casting test for super-UL rod

Some of you know that I make custom rods. One of the rod types I specialize in is super-UL rods that are lighter in action than any factory UL, and will cast very light lures, 1/64 oz. and even lighter, significantly further than any factory rod. I've made a few of these rods for bluegill fanatics and have gotten rave reviews, but sometimes people are skeptical when I tell them how well they'll cast the super-light stuff, so I decided to do a test. Even I was surprised at how far the rod cast a 1/64 oz. jig.

The rod is a 6'6" spinning rod, made on a graphite blank. I used 2-lb. test on a Shimano 2500, and did ten casts each with a 1/64 oz. jig, a 1/32 oz. jig, and a 1/16 oz. jig. Here are the results:

1/64 oz. jig:
42.4'
43.6'
43'
45'
46.2'
44.4'
44.9'
45.9'
49'
42.9'
Longest cast: 49 feet
Average distance: 44.7 feet

1/32 oz. jig:
64'
57.5'
55.4'
61'
53'
59'
58.5'
56'
61'
62'
Longest cast: 64 feet
Average distance: 58.7 feet

1/16 oz. jig:
69.6'
67'
65'
66'
67.3'
64'
68'
66.7'
67'
64'
Longest cast: 69.6 feet
Average distance: 66.5 feet

So the rod cast a 1/64 oz. jig an average of just under fifteen yards, and a 1/32 oz. jig an average of just under twenty yards.

Here's a photo of one of these rods I made for one of the regulars on ****************:

[img:center]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8199/8...7f5a68017a.jpg hybrid-special-web by tnpondmanager, on Flickr[/img]

Nice craftsmanship on the rod. Is that burl cork or wood handle? Long time UL rod / bluegill fisherman here casting 1/64 and 1/32 oz jigs on a regular basis. There have been many times when going to the 1/64 oz jig makes all the difference. We tip with wax worm, cast , let drop, jig, reel, drop , jig, reel, repeat. Rods and reels only part of the equation....as I found out early on... the line is a critical factor in casting along with diameter of spool and rod type. What kind of line did you use? Also, have you ever tested 5' versus 5 1/2' versus 6' versus 6 1/2' versus 7' ? Would be an interesting test. I have always preferred the handling of a shorter UL rod, however my limited sense of physics would lead me to think more travel arc in the longer rod would equal greater distance. The trick for me would be to find the lightest blank possible in the longer lengths before I would be happy using one.

HHD

Thanks for the compliment, Hoosier Hog Daddy. The handle is stabilized big leaf maple burl wood, dyed green; I turn the handles myself. I agree 100% that oftentimes an extra-light presentation makes all the difference - this particular rod was made for a bluegill nut in Indiana who often fishes a near-weightless presentation during the warm months, consisting only of a Wooly Bugger tipped with a waxworm and no added weight, and wanted a rod that would allow him still to cast that rig a decent distance.

For the casting test, I don't remember the exact line I used other than it was mono; I think it was Trilene. One could probably get even more distance with one of the fluorocarbons as I have heard they make a difference in that area.

As far as the length of the rod's impact on casting distance, I absolutely have found what you surmise in that regard, to be true - the longer rods, everything else being equal, invariably cast further. In terms of weight, the blank that the above rod was made on weighs .7 of an ounce before anything is added to it - it's graphite and pretty small in diameter. The owner of that rod says it will make your heart beat faster when you get a big bluegill on because the rod is so light that you wonder if it can handle the force (it can). It really magnifies the fight. The owner of the rod above has caught several hybrid bluegill up to a pound and a half on the rod, and my mother caught a 31-oz. hybrid in October 2012 on a rod made on the same blank, so it can handle bigger fish.

How much would a rod like that cost?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by donut slayer

How much would a rod like that cost?

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PM sent

How many guides do you put on this rod to handle two pound line ?
P M price to me if you would please.

thanks
Yodi

I use the New Guide Concept system for guide placement, so a 6'6" rod like the one pictured would have seven guides not including the tip-top. Most of those are running guides, which are smaller and therefore add less weight to the blank. I mostly use PacBay Minima guides because they're the lightest spinning guides available (and they work great).

I'll send you a PM. Thanks for the interest,
Walt

Do you make longer rods? I do a lot of trout fishing and I tend to use an 7'6" or 8' phenix rod(extra fast.. I don't like the new blanks they use(most are moderate action) so I have been looking for a new rod.

Basics of what I would b looking for.
7 - 8 foot
ultra light
extra fast
cork grip

I do make longer rods - just made a 9' spinning rod on a custom 2-weight fly rod blank from New Zealand. I can build on any blank that's out there; it's just a matter of choosing the right blank for what you want the rod to do.

Have you tried your distance tests with a reel smaller than a 2500 series ?? Just seems like a humongus reel for a whisper weight rod. :dono I'm just thinking that a 500-1000 series reel would be a more appropriate size for a super UL rod & 2lb test line.

I have two rods that I consider "super UL" ... 6'6" Mitchell Zero Gravity (high modular density carbon blank) with a Zebco ProStaff 2 reel... and they would cast a 1/32oz jig on 4lb test, a pretty good distance. Never measured the distances, but it would surprise me if they were less than 30' using a wrist snap cast. Nowhere near your distances, though.

I'm wondering, too, why a 6.5ft rod has to have a ~2ft long handle :scratchhead .... not so much in the case of your pictured rod, but just in general (as I've seen & have rods made that way). I understand the need for long handles on rods meant to be put in rod holders, and even on some casting rods for leverage. But, just how much leverage does one need when battling a 1lb panfish on 2lb test line, anyway ?? Sometimes even my primary jig casting rod (6'6" ESP PowerLite), which has an extended handle (poodle tail), is cumbersome to use ... especially when sitting down while retrieving. The extra long handle wants to hang in my shirt/jacket, and it's only 15" long (from blank to butt end of the poodle tail). I can understand the need for the leverage when you're talking about a 6, 7, 8lb Bass or Hybrid Striper ... but it does seem to be a bit of overkill for a 1-2lb fish.

... cp :kewl

CrappiePappy, I use the 2500 because the larger spool allows longer casts. This is not my original idea - can't remember where I read it (twenty-something years ago), but it's a technique that a few avid bluegill anglers use, in conjunction with longer rods, to allow for longer casts with very light baits. The rod I used in the casting test will still provide more distance with the "toy" reels than other rods, just not as much as with a larger spool. But I have put a Sedona 500 on one of these rods and it still cast a long way, far enough that the guide client using it couldn't stop remarking on the distance he was getting. I used the 2500 for the casting test because this particular rod is designed for anglers who have already tried everything they can, including medium-action reels with larger spools, with factory rods, and are still not getting the distance they want. The 2500 shows what the rod will do at its top end performance.

Longer handles are certainly not necessary for a longer rod. If the handle is too long it will actually cut significantly into the casting distance by interfering with the flex of the blank. I'm building a rod at the moment that will have a handle that's several inches shorter than usual for the length of the rod.

tnpondmanager,

Would you be kind enough to pm me pricing on the rod you did the test with. I would also be interested in anything you have or would recommend in a seven foot rod, primary use would be slip bobbering for pan fish.
Thanks,
garyo3

I'll send you a PM, Gary03. A 7' rod is great for slip-bobbering.

A 7' rod is great for slip-bobbering. Would you send me pricing on this.

PM me the price please on the rod you tested.

I'd be interested in some pricing on the rod you tested as well. That's a nice looking piece of work. Please send a PM when you get a chance.
Thanks!

I am looking to upgrade one or two rods in my collection, and was wondering if you could PM my with a pricing of the one you tested and a 7' one as well.

Sure thing, Webdog, will do.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by garyo3

tnpondmanager,

Would you be kind enough to pm me pricing on the rod you did the test with. I would also be interested in anything you have or would recommend in a seven foot rod, primary use would be slip bobbering for pan fish.
Thanks,
garyo3

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Yes me also(pm price) please as I like to use a 7 or 7-6" for slip bobbering with a 6 hook & neveer more that 1/32 most of the time.

I'm highly interested in a Super UL I tried to PM you but it said you are not accepting PM's. Please PM me info or email me at [email protected]. Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by X53Gunner

I'm highly interested in a Super UL I tried to PM you but it said you are not accepting PM's. Please PM me info or email me at [email protected]. Thanks!

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This thread is six years old. You’d be better served checking out the JDM sticky thread above.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by X53Gunner

I'm highly interested in a Super UL ...

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Here's our own Alphahawk talking about his:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEjgtWXw59Q

I agree with CrappiePappy, that reel is way too heavy for an UL rod in my opinion. I would be interested in that blank in a 7' version and definitely with cork, vs. wood. Tried to PM you, but that option doesn't appear to be available? Anyway, if you can, PM me with a quote please.

it scares me to think what that rod might cost .
but BOY howdy is that like stupid pretty or what ?
VERY nice stick sir ….I will have to tip my hat on this one for sure :highfive

These special rods are they considered as "noodle" rods?

Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

To my knowledge a noodle rod is a bit longer, like about 9’ but I may be wrong.