Building a custom SPJ rod

My buddy wanted to build some SPJ rods for a winter project and offered to help me put one together. I chose a 6'-6" moderate heavy rated for 200-350g jigs. (he is going for a smaller rockfish setup but I already have my goofish for that class jig)

My thinking was for tuna trips in SD, I was on a boat and I remember the captain calling out "fish down 200-ft" and I was just blindly sending a speed jig down and retrieving, but this setup will have metered line (on a 2001 ocea jigger) so I will be ready for those calls lol.

Bought an aluminum alps reel seat, which might be dumb as most spj rods go for small graphite reel seats since they bend all the way down to the butt but I wanted to cool trigger that came on it lol. Got some cool carbon fiber butt and handle pieces but wasn't super sure on how to assemble them as they have unfinished edges that look funny, so we tried to use some eva and we added cork and a rubber butt piece for durability. I also included a longer eva foregrip in case I need to rest it on a rail on the boat. Getting a little heavy but I think it will be fine. Mudhole's youtube series has some great episodes on how to think through the build and features to add.

Next step will be the acid wrap. It's been a fun process, not going super fancy with the wraps and decoration since I'm still learning, but watching my friend think through the assembly and being able to add whatever we want has been really cool.

Nice!!!  What blank are you building on? 

One of my goals is to pull a bft on the spj this year, I got one shot at them lastvyear( like literally one drop) and nada.  I have a black hole jigging rod that I impulse bought cause I couldn’t get my hands on any blanks.  I went with phenix megalodon blank (the pe4 I think) waiting for the full spa treatment.

Bought an aluminum alps reel seat, which might be dumb as most spj rods go for small graphite reel seats since they bend all the way down to the butt but I wanted to cool trigger that came on it lol.

So long as the seat isn’t touching the blank you should be cool….I’m sure you got at least a few arbor wraps under the seat, the blank should have enough room to flex. 

And it’s in line with my style always mantra…..form and function, why deprive yourself if you don’t have to. 

We went for these mudhole tackle slow pitch rods by MHX: MHX 6'6" Heavy Offshore Jigging Slow Pitch Rod Blank - XJSP661H.

I slapped some 50lb multi color diawa on my reel that's around PE 4.5, thing looks sooooooo sweet I'll be so stoked to try it on some ling before I get out on a cattle boat in SD.

Nice. Incidentally, I have the same f custom reel in right handle. I match it with my tailwalk rod which are pretty awesome spj rods. But on boats, I plan on using my electric reel more. I think it might literally be a drag pulling fish up from the depths.

She is done and she is beautiful!! So stoked!

and gonna get the first pac hali on a SPJ this year LOL.

She is done and she is beautiful!! So stoked!

and gonna get the first pac hali on a SPJ this year LOL.

You can... da Yaad way!  Nice work, stoked for you, I'm hopin' calihali on the spj micro jig out da bay this year...geetum brah!

I wanted some practice wrapping guides so I acid wrapped a zebco dock demon. It is an abomination.

I wanted some practice wrapping guides so I acid wrapped a zebco dock demon. It is an abomination.

There's a sickness there...

Love it!   

I've got 20 DD's in my LR right now.   

Looks like a hoot to me!  What is your intended purpose with that one?  The other ones further up look pretty awesome too!

I made this for a barbie pole competition my friends and I had last year and any future ones! It might work well as a sabiki rod and will just be fun on some rockfish and ling.

That's awesome!  Would win for style points for sure!

Funny you mention sabiki rod - that is exactly where my mind went first. 

Could be fun as a spoon jigging rod for trout or striper too...

Nice looking set up.  I hope to see you in action this season.
I've been using slow pitch rods, but have not had much luck using SP jigs.  I will try to invest sometime this year.