by FlyinFish » November 9th, 2010, 11:20 am
Hey guys,
Looking to build a rod for a friend and I'm looking for an 8' 3wt.
This will be for PNW waters so it may vary from some small creeks to big waters with similarly sized gem fish. That's the main reason I want it to be at least 8' is to give him the casting and mending advantage.
I've got a few options, but I don't have any experience with some of these blanks. Any input would be much appreciated. Here's what I'm looking at, and feel free to throw me other ideas. Again, has to be a blank and price range for the blank is probably $200 MAX, but preferably closer to $100. Also, no 2 pieces.
- TXL 7'10" 3wt is a possibility, though it's a bit short.
- TFO LK Pro Series 8'6" 3wt is nice, but I haven't been able to find the blank anywhere.
- Winston Ascent 8' 3wt, any thoughts on this?
- Sage VT2 8'6" 3wt, is it really worth it, or is it just like the other low end Sage's where you don't get much for what you pay?
- Rainshadow RX7 8'6" 3wt is an option, but not sure how nice the Rainshadows are?
The problem with some of the lower end rods is it ends up being cheaper to just buy the rod, once you consider the cost of components, a sock, and tube, and even ignoring the labor. So maybe it's not worth it until you get into the more pricey blanks. In any case, these are blanks and rods I'm considering. If I can't find the right blank, I'll just go with the completed rod at a cheap price.
What you guys think?