The "perfect" bait/lure/snatch rod.....

[Railroader]

Seeing as how you are limited to one "all purpose" rod if you king-fish at the Jacksonville Beach pier, I set out in a quest for that perfect rod, as the reel is taken care of in a Penn 525Mag....I checked all over my area, at least half a dozen places, I also checked the web at BPS, Cabela's, and others....No Dice.

It then occurred to me that out of the 75 or so rods that I own, I had to have the perfect one somewhere. Long story shortened, I chose an 8'6" Heavy action UgStick trout rod (model CAS 1186-2H). After some trial and error, I removed the tip (heat and pull), and used a Dremel tool to neatly cut the rod off right behind the first guide wraps. After roughing up my "new" tip with 240 grit sandpaper, I used Fuji tip glue to re-install the tip guide, wrapped it with thread and covered the wrap with some of the wife's clear fingernail polish...Turned out to be a good looking job, even though I'm no rod builder....

What I have ended up with is an 8' rod that will throw 1 to 4 ounces, with a sensitive tip to feel bait bites, enough whip left in the end to sling-shot a pogie snatch to St. Augustine, and enough backbone to fight a larger fish should one hit a lure for me. It is also light enough in weight to not wear you out after 50 casts trying to snatch bait.

If anyone is still reading after all this, then you are as big of a tackle Ho' as me, and maybe you found some of it interesting or useful....

RR

[rattler]

:rolleyes: :D ;)

[sprtsracer]

OK...so I'm a tackle Ho...but I think a nice luminescent Hot Pink fingernail polish would look better...easier to see after dark and goes well with the high heels and matching fishing outfit! Besides, you'd be the envy of all the other guys out there! :D Seriously, though...sounds pretty good and gives me some ideas on some extra rods that I have. Why is it that every time you post, it always costs me more money for this reel or that rod, etc??? Oh...never mind...I already admitted to being a tackle Ho!!! :D

[Sgt_Slough]

I had read your other post about the rod restriction on the pier and my first thought was; what if you could get rid of the anchor "rod" once it's out?

Now I've never pin rigged but I have been to the piers and have seen the operation. My understanding is that the anchor goes out when you start fishing and it is not disturbed until you pack-up (unless you want to move it).

If that's the case . . .

Let's say you cast the anchor out 125yds; at 140 yards you have a small snap to spider hitch connection where you could remove the reel from the rod and place it on a short butt with a reel seat. Ziptie a piece of PVC to the rail and have just the reel peeking over the top rail. You would be able to adjust tension on the anchor line but not have the clutter of an actual anchor rod on the deck. Now, would that create problems with needing to walk a fish down the line? Would you (or somebody else) be able to pass under such a set-up?

Just a thought . . .

[Drumdum]

Kinda like the idea,personally. Don't think it would work out too well with most pier managers though,they would more than likely count the short butt and reel as a third rod.. Also,it's a little easier when you have the rod attached so the bait slides down a little easier..

RR,yrs ago we used to use a "popping rod" for the same application as you are using this third rod you are speaking of.. Used to use 12 mono on a 6500,which had a levelwind.Made it convenient for baitfishing and for bigger fish as well. The rod was a 6' baitcaster with med heavy action. It would cast a gotcha a mi and I have landed small kings as big as 15lbs,spainish, and false albacore up to 21lb with this rig. Always had that thing sitting on the rail,loaded with a gotcha after I had my baitbucket full,fit the bill very well.. With some of the BIG and I mean BIG cobes they catch nowadays,that rascal woulda been dumped for sure.. :D