Thread: A little advice PLEASE

Thinking about building a spinning rod with a fly rod blank. Any advice. Should I or not. Maybe using for macks or pompano. 9 WT 9 ft two piece. Thanks

even the fastest fly blank will just be alright as a spinning rod. fly rods are just slower, as i'm sure you know. unless you are wanting to fish something slowly and willing to put in a lot of work i don't think it is worth the effort. i have not personally done it so i haven't walked in those shoes, but i had a friend who tried and it was time wasted, according to him. neat idea, but i would put in work on a different project.

I'm certainly not trying to discourage what sounds like a great project, but I've tried spinning reels on a store bought fly rod once before...epic fail. I then replaced the fly guides with some spinning rod guides...epic fail times two. FWIW, if you're just looking for a light rod to fish in the surf, try a 9 foot UL crappie rod with 8# line...it's a blast on good size whiting and pomps!!! Good luck whatever you try...

Thanks guys. I have built several rods and I think I remember a surf fishing YouTube with a guy that was using one just a thought. Mudhole has some on sale. Who knows

Originally Posted by snakeeater

I'm certainly not trying to discourage what sounds like a great project, but I've tried spinning reels on a store bought fly rod once before...epic fail. I then replaced the fly guides with some spinning rod guides...epic fail times two. FWIW, if you're just looking for a light rod to fish in the surf, try a 9 foot UL crappie rod with 8# line...it's a blast on good size whiting and pomps!!! Good luck whatever you try...

I fished with a guy last year that used exactly that setup and he had a GREAT time just catching whiting...


It was not quite as fast action as my 9 foot Carbonlite, but it handled the casting and fish just fine...

How about a salmon rod blank. I've got one of those a guy in Scotland gave me and it's light and limber, but just a little heavier than a fly rod. A fly rod is going to have a hard time supporting spinning rod eyes.

Originally Posted by frednic

How about a salmon rod blank. I've got one of those a guy in Scotland gave me and it's light and limber, but just a little heavier than a fly rod. A fly rod is going to have a hard time supporting spinning rod eyes.

Some years ago I experimented with 3 Salmon/Steelhead rods I bought off eBay. 9 1/2', 10 1/2' and 11 1/2'
They were two piece with guides that did not hold up to the rigors of surf fishing.
Anyway, the action was 'slow' to moderately slow for the 9 1/2'r which is what I liked best.

Coach, if you can find a similar rod you should be pleased for the purpose mentioned.

Coach, 40+ years ago, I built a spinning rod out of a #4, 7' fly rod blank that I put a spinning rod reel seat on and spinning guides. I used it for fishing crawlers for trout. It worked GREAT! for trout in a ripple. The fly rod blank gave it the sensitivity to detect the lightest pick up. Sense then, I have built many of them for people who fish live bait and even spin fishermen. For spin fishermen you have to stay short and even cut the butt down in order to stay under the trees up here. For you, fishing the surf, and I use this rod down there, I would use a salmon spinning rod blank, a 11 1/2' St. Croix, SCIII, medium power, fast action, 8 - 12# test line, 1/4 - 3/4 lure weight. I have used this rod for fishing eggs for salmon and surf fishing and it works. It does NOT work for sheepies because the length, but it does handle the sheepies once you get them on. It will also handle any salmon but you have to take your time because of the line test. If you use a heavier line, you could break the rod. It is also my go to rod for walleyes, because of it's sensitivity. I have also caught bull reds off of the surf with out any problem, but you have to take your time to get them in. Hope this helps. PM me if you have questions. You have to use Fuji guides.

I have built several spinning rods on fly rod blanks some as light as 4WT . I use fast or extra fast blanks 8 or 9 ft. I usually cut the tip back 4 to 12 in. I use lite wt. single foot guides. These rods are for freshwater,, primarily for panfish --you can make some nice. long casts. You get the ultra lite fight with good castability.

Good idea on cutting back the tip. Now how to buy a tip?