I have a customer who is hoping to find some of his all time favorite rods from the 80's. He had three and only has one left. Neal or anybody else, do you have any of these laying around?

Shimano Speedmaster Fightin Rod
SM-1653
6'6", 10 -25#, Med/Hvy

Also, he is interested in a rod that Kevin Van Damme uses. He described it as a very long one piece, around 9', and flexes only in the top 3 feet and the remainder of the rod is butt. Anybody know what he is talking about and where I can pick up a blank or two?

Many thanks as always

Sounds like a Hotshot or a variation thereof, although the longest Hotshot I have seen in one piece is a 7'9". Anything over 8' is usually 2 piece in a Hotshot.


ANdy Dear
Lamar manf.

Sort of what I was thinking Andy. I just don't follow bass fishing so I don't know if there is a particular rod that he uses or not. I've read his name a few times and know he's a premier bass pro but that's about it. Hoping some bass folks might have some insight.

Yeah Van Damme is a tremendous angler. I'll tell you this, at the Charlotte show I had a bunch of 2 piece 8'6" HotShot blanks in various actions. people would come into my booth and say "I am looking for a light surf blank to throw lures up to an ounce or two, whatcha got?" and I'd say "Man, you need a Hotshot". Most of them went "What is that?" So I'd take one out of the bag and they'd wiggle it a bit. Two wiggles and they fell in love with it! In fact, one guy bought one, went home and mocked it up and came back the next day and purchased 8 more he liked it so much for light surf. I curently use an AllStar HS1023 for throwing lures in the surf. More specifically big jerkbaits, spoons and heavy soft plastics. It'll throw a 1 oz. spoon from Padre Island Texas to Hialea Florida...well almost (wink)!
Seriously, I would think an 8' HotShot would make a great crankbait blank because of the light tip. It would seriously throw a crankbait or jerkbait a llloooooonnnggggg way, and the light tip would give during the strike.
I had an AllStar 8' telescoping crankbait blank, but I think I sold it in Charlotte, I'll look and see.
Another option is to take something like a GP963 popping blank and extend it one foot. That would basically take an 8' popping rod blank and turn it into a makeshift Hotshot. When you extend the blank it gives the blank sort of a HotShot feel because of the extra length in the butt.

Andy

Plus the extended 963 would be one piece, if that's what you're after.

Andy

I see a few of those Shimanos around from time to time in garage sales and such, they built the reelseat and handle into a swelled butt section of the blank. Cabelas I also believe had a variation of the same theme, they also may be Shimanos. They were nice, light rods in their day. I'll keep an eye out, the SM-1602, 6 ft med action is the only example I know of now.

I am sorry to say I don't have any of the Shimano rods you are looking.

Good Wraps,
Neal Cissel
Neal's Fishing Products

Dang Andy, now you got me thinking about getting one for myself! Thanks for the great info!

Spencer, if you ever come across any more Shimanos give me a yell. I'll gladly pay for your time!

Neal, thanks for looking. Much appreciated!

Andy, your email is hidden. Can you shoot me an email when you get a chance? Thanks.