Sort of a different way to ask, if you were allowed to take a free fly rod blank out of a barrel to build an 8wt light Salmon rod, would you take the Tiger Eye or the Rainforrest? And if performance was the only issue and not trave l - would you pick a 2 piece or 4 piece? Thanks.

Which Rainforest, RX8+, RX7+, RX7 or RX6?

I'm talking about the Rainforest blank that PacBay distributes - I thought the RX8+, RX7+, etc were the Rainshadow blanks from Forecast like the RFF- series ? Am I mixed up?

tim, you're right, rainforest is pacific bay, rainshadow is batson. gerry, i've made that mistake too many times. ;-)

one difference. tiger eyes are made in china i believe. rainshadows are made in usa.

interesting question. i'm looking forward to hearing replies. i would lean towards the pac bay blanks. i have one tiger eye, which i love the color. i have had two rainforests from pacbay. one problem i'm having is the butt end of the tiger eye 9 foot 4/5 4 piece (or maybe it's the 5/6 i forget) is too big to fit any of my stashed fly reel seats without any reaming. so on one hand it's a practical consideration. now the rainforests i have had are smaller than the tiger eye i have but haven;t built yet, so it's hard to compare for me.

on the other hand, if both were free and of equal blank sizes, i might lean towards the pac bay.

eric
fresno, ca.

Rainforest. I think the Rainforest line would be superior to the Tiger Eye. I like both but
Rainforest Rx8 and Rx7 are much better rods.
I have built both.
dave

Rainforest. I think the Rainforest line would be superior to the Tiger Eye. I like both but
Rainforest Rx8 and Rx7 are much better rods.
I have built both.
dave

Guess I should read more carefully. I "Rainxxx" and immediately think Rainshadow.

i don't have the literature with me to tell what material both are made of, but that being said, i have built quite a few rods on rainforests, and have friends used their blanks for rods and i am very happy with the quality of these rods. beautiful finish also (to me, i love the deep green). I don't know why, but i've never been a brown rod owner, go figger.

steve

Most of the responses are referring to RainFOREST RX's The RX line is RainSHADOW by Batson, the Rainforest is by PacBay. ISince Cascade Composites closed, I understand the Rainshadow.Forecast are all made in China. The Pac Bay may be also. Not many American made ones left, I don't think.

Mike

P.S. I could be wrong on this!

heck-- if there are free, I'll have one of each

I have two Tiger Eye rods, both in shorter lengths for lighter lines. The 6' 2/3 is a terrific small stream trout rod that I made for my grandson. I'm trying to get it back from him, but he won't part with it. I also built two 9' Rainforest 6 weights, one a three piece and one a four piece. I thought both were a bit heavy for their length and line, but the Tiger Eye in that length is probably of similar weight. Having never cast either blank in a finished rod, I would lean toward the 4 piece Tiger Eye as a gift. If I were buying, I would choose an Allstar Austin. Come to think of it, I did. Or a Dan Craft FT, which doesn't cost much more than either the Tiger Eye or Rainforest..