light rod blanks

[DSFlyman]

I've been shopping 3 weight rods recently, but then I thought, my rods are all even line weight so am I going to get the full benefit of a lighter rod if I get a three weight - so I thought maybe a two weight. So then I thought, *, why don't I start with the blank and go from there.

Anyway just looking for thoughts and suggestions on all of this. Also, what blanks would you guys suggest if I did go that route?

[flybob]

Hook & Hackle has a really great 6'6" 2wt 4pc Forecast, very resonable price, and they sell various kits, from full blown with books and glues etc. to just the blanks and components. I have this rod, it was built by some guy in Oregon and I bought it on ebay for 100 bucks two years ago, before I learned how to build. It is one of my favorite small stream rods.

hope this helps,

If you want more info, pm me.

[darrin terry]

Bob, that's not the kit I am using as I ordered parts per my spec rather than a kit. However, that is the blank I am building on. I ordered the blank through AcidRod.com for ~$30.00. Of course that is just the blank.

I've no idea how it casts as I am waiting on guides still. I did build on another Batson Forecast 2wt blank last year. It was a 6'6" 2wt 2pc blank. That rod I really like. Even with its short length, I can still put out 40-45 foot casts with the DT line I use, wind permitting.

[rayfound]

OK, so at $30 for the blank, vs H&H $109 complete kit...

Darrin, what do you expect your final total cost to be?

I really like the sounds of a 6'6" 2wt, 4pc. Is it a fast enough action that one could use 3wt line on it for short casts? (What can I say... I'm a cheap *, and if I can avoid spending the $50 on line, I'll do it.)

[darrin terry]

$27.32 - Batson RX6 6'6" 2wt 4pc Forecast Blank
$26.90 - UL3 Birdseye Maple Nickle Silver Reel Seat
$24.99 - 7" Reversed Half Wells Fly Grip .760" Cutout - Super Grade
$ 2.99 - Winding Check
$ 5.39 - White Thread (also using Garnet Red and a Red/Blue Jasper thread which I already had)
$32.00 - Snake Brand 9mm Red Banded Agate Stripper
$11.55 - Snake Brand guides (sizes: 1/0, 1/0, 1/0, 1, 1, 2, 3)
$ 2.85 - Snake Brand tip top (size: 4.0)
$10.00 - Rod Sock (Mrs Flybob Special)
$??.?? - Rod Tube (not certain here, might make one, might order one custom made to length)
________
$143.99 plus tax and assorted shipping costs and tube costs.

As for the 3wt line question…no idea, though I would suppose you could do it. I just bought a 3wt DT line today (~$22) for a 3wt fiberglass blank I ordered tonight.

[anacrime]

go lighter!

[stanbery]

Your missing out on a few questions for me to help out
How much money do you want to spend? Depending on how much money you want to spend on the blank depends on what blank you should be looking at.

How long do you want the rod to be? Small creek fishing, or river fishing or nymph fishing?

Do you want a slow, med., med. fast, fast or extra fast?

Batson blanks are nice and here is a link to them:

http://www.batsonenterprises.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=120&Itemid=211
Click on the links on the left for specs. on weight of blanks

The Dan Craft blanks are nice but alot more money:
http://www.dancraftent.com/category/index.cfm?cid=41&lvl=1
My next time I buy a blank it will be a Dan Craft blank

JStockard has some nice deals as well.
http://www.jsflyfishing.com/

Some vendors for you to look at:
http://www.mudhole.com/
http://www.acidrod.com/fly_seats.html
http://www.anglersworkshop.com/error.aspx?aspxerrorpath=/Default.aspx
http://shop4.mailordercentral.com/hookhack/
http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/

Tiger eye blanks are nice as well
http://www.customrodbuildingsupplies.com/tigereyeblanks.htm

Anglers Habit hass some really good deals on blanks and blank Kits for even the Sage Z-Axis rods as well
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Anglers-Habitat__W0QQ_armrsZ1

If you want more info please let me know.

Jon

[midger]

Jon pretty much covered the options with links to boot. I've built a couple of the Batson 6'6" rods. nice blanks, and it builds up intio a pretty rod. The action is medium and I wouldn't overline it--it does fine with a 2 weight line. I'm not much on short rods, preferring longer rods of 7'6" or longer. My favorite Batson RX6 blank is the 7'9" 3 weight. I've also built a couple of them and it is my current go to rod for small stream fishing. It allows you to roll cast okay, and it will throw two nymphs with no problem.

As for cost, I picked up parts on ebay and built one of the 2 weights for under $50 total. I have about the same in the current 7'9" 3 weight I fish. I'd compare its action to the Sage SLT--a moderate/medium action with a soft flexing tip.

[midger]

Oh, and if you want a slow action rod, go with a TFO Finesse blank. They make them in 2-6 weights ( I believe). I've made up a 7'9" 3 weight and am currently working an 8'9" 3 weight. The nice thing about them is that they are 4 piece blanks--something I prefer nowadays due to their transportability.

They are more expensive as the blanks run about $90 as opposed to the $30 for the Batson Rainshadow RX6 blanks.

[darrin terry]

Midger, what are you doing for guide spacing on the TFO Finesse blanks? I have checked the TFO website and they do not list the spacing for the Finesse series. Are you doing a static guide test or using the spacing from a chart somewhere?

[rayfound]

Oh, and if you want a slow action rod, go with a TFO Finesse blank. They make them in 2-6 weights ( I believe). I've made up a 7'9" 3 weight and am currently working an 8'9" 3 weight. The nice thing about them is that they are 4 piece blanks--something I prefer nowadays due to their transportability.

They are more expensive as the blanks run about $90 as opposed to the $30 for the Batson Rainshadow RX6 blanks.

I have the 8'9" 3wt, factory built rod. Love the length, very sensitive, and the action is very mellow.

[flybob]

I really like the sounds of a 6'6" 2wt, 4pc. Is it a fast enough action that one could use 3wt line on it for short casts? (What can I say... I'm a cheap *, and if I can avoid spending the $50 on line, I'll do it.)

Ray, this rod does very well with Wonderline 2wt WF line, I have no problem on the very short casts, less than 20', and I have put a #12 stimi right on target from 30' away with just a subtle flick of the wrist!

If you would like to borrow it, just let me know! I think it would be the perfect rod for "That" creek!

Here is a shot of the Blue Beauty in action from this weekend.

photo courtesy Mrs. flybob

[midger]

Midger, what are you doing for guide spacing on the TFO Finesse blanks? I have checked the TFO website and they do not list the spacing for the Finesse series. Are you doing a static guide test or using the spacing from a chart somewhere?

I used the guide spacing I use on the Rainshadow 7'9" blanks. You could also use the calculator at:


http://www.rodbuildingforum.com/index.php?showtopic=6718

All the tables I looked at for a 7'9" rod had very similar spacings for the guides. I assume static loading would work best, but am too lazy to work through that process.

[anacrime]

tfo finesse a slow action rod? my 2wt felt a bit broomsticky

[rayfound]

tfo finesse a slow action rod? my 2wt felt a bit broomsticky

Well, My 8'9" 3wt is a helluvalot slower than my 7'6" American Tackle Matrix.