SurfRats.com

[Dave W.]

Being a guy who like's too stick to what works, most of my rods have been built with Fuji BSVLG's over the years. Low Riders have been around for many years now and I had doubts about a large diameter spool like a VS and those tiny guides. I wanted to find out for myself how good they worked so here what I got so far.
The builds
GSB 1201L, BSVLG#50,40,30,25,20 & a #20 tip. #50 is 37" from the spool lip. Handel: 35.5" of cork tape with shink tube over. Fuji LS7 wraped on @ 24.875 from the butt.
GSB 1201L, Low Riders BLCAG#20,16,12 and 4, 10's + a 10 tip. #20 is 36.5" from the spool lip. Handel: 36.5" of cork tape with shink tube over. Fuji LS7 wraped on at 23.5" from the butt.
From the start the low riders set weighs less than the BSVLG's


Not so much after they were built


From the get go the Low Rider rod was a PITA! It took many test cast to find a set up I liked. I reversed the #16 as well, it helped cut down on wind knots.

I've had limited time to test cast due to work and weather conditions but I did get some time in.
I threw a 2 oz. Afterhours pencil and a 2 oz. metal lip with both rods. N/W wind from my side. When the snow melts I'll get some time in on the football field to get some numbers.
So far both preformed great. I'm not sure the low rider rod cast futher but I can't find any negatives with this set up other than you can't use mono. More to follow:

[LogCabins]

Thanks for the comparison Dave. Interested to hear more about it.

Question, why not go with 8's on a LR build? I only ask because the guide feet on the LC 10's are so long and weigh more then the 8's I'm not sure if the 10's were intended for running guides, but hey if it works it works. Also for size 10 running guides the BMNAG 10's might be something to try next time as they are lighter and shorter then the LC 10's. Maybe a hybrid LC-MN's would be worth a shot.


Either way it looks like a sweet build and am very interested to see how it performs. Please get back to us and keep us posted.



ps. I just finished an SSU 120 1M concept 30,20,16,12,10,10,10,10, & 10 tip BMNAG's and the finished rod weighs under 12oz. Very light in hand.

[Dave W.]

LC, I didn't go for the 8's even though I had them only because the were too small to pass some of the swivels and breakaway fast links I use. While I change leaders often I like the option of switching out my reel to other rods without having to re-tie sometimes.

Sorry I haven't been able to get out and really test yet, this weather has been crazy.

[pbadad]

LC and Davde, I opted for the 10's also for the same reasons and having the larger runner guides make it easier to thread your line in the dark especially w/glasses. Us oldies need all the space we can get!!

[LogCabins]

I'm with you guys on the 10 running guides I opted for size 10 rings for the same reasons. I would most likely go with 8's on a lighter rod, back bay, north shore, but for the south shore I know I will encounter weed and I stuck with 10's as well. I was just pointing out that the MN style guides might be a another option as running guides if your going to stay with 10mm ring because the height is nearly the same as the Low rider guide in size 10 but the guide feet are much shorter and the MN guide is lighter.

But again does it really matter, probably not lol. It looks like a beautiful rod and I have found that using a concept type system on certain blanks, especially lighter ones, to make a lighter more responsive rod. I know that a couple of my friends have seemed to taking a liking to the setup as well on certain blanks. Again looks like a sweet rod Dave and can't wait to hear more about it.

Please report back after you slay some fish on it

[redhawk19]

Just redid my 9.5' rogue with the mn's. Did stay with the 10's on it... I also did an extended SSU10' to 11' concept. Started with sv30 stripper and ended with mn12's. My clips would not pass through the 10 and didn't want to have to clip my leader every time I wanted to remove my reel... Both rods are much more responsive with this set up. Should be putting both to the test very shortly....
_________________
LousCustomRods.com

[ReelinRod]

Putting Lowriders on a 10ft rod is extreme; I'm not surprised that you had issues. Personally, I wouldn't recommend them on anything under 12ft (uhh, including Legends and Mojo's and bears oh my) and wouldn't put them on a noodle like a GSB no matter how long.

Lowriders are designed to remedy line flow problems (primarily shedding guide wraps) at the high line velocities generated by long (over 12') modern zoned action rods and the aggressive line dispersal of "long cast" spooled reels. Part of why they work so well is the distance the gatherer is placed from the reel.

40 or so inches is too close (the measurement is from ring to reel stem not the spool face because the spool is not a fixed point). My starting point is the Fuji prototypical 120mm (47.25") and I test cast from there. Most builds for use with long spool Daiwa or Shimano JDM reels finish over 50".

Here is my son with one of my Lowrider rigs, an All Star 1507 (13'-2") with a Basia. The 20mm sits 54" from the reel stem. On the beaches I fish 100 yard casts are required to just clear the breakers.



Since last year I have been using the new K guides for short (<12') rods and now that Alconites are in country the cost is reasonable. K's offer the line flow remedies of lowriders while letting you maintain a reasonable ring diameter and spacing layout for short rods (and slow/moderate action rods like Lami's).

Here are Titanium K's (transitioning to single foots) on an 11'-6" CTS. The built rod (Fuji DPS & X-Flock shrink wrap) weighs 13oz.



Close up of 30mm gatherer



BTW, wind knots are not a guide issue, they are a line tension issue. Award winning wind knots can be "achieved" with lowriders, especially when you give one of your set-ups to a buddy who is a "conventional guy" and can demonstrate his ability to "backlash" a spinner too!

Bob from Backlash Sportfishing, LOL!

[SurffishNJ]

I think there may have been a technical issue with the person who loaded the line onto the reel..... I think the quote was "the line may be on a little loose"...........
_________________
<*{{{{{{-<

"Backlash" Sportfishing
Plug Caster Lures Pro Staff
Member Jersey Shore Surfcasters

[ReelinRod]

No excuses now . . .

You deserve this, I told you I was off today, had you called me I would have been fishing not surfing new boards looking for trouble.

Catch'em up today too?

[Dave W.]

I've had zero problems with the low riders on this 10 footer to this point. I've only casted it a few times as my pre spring season fishing is done with a 1081L with BMNAG's.
I've got to confess that the low riders cast very well and seem to load a cast better than the BSVLG's ,smooth and quiet. Soon I will be able to cast presentations that will work in favor of the 1201L and put some fish on the end of the line. This is where I think the rod will really shine.
My bad ReelinRod, should have called them casting knots. No matter what you call them it forced me to find a way to make this set up work with a VS200.
The K's look kool, I have a 1201M that might get them.
Maybe if you guys got in the water you wouldn't need a 13 foot rod to get past the breakers.

[Heaver]

[Dave W.]

Sorry I've been away from this thread for a while. My spring season has been way off just trying to catch some fish and not experimenting. I still have alot of love for the SSU 120M I built last year so this one been sidelined.

I took this rod out and gave it a shot with pencils, poppers and soft plastics. So far it cast awesome even with light stuff and I feel it might even have extended the range of casting weight as I threw 2 5/8 super strikes with authority. 3 oz may be a possibility with this 1201 L as I know my other L with BSVLG's would get mushy up there.
I did land some fish on pencils, no monsters but it preformed great.
So far nothing negative to say, great preformance, no knots.

[LogCabins]

Thanks for the report Dave!

I know what you mean about that SSU 120 1M, I don't think I could live without that rod lol.

If you get the chance try wrapping the SSU 120 1M Concept with MN guides, you won't regret it!!!