How's that 800L workin out Rob? Now that I'm buildin rods, my next one will be a trout rod. If I decide on the 800L I'd probably do it with cork tape to make it even more lighter. I wonder if those catalas have rod clamps... probably not. I've heard of some guys using Loomis muskie rods and really liking them. I'll probably go with the 800L just cause I like Calstar over Loomis!!! har har.
-Brian

Well as usual I am thinking about the right setup for throwing the big plugs. Here are my current thoughts. The 800L wrapped how I have mine, is killer killer for the 9 and 12 inch slammer. It is not killer for the 7 inch slammer or the 7 inch stocker trout altough I would use it in heavy heavy cover. If you are only going to own one rod, I would probably go with the 800XL. It might be kinda light for the 12 inch plug but should be adequate for the 7 and 9 inch. All around for bass fishing, you are probably going to be throwing the 7 and 9 inch more than anything else. I have also recently heard good things from Dale Ball and Mike Shaw about a rod made by graftec (don't know if I have the spelling right there). It's an 8 foot graphite blank that runs somewhere around 125 bucks which is a pretty good deal. I haven't checked one out yet but would like to see one. Apparently one of the shops in the Ventura area has them, maybe Erics?

I think that cork tape is a bad option on a plug rod. Using my Sabre 190-9 which has cork tape, I notice that unless I have a jacket on, that cork tape can chafe your forearm pretty bad after a few hundred casts. In the ocean I don't notice it because I generally make a lot less casts and don't have the resistance of the big plug on the end of the line. I know it's cooler to have cork tape but sometimes hypalon type grips are more practical. Pete shaved mine down pretty thin on my 800L and it feels and looks great. Something to think about.

hmmm. My arm doesn't even touch the grip when I cast, as far as I know. Maybe when I throw my 900xl next time I'll pay attention to what my arm's touchin. I'm building my 700M with 3 layers of corktape and an area about 9 inches up from the butt that's just 1 layer thick of corktape and then I've got shrink tubing over that area for the reel to sit in. Eric told me about this, it's supposed to lower the reel so that there's not as much of an angle going to the first guide, or the stripper guide. Plus it looks really cool :-). Hypalon is just soooo much heavier than cork tape. I had that experience on this rod. I put on some hypalon, then took it to Eric's and decided to take the hypalon back off and do it with corktape just because it's so much lighter, and more durable.
-Brian

Just thought I would give some info on the Graftech rod I think you are talking about.I've been throwing the big wood with it for about a year now.The model# is GIS80H.It's rated for 15-25lb.
I fish it with a calcutta 400. The rod has plenty of back bone for the big linesides.It's also pretty light.For me personally
it has acounted for one 25lb striper & a 25lb yellowtail.My buddies also fish them. One of my buds took it out to SBI a couple months ago and with NO DRAG (reel buttoned down)was pullin in 30lb. yellows off the bottom.I personally choose to fish it over a calstar.(as far as big wood goes).No problems making 2 or 3 hundred cast an outing with the wood.

Shane,
Thanks for the info, that's good stuff to know.
-Brian

Must say I'd go with the hypalon grips too. Thanks to the info and advice gleaned from this site, I ordered a Calstar 800L and am building the rod myself. I went with a 13" hypalon rear grip, a Fuji trigger reelseat (size 22) and a 41/2" hypalon foregrip. Hypalon can be filed, shaved and sanded and is easy to work with. Probably quicker if you have access to a lathe, but I managed without one. I chose Fuji NSG guides, but have to wait before I proceed further as the wrapping thread I ordered over the Internet still has to arrive (I live in South Africa)! Our postal service can be a bit slow... Anyway, we are moving into winter now, so I'll be ready for the big Bass when spring comes - I'll bet South African Bass have never laid eyes on a Castaic Trout, an MS Slammer or an Osprey Talon! This rod will make a great tigerfish and saltwater lure rod as well.

Jacques, sounds like you have some bass factories over there and the added edge of some great big bass baits!! Good luck on the hawgs!!!

Thanks for the good wishes "bassnet"! The only problem for me is that I must travel 300 - 800 miles to get to where the Florida strain largemouths are.

I built a trout plug rod with the 800XL blank and find it to be terrific. I admit I haven't tried throwing the 12" plugs but with the 9" it is as smooth as silk.

I did go with a single layer of cork tape and with the length of my butt grip don't find it to be uncomfortable at all. I just retrieve with the grip under my arm and have no chafing problems.

I was throwing the 8" castaic swimbaits and there was no problem with those. I'm not sure what those 12" plugs weigh but can't believe it would be too much more. Are they?

Oh, Rob, I don't think anybody got any plug or swimbait bites at Clear. Tried near aurora and the mouth of Rodman to no avail. Next time.

Todd

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