Rods/Reels

Yep, you're probably right, not much casting going on with this rod.

10.5" from butt to center pin.

-Allen

narrow spool penn jigmaster 501 with greased carbon fiber drags, a jigmaster power handle and straight 30# mono.  take it from the guy that has to fix em' after you go for a swim!

alan t, using some custom parts from some english dude,
I made a non-level wind "CT-spec" abu 4600 with greased ceramic bearings, greased carbon fiber drag, stainless steel pinion, brass bushing to replace the plastic level wind pinion, and power handle. Also has 125 yards of 20lb fireline with room for a 40lb mono topshot.

it's a midget jigmaster!

I hope I get a chance to show it to you, I think you'll have a good laugh.

well, pole^2, I cut off 3.5" from my 8'6" catera 10-30 lb graphite salmon/steelheader cheapie. 

I guess it is an 8'2.5" now. the new butt cap might have added 3/8".

caught some fish on it the last two days,  I like it! 13" handle (end to spool axle)
for people that fish sitting down with the butt against their body,
but with the reach to get around bows, sterns, driftsocks. perfect size for the 15' SOT.

today for fun, I slapped the 5501 non-level wind on there, and while fishing in some crazy rough conditions,
cast a 3oz diamond jig to the horizon with that thing,  handle not too short to cast.

That rod might not last very long, it is very lightly built, I think I squashed a guide already.  but it fishes well,
maybe a bit too fast of an action when paired with spectra.

maybe I will decide I was crazy 6 months from now, but right now this rod feels right.

J

Great minds think alike I took the 6'6" Catera MH casting rod, and lopped off 6". It will jig 9 oz now like nobody's business. Mated it with a 6500 with carbon drag washers and am calling it good for the time being. Heaven help me if I get a monster ling or 'butt though. As you said, it is lightly built.

Scott

Scott,

I think we are in trouble if we are thinking alike! two looneys, I can hear Bill snickering now. I'll have to show you
the foam in my scupper pro,  . Or my non-level wind 4600 conversion with power handle and stainless
pinion, brass bushing to replace nylon cog, and ceramic ball bearings,  .

did you lop 6" off the tip end? otherwise I hope you mean 8'6", not 6'6"?   
there would not be much left of the handle otherwise.

I lopped 3.5" off the handle end of a 8'6" 10-30lb catera. It is pretty sweet while it lasts. light and sensitive and powerful.
reaches around the bow and I can keep my hands near my body while using it, just like with a 7' rod.

Also lopped 6.5" off the handle end of a 10'6" cabelas depthmaster 12-30lb dipsey diver model (only $17.50! 2005 model).

I wish I had done it earlier.  I am sold on 8'+ length and 13" or less handles for kayak rods.

You won't have any problems with a ling or butt really. before I got the 8'6" catera and scupper pro
I used a 6'6" catera 10-20lb MH on a scrambler! not even an XT, I am talking the tiniest kayak, the basic scrambler and
pulled up the butt in my avatar with no problems.

the 29" ling I trolled up on tuesday I got on the truncated cabelas depthmaster, with a 6501 with carbon fiber drag.
The fish was overmatched, it was over in a couple minutes. I guess it was 1/3rd the weight of the halibut tho.
I will use that rod for ocean trolling in the future rather than the catera cause the guides on the catera were getting grooved.

If you want to test your gear, hook up with greg (sixmhz), the mudmarlin master of the south bay! I think I am going to try that
soon.

J