! How can you sell that bad boy!
How are you liking the blank? I'm looking at the ISWB945 for a 20# setup.
The 945 is a beautiful stick with that awesome green color and really strong. I built my sons and put a 1 1/2 oz weight on it and made a cast. I had to stop before I spooled my Lew's reel. Very strong stick. The bass guys are using 50 and 80 lb braid on that set up for flipping. I have two of those blanks here and one is sold and the other was going to be mine and it already has the Red Winn Grips and trigger seat glued in place. Yours if you want it. I can get more. After my wife gets home to take a pic I can show you what the 946 looks like at 15 lb of drag.
My buddy at Witchdoctor Tackle LLC in south Fl has lots of 945s made up and sells to the FLW guys. I think they are about $250 to 270 range. May depend on cork or winn grip. He has both. Look him up if you want a 945 and tell him I sent you and may cut you a little better deal. He has such a nice setup and skill that he can knock them out faster than I can.
My rods are built for battle. ;D The drag started to slip just before the 20 lb dumbbell started to lift. Drag was set at 15 lb.
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a526/dwebb49/IMG_0766_zpsogsurjp6.jpg) (http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/dwebb49/media/IMG_0766_zpsogsurjp6.jpg.html)
wow I was all set on get me a RCLB70XL but seen the action of this 946 Im now debating between this two blanks
There is a big difference in the two blanks. The RCLB70XL will have a very soft tip compared to the 946. The 946 is designed for Heavy Musky lures and has a stiffer tip section until loaded up. Depends on what you want the rod to do. Soft tip or stiff tip.
Quote from: Newell Nut on March 12, 2015, 10:35:22 PM
There is a big difference in the two blanks. The RCLB70XL will have a very soft tip compared to the 946. The 946 is designed for Heavy Musky lures and has a stiffer tip section until loaded up. Depends on what you want the rod to do. Soft tip or stiff tip.
gotcha !!
then I need two blanks now LOL
I actually have a gander mount. musky rod 2-6oz 20-50 lb that I use for casting spoons and jigs to spanish mackerel (sierras) of 8-10# and I love it, really nice backbone and stiff tip until loaded like you said, pretty sure this 946 will be bit better (lot better).
then I will keep the RCLB70XL on my buying list cuz I want a custom rod for my lexa 300hsp to trow 1.5oz plastics and light irons and maybe pair it from time to time with my calcutta 400TE, the calcutta feels really nice on the musky rod, tho.
Looks like a good plan to me.
This story is about character and heart break. We have a new mate that also works the restaurant where the Pastime is docked. Brent has a little sail boat tied up the dock also and he has just completed a trip across country on his bicycle which took a year to complete. To celebrate his accomplishment and the new job on the boat he asked if I would build him a first class rod for fishing the intercostal water. I told him that I was booked for a couple months so I said that I could sell my new Rainshadow and Newell to him and he could cast jigs to cobia and flat line mangos as well and handle anything in the intercostal water. He was thrilled and I of course had sellers remorse but I could build me another one day.
This morning he gave me the final payment when I met Captain Al to get the Pastime set up for the day. Brent told me that he had the day off Easter and was fishing off the side of his sail boat at the dock and caught a bunch of small fish and then a nice grouper and he was so happy with the new rig. The Pastime had gone out for a cruise in the intercostal water and he sees them coming back in so he lays the rod down and goes to help dock the boat and put the ramp up. And then the tears start to roll down his cheek as he tells me the story. He went back to his sail boat and no rod. He asked some folks at a near by table if they saw anyone on his boat and they said they heard a clanging noise and saw a splash.
He had left the bait dangling in the water. What a horrible lesson to learn with a beautiful new custom rod and reel. I told him I was pretty bummed over the story but could not imagine how he must feel. The kid has some character to pay me off even though the rod is lost and gone for ever. What a beauty it was too.
To make it even worse, Captain Al does not pull punches with anybody and he starts his rant as well as the other mates laughing at him.
Sounds like a stand-up guy. He could have easily made up a story about the rig being stolen but instead told the truth even knowing he'd be "catching it" from the guys! Makes ya wanna make him another rig...
I feel so bad for him and he is a straight up great kid and always smiling. Great character. I really did not appreciate the other guys kicking while he was down. Says something about there character too.
I may surprise him when I get time. I was going to build myself another one so may as well order two blanks.
Oh that sucks. I can only imagine how he is feeling.
You are a good man, Dwight --
Character is its own reward -- however, it seems to be much less apparent nowadays -- as many folks seem to live in their own YOUniverse.
Sounds like a quality young man.
Does/did Newell ever make a rod clamp with a safety ring -- so one could attach a leash from the reel to an anchor point?
Or will another type of clamp adapt to a Newell?
These Penn ringed clamps seem to line up exactly with the Newell clamp.
If I can donate one -- just let me know, and it is on its way...
And maybe a few of us on the Board would split the cost of a new blank and components -- and you could add your expertise and artistry.
Let us know...
Thanks --
Best,
Fred
(http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx130/foakes1/284CB3FA-4249-4B4B-A77A-3E99040A599D_zpsrzm8h5yd.jpg) (http://s748.photobucket.com/user/foakes1/media/284CB3FA-4249-4B4B-A77A-3E99040A599D_zpsrzm8h5yd.jpg.html)
Fred
Penn makes Rod Clamps with a Hook Holder Ring on the side. They do match Newell.
Mike
Thanks Fred, the problem was not having a rod holder on his little boat. If he had he would at least have part of the rod and a reel. All of this happened because he rushed to do a good deed and help his buddies docking the Pastime. He just quickly laid it down and did not think of the what ifs and the what if happened.
I have ordered two more blanks so when I have time I will get one made up for him and surprise him later and now I need another 220 or 229 to go on it.
No say its not so! that was a sweet set up it would cast a country mile >:(
That is sickening to hear, anyone can make a mistake and for someone else to criticize him for what happened is just plain stooped, I really can't stand bullies or jack azzes like that. This me generation is a pain. I hope things workout for that young man. Lucky he has someone like you to help him out.