I'm planning to build to build a deep sea jigging rod about 5'3" to 5'6",using jigs up to 300g and shimano Biomaster 8000 with 40lb-50lb braid. the reel seat will be abt 20" from the butt. I have only 3 different graphite blanks to choose from. I don't know the brand but the specs are stated on the blanks.

lenght action line test(lb) max lure wt tip dia. butt dia.
1) 6'6" Fast 12-40 300g 2.7mm 13.7mm
2) 7'0" Fast 15-40 350g 2.8mm 14.0mm
3) 6'6" X Fast 20-60 500g 3.6mm 15.2mm

Definately i"ll have to shorten the blank about 12"-15". My question is wether I should cut off the tip section, the butt or both. IMO I would choose the 7'0" blank and cut the but end of the rod. Will the line wt be lower by doing this?
what kind of effect will it have on the blank by shortening the butt, and what about the tip? will the action, line wt and lure wt change?
Thanks in advance.....

The action always becomes slower if you trim the blank either from the tip or the butt. The lure weight will also change - trim from tip and it will increase a bit, trim from butt and it won't be affected nearly much, but overall if could decline just a hair. Overall power (line class) will only change if you trim from the butt.


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Vince - If I understand what you are trying to achieve, you would want to cut the butt end of the 3rd choice, your Extra Fast 6'6", 20-60# line, 500g lure, rod blank. This would convert its taper / action from Extra Fast down to Fast. If you cut the other blanks, they will drop from a Fast action to a more Moderate action bend. That's why I am saying that you should consider the opposite of your initial reaction, of choosing to cut ~15" off the butt end of the first rod (1).

Again, depending on if you are trying to swing the jig away from the other lines on the boat, like on a party boat, then a slower action and softer tip may help you cast better (if that's possible with whatever reel you plan on using.)

But if you are on a private vessel, then I doubt you'll need to cast away from the boat, and your "cast" will get reduced to a straight drop shot down into the abyss. Then a stiffer rod will give you more backbone, and a longer rod will give you more sweep to set a hook or turn a fish's head, or keep the line away from an outboard / outdrive mounted motor.

If you want a broom stick, cut from the tip & butt end of blank #3. If you want a more flexible (softer) rod, then cut from the butt end of the #1 blank (softer) rod, or #2 blank (softest).

In general, for a given blank, if you cut from the tip end, then the lower range of both the line rating and the lure rating will increase. If you cut from the butt end, then the upper range of both the line rating and the lure rating will decrease.

Remember that cutting the blank at the tip will increase the tube size of the rod's tip-top guide. And that cutting the blank from the butt end will possibly cause you to mount the reel in an section of the rod with a much smaller OD, where you may need to use arbors to mount the reel seat, or use a slightly different size gimbal, butt-cap or over-cap, or grip size (ID).

And finally, what type of fishing is this rod for? Why do you want it to be so short? Is this like a stand-up halibut rod or something? ... Thanks.

Best Wishes. -Cliff Hall, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A.-