I have an old Sage 9 1/2' 9wt flyrod that I just stripped all the guides and handle off and I was planning on turning it into a spinning rod for float fishing. However, after reading the thread about float rods I was wondering if I can use it as a baitcaster instead of a spinning rod.

Does the action of a flyrod equate more to a spinning rod or does it matter? I'd prefer the baitcaster since I'm more comfortable casting those and exhibit some degree of control and accuracy. I decorate too many trees when using a spinning rod/reel.

Also, after removing the guides there is residual varnish or epoxy or something that coated the wrappings. Anyone know the best method for removing? The rod is about 18 years old if that helps determine what was used on the wrappings.

Thanks.

Rick

I would never use a spinning reel for anything anyway but I have done kind of an opposite conversion - 10.5 foot bobber rod blank into a 16 weight flyrod for high water winter steelhead flyfishing (handles a 12 weight saltwater taper line plus 15 feet of deepwater express, chucks the whole thing across the Hoh river, and sinks better than a foot a second ). I built this thing with a long handle and sliding rings for a reel seat, so I can put any kind of reel anywhere I want on it, and have even used it with a light baitcaster for bobber fishing. So yeah, a flyrod will work with a baitcasting reel

Loomis took the 9 weight flyrod put spinning rod eyes on it in the early 90's and sold it as the 1141 model probably at the time their number one rod> I would think either spinning or baitcasting conversion on your sage is possible just not sure how the rod would cast with drift rod eyes, good question!!!

Use a hair dryer to heat up the old expoxy and remove it with your fingernail. I use a lighter, but you can get yourself into trouble with that.

Once you have the rod stripped down, you basically have a blank.. one that was desgined and eng. for a fly rod and one that will laod up according to flyrod specs, but it will work w/ both spinning or casting... it will probably be moderate action???

One thing to keep in mind is that the guide spacing for your new casting/spinning rod may not match up with the orginal fly guide spacing from the factory?

It might look pretty funny... and ultimatley those orginal spots where the guides were will create weak spots in your blank???

I purchased an 8 weight loomis fly rod blank and made it into a casting rod. I was having problems with my shoulder and wanted a pole that casted easy. This is the very best pole I have ever owned. It casts with just a flick of the wrist and is super sensitive.

-A nine weight may have enough backbone to get away with it, but for a casting rod you have two things against you (I learned this the hard way with a Sage 7-wt).
First - a fly rod blank is a fairly soft-medium action, even if it is a "fast action" fly blank.
Second - fly rods have most of their backbone very low in the blank, which means most of it will end up in your handle.
Neither of these are good for a casting rod.
I originally built the Sage 7-wt I mentioned earlier into a casting rod, that had too little backbone to keep the line off the blank, even though I put a lot of guides on it. I later stripped it and it is the best side-drifting small stream spinning rod I've ever used.

Those 8 and 9 wt fly rod blanks make awesome plug rods, especially the glass ones. I have 3 that I finished myself and wouldn't trade them for a Loomis!!!!