Preferred components to build an all-purpose freshwater salmon rod

In between participating in meetings dealing with proposed fishing regulations for the coming three year regulatory cycle, I’ve built a few fishing rods this winter. Most of them are what I consider an all-purpose salmon spinning rod, but such a rod is somewhat of a utility player, decent at quite a few things, and perhaps master of one. Considering that I often spend most of my summer guiding on Mat-Su Valley’s lower Little Susitna River, where only artificial lures are allowed, by regulation, most of the year, it figures that my favorite all- around freshwater salmon rod should excel at casting and presenting weighted spinners. For this purpose I prefer starting with an approximately 7 foot one-piece graphite blank in a medium or medium-heavy bass category. The advantage to a one-piece blank (once the rod has been built) is the guides will always be aligned while fishing, and the rod will never separate at the ferrule, with the top half flying out into the river while casting. One-piece blanks are also considered to be a lighter and stronger design, generally, and also considered to be more sensitive than a multi-piece rod blank. The primary advantage of a multi-piece rod blank is the ability to break it down for ease of storage and /or transport.

Individual rod blank companies often may categorize a medium or medium-heavy blank differently — perhaps they have similar line weight / lure weight specifications, but one blank may excel with line/lure weights lower in a specified range, while another one has considerable more power and excels with line /lure weights higher in the specification range. For this reason, over several decades I have experimented and built on numerous different rod blanks. My current favorite blank in this category may be North Fork Composite’s MB693-1 Delta. It is specified to handle 10 -20 lb. lines with lure weights in the 3/8 - 1 1/8 range. The model number designates a blank measuring 6 foot nine inches in length, however North Fork has been willing to send me this model blank at a less-trimmed 7 foot length, which fits my purposes perfectly. The trade-off is I often may wait an extended period of time, before receiving my made-to-order length blank(s). My current favorite 2-piece blank to build this all-around freshwater salmon rod is the Batson / Rainshadow REVS72M-2SB. It is designated as a medium-powered blank rated for 8 - 15 lb. line and 1/4 - 5/8 ounce lures. With this two-piece blank I believe the specifications may have been listed a bit lighter than needed — perhaps as a marketing strategy — where an angler may perceive the blank has extra power compared to other blanks with similar line / lure specifications.

Sensitivity, Power, and Cost

Rod companies do a good job of advertising their higher end rods or rod blanks, to where an angler may think they would be significantly missing out if they did not purchase the highest end product available. The rod blanks I mentioned above, however, are at a more mid—level of cost, with less advertising hype. For my guided salmon fishing trips they have proven to provide an unusually good sensitivity, durability, and at a much more affordable price level compared to top-shelf blanks from the same companies. While often lighter and somewhat more sensitive, higher-end graphite rod blanks are often stiffer and more prone to damage as well. For experienced anglers, who take good care of their gear, this may not be an issue.

For rods used regularly, and by a large number of anglers (with varying fishing experience levels), durability to take abuse, is a very desirable trait.

If you are thinking you may build a quality fishing rod for less than you can purchase one at 3 Rivers Fly and Tackle or Sportsman’s Warehouse in Wasilla, my suggestion would be —think again. The MB693-1 Delta blank is currently listed for direct sale on the North Fork Composites website for $90, and the Batson /Rainshadow REVS72M-2 SB retails for $120. If you look and possibly wait, before purchasing, you may likely find either of these blanks on sale, however, if you mail order them from out of state, shipping costs added on top of blank cost may be higher than if you simply purchased one locally in Alaska. I’ve noticed REVS72M-2SB blanks for sale at 3 Rivers Fly & Tackle, and if they don’t have an MB693-1 Delta, on hand, they could likely obtain one and sell it for the regularly listed retail price — in Wasilla.

My main objective in building custom rods is not to save money, but rather to get more exactly what I want in a rod. Three of those qualities, often marketed, by rod manufactures are lightness, sensitivity, and balance —each of these items has potential to be improved in a custom rod. Additional items that can be added to any custom rod are preferred handle length / material, preferred choice of guides, and preferred wrap colors.

Handle Components

For the two blanks I prefer to build on, a 9-inch handle (below the reel seat) balances the REVS72M-2SB blank comfortably, while an 8-inch handle below reel seat is preferred with the MB693-1 Delta. For a one-piece handle filling the entire distance between the rod butt and reel seat I preferred to install a pre-built cork grip. For a split grip handle I prefer to use a 4.5 inch tapered Winn Grip (similar to a golf club handle) at the butt of the rod with uncovered rod blank stretching the remaining distance to the reel seat. For lightness, sensitivity, and reasonable cost I use a Fuji DNPSSD16 reel seat and a 16mm backstop lock nut to better secure a spinning reel to the finished rod while fishing. During the building process, the lock nut needs to be turned on to the reel seat before installation on the rod. Trim pieces — I most often use a one inch black rubber butt cap (like a Batson SBC 20B) for cork handles or a Fuji RBC1720 composite cork butt cap on Winn Grip handles. I also often use one Fuji SK2 16 mm winding check that will snap directly into the fuji 16 mm reel seat when installing a one-piece full length handle — and 16mm winding checks when installing a split grip handle. For a lighter more sensitive build — I do not install any grip material on the front side of the reel seat. Finally I use a small size stainless steel hook keeper wrapped above the reel seat.

Guides —Fuji KLH

I nearly always build with Fuji’s KL reduction guides that are designed to shed braided line tangles, and also designed for efficient casting and lightness of weight. For this particular build, reduction guide sizes will be 20H, 10H, and 5.5M. In addition I use (2) Fuji KB 5mm transition guides, followed by (5) Fuji KT 5mm running guides and a Fuji 5mm / 5.5 tip top for a REVS72M-2SB Blank or a Fuji 5mm / 6 tip top for the MB693-1 Delta Blank. When wrapping a custom rod the builder can choose from a plethora of thread colors and generally two or three thread sizes. For a lighter more sensitive build I most often build with size A thread (I consider this smaller diameter thread more difficult to work with.

Building supplies: epoxy glue, epoxy rod finish, finish brush, mixing cup, mixing stick, wrapping stand, and electric finish drying motor. Bottomline: building your first all-around freshwater salmon rod, of this quality, will likely cost someone a minimum of $200.

While I consider this rod build best for casting size 4 - 6 weighted spinners, I’ve also had guests catch ocean-run salmon while drifting bait along the bottom, floating bait under bobbers, back trolling small to medium-sized plugs, and flipping flies with it. I’ve had guests catch 30-pound king salmon with this build (but with king salmon now in short supply state-wide) it is an even more appropriate powered rod for catching the 4 smaller species of Pacific salmon frequently encountered in Alaska rivers.

Good Luck and Fish On!