Time for another custom rod...

[fast14riot]

I've been looking over the MHX blanks and the White series has a 6'6" 1 piece UL/Fast rod for 2-6# line that looks interesting. Has anyone used this or had any feedback? The kit also is quite reasonably priced at about $60 though I'm not a huge fan of split grips, especially in a rod holder.

As a whole, MHX seems to offer blanks that check all the boxes on my list, even with several options to choose from. Typically, I'm not really interested in UL gear, I have a cheap South Bend microlight which works well enough for that few times I really need UL gear, but the length and line rating for this MHX rod has me interested a little. Also, their walleye/finesse rods look like a good candidate too.

Again, this would be an all-rounder light action rig. Casting lures, bait, floats, shore, tube, boat, it will be able to do any of it well enough without being really specialized for any one style. Trout, crappie, bream, shad, land locked kokane too.


-Alexander

[wicklundrh]

Yes, it is a great rod. Built one for a customer about 3 months ago. He put a 12lb cat in the boat with it.

I am also not a fan of split grips. What I usually do is purchase a handle kit on top of the regular hit. Just gives me a few extra parts. You could also simply buy the butt grip and utilize the fore grip, reel seat, and arbor that come with the kit.
FYI: You can buy the 6'6" 1 piece rod kit with regular handle from them. The kit number is MHXSK-15 and is built on their S781-MHX blank in Carbon Fiber. If you are set on the White rods, I would suggest purchasing an additional handle kit.

As for the Finesse/Walleye rods. I build about 10 of them a year. Most of them are built from the "Spin and Jig" Series however I tailor each rod with the customers wants, desire, and needs so it really depends on what they are using it for. My personal walleye jigging rod is a SJ9000-2-MHX. I use it for jigging 3/4 oz jigs in the Detroit river. Unlike most traditional jig fisherman that want an XF action. I prefer a large bend in the rod upon lifting the jig. It helps me with arm fatigue and allows me to fish with much lighter mono line.

Great thing about custom rods, no two are built alike (just like fisherman). My experience with the S781 blank is that it is a great all around blank for doing a ton of stuff. I call it the UTV fishing rod. I use my 7 footer for throwing 1/32 and 1/16 oz jigs as well as throwing some corks and spinner baits. It is a great rod. I would have no problem taking it to the river and throwing Panther Martins for trout or taking it to the creeks and pitching a worm for Brookies.

Hope this information helps you out.

[fast14riot]

More excellent info, thanks!

-Alexander

[fast14riot]

So, I think I have settled on the S781-W-MHX blank. 6'6" ultralight/fast action 1 piece. I am going to go through my dad's supplies to see what he has available before I order so I can get everything I need at once. I think this blank will be best suited to the wide range of fish I have available here. Reasonably sized for hiking in and transport, but long enough to really get tip speed up for long casts.

In a way I have sort of put the cart before the horse and purchased a reel already, lol! I got a good deal on an Okuma SV-25 spinning reel. Have to make a decision on line, but that will be coupled to the guide decision a bit. I'm undecided between 6# braid or 4# premium mono. I've been using Yo-Zuri mono for several years now and like the stuff, but would like to try something else specifically for lighter lures.

Anyways, will update this thread as I go.


-Alexander