Anyone have a good make/model number for a blank that could be used to make such a blank.

Casting need not be on the top of the list, but fish fighting ability would be a must.

I know this topic has come up before and Mr. Kirkman has made some super duty fly sticks.

Any help greatly appreciated.

chris

All Star Austin 8'6" 13/15 weight model. I have also used certain Hot Shot and Back Bouncing (BB964 and BB965) blanks for this, in the 8' models.

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Tiger Eye makes a 14 weight, for not that many $

Chris,
Lamiglas makes a bluewater 4 piece 15 wt fly blank, CSF 96 154. They also make a 10 and 12 wt in the same series.

You might try our FT9012 4pc 12wt!

Dan Craft

Guys,

Heavy, super super Heavy

Pull out tree stumps heavy. Beat off wild gorillas's heavy.

Eighteen weight or heavier. I know it's a subjective idea when they get that large.

chris

Again, the All Star 8613/15 or a heavy back bouncing blank will be along the lines of what you want.

The only other thing I can suggest is one of the longer stand-up or jigging sticks (when I say longer, I mean longer for that type rod). Something about 7' to 7'6" and rated for 20 or 30lb line. I made such a rod for G. Loomis as a prototype back in the mid-90's. You couldn't really cast it, but it did hold a fly reel and you could fight some very, very large fish with it. I would have to assume it was well beyond an 18-weight, if standards for such a thing even existed.

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Contact Anglers Workshop, they carry an 18wt 9', now that is a "horse", but a fine piece of equipment for chasing 400# marlin. I believe it is propritory to AW.

Check it out in their catalog or contact them from the sponsr list.

Frank Howard

Probably a good blank, but the heavier and more powerful you go, the shorter the blank you'll want. A 9' 18-weight blank will likely allow a large billfish to easily flip you over the stern and into the water, unless you can tie yourself to something in the boat.

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Tom,

I was suprised how much action this blank had. The person who purchased it had returned from a trip and told us he had "torn up" a 15wt on a similar sized fish the week before. Come out and visit us sometime and watch our bank anglers on the Columbia fight and land sturgeon up to 500# plus using 13' Lamiglas rods with 4' butt extensions. By the way this is a catch and release fishery for all fish under 42" and over 60". I know, a marlin and a sturgeon is like comparing a Corvette to a Kenworth, but at the end of the day they give any angler a memorable fight.

Tight Lines & Tight Wraps

Frank Howard

I have no doubt that they do, but shorter rods put the leverage factor back into the anglers hands. The longer the rod, the more power the fish exerts on you. Thus the reason why very short stand-up rods have become the rage in offshore fishing.

As an example, with a point of effort (fisherman's grasp on the foregrip) at say, 30 inches from the rod butt and two rods, one 13 feet in length and one 6 feet in length - 10 pounds on the rod tip equates to 52 pounds on the fisherman holding the 13' rod but only 24 pounds on the guy holding the 6' rod.

Of course, I know rod length also has to be considered from a casting viewpoint as well, so shorter rods are not always possible. On large offshore fish where casting is not a main concern and you're fishing from a boat, a 9' 18-weight is almost suicide.

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