Now It's Cape Fear's Turn For Some Corrective Surgery

[OVERBORED]

RYOBI Multi Surface Laser Level ELL1750 - The Home Depot

RYOBI introduces the Multi Surface Laser Level. The Multi Surface Laser Level is a new and innovative product for all of your leveling projects. It is equipped with 3 wall attachment methods for hands-free

www.homedepot.com

 

[Leprechaun]

Por Que?

 

[OVERBORED]

Por Que?

If you have trouble lining up the reel seat/guides.

 

[Leprechaun]

Got 'cha, thought so. But please don't show me any more tools.

Like I said earlier, I'm weak that way . . . once a tool-a-holic, always a too-a-holic.

 

[OVERBORED]

Oops......sorry.

 

[Leprechaun]

Well, its done, almost. Resting comfortably with Bobby at Causeway for a small butt-wrap to complete the make-over. Came out as nice as I thought it would. Pics to follow, once I get it home.

 

[Leprechaun]

Got it back from Causeway this morning

Mike (the rod builder, not Mike the owner) did a real nice job putting on a relatively simple butt wrap that perfectly matches Capt. Neil's guide wraps. They only wanted $10 for the job. I felt like the workmanship deserved more, so I tipped Mike another ten-ski. Worth every penny.

Doing a bit of a prequel, or rewind here, but before that butt wrap could happen I had to complete the rear grip area. It turns out that the rear grip assembly that I ordered from AliExpress was just what I was looking for - even though I had to use my home-made drill-lathe to sand it into shape.

As delivered I do believe that it was a might too wide to slide into my boat's Lee rod holders. So I had to do a bit of modding, sanding down the mushroom-shaped butt a bit, turning it into a sweet round ball-type "butt cap." I also trimmed the grip's length and sanded it to a rounded fore-edge. The provided aluminum trim ring was a nice touch as well. Used my Mudhole grip hone to open up the inner hole's ID to match the 0.77" blank butt. Glued it all up, let it sit a couple of days and then wrapped the exposed blank with Winn Grip tape.

The completed overall look is quite nice. The butt is exactly the length I prefer for tucking it under my arm, whilst palming the reel, and the reel seat that I selected turned out to be very comfortable to hold with just my pinkie behind the trigger.

Here I've mounted my slightly-modded Daiwa Tatula 150P (5.5:1 gearing), even though this rod will probably see quite a bit more action on the tog grounds than fluking. For togging it will carry my Daiwa Pluton 200H, or maybe one of my custom Abu "Mini-Toggers." We shall see.

And the final parameter I had targeted? Well, that would be rod balance. Check it out:

Dead-nuts perfect with the uber-light Tatula. It'll be even nicer with the considerably heavier all-aluminum Pluton aboard.

So, mission accomplished. Would I change anything? Nah - as a mod project I think it came out just about a 10 out of 10.

 

[Snapprhead27]

Nice job!!

 

[captmike28]

Got it back from Causeway this morning

Mike (the rod builder, not Mike the owner) did a real nice job putting on a relatively simple butt wrap that perfectly matches Capt. Neil's guide wraps. They only wanted $10 for the job. I felt like the workmanship deserved more, so I tipped Mike another ten-ski. Worth every penny.

View attachment 76916

Before that happened I had to complete the rear grip area. It turns out that the rear grip assembly that I ordered from AliExpress was just what I was looking for - even though I had to use my home-made drill-lathe to sand it into shape.

View attachment 76904

As delivered I do believe that it was a might too wide to slide into my boat's Lee rod holders. So I had to do a bit of modding, sanding down the mushroom-shaped butt a bit, turning it into a sweet round ball-type "butt cap." I also trimmed the grip's length and sanded it to a rounded fore-edge. The provided aluminum trim ring was a nice touch as well. Used my Mudhole grip hone to open up the inner hole's ID to match the 0.77" blank butt. Glued it all up, let it sit a couple of days and then wrapped the exposed blank with Winn Grip tape.

The completed overall look is quite nice. The butt is exactly the length I prefer for tucking it under my arm, whilst palming the reel, and the reel seat that I selected turned out to be very comfortable to hold with just my pinkie behind the trigger.

View attachment 76907

Here I've mounted my slightly-modded Daiwa Tatula 150P (5.5:1 gearing), even though this rod will probably see quite a bit more action on the tog grounds than fluking. For togging it will carry my Daiwa Pluton 200H.

View attachment 76900

View attachment 76901

And the final parameter I had targeted? Well, that would be rod balance. Check it out:

View attachment 76908

Dead-nuts perfect with the uber-light Tatula. It'll be even nicer with the considerably heavier all-aluminum Pluton aboard.

So, mission accomplished. Would I change anything? Nah - as a mod project I think it came out just about a 10 out of 10.

Beautiful job, as always Lep. Not just eye candy but a real fish killer too!

 

[OVERBORED]

Well done!

 

[Leprechaun]

For me the time between fluke and blackfish is for boat cleaning, catching up on mid-season maintenance matters and tog tackle readying. Sure, I could sail off for a shot at the really big porgies and mid-sized biscuits that infest my local south shore reefs right now, but at this point in the season both of those hold little charm for me. Sorting thru 50 biscuits for a handful of 16.5" NY-sized keepers is more work than fun. Not to mention my family is not enamored with the prospect of me bringing home a slew of porgy fillets, though they do admit that the fish tacos I make out of them are pretty darn good.

So instead, I decided to occupy some of my time digging into my Abu parts inventory to see if I could put together a proper custom "Mini-Togger" for use with this refurbed stick.

Sometimes even I am surprised at the extent of my life-long collecting of obscure Abu reel parts. Turns out that I had everything needed to build another very potent first-class Swedish tog killing machine. Hey, the more the merrier! No such thing as too much tackle. And the best part is that I already own the necessary components - no need to buy anything!

A super-strong chrome-on-brass 5500-class frame, already modded by me at some long-forgotten point in the distant past with the substitution of a custom stainless bar in place of the level-wind mechanism, a Rocket Reel Company set of 5.3:1 stainless and bronze gears, a 4mm custom SS spool shaft to replace the marginal 3mm chrome on brass factory piece, a pair of ABEC 5 spool bearings from Boca Bearings, a full Carbontex drag setup from Smooth Drag, a brake plate that can carry an aux anti-reverse dog to back up the one in the sideplate, in addition to an oversize aluminum drag star, and a 130mm Gomexus CNC-cut handle with dual 30mm POM knobs. The topper is the incorporation of a set of very rare Big Game brass side plates. I think I have another set around here someplace, I really do need to track them down.

I've decided that this reel will not be used on my redone Cape Fear, rather it will ride my Jigging World Ghost Hunter 300 gram stick. At only 5'8" long, this rod is just too cool to use from my low-to-the-water boat. My narrower custom 4500-class reel from that rod, with its uber-rare CNC-machined aluminum QTC frame will now be shifted to the Cape Fear, as its a much better fit for it.

I do hope the upcoming tog season works out better for us than did last season. If not, it's certainly not the fault of the tackle I'm using, that's for sure.

 

[Snapprhead27]

Very nice job!! Good luck with it