Bait Casting & Spinning Rod Tapers - paul.blakley


A recent list posting requested  information on bait casting and 
spinning rod tapers.
I promised to get back to those interested after the Xmas break so here
are a few of the ones I have collected over the past year ;


6'6" Bait Caster , light action for 1/4 oz lures
 Butt section 39" and Tip is 38" fitted with a Super Swiss
ferrule.The calibrations starting at the butt end and taken on the
customary 6" intervals are;
.440",.420",.400",.330",.285",.255" and 2 " to .230" at the ferrule
which is 15/64"
Tip again at 6" intervals; .230",.215",.190",.170",.150",.125",.095" and
3" to the tip at .088".
1" being allowed for both the tip top and the butt cap.
Extracted from the CK Fox Book, 'Advanced Bait Casting'.
( I have just finished the blanks for this rod and if anyone is
interested I'll advise on my thoughts upon completion ?).

South Bend 634-5' one piece Bait Caster ( measurements over varnish ).
My guess is this would comfortably handle lures in the 1/2-1oz range.
Starting from the tip top and measured every 5".
0-.109",5-.119",10-.121",15-.138",20-.145",25-.150",30-.219",35-.223",40-.246",45-.311",50-.354.
Total length of the rod including end ferrule being 51".This rod being
fitted to a detachable, crank handled grip.

Heddon 851-L, 5'6" one piece Bait Caster for 3/8 - 5/8 oz lures
( measurements over varnish )
0-.110",5-.124",10-.142",15-.162",20-.178",25-.196",30-.214",35-.232",40-.248",45-.264",50-.286",55-.296".
As above rod to be fitted to a detachable, crank handled rod.

Heddon 850, 6' 0"  one piece Bait Caster for 3/8-5/8 oz lures.Considered
a Tournament Rod and good long distance caster.
0-.110",5-.120",10-.130",15-.144",20-.162",25-.182",30-.198",35-.208",40-.228",50-.240",55-.274",swell
begins 60-.430",62-.468" and 67/72-.468".Again , rod to be fished with a
detachable, crank handle.
Again I have just finished the blank for this rod and if anyone is
interested I'll advise my thoughts upon completion and after the
obligatory Pike fishing trip.

In addition to the above other bait casting and spinning tapers are to
be found from the following sources of information;

a) Reed Currys web site at www.overmywaders.com,look in 'extracts',
tested specifications for bamboo rods-GLHerter 1941 under pages
p129,130-131 and 132-133.

b) 'The Bamboo Rod and How to Build It'-Claude M Kreider.
This lists several bait casting and spinning rod tapers.

c) 'Rod Making' by Peter Stone lists a few spinning rod tapers.

In compiling the above tapers special thanks must be given to Messrs
'Nobler' and Tyree for their input and correspondence over the last
year.

Good luck with the above and if any of you should ever build ,cast and
fish any of the above I would be grateful for any
feedback......regards......Paul