Welcome. Time for you to help. I have an Alvey 650 and plan to make a surf rod this winter. Any advice. So far I know it should be 11 feet long, a short grip under the reel, and a long fore grip, and a large first guide halfway up the rod. Do I want a stiff rod or flexible. I hope to catch blues to 10 lb. and stripers to …? 20 lb. So far my list of catches is blank.