Yak Rods

[steelhead]

Ake G, How long is butt section behind the reel seat on those rods? Can you hold the rod naturally in front of you? Or do you have to tuck it off to the side?

[MassBass]

I'm not a veteran kayaker, as a matter of fact, I have about 1/2 a season under my belt but been building rods for a while. I had purchased a 7' graphite MH from #^&#^&#^&#^&s as my kayak rod and after a few outings, it was apparent that it wasn't what I wanted. Too long of a butt section, action was OK but still kind of stiff for kayaking -at least for me, so I returned it and off into the cave I went. After I built a few kayak rods for my brother and I (who also started kayaking when I did), we soon started leaning towards glass blanks for it's soft/parabolic action especially when trolling as it has "give" when the lure/bait is first bitten or inhaled. I found this great for when trolling eels. Plus I can lean onto a glass rod much more comfortably than a graphite one when pulling fish out of rock piles or lobster pot fields. I also quickly realized that I don't like a long butt at all. The shorter the better, and by short I mean SHORT.
This is what I ended up with: short butt, comfortable grips, can use it with a spin or convench reel and able to handle smalls to large. I love it. Check out the pic.
Now if I could just find a better hole

[steelhead]

I'll bet that butt tucks right in under your elbow, so to speak. About 12" long. Whose blank are you using?

[MassBass]

Originally Posted by steelhead

I'll bet that butt tucks right in under your elbow, so to speak. About 12" long. Whose blank are you using?

If you're inquiring about my post, the butt length is about 7-8" max. If I hold the rod right above the reel seat, which is how I hold all spinners when fighting fish , the butt tucks under a little short of my elbow.
I've played around w/ different butt lengths and this is what works best for me. It's perfect! Anything longer would just get in the way.
The blank is by Lamiglas and turned into a kayak rod only because I have a few of these blanks laying around and needed one- SB1363M, Yes the surf blank, but it's one of the most versatile blanks I've come across so off to cutting it I went.
I've also built a kayak rod for a friend in FL out of a MB1083M - a 9' blank that I trimmed back from the tip and butt to handle 2.5oz + plugs and big tarpon. That one also turned out baller! Again, a glass blank.

[steelhead]

MB, I live in Salem, just up the street, so to speak. I'd love to take a look at your rod some time. Will it handle 3 ounce plugs, too?

[MassBass]

Hell yeah. Let me know when you have sometime.

[steelhead]

Will do.
I'll send a PM.

[Ake G]

Originally Posted by steelhead

Ake G, How long is butt section behind the reel seat on those rods? Can you hold the rod naturally in front of you? Or do you have to tuck it off to the side?

Butt is around 14"-16" long....ends right about @ my elbow. I don't need to tuck them off to the side. Very comfortable right off the rack for me, no modifications were necessary.