Hi folks! I haven't posted or "talked" here in quite a while...Anyway, I'm interested in building a spey rod for myself. Much of its use will not be traditional steelhead/salmon fishing, but rather, smallmouths. I'm hoping that the longer casts will reach spots I currently can't get to with a conventional fly rod. I'd really prefer a lighter weight blank, perhaps a 6/7 or 7/8 wt. I've seen plenty of finished rods but can't seem to locate too many blanks in the weight range I would like. I'm not made out of money so the wonderful Meiser rods are out, as well as Sage and the other "Cadillac" brands. Temple Forks has finished rods in weights I like and the finished rod price indicates a blank I can probably afford, but I can't locate blanks. St. Croix blanks show up on @#$%& now and again, but who sells the blanks? Any suggestions on; 1- my weight choice, 2- a length preference, 3- Blanks. Thanks ahead of time,Tim

Temple blanks are not available, and won't be until they have some excess, they sell all they can build now. I think I'd go with a Dan Craft FT 10 ft blank wrapped as a switch rod for the most bang for the buck. Bob Meiser left some info on these back in August if I remember right. Just put his name in the search engine to get the info. Custom Tackle, Bingham's Ent. and Angler's Workshop among others has the St Croix blanks.

I have heard nothing but great reports on the rainshadow speys. I would highly recommend them.

They should be getting the new ones in next week.

Christian

I think Dan Craft also sells a spey blank in the Sig V series, it is not listed in the catalog though. I have built a 10 ft 6 wt switch on the FT blank and it is smooth, light, and powerful. A great blank. Just my .02.