Hi All, I have a couple of questions for you. I just completed building a Loomis GL2 10wt for my father's x-mas present and I got to thinking I want to build another rod for myself. I currently have a Sage Xi2 10wt. that I use for Florida Backcountry and MA Striper. I am looking for a recomendation for a second blank 9-11wt.

Secondly, my buddy is getting married in June. Want to build him a set of custom rods. Primary use will be for Backcountry fishing in Flamingo for snook, redfish, tarpon, etc.... He does primarily bait casting. Looking for a 7' rod recomendations. I was thinking Cape Fear or St. Croix?

Sorry for the book!

Tom,

I want to be your friend and I need a...just kidding. I lean towards the St. Croix blanks. I have built on both the SCII and SCIII series for fishing the marsh or bays in Texas. My favorite is an SCIII mag bass blank with extra fast tip. Although not a 7 footer, I believe mine is a 6'8', it still does the job. I spiraled wrapped the guides using Fugi Alconites and it turned out to be a super light rod. The fast tip allows you to throw a wide range of lures and the power in the butt is outstanding. I'll quit now, running out of adjectives.
Cheers, Ellis

Tom,

I love my SCIV 9' 10 wt. It has a light enough tip to cast 10' of line but enough backbone to throw 140' when you want. I like the smooth action of the SCIV over the Xi2 and GLX 10 wts. I've cast them all side by side and the SCIV fis me best. The other two had too much stiffness up high on the rod. Yes, they would both cast a lot of line, but it didn't feel right. After casting the Xi2 I had to go back to the SCIV just to set my casting stroke back where it should be. If you like the Xi2, then a Sig V from Dan Craft would fit you fairly well. His rods have a bit more feel, but are still very tip oriented.

Thanks,
Rick

You might also want to check out the American Tackle
HISA 1026F. Very nice matte black finish that feels like an Austin
All Star blank.

Tom Costa - Depending on lots of variables and how dangerously your friend likes to play his fish, you could want something as daring as a 6-12# rod loaded with 10# line. Or if playing it safe, (that's me), a 10-25# stick loaded with supple 15-20#. Length depends on his stature and if he's fishing sitting down in a canoe (shorter rod) or if he's zipping around in a Hewes Redfisher (longer rod for longer casts).

Anyway, fast tip, plenty of back bone, is what I'm thinking. Need to cast decently in the 1/4 - 5/8 oz range. He may be throwing just a live shrimp on a bare hook, or bigger live baits (snook LOVE croakers) or plugs. But without the backbone to hold & turn a fish, he may only be feeding the mangrove roots his rigs & lures. Have some lively conversation with him over the telephone and find out the details of how he fishes round Flamingo and HOW BIG these fish are. These redfish & snook could be 1.5#ers in wider bays or flats, or 6.5#ers in the roots of mangroves in narrower creeks. The first one is for a 10# rod; the second is for a minimum of a 15# rod, IMO.

ST. CROIX TC-70-MHF:
SC-II Graphite Inshore-SaltWater Series (Matte Green Finish)
7'0" 1-pc. Medium-Heavy Power. FAST-taper. (Spinning or Casting)
10-20# line. 0.5-1.5oz lures.
Butt OD: 0.740" Tip size: 7.5 / 64ths.
Blank Wt: 3.40 oz. Price: ~$66.

That's a solid recommendation. After you talk with him again, you'll know what you want to give him. Best Wishes to you and the buddy & bride.

-Cliff Hall, Gainesville, Florida-

Thanks Cliff! I actually have fished down there with him a couple of times in the past year so I have a good understanding of how he fishes. He runs either Shimano 250 or 400 calcutta's loaded with 12#-17# Silverthread, primarily using the 250's for the snook and redfish and switching over to the 400's when we live bait or expect to jump some bigger fish like Tarpon at Little Shark River or Sable. I know his preference is to throw Poppers and Rapala CD-18's. I prefer to throw the fly rod! Last time I was down there we jumped a bunch of Snook on the last day ranging from 5-12lbs. But I'm sure you know that you never know what you are going to hook into down there!

The St. Croix is actually the way I was leaning, but it wasn't the inshore model my buddy at the shop was saying I should get! I can't remember which one it was???

Come on up to Boston next summer to do some Giant Tuna!

Thanks again,
Tom Costa - Boston ,MA

Thanks Ken! I have actually built 5 or so Amtak blanks for both Striper and Fluke fishing. They are great blanks!

Thanks Ellis, I think St. Croix is the route I am going to go. I appreciate the info!

Tom Costa - Boston, MA