Musky Rod for SW topwater use

[jaypeegee]

I have one of the new Abu Garcia rods that is a 2-piece with the ferrule at the top of the foregrip. It's rated to cast 4-10oz.

It's a "Fantasista Beast" F88-7...listed at 12.3 oz, 40-60lb line....hope to use it in the net few weeks....

http://www.abugarcia.com/abugarcia-rods-casting-rods/1373580.html#start=3

Appreciate the suggestion. Dollars getting up there given the NZD has tanked. But will look at that some more.

[jaypeegee]

Hi Jaypeegee

What you are looking for is a bit of a beast of a casting rod – as casting 6oz lures is heavy weight class by anyone's standards.

We have built a few as special order for some customers in Australia, and basically had to get a hybrid blank to do the job properly; as what you are looking for is basically 2/3rds of a powerful surf rod – something about 9' long, but obviously 2 piece. The problem with just taking the top 2/3rd of a 3 piece surf rod, is that what now becomes the butt  section is a little too flexible, and needs beefing up with extra wraps of carbon. The other issue with casting, is that single handed casting with a 6oz lure is not going to work, you do need to start looking at a double hander.

That was the route we went, and it worked. The problem wasn't ultimately the casting aspect – but the sheer power of the big fish when hooked and brought close to the rock platforms. That's when it becomes a seriously 'brutal' fight, and the rod really needs somme 'lock up' power for the final stages of the fight.

The biggest problem you are going to have over our Australian clients, is that the import duties and restrictions into New Zealand are very penalising; they enjoy a $1000 import free limit.

Perhaps look at some of the local high carbon surf rod blanks as options?

Cheers from sunny Africa


Jeri

Interestingly I have an SK4 that I snapped and fixed then replaced.
Meaning I have a Spare butt section
I wonder if I could (or should) chop that down...

It's a 2 even piece ~13 foot rod .. Hmmm

I have been using the SK4 9 foot uptider rod for the smaller lures but when I get to the bigger ones it oversaturates in the cast

I may have to resort to saving and getting a CTS blank made up

[Jeri]

Hi Jaypeegee,

I'm not surprised that you are finding the Uptider limited in application, as they are designed to cast sinkers and bait from a boat, and then not rip out the sinker from the bottom as the boat moves in the waves at anchor – so a very soft flexible glass tip is the usual construction of those blanks.

We used a full 36T carbon blank with no glass scrim to achieve what we were looking for in the LBG rods. Plenty of backbone, with the inbuilt power to launch heavy lures, then plenty of butt section power to hold the Kingfish near the rocks. It was a tricky design, as a casting rod – distance was the prime consideration, then the other attributes. It wasn't cheap, and I would have reservations about putting too much money into a converted Sonic rod. I would only cut it from the bottom, as you will lose too much action if you cut from the top – it might be worth a try. That said, I'm not totally familiar with the SK4, as we use so few UK blanks here in Africa – not enough strength in the tip sections, as they are originally designed for casting and bite detection.

But it is worth the thought as a trial project.


Hope that helps.

Cheers from sunny Africa


Jeri

[humboldtdan]

Musky are mostly a bulldogger with vicious initial strike.  One reason for stiff rod is very bony mouth which is difficult to get a hook in.  That and keeping them out of cover.  Nothing like an AJ in terms of speed and power.

[jaypeegee]

Musky are mostly a bulldogger with vicious initial strike.  One reason for stiff rod is very bony mouth which is difficult to get a hook in.  That and keeping them out of cover.  Nothing like an AJ in terms of speed and power.

Hmm. A wild thought appears... Stiff rod = stiff the whole way through the rod right?
If that is the case then that alone will rule the musky rod out as a solution.

[johndtuttle]

Musky are mostly a bulldogger with vicious initial strike.  One reason for stiff rod is very bony mouth which is difficult to get a hook in.  That and keeping them out of cover.  Nothing like an AJ in terms of speed and power.

Hmm. A wild thought appears... Stiff rod = stiff the whole way through the rod right?
If that is the case then that alone will rule the musky rod out as a solution.

I think you will find the actions aren't too extremely fast.

[Serrations]

Take a look at the 9 foot St Croix Premier Musky. It is not a split grip but the two piece ferrule system is carried over from their surf rods. The handle section is short making the action feel like a one piece rod. I have the extra heavy. 50-100lb line 6-12 0z lure. It has not been in saltwater yet but I do plan to try it. I have an older Gold Trinidad 20 that fits nicely.
On Musky rods in saltwater: check out this video of a 350 Goliath Grouper on a Migizi Musky rod.

[jaypeegee]

Hi Serrations

Appreciate the thought. I will need to go custom locally but for now I am sorted. I have a T-curve bluewater 15-24kg rod at 7'6" which may grow a new butt or stay the same depending on how it works out. It is pretty fast and maybe a tad too short but it does work the heavier end of the lures I use/make well.
I put the Tranx on it and threw these lures trying out different combinations of trebles and singles and I am reasonably pleased

yep the lure finishes aren't the best but the action of each is

[Rivverrat]

. I set my drag at 20 lb and the rod lasted about 5 seconds on a big snapper and snapped 3 inches from the fore

I will cordially & respectfully say this has never been my experience using St. Croix Musky rods for catfish. With some of them going over 70 lbs. in current well over 5 mph. The St. Croix Classic Cat rods  very much a rod built on musky blank. St. Croix dead lifted over 70 lbs repeatedly with this rod. A rod rated  for 15 - 60 lb. line.
I have many of their musky rods & still have the prototype Classic Cat I was sent prior to their release. Still using almost every other day. This series is no longer made.
But is coming back in their Mojo line.

I believe something happened in shipping or it was a faulty blank you had.....Jeff