questions

[Mando]

im putting together a surf rod for the summer. its gonna be made for a daiwa bg90 spooled with 500yrds of 50# power pro. id like for it to handle strong fish like sharks, jacks, tarpon and bull reds and whatever else is big that will grab my line. well im searching for a good set of guides. question is do yall think double footed guides are a must for these bigger species of fish? also is 8' ok or too short? i know longer the rod, farther the cast but do any of yall do good with 8' rods?
im driving myself crazy trying to pick out the right supplies, i might just buy me a tica off ebay.
thanks,
mando

[The Red One]

I'd definately say go with the double-footed guides. I'm sure 8' would work. A longer rod would get you out there a little farther. If you have the time and patience build your own. Fishing with a rod you built is a great feeling!

[jcasisa]

The only issue I have with fishing 'long' rods for big fish is the actual fighting. I find it much easier to fight the bigger fish with a shorter rod. I am also in the process of building myself a surf rod for 'bigger fish' but am using a 6ft Seeker blank rated 40 to 80 #. I think rods longer than 8 ft are giving the fish too much advantage.

-John

[animal]

make sure the guides have a good quality ring insert.... power pro tends to cut into some guides.

[Mando]

i have peanty of time and patience to build the rod. at least what kind of guides should i use? they use hardloy on ticas, a guy i know uses tica w/power pro with no problems.

[jcasisa]

Fuji SiC guides are awesome guides, but they are pricey!! About 3 times the price of hardloy guides. You just have to watch the guides make sure they dont have any knicks or sharp points over time. If you can afford the SiC guides I would recommend them, but 9 guides and top would cost you $100 or about that.

[The Red One]

The only issue I have with fishing 'long' rods for big fish is the actual fighting. I find it much easier to fight the bigger fish with a shorter rod. I am also in the process of building myself a surf rod for 'bigger fish' but am using a 6ft Seeker blank rated 40 to 80 #. I think rods longer than 8 ft are giving the fish too much advantage.

-John It's hard to catch a fish you can't cast to. We also have to contend with weeds on the Texas coast. The extra length will help with both of these problems. My solution......I have long rods and short rods. I also have a bad back. It's much easier to land a big fish on the shorter stuff but it's a lot more fun on a long rod. My idea of fishing goes way beyond sitting and waiting for a run, though.

Get the hardloys.....you will like them!