Rod building - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

taggermike · 02-09-2010, 08:19 AM

I wrapped a Calstar 700L about 5 years ago and just did a deckhand style tuna cord wrap on the handle. It was super cheap and easy and has held up perfectly over the years of hard kayak fishing. At the time I was just being practical, read cheap, but the tuna cord has a great grip on the kayak where your hands are always wet. It cleans up well and if it ever wears out I can replace it in just a few minutes. As my other rod handles have worn out I've replaced the hype or cork tape with tuna cord. The tuna cord doesn't look as nice as hype or cork but it has it's place. Mike

Hunters Pa · 02-09-2010, 08:56 AM

I've been doing more cork on the lighter sticks and hypalon on the heavier.

One thing I learned on an Islander trip is to make at least one of the threads you use metallic/reflective. I did an idiot roll & sent a Graphite USA I built to teh bottom in 105 ft of water. Dive master was able to find it because of the metallic silver I had used.

SamFisher · 02-09-2010, 11:37 AM

Lots of great info on this website:

http://www.rodbuilding.org/list.php?2

SamFisher

T Bone · 02-11-2010, 07:03 AM

Cork tape and tuna cord is good for fishing 30# and less.For anyone thats caught a bigger model(I caught a 60# yft on my 800H cork tape wrap)on these grips you know what I am talking about.Cork tape is available 1/16" or 1/8" thick.1/8" covered with X wrap shrink tube would be sweet.

Siebler · 02-11-2010, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T Bone

Cork tape and tuna cord is good for fishing 30# and less.For anyone thats caught a bigger model(I caught a 60# yft on my 800H cork tape wrap)on these grips you know what I am talking about.Cork tape is available 1/16" or 1/8" thick.1/8" covered with X wrap shrink tube would be sweet.

With a stiff rod and a nicer 30+ yellow the kayak can cause the same problems since a lot of time you are pulling on the fish for a greater period of time. Ive got a few fish that had me Hurting by the end.

Typically my Jigsticks have Cork Tape (including my YoYo rod). Bait rods have EVA (sometimes also with Xwrap over them to keep the foam nice)

Hunters Pa · 02-11-2010, 07:43 AM

When I do use cork tape I double it up. Extra diameter is easier on the hands. I also put a piece of heatshrink where the reel goes to help protect the tape. Guess I'm gonna have to post some pix soon.

Current project is a fairly light Shikari with cork handles & trigger. Four others in variious stages

makojim · 02-11-2010, 01:06 PM

Thanks for all the ideas. I have not done a rod with the old school tuna cord but I may give that a shot in the future. I alway load up on rod blanks at the Fred Hall show. Hope to find a deal on a Calstar Grafighter blank. I think I'm going with cork tape and X-wrap for my kayak rod to give me the option of where to mount the reel fro fishing from a sitting position. Once I have that info/experience I can do the next rod in EVA with reel seat.

02-11-2010, 07:03 AM	#4
T Bone Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Redlands CA Posts: 871	Cork tape and tuna cord is good for fishing 30# and less.For anyone thats caught a bigger model(I caught a 60# yft on my 800H cork tape wrap)on these grips you know what I am talking about.Cork tape is available 1/16" or 1/8" thick.1/8" covered with X wrap shrink tube would be sweet. __________________ Barachit Baralah,Elohim-In the beginning,God-Genesis 1:1 "Who among you,if your son asked for a fish would give them a serpent " Jesus Matt. 7:10

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02-09-2010, 08:56 AM	#2
Hunters Pa Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fullerton Posts: 1,361	I've been doing more cork on the lighter sticks and hypalon on the heavier. One thing I learned on an Islander trip is to make at least one of the threads you use metallic/reflective. I did an idiot roll & sent a Graphite USA I built to teh bottom in 105 ft of water. Dive master was able to find it because of the metallic silver I had used.

02-09-2010, 11:37 AM	#3
SamFisher Junior Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 6	Lots of great info on this website: http://www.rodbuilding.org/list.php?2 SamFisher

02-11-2010, 07:43 AM	#6
Hunters Pa Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fullerton Posts: 1,361	When I do use cork tape I double it up. Extra diameter is easier on the hands. I also put a piece of heatshrink where the reel goes to help protect the tape. Guess I'm gonna have to post some pix soon. Current project is a fairly light Shikari with cork handles & trigger. Four others in variious stages

02-11-2010, 01:06 PM	#7
makojim Junior Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cypress, CA Posts: 14	Thanks for all the ideas. I have not done a rod with the old school tuna cord but I may give that a shot in the future. I alway load up on rod blanks at the Fred Hall show. Hope to find a deal on a Calstar Grafighter blank. I think I'm going with cork tape and X-wrap for my kayak rod to give me the option of where to mount the reel fro fishing from a sitting position. Once I have that info/experience I can do the next rod in EVA with reel seat.