Casting Lightning Rod Conversion

[islandbass]

After learning a lot from my first conversion, I decided to do a casting rod. I chose my hardly used Lightning Rod.

What I realized after making the first one was that not all split grips are equal in the sensitivity department. The ones that enable you to have your hand touch the blank should be more sensitive that those on which your hand is solely on the cork.


Berkley Lightning Rod

This time, I made certain that my hand would be touching the blank.





This time, my palm is in direct contact with the blank and let me tell you it was nice to feel the feedback from the blank to my hand. It also feels very comfortable to hold.

As for the overall feel, I have to say it has greatly improved for me. The Lightning Rod has felt “heavy” in hand and the factory cork grip was a tad to thick for my hand.

So if you’re going to convert a rod, make sure you do so in a way that your palm is in contact with the blank.

This is probably the last rod I will convert. Why? Because Spring is here and it is now time to get back to fishing.

-ib

[Buzz Wing]

I'd be giving that rod a lot more attention!

-Buzz

[crankybait]

Sweet job IB. Too bad i can't try it... too busy fishing XD. Got the skunk today though... people were nailing the trout

[BigBassin144]

IB, any pics of the finished product (the spinning rod) I'm still deciding what I want to do with my rod. I've changed my mind so many times I think I may just forget it.

BB

[fishing man]

so did you get a regular non split grip rod and make it like that? and if you did how did you do that?

[Buzz Wing]

http://bassfishin.com/bassfishingfor...ad.php?t=14771


-Buzz

[Bender]

That looks great! I think I will cut into a berkley bionix I have sitting around. It feels really bulky in my hand so I don't use it much. Thanks for the info!

[islandbass]

Big Bassin,

Buzz led you to a link to the other thread, but I am happy to tell you that I got around to doing the final shaping of the cork. I was a bit nervous at first because I had a plan of action to follow but wasn't sure if I was on the right path. I delved into it after checking out a tutorial by George Roth and George's custom rods.

Here is the completed split grip conversion of a Full gripped, Rapala spinning rod:


Bender,

That is awesome! But I must warn you that not all rods are equal in the cork and epoxy removal department. The Rapala rod only needed 100 grit medium sandpaper to clear off. The berkley rod needed 40-60 grit paper and removal took a lot of elbow grease. At the least, I did get some arm exercise.

Fishing man, the answer is yes. Both my Rapala and Berkley rods had full cork grips.

Cranky,

I got worse than a skunk today going for trout with my son and nephew. This was the day to give both rods a test on the water and when we get to the park, we find it closed off completely with a sign that said closed due to bear sighting. Arrgghh!

If anyone is interested how I did the conversion, I wrote up a simple tutorial. If you can get past the epoxy removal, the rest is smooth sailing.

Here is a link to the tutorial:
http://www.americananglersfishing.com/index.php?cat=14

[senko]

Wow the tapered end looks awesome! Great job man!

[crankybait]

Ouch... what a bummer. Bears just have to ruin the fun, don't they?

[Buzz Wing]

Originally Posted by crankybait

Ouch... what a bummer. Bears just have to ruin the fun, don't they?

No, Brian Urlacher takeing steroids runins the fun!

-Buzz

[WTL]

Great work. My only question is why you decided to do this with a lightning rod? Would you not get more out of it doing this custom split grip with a better blank? Or perhaps just delve straight into rodmaking, buying the blanks, guides and grips seperate and assembling to your preferences?

[Buzz Wing]

Why don't you try it on your G-Loomis, IB!?!?

-Buzz

[BERKLEY83]

Ib, Here Is The One I Said I Was Going To Do. Thanks For The Idea, And I Agree Your Hand Must Touch The Blank.:d

[islandbass]

Originally Posted by WTL

Great work. My only question is why you decided to do this with a lightning rod? Would you not get more out of it doing this custom split grip with a better blank? Or perhaps just delve straight into rodmaking, buying the blanks, guides and grips seperate and assembling to your preferences?

Primarily for the challenge, to see if I could do it. And, if it came out well, then so much the better. I am not a rod builder so the challenge of thinking it through was probably the most satisfying thing about the whole process.

In addition, if you're like me, you probably have a number of rods lying around that never ever get used. What I did for these unused rods is sort of breathe new life into them by way of improving their aesthetics and the chances that I will actually fish with them now. Surely that is a better fate for them as opposed to having them serve as glorified dust collectors in the garage.

You are right about better blanks and components. I will probably get into rod building some day, but not now.

Berkley,

Awesome job!!! I think we're having too much fun.

[BigBassin144]

I'm gonna head to walmart and get a cheap Shimano rod and try my hand at this before I do anything ot my more expensive Fish Eagle II (even though it's not that expensive of a rod). I'll let ya know.

BB

[Buzz Wing]

Haha.... "... before I do anything to my more expensive Fish Eagle II, (even though it's not that expensive of a rod)". What a statement!

-Buzz

[BERKLEY83]

Thanks Ib, I Like The The Tapered Look On You Lower Section Of The Rod That Is Sweet. I Think That Was My Last One For Now Though. It Is Fun To See How It Turns Out Also The Lightning Rod Had Alot More Glue.

[BigBassin144]

Originally Posted by Buzz Wing

Haha.... "... before I do anything to my more expensive Fish Eagle II, (even though it's not that expensive of a rod)". What a statement!

-Buzz

I meant I want ot practive on a cheap (maybe $20) rod before I try on my other rod ($80) I'd rather rune a 20 dollar rod than an 80 dollar one.

BB

[Buzz Wing]

I know... That was just too funny of a sentence...

-Buzz