360Tuna - View Single Post - Gusa Dragon Jig Stick-Newbie Help

Go Deep · 04-20-2008, 02:22 PM

I've been jigging for the past 3-4 yrs in the GOM using mostly custom built Seeker and a Zenaq Monster (and for a very short time a JM500M) sticks with good success on AJ's, Cuda, BF and YF. I want to start building my own sticks and this forum seems to have the folks that can help me out. Let me state up front, I know very little about rod building!

I purchased a Gusa Dragon Blank last fall and finally got tired of sitting around looking at the blank standing naked in the corner! The Dragon specs are (6 ft tall, .154 tip/#10 and a .628 dia butt rated for 50 - 100lb with a slow action). I will probably put a Tiburon SST 8/50 reel on it with upgraded drags (25lb+) using 80lb spectra.

I have a couple of questions:

Reel seat - how much larger in diameter should the reel seat be from the blank diameter? I was looking at the ALPS triangle seats, which size do I need, i was thinking the size 16 (ID .630) but is this too small? Is it better to go bigger and just fill w/ tape and epoxy? Should I just step to the next size available which I believe is a jump to a size 20 (ID .748) or find a different model reel seat in size 18. I do understand the reel seat will be located 10" above the butt where the blank diameter will be smaller (I need a set of calipers to measure it!), hence my thought that the size 16 would work. Comments?

Guides - I was looking at the ALPS XN guide w/ zirconium ring. My thoughts on sizes were 25, 20, 16, 16, 12, 12, 12 and a 10/10 tip. Any suggestions?

Gimbal - Since the Dragon has a small diam butt, I was thinking an AMTAK AG1 with and ID of .75 which is the smallest aluminum gimbal I could locate while surfing the net?

Thread sizes - what size do I need for wrapping the guides? This will be a working stick so I will keep things simple but strong.

I will probably go with Hypalon for the grips as I fish 90% of the time out of my own boat, a 10" rear and a 10" fore grip.

Acid Style -any more difficult than standard for my first build?

I was also going to purchase the Flex Coat Small Business Start-Up kit to get me going, if there is something better out there, I'm all ears. Also was going to purchase the custom rod building DVD's by Doc Ski.

Any other suggestions, please feel free to chime in!

Thank you,
Ed

04-20-2008, 02:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Go Deep Junior member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 6	Gusa Dragon Jig Stick-Newbie Help I've been jigging for the past 3-4 yrs in the GOM using mostly custom built Seeker and a Zenaq Monster (and for a very short time a JM500M) sticks with good success on AJ's, Cuda, BF and YF. I want to start building my own sticks and this forum seems to have the folks that can help me out. Let me state up front, I know very little about rod building! I purchased a Gusa Dragon Blank last fall and finally got tired of sitting around looking at the blank standing naked in the corner! The Dragon specs are (6 ft tall, .154 tip/#10 and a .628 dia butt rated for 50 - 100lb with a slow action). I will probably put a Tiburon SST 8/50 reel on it with upgraded drags (25lb+) using 80lb spectra. I have a couple of questions: Reel seat - how much larger in diameter should the reel seat be from the blank diameter? I was looking at the ALPS triangle seats, which size do I need, i was thinking the size 16 (ID .630) but is this too small? Is it better to go bigger and just fill w/ tape and epoxy? Should I just step to the next size available which I believe is a jump to a size 20 (ID .748) or find a different model reel seat in size 18. I do understand the reel seat will be located 10" above the butt where the blank diameter will be smaller (I need a set of calipers to measure it!), hence my thought that the size 16 would work. Comments? Guides - I was looking at the ALPS XN guide w/ zirconium ring. My thoughts on sizes were 25, 20, 16, 16, 12, 12, 12 and a 10/10 tip. Any suggestions? Gimbal - Since the Dragon has a small diam butt, I was thinking an AMTAK AG1 with and ID of .75 which is the smallest aluminum gimbal I could locate while surfing the net? Thread sizes - what size do I need for wrapping the guides? This will be a working stick so I will keep things simple but strong. I will probably go with Hypalon for the grips as I fish 90% of the time out of my own boat, a 10" rear and a 10" fore grip. Acid Style -any more difficult than standard for my first build? I was also going to purchase the Flex Coat Small Business Start-Up kit to get me going, if there is something better out there, I'm all ears. Also was going to purchase the custom rod building DVD's by Doc Ski. Any other suggestions, please feel free to chime in! Thank you, Ed