[MrBill]

The below rod is a custom made popping rod made from an OTI 7'6" 80 pound blank. It is a 2 piece model. That makes it real nice for transporting on land and air. The rod has an aluminum aftco black/gold reel seat and gold aluminum gimbal. Guides are Fuji mnsg. Wrapping is traditional black/gold.

The length of 7'6" should make it nice for tossing big swimbaits and poppers to fish far from the boat. I like aluminum reel seats. Some people think they add to the weight of the rod, but what's one ounce? I just got it and have not fished it yet. Here are some pics.

 

[MrBill]

Here are some lift test. The blank is rated for 80 pounds. I tested it to 1/3 of the rating which is around 27 pounds. There was more room for extra weight as I felt it didn't bottom out. I probably could have gone to 35 pounds. Fishing this rod with 25 pounds of drag shouldn't be a problem.

 

[SkeeterRonnie]

very nice!! I am with you on the aluminum reel seats... I dont trust graphite/plastic...

 

[ksong]

MrBill, looks great.
I got two OTi 7'6" 80# blanks and I'll have one custom popping rod and one jigging rod made from the blanks. Those rods will be tested when I go to Fiji for GT popping and dogtooth jigging.
As MrBill said, I don't see any problem to use 25 lbs drag with the rods.
I am going to experiment the popping rod with 28 - 30 lbs drag for GT.
When compared with Smith 80P/35 blank, OTI 80 # blanks looks stiffer and stronger. I felt OTI's blanks is much heavier than 80P/35, but there is only one ounce difference.
Both rods have Fuji DPSH - 22 reel seats.

 

[ichibahn]

Where you guys get the OTI blank rod ?
they don't have it at 360 tackle store....

 

[paul708]

very nice!! I am with you on the aluminum reel seats... I dont trust graphite/plastic...
have you broken any graphite seats? i am putting a demo together,about "breaking graphit reelseats" and i am looking for info..thanks for any help..you can PM me as not to hijack this thread

 

[Minnow]

Ichibahn,

Those rod blanks was a limited productions so we didn't list it on our online store.

 

[SkeeterRonnie]

have you broken any graphite seats? i am putting a demo together,about "breaking graphit reelseats" and i am looking for info..thanks for any help..you can PM me as not to hijack this thread

not me personally... but I have seen enough pics to not use graphite reels..

 

[DeepBlueGulf]

Sweet!!! Thanks for all the pictures MrBill. I can't wait to get my 50lb blank wrapped!!

Have you tried casting anything with it yet? Just curious about that aspect of it.


Tom - DBG

 

[paul708]

not me personally... but I have seen enough pics to not use graphite reels..
ANY PICS AROUND?

 

[ksong]

ANY PICS AROUND?
Paul, are you investigating ?
If someone breaks real seats heavier than Fuji DPSH 22 while fighting a big fish, I'll be one of them as I use any tackles to the limit and it didn't happen to me yet. I talked with Ralph(rodwinder) the other day and talked about graphite ve alluminum reel seats. When asked, he asked me again " Did you see any body break heavy duty graphite reel seats while fighting a fish ? " He is one of the premier rod builders in NY area and is also great fisherman from carp to tuna. But he might be the only rod builder to recommend the graphite reel seat for tuna jigging.

 

[paul708]

Kil. after the "talk" on graphite/ metal on the other board...i am putting together a DEMO for our rodbuilding club, on "breaking reel seats" our monthly newsletter is going out today, i asked for ALL our builders to bring a example or stories of broken reelseats of any kind.to our meeting thursday.. i am gathering info, with pics and actual items to try and present a decent DEMO..so IF ANYONE can help with pics/ broken seats please contact me..i am even thinking of ways to BREAK seats, that MAY prove something.

 

[paul708]

Paul, are you investigating ?

Kil i am always looking for DEMOS on rodbuilding,,i am in charge of putting on 2 DEMOS a month about rodbuilding..we put on demos that have been presented at national events. some of our guys even did national event demos. and have written for rodbuilders mags.. this month is a demo on building a homemade rod wrapper(very nice). and i am asking for help with the seat demo...we are also working on a rod casting demo..we hope to get published in the near future.....so i am ALWAYS looking for ways to keep this group of men and women entertained

 

[ksong]

Kil. after the "talk" on graphite/ metal .i am putting together a DEMO for our rodbuilding club, on "breaking reel seats" our monthly newsletter is going out today, i asked for ALL our builders to bring a example or stories of broken reelseats of any kind.to our meeting thursday.. i am gathering info, with pics and actual items to try and present a decent DEMO..so IF ANYONE can help with pics/ broken seats please contact me..i am even thinking of ways to BREAK seats, that MAY prove something.
OK, I understand.
I'll send you a picture of my Fuji graphite reel seats with broken graphite inside aluminum hood for my inshore rod. Since the incident, I don't like graphite/aluminum combo.

 

[txseadog]

Kil. after the "talk" on graphite/ metal on the other board...i am putting together a DEMO for our rodbuilding club, on "breaking reel seats" our monthly newsletter is going out today, i asked for ALL our builders to bring a example or stories of broken reelseats of any kind.to our meeting thursday.. i am gathering info, with pics and actual items to try and present a decent DEMO..so IF ANYONE can help with pics/ broken seats please contact me..i am even thinking of ways to BREAK seats, that MAY prove something.

I've broken a DPSH24 myself but not while fighting a fish. I overtighten the locking nut by hand while attaching a reel and it split down the center of the rear hood. That's why the I don't recommend using them to this day as they are definitely not "Shrek tough".

I like to use the deluxe fuji's spinning seats on most popping and jigging rods or the Amtak graphite/Alum on my smaller (<60#) personal rods for blue hoods but like really like the palm support seats for jigging...

 

[paul708]

I've broken a DPSH24 myself but not while fighting a fish. I overtighten the locking nut by hand while attaching a reel and it split down the center of the rear hood. That's why the I don't recommend using them to this day as they are definitely not "Shrek tough".

I like to use the deluxe fuji's spinning seats on most popping and jigging rods or the Amtak graphite/Alum on my smaller (<60#) personal rods for blue hoods but like really like the palm support seats for jigging...
that locking nut seems to be a VERY popular way to break, i have done it. and those PSSM are sweet. just be careful with some reelfeet (fit wise)

 

[MrBill]

Sweet!!! Thanks for all the pictures MrBill. I can't wait to get my 50lb blank wrapped!!
Have you tried casting anything with it yet? Just curious about that aspect of it? Tom - DBG

Txseadog is finishing up a 50# 2-piece for me right now along with a 5'6" 600gram conventional jigging rod. In fact Kevin, if it's not to late, cut the 5'6" down to 5'2". If its to late, don't worry about it. These two will also have the aftco aluminum reels seats and Fuji mnsg guides.

I just got these rods, and haven't tried to cast anything. Living in a city isn't a desirable place to toss big plugs 100 yards. I already have lost two big poppers in a bamboo forest. I also only have a shimano sustain 8000 at the house. All the big boys are at the coast. I do have a twinspin 20 on order that should be arriving any day. I put about 30 yards of 50# mono on the sustain for the lift test.

 

[MrBill]

IF ANYONE can help with pics/ broken seats please contact me..i am even thinking of ways to BREAK seats, that MAY prove something.

I have a friend that has a "Wall of Shame". Some of the tackle he breaks goes to the wall of shame if he bothers to pick it off the the ground and doesn't burn it in a fire pit first. A lot of it has broken on fish, and some has broken because he slammed it againg a transom or concrete bulkhead. This usually happens to tackle that doesn't cut the mustard. Sometimes it gets destroyed before it boards the boat. To be honest, if it doesn't look heavy duty, it will be tossed overboard or destroyed. I'll have to admit that some of the tackle on the "Wall of Shame" was broken by me.

I'll see if he will let me take some pictures of the "Wall of Shame". It's full of broken rods, shattered reels, swivels that opened up on a big marlin, straightened out hooks, etc.

I'm kind of worried what will happen to one of my new purchases if I showed up with it. Not sure a red belt would get rejected or tossed.

 

[Gunsmoke]

I have a friend that has a "Wall of Shame". :

I bet your friend works hard, plays hard and doesn't like half arse things on board when he's playing. Junk is junk. You can't make chicken salad out of chicken chit.

I don't think anyone likes wasting their day off watching some idiot piddle around with some second rate merchandise and causing time lost on the water. Do it right or don't do it at all. Chit or get off the pot.

I bet he also doesn't tolerable cheap binoculars, second rate guns, inferior scopes and poorly made knives. I also assume he doesn't tolerate rot gut liquor, lite beer, cheap cigars and select grade of meat. He probably takes a lot chances in life and hates boredom and routines. I would even guess that he likes to have a good time teasing his friends even buys them quality merchandise for the crap he destroys.

In closing, he seems like a pretty neat guy. He might even like that red rod belt pad for Christmas. It could even double as a festive Christmas Tree Ornament.

 

[Ragman]

Have you tried casting anything with it yet? Just curious about that aspect of it.
Tom - DBG

When we field tested the 80# (casting in a park, sort of up hill), Kevin and I had casts up to 92 yards (no wind assist) with a 5-6 oz plug.

The 50# really loads up well with 3-5 oz plugs and produced 100 yd + casts.

Paul - the line and the blanks should arrive tomorrow or Thursday!